Letting go is an art—an intricate dance of releasing the past, finding peace in the present, and welcoming the unknown future.

PAST

In the small burger joint, which was crowded with teenagers, there sat a beautiful young girl in the corner. Her innocent blue eyes darted repeatedly towards the entrance, reflecting her impatience as she waited for someone.

Her delicate fingers tapped rhythmically on the edge of the table, betraying her restless energy. She wore a simple yet elegant dress, its light fabric contrasting with the vibrant, chaotic atmosphere around her. Strands of her golden hair fell gently across her face, partially obscuring the nervous bite of her lip.

The aroma of sizzling burgers and crispy fries filled the air, but she barely noticed. Her mind was elsewhere, caught up in the anticipation of the arrival she so eagerly awaited. The din of teenage chatter and the clatter of plates created a lively backdrop, but in her corner, it was as if she existed in a bubble of expectancy.

The door swung open with a cheerful jingle, and her heart skipped a beat. She sat up straighter, her eyes locking onto the entrance. But it was just another group of teenagers, laughing and jostling each other as they made their way to the counter. She slumped back in her seat, trying to hide her disappointment.

Penelope wondered if he had forgotten about their date or if he was simply running late. Uncertainty crept into her mind, and she looked down at her folded hands resting in her lap. At that same moment, she heard heavy footsteps approaching her.

Instantly, her head snapped up, and her blue eyes met a pair of intense gray eyes. He gave her a small smile and sat across from her.

"Did I keep you waiting long?" he asked, placing a small paper bag on the table. She nervously shook her head. She glanced at the man now sitting in front of her. He looked devilishly handsome in his white shirt and blue jeans. The first two buttons of his shirt were open, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. She peeked at the fair skin of his collarbone, which was visible, and noticed the veins in his hands, which only added to his allure.

She tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear and bit her lip nervously. He chuckled at her cute, anxious expression. His laughter filled the void between them, causing Penelope to blush profusely.

He pulled out a small box from the paper bag and placed it in front of her. "This is for you," he said. She looked nervously at the iconic blue box from a well-known jewelry brand.

With trembling hands, she opened the box, and a gasp escaped her lips. Her fingers traced the sapphire heart-shaped pendant. The cold diamonds sent a chill down her spine. It was the iconic Titanic pendant. Her heart swelled with joy.

"It's beautiful..." she whispered. Unbeknownst to her, he was intently observing all her expressions. A smile broke across his face when he realized that she liked his gift.

"It must be expensive," she muttered under her breath. He heard her but decided not to say anything, keeping a blank expression.

Penelope sighed and reluctantly closed the box, pushing it back towards him. "I can't take it," she said. He looked at her, confused.

"I don't want you to waste your parents' hard-earned money on me," she mumbled.

Unexpectedly, a chuckle escaped his lips. He hadn't anticipated such a reaction from her. He had seen many girls who would be thrilled to receive an expensive gift, but she was different. Because she was his Penelope. And wasn't that the very reason he liked her?

He leaned forward, extending his hand to gently cradle her cheek, his thumb softly brushing against her skin in a tender, loving caress.

"It's not my parents' hard-earned money, sweetheart," he said. She blinked at him, confused. He sighed and continued explaining, "I don't know if you know this, but I have a habit of investing in stocks. I made a significant profit recently, and I bought this pendant with my hard-earned money, not my parents'."

She gasped in shock, then smiled at him. Her heart swelled with happiness at the thought of him buying an expensive gift with his own money. Her heartbeat raced, a flurry of anticipation and warmth spreading through her chest.

Seeing her happy made him happy too. He didn't know the significance of the pendant; he only bought it because it resembled her eye color. Abruptly, he stood up, pulled the pendant from the box, and walked towards her. Before she could understand what was happening, he draped the pendant around her neck.

He then bent down to her ear and whispered, "Sweetheart, it's my hard-earned money, so it should be my decision how I want to spend it. And I choose to spend it on my little flower." He placed a soft kiss on her neck, making her cheeks heat up.

She bit her lower lip nervously, and the butterflies in her stomach did a flip as she heard the nickname he had given her. She buried her face in her hands in embarrassment, which made him chuckle at her innocent nature.

For Penelope, this was the best moment of her life. For her, it was a step towards a bright future.

PRESENT

PENELOPE

I stared at the pendant, caressing it softly. I knew I should have thrown it away, but I could never muster the courage. Perhaps because it was too expensive? I shook my head and placed the beautiful pendant back inside the drawer.

I loved this pendant dearly. Actually, I loved the person who gave it to me. But, unfortunately, it was a one-sided love. I wore this pendant every day and whenever I missed him, I would caress it softly. I sighed, determined not to dwell on him today.

Today was a big day for my sister, and I couldn't spoil my mood by thinking about him. It was her engagement party tonight. I sighed and glanced at my reflection in the mirror. I wore a stunning backless red gown with an infinity design on the waist, exposing my skin. I looked hot and sexy, which was exactly my intention. I tied my hair into a bun and opted for minimal makeup, but painted my lips a bold red.

I paired my outfit with silver heels and a matching set of red rose pendant and bracelets. I completed my look with a beautiful red clutch.

