Chapter 1265 The Turmoil of a Proposal (VII)

• The moment they stepped into the mall, a buzz rippled out. A lot of people assumed Senefield International was throwing some kind of anime-themed event—after all, the circular plaza at the center was packed wall to wall with Doraemon figures. And now here came several people in full mascot suits dressed as anime characters. Kids squealed, tugging at their hands for photos. Some folks even recognized the woman in the middle of the group—the hottest “beauty CEO” lately, Kate Penrose—and phones shot up everywhere to grab the moment.
• Chadwick Fullner trailed at the back, watching Kate’s silhouette from a distance, watching her smile like nothing was wrong as she waved and greeted people. It felt like a goodbye, like he was personally sending her off to a place where their paths would never touch again. The scene was painfully familiar, like life was replaying an old tape—especially that ripping, bone-deep pain in his chest. Maybe this was just his fate from day one: everyone he loved, or who had loved him, anyone tangled up with him in love, would leave one by one. First Emily. Then Samantha Wembley. Now Kate. Who would still be by his side in the end? He didn’t dare follow that thought. Tears blurred his eyes. He couldn’t stand the idea that his ending was loneliness—that maybe destiny had already stamped him with empty hands, unable to keep a single person he loved.
• Good thing he was in a mascot suit. The oversized head hid his face, and no one could see his tears. He let them run wild down his cheeks and turned to look at Madison Sawyer beside Kate, the one in the Red Wolf costume. With the suits on, neither of them could see the other’s face or read their expression. All he could see was Madison waving and swaying like she was having the time of her life. She clearly was—her dearest “sister” was about to be happy, and that thrilled her more than getting her own happy ending. Chad’s heart stabbed again. If his ending really was loneliness, did that mean he and Madison would part too, in the end?