Katelyn set her glass down, turned to Ashlyn, and said, “Vincent wants to end his engagement with Princess Ryanna.”

“What?” Ashlyn exclaimed, her voice thick with disbelief as she shot up from her seat, her shock evident.

Ryanna was the daughter of the King! Vincent was really going to break off the engagement? To Vincent, this decision made no sense at all; it was as if he’d completely disregarded his own interests.

Without uttering a word, Katelyn simply kept drinking.

As Ashlyn processed the shocking news, her mind slowly returned to reality. She finally said to Katelyn, “He truly values you more than anything.”

For a moment, Katelyn’s hand trembled slightly as she held her glass. How could she still keep pretending not to understand? Vincent’s words kept reverberating in her mind, refusing to fade. The shock still hadn’t worn off. Vincent was actually willing to sever his engagement with Ryanna… all for her. This wasn’t something that could be swept away with just a few words. Katelyn understood all too well the heavy consequences he would face.

Ashlyn leaned in closer to Katelyn, her lips curving into a knowing smile as she said, “I never imagined he could love you this much. You should seize this chance. True love is one of the rarest things in the world.”

A rush of emotions surged through Katelyn’s chest. Still, uncertainty and timidity lingered in her heart. Vincent’s actions had caught her completely by surprise, leaving her unsure of how to even react. The cost of Vincent’s devotion weighed heavily on her mind. If things spiraled too far… she’d rather never see Vincent again than watch him endure such a high price.

Noticing the calmness in Katelyn’s expression, Ashlyn furrowed her brow and asked, “What’s going through your head right now?”

Katelyn set her glass down and said calmly, “I’m not sure. My mind’s all over the place.”

She longed to let go, but the thought of it hurt too much. If she held on, she couldn’t stand the idea of Vincent suffering for her choice. Katelyn had never felt such a whirlwind of conflicting emotions before; it was unlike anything she had ever known.

Ashlyn instantly understood the silence hanging over Katelyn. If she were in Katelyn’s shoes, she’d be just as quiet.

Choosing not to linger on it, Ashlyn shifted her focus. With a light smile, she reached for her glass, meeting Katelyn’s gaze as she said, “Let’s leave all these thoughts behind tonight. Let’s drink and forget about everything else.”

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It was the only way she knew to help Katelyn feel even a little lighter. Katelyn picked up her glass, tapping it gently against Ashlyn’s in silent agreement. The sound of their glasses meeting rang through the air, crisp and clear. They exchanged a smile, each lifting their glass before drinking in sync.

Ashlyn stood up, placing a box of street barbecue on the table, and said to Katelyn, “You have to try this. I found a stall grilling on the way back, and the scent was irresistible.”

Street food wasn’t something she often treated herself to, but today, it felt like the perfect spontaneous decision. And, surprisingly, it seemed to match the mood of the evening.

Without hesitation, Katelyn reached for a skewer and took a bite. Her eyes sparkled as she nodded in approval and said, “This is delicious.” The combination of red wine and barbecue might have been unusual. However, she no longer cared. After all, it was just the two of them, and they deserved to savor the moment.

While eating, Katelyn glanced at Ashlyn, a sudden thought crossing her mind. She asked, “By the way, have you noticed anything unusual with your body recently? Even though the detox was done, I still want to know if there are any lingering side effects.”

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