Seven Years of Love Seven Minutes of Truth

Chapter 11

Ken’s tears fell freely as he opened his trembling hand. There lay the gold ring.

“This was my mother’s. It means everything to me. And you’re the most important person in my life, so I want you to

have it.”

He could still see Calista’s shy smile at those words.

But now she was gone.

Ken slammed his fists into the mud, his anguished roar echoing across the empty landscape. But Calista would never

return.

The next day, he drove back home in a daze. One look at his son’s face told Uncle Johnson everything he needed to know. They stared at each other for a long moment before Uncle Johnson spoke. “Remember to complete the transfer paperwork.”

Ken’s hoarse voice stopped him. “Dad-” His chest tightened painfully. “You knew

was joining the satellite research base.”

Uncle Johnson said firmly. “She wants to

hide it from

exasperation. “Hide what? I gave you the personnel list myself.”

Ken staggered backward. The list had been in his hands. He just hadn’t believed Calista would actually leave.

study and grabbed the list, his heart stopping when he saw Calista’s

only looked sooner…

it go, Ken,” Uncle Johnson said quietly. “Perhaps you

letters, her growing indifference, the returned

had been too confident. He’d believed eight years of memory meant she would never truly leaye, no

much he hurt

at his heart.

in Calista’s room.

rushed to her door, only to hear Viola’s voice inside. “Get rid of all this stuff. I

Brown, hesitated. “But these