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.”

turned to leave, Ken’s hoarse voice stopped him. “Dad-” His chest tightened

was joining the satellite research

Johnson said firmly. “She wants to continue

did you hide it

“Hide what? I gave you the

list had been in his

the study and grabbed the list, his heart stopping when he saw Calista’s name on the first page. If

only looked sooner…

said quietly. “Perhaps

the signs he’d missed came flooding back: the satellite research books, the discarded letters, her growing indifference, the returned ring. Everything pointed to

had been too confident. He’d believed eight years of memory meant she would never

he hurt

tore at his heart.

room. His heart leaped–could

her door, only to hear Viola’s voice inside. “Get rid of all this stuff. I don’t want to see

“But these are Calista’s things…”