I gave myself a confident smile and walked out of the room to check on my sister. The engagement party was being held at our house. Only a few important and influential people were invited, not to mention a bunch of paparazzi were there to capture this memorable event in Los Angeles. After all, two influential families were being united.

As I stepped into my sister's room, I found her standing in front of the mirror, fastening her earrings. She looked stunning in a black off-shoulder gown with a daring slit. Yet, despite her undeniable beauty, I couldn't help but frown at her choice of color. Black was not a color I would ever choose for such a significant day.

Why did she choose black for her engagement party? It had never been her favorite color. Was there something she wasn’t telling me?

"Do you like what you see?" Sophie's playful voice broke through my thoughts. I smiled, placing my hand dramatically over my heart. "You're a beauty to behold. A beauty that could launch a thousand ships."

She chuckled and walked over to me, cupping my face gently. "You look gorgeous, Penny," she said. "God knows how many men I'll have to fend off tonight to protect my little sister." Her eyes held a fierce determination that told me she wasn't joking. Sophie had always been fiercely protective, treating me like her younger sibling despite us being twins.

Unable to bear the intensity of her gaze, I looked away. "Let's go. All the guests have already arrived," I said, eager to change the subject.

"Give me a second," Sophie replied, walking back to the dresser. She picked up a beautiful floral bracelet and wrapped it around her left wrist. "Now we can go," she said, grabbing my hand. She interlaced our fingers like we used to as kids, and together we walked out of her room, ready to face the night ahead.

As soon as we started descending the staircase, all eyes turned toward us. My grip on Sophie tightened as the paparazzi's cameras flashed, capturing every moment. Even though I’ve been a model for the past two years, I still get nervous under such intense scrutiny. Despite my nerves, I tried to maintain a confident smile.

When we were only a few steps from the bottom, I saw Sean walking towards us. He looked dashing in his three-piece grey suit, his blonde hair slicked back, and his expression blank. His grey eyes held no emotion, and his clean-shaven face shone under the lights. He extended his hand towards Sophie.

Sophie smiled shyly and slipped her hand into his. His lips curled into a smile, yet he didn’t even glance at me, though I stood right beside her.

In the process, Sophie’s grip on my hand loosened, and then she let go completely as she walked away with Sean. I stood there, dumbfounded, realizing she had left me behind without even noticing.

This is my life—everyone moving forward while I feel stuck in the middle of nowhere, still trapped in the past. I felt left out, craving Sophie’s attention and love. She was the only person who truly understood me, often better than our own parents.

I looked around the beautifully decorated hall, adorned with white and red roses. The chandeliers glimmered brightly, and the entire room was draped in white silk curtains, creating an ethereal ambiance.

Sighing, I tried to blend in with the crowd. I spotted Serena, looking stunning in her purple gown, chatting animatedly with a group of people. Everyone seemed so happy, while I felt suffocated. My gaze drifted back to Sophie, who had a constant smile on her face, her hand holding Sean’s arm. They looked perfect together.

A pang of hurt and jealousy hit me. Was this what I wanted in life? A man who would love me unconditionally? All I had experienced was betrayal. I took a few deep breaths to compose myself.

The people, the place, the atmosphere—it was all suffocating. I decided to take a walk in the garden, making a mental note to return before the ring ceremony to avoid angering my sister.

As I stepped into the garden, I took a deep breath of fresh air and felt my nerves calming. The beautiful half-moon hung in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over the scene.

After a few minutes, I felt someone’s presence behind me. A shiver ran down my spine as I gulped nervously. Everyone was inside enjoying the party, so who could be out here? Worst-case scenarios flashed through my mind, but I took a deep breath and decided to confront my fear.

Turning around, I was met with a pair of onyx eyes looking at me intensely. He slipped his hands into his pockets and slowly approached me. I gulped nervously, recognizing who he was.

Adrian Moore—the heir to the Moore Group and Sean’s biggest enemy. The Andersons and Moores had been enemies for decades. But as far as I remembered, there was a time when Adrian and Sean were good friends. I had no idea what caused their fallout.

“What’s a beautiful woman like you doing alone here, Penelope?” he asked. I was taken aback that he actually remembered me. We had never had a proper conversation before because he always creeped me out.

And in the past two years, I had gone through a lot of physical changes, so it shocked me that he recognized me.

“Adrian...” I whispered. He smirked at me, and I felt like I was staring at the devil himself.

“What a pleasant surprise, Penelope. So you actually came back for your sister’s wedding, I see,” he mumbled.

“Hi...” I muttered, not knowing what else to say. He came closer, invading my personal space, and I gulped nervously. “You’ve become really beautiful, Penelope. Not that you weren’t before, but now you’re an enchantress,” he said, chuckling.

“I think I should go inside...” I mumbled and took a few steps back. He chuckled. “What’s the hurry, sweetheart?”

I really didn’t like his presence, and it was better to stay away from him to avoid any problems. I licked my dry lips.

“I’m in a hurry, Mr. Moore, since it’s my sister’s engagement today. She must be searching for me,” I said, giving him my best professional smile and heading toward the main door. I had only taken a few steps when I heard his hoarse voice that sent my world upside down.

“I want you to be my girlfriend.”