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.” 

As his father turned to leave, Ken’s hoarse voice stopped him. “Dad-” His chest tightened painfully. “You knew Calista was joining the satellite research base.” 

“Of course,” Uncle Johnson said firmly. “She wants to continue her parents‘ work. I support that.” 

“Why did you hide it from me?” 

Uncle Johnson sighed in exasperation. “Hide what? I gave you the personnel list myself.” 

“But you didn’t-” Ken staggered backward. The list had been in his hands. He just hadn’t believed Calista would actually leave. 

He rushed to the study and grabbed the list, his heart stopping when he saw Calista’s name on the first page. If he’d only looked sooner… 

“Let it go, Ken,” Uncle Johnson said quietly. “Perhaps you two weren’t meant to be.” 

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

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

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Juda’s mother, “Be careful, Viola, Everyone knows how much Ken 

loves his sister, Don’t push too far, or you might referr 

“What are you afraid of, Mother? Ken’s completely devoted to me now.” Viola’s voice dripped with satisfaction, “When I accused Calists of pushing me and ruining my dress, he believed every word.”