Goodbye Saintess (by Edelweiss W.S.) novel Chapter 65

The likelihood that Sebastian was some ultra-wealthy heir secretly undergoing a mysterious trial had all but vanished. Instead, his story now sounded far more like that of a con artist, weaving tales to deceive.

James’s face darkened with suspicion. Just as he was about to speak, Dorothea gently grabbed his arm to hold him back.

“Alright,” she said softly, her tone patient but firm. “Firefighters are brave, noble, and heroic, no doubt about it. But for now, you should stay home. Don’t meet Sebastian just yet. We need to figure out if his feelings for you are genuine. If he passes this test, we won’t stand in the way of you two being together.”

Rhea hadn’t expected her parents to seriously entertain the idea of giving Sebastian a chance. She sat up straighter, excitement bubbling inside her. “Wait, really? You’re serious?”

“Yes!” Dorothea laughed lightly, nudging James with her elbow. He gave a reluctant nod in agreement.

Rhea immediately caught sight of the puffiness in his face. “Thanks, but Dad, what happened to you? You look like you got hit or something.”

James’s voice came out in a rush. “I… I slipped and fell! Face-planted, actually!” Without waiting for a response, he hurried out of the room, clearly wanting to avoid further questions.

He couldn’t bear the thought of his dignity or authority as her father being questioned.

“Mom? Is Dad okay?” Rhea frowned, watching him leave. “That didn’t look like a simple fall. It looked more like someone punched him.”

Dorothea gave a tired smile. “You know your old man. He hates looking weak, so he made up a story to save face. The truth is… he did slip. Twice, in fact. Right into my open hands.” She gave a small shrug. “Now, you should get some rest. Goodnight, Riri.”

With that, Dorothea left the room.

I wanted to be just like them. But I was poor. This dream felt miles out of reach for someone like me.

In college, I discovered a stock market simulator game and escaped into it, living out my fantasies virtually. I quickly climbed the leaderboard, becoming the top financier in the game.

But that success didn’t last. After graduation, I struggled to find a job in finance. No one wanted to hire a poor nobody with no connections. Life got harder, and eventually, I gave in to my parents’ wishes—I became a firefighter in Astergrad.

Soon after, I met Hera. From that moment on, only two things mattered in my world: firefighting and Hera.

“Now that I think about it,” I muttered quietly, “it’s almost ironic that Hera is the reason I’m chasing my dream again. I thought I’d given up on what I truly wanted. I was ready to be just a side character in your story—a mundane husband supporting you at every step…”