Feather Drifting in the Wind

After Caesar Shepherd went overseas with his lover, Florence Lane, about a month passed with no news about Ivy Rivers.

Only then did Caesar realize something was wrong.

When he had time, he gave his secretary, Morgan, a call. "How's the wound on Ivy's leg? Is she still angry at me for taking her skin for Florence's skin graft?"

The opposite side of the line was quiet for a long time. Then, Morgan said softly, "Ms. Rivers was discharged from the hospital and left the residence a month ago."

Caesar finally remembered Ivy's eyes full of despair and determination on the day he protected Florence in his arms when the hotel collapsed.

That wasn't sorrow.

No.

That was goodbye.

In her tenth year under Caesar's sponsorship, Ivy got a job offer from an overseas company based in Weissland.

Her friends' voices still rang in her ears, the chatter full of disbelief as they tried to change her mind.

"Ivy, are you serious? You'll leave as soon as your visa is ready? Why?"

"Yeah, why? Mr. Shepherd treats you so well. It's been ten years! He's so attentive to your every need!"

"We all saw those ninety-nine proposals! They were unbelievably romantic! You never said yes, but Mr. Shepherd never gave up! If that's not true love, what is?"

"Is it because of Florence? Come on, she's just a new girl Mr. Shepherd's sponsoring. I heard her background is pretty tragic. He's just being nice. How could she possibly compare to you?"

"That's right, Ivy, don't be stupid. That's a decade worth of love! Mr. Shepherd cares about you so much! There's no way some clueless young woman could change that."

Love?

Ivy raised her eyes, looking past her chattering friends to the street across from them.

A familiar black car eased to the curb.

The man behind the wheel leaned over and tucked a strand of hair behind the young woman's ear, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Caesar Shepherd.

Florence sat beside him, looking at him with a smile, her eyes crinkling. From that perspective, she really did look like Ivy when she was at that age.

Caesar wore a relaxed, almost indulgent smile; one Ivy hadn't seen in a long time. When he looked at her lately, there was more exhaustion and impatience than anything else.

Her friends noticed too as they looked in the direction she was watching. Their voices faded, and the air at the table turned awkward.

"Maybe it's just a coincidence."

"Mr. Shepherd, he..."

Ivy looked away without an expression on her face. She took a sip of coffee and let the bitterness spread across her tongue.

"I'm a bit tired," she interrupted them. "I'll head home for now. I've already decided to go abroad."

She stood up and picked up her purse, forcing a faint smile. Before they could add another word, she left.

The afternoon breeze was warm, but it felt cold against her skin.

A decade…