Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

In late autumn, up on the mountaintop, the ground was covered in yellow leaves. There was this girl sitting on a rock, hugging her guitar and singing her heart out. Her back was to me, and her voice was just... soulful. I couldn't see her face, just her long hair flowing over her shoulders.

When she finished her song, I couldn't help but clap. She turned around, looking startled. That was the first time I saw Fiona. She was beautiful, with long eyelashes and big eyes, kind of like Emily.

Fiona had this delicate look that reminded me of Emily. She glanced at me a few times, looking a bit uneasy, then quickly slung her guitar over her back and took off on her little bike. Watching her ride away, I found it kind of funny. I thought, 'Did I scare her? Do I look like a bad guy?'

I originally came to the mountaintop to chill for a bit, but for some reason, I turned my bike around and chased after her. Fiona looked back and saw me following, so she pedaled even faster. I thought, 'Does she really think I'm a bad guy?' It was downhill, and she was losing control. Her bike's tires were smaller than mine, so she couldn't outrun me. I overtook her to keep her from going too fast and crashing.

At the foot of the mountain, on a bridge, I stopped to rest and lit a cigarette. About five minutes later, Fiona showed up on her bike. I was leaning against the bridge, puffing smoke. She must've thought I was dangerous because she sped up again, like I was gonna jump out and grab her.

But then her bike stopped before she even got on the bridge. I saw the chain had come off. She got off to check and looked pretty helpless. So, I helped her fix it. My hands got all greasy, and she handed me a tissue from her bag, thanking me. For some reason, I suddenly remembered that rainy day when Emily thanked me. Just like now, she handed me a tissue but seemed a bit scared to look at me.

The second time I met Fiona was in a bar, and that was when I found out she was a resident singer there. That day, a drunk guy rushed the stage to harass her. I guess I was a bit drunk and felt like meeting her again was fate, so I stood up for

her.

That fight was wild. I got a bit hurt, just a scratch. I didn't think it was necessary to go to the hospital, so Fiona got a first aid kit from the bar owner and treated my wound. She squatted in front of me, head down, her long eyelashes casting shadows. She carefully applied ointment and gently blew on it, her cool breath brushing over my skin.

At that moment, I was really drawn to Fiona's gentle and serious demeanor. She seemed delicate, but her singing was powerful and infectious. She was a small girl, yet her voice carried a sense of having been through a lot, a voice full of

sorrow.

Every time I saw her, I couldn't help but think of Emily. They both had that inner strength wrapped in gentleness. Maybe that was what attracted me. So we started dating.

After we got together, Fiona was especially good to me. She was the kindest woman to me since Cindy. After Cindy passed away, few people treated me so gently. I couldn't resist her kindness and warmth. We shared common interests and were both people who lacked love, coming together to keep each other warm. It felt so natural.

Fiona joined our band, and we released an album. I gave her protection, and she gave me warmth.

During that year, I almost forgot the past pain and guilt. But when Victor found out about Fiona and me, he opposed it. He cared about Fiona's job as a bar singer.

There was no such thing as a superior or inferior job. She earned her living with her talent. He looked down on singers, so I insisted on being a singer, and I wanted to marry her.

That summer, Victor suggested we all go to a resort for vacation during our break. I didn't want to go at first, but thinking about Victor's strong opposition to Fiona and me, I decided to bring Fiona along.

So, I waited at the spot we agreed on, but Fiona never showed up. She had said she'd come, but she didn't. I had a hunch why. Victor was against us, and I could tell she felt a bit out of place around me.

I thought, 'In my eyes, we're equals, but Fiona's always so anxious and insecure. Is it her issue, or am I not giving her enough security?'

I used to be carefree and playful, but I was serious about Fiona. I could feel her affection for me. Even though I knew deep down I didn't love her deeply, I enjoyed the warmth and comfort of being with her. I didn't want to let down such a serious and gentle girl.

I still went on that vacation. I thought it would be boring, but I made a significant discovery. After we settled in at the resort and were getting ready for a nap, Victor went out alone. I don't know why I decided to follow him. Maybe it was something in his demeanor, or just a gut feeling, but this trip didn't seem simple.

Victor walked into a small forest, cautiously looking around as he went. I followed him carefully and saw him stop at a hidden spot deep in the woods. I climbed up a bit and stood behind a scenic rock, which gave me a clear view of his location.

After a while, another man walked over mysteriously and met with Victor. I saw the man first offer Victor a cigarette, then handed him a package. After checking it, Victor seemed to give him a wad of cash. After a brief exchange, the man, with a cigarette in his mouth, looked around warily and left. I followed the man down the mountain and saw him head towards a van. The van's window was open, and another man was sitting inside. The man with the cigarette immediately got into the passenger seat, turned his head, and started talking to the man in the van. I got a good look at the man with the cigarette's face. He had a high hairline, a distinctive complexion, and unique features. I thought I would recognize him if I saw him again.

Later, I returned to the resort room. Victor asked where I had been, and I lied, saying I had just wandered around. I didn't ask Victor where he had been or what he had traded with that man. I thought I already knew.

After returning from the resort, I visited Cindy's grave. What exactly happened on the day Cindy died was unknown. But ultimately, Victor had an undeniable responsibility.

Looking back, ever since Victor started using drugs, he changed. Drugs eroded his will, making him irresponsible and mentally twisted. I could even describe him as having committed many evil deeds. As a result, I have always despised drugs. If drugs didn't exist, perhaps many things would have ended differently.

That night, I went to the bar to find Fiona. She was on stage singing, wearing heavy makeup. Fiona never used to wear such heavy makeup because she didn't need it to enhance her beauty. Now, with heavy makeup, she looked like a different person. She seemed very down, and her voice was particularly sorrowful. Although that was her style, I could tell something was different that day.

Fiona knew I was there. After finishing her song, she walked over to me and had the waiter bring some drinks. She was actually quite young but looked more mature than girls her age, probably due to her experiences. Her life was also pitiful; her father passed away early, her mother was bedridden, and she gave up her education for her sister. Now, she worked in a bar, enduring people's disdain.

"Why didn't you come that day?" I asked her.

After drinking a glass of wine, her cheeks turned slightly red. She brushed her hair back and poured another glass to toast me.

After another drink, she said, "Ethan, love without family blessings won't last!"

Her direct statement left no room for misunderstanding. Because of Victor's opposition, she wanted to back out. I admit I wasn't my best self at that time. As a boyfriend, I probably didn't do well enough. I was young and impulsive, and I didn't give her enough security when she was anxious.

I said, "You don't have to care about anyone else. My life is my own to decide."

Fiona suddenly smiled gently, her eyes glistening with tears.All content is © N0velDrama.Org.

Fiona said seriously, "Ethan, if I think about it carefully, I don't think I love you that much. I can't even figure out if my feelings for you are love. Maybe it's more accurate to say we're two partners with shared interests. We care for each other, we sing together, and that's a normal way for partners to interact. I think we both need to reflect on whether what we have is really love."

I didn't know what true love was. I didn't think anyone could give a definite answer.