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But Valeria never did. She no longer pinned her hopes on this relationship, realizing that it was just an illusion. 

There was never going to be a future between them. 

What they had was an unspoken, purely physical arrangement. She knew that once the novelty and thrill wore off, Sebastian would go back to that cold, detached version of himself she had 

seen before. 

This kind of relationship could end at any moment. Whether it ended today or months from now, it made no real difference. 

Sebastian drove on. Only when he made a right turn did he see in the rearview mirror that she had completely disappeared from sight. His hands tightened on the steering wheel, his lips pressing into a thin line. 

He barely registered whatever Martha was saying, only giving a vague grunt in reply. 

He was a prideful person. Lowering himself to mend things with Valeria wasn’t something he could bring himself to do. 

She would have to give him some kind of opening, a way to smooth things over. If she wouldn’t even give him that, how was he supposed to back down? 

After Valeria got home, she closed the door and opened her suitcase. She began packing her 

stuff. 

She and Selena had lived here for three years. It was long enough for it to feel like home… but it never truly was home. 

She checked her bank account balance. The housing market was at its lowest now. In a small town, if she didn’t care about the location, she could afford a place and live off what she had 

for a while. 

“Mommy.” Selena stood in the doorway, watching her pack. Every time Valeria took out the suitcase, it meant she was going away. 

However, this time, Selena knew Valeria was taking her along. She stepped forward and helped with the packing. 

… 

Shane returned from Amaran three days later–earlier than expected. 

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Lucy kept her cool as she said, “So, you still remembered your roots.” 

But it had been a year, and Shane was finally back. Since he had moved to Amaran, she only got to see him once a year. 

It was impossible for her not to feel happy. 

Her eyesight was still recovering. Her eyes were often dry and needed warm compresses, but she could now make out shapes and figures. 

Valeria knocked and stepped in, meeting Shane face–to–face. 

He wore a dark coat on his tall and lean figure. He also wore black–rimmed glasses that didn’t make him look old. He had a polished, reserved demeanor, giving off a strong intellectual vibe -like a university professor. 

Selena peeked out from behind Valeria, steadying herself by holding onto Valeria’s leg. “Hello, Mr. Cooper.” 

Shane noticed the cast on her leg and walked over, scooping her up. “You’re grown again. And you’re heavier now. Does your leg still hurt?” 

Selena wasn’t particularly close to him, but he wasn’t a stranger either. Every year when he visited, he’d bring her a gift. Still, it had been a long time since they last met, and she sat stiffly in his arms, glancing first at Valeria, then toward the living room where Lucy was. 

Valeria explained, “She still has the cast. It won’t come off until after the New Year. As for Mrs. Clark, I took her to the hospital for a follow–up. There’s no big issue with her eyes, but there’s a recovery period. Her blood pressure and blood sugar levels are high, so if she doesn’t—” 

Before she could finish, Lucy cut her off. “You two are always lecturing me the moment you meet. I’m fine. Now, Lenny, come here. Let’s play together.” 

Shane put Selena on the couch. Then, he opened his suitcase as he brought them gifts. 

He brought a down coat, knee guards, and health supplements for Lucy. For Selena, he bought her a set of art books, a sweater dress, and cute flats. 

And for Valería, he bought her a woman’s wristwatch. 

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Chapter 172