Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

"Is this advice from you as a man?" I asked Ethan.

"It's advice as a human. People avoid harm and go for what benefits them most," Ethan replied.

Halfway through our drive, we saw some trees being cut down, their cross-sections laid out in front of us.

Ethan pulled over by the woods, stood by the largest tree, and waved me over. Confused, I got out and walked to him.

We stood in front of the tree, and Ethan tapped the cross-section with his finger, smiling. "I heard tapping wood wards off bad luck. Give it a try. Tap it and make a wish."

Not wanting to refuse, I mimicked him, tapped the tree, and made a wish. I wished to rely on myself and for a better life.

When I opened my eyes, Ethan was staring at me intensely. Feeling shy, I pretended the sunlight was too bright and shielded my eyes, quickly composing myself.

By the time I lowered my hand, he was already walking back. I sighed in relief but felt a bit down.

I reminded myself, 'Emily, you just wished to rely on yourself. Don't get distracted by a great guy.'

Back in the car, we continued our drive. Curious, I asked, "What did you wish for?"

"I didn't make a wish. I don't believe in that stuff. I only believe in myself," Ethan said, tapping the steering wheel.

I was taken aback by his confidence and couldn't help but look at him.

He was charming from every angle, whether talking or just sitting there, exuding a unique masculine charm.

"Where's the location?" he suddenly asked, catching my gaze.

Embarrassed, I quickly looked away and pointed to an alley. "Right there."

The car stopped, and I got out, taking my suitcase. "Thanks for today. Tell me the fare, and I'll pay you along with what I owe you."

Ethan smiled faintly. "I'm a businessman, but I'm not all about money. And I'm a man. When a woman tells me she's homeless with tears in her eyes, any responsible man wouldn't just stand by."

I stared at him, emotions swirling. Maybe Arthur hurt me too deeply. Compared to him, Ethan seemed genuinely kind.

It was a pity my judgment was so poor. With so many suitors, how did I end up choosing Arthur, the jerk?

I watched Ethan's car leave before walking into the alley.

The alley was narrow and rundown, with no streetlights. Under the moonlight, I could see the potholes and weathered walls.

Opening the door, a sense of familiarity and warmth hit me, and tears streamed down my face. My long-held emotions finally broke free.

The house was dusty from being empty for so long. Too tired to clean, I just tidied the bed and lay down.

I plugged in my phone and saw Seagull's icon flashing.

[Good night, Emmy. No matter how good yesterday was, it can't come back. No matter how hard tomorrow is, you have to keep moving forward!] It was Seagull's goodnight message.

I still didn't know who Seagull was. This person had been supporting me since my family incident, always sending positive messages.

During tough times, his constant greetings and encouragement gave me warmth and courage. Today's message perfectly matched my mood.

The day's experiences felt like a dream I didn't want to recall, but the scenes kept replaying in my mind.