Episode 3

Her adoptive parents were working abroad and took her grandpa and grandma with them.

That year, when they learned of her parents' accident, they immediately returned to the country to take her with them.

But at first, Mag was struggling emotionally and only wanted to stay in the small house with the smell of her parents.

Later, she couldn't bear to leave Adam, so even though her grandparents repeatedly said they missed her, she didn't agree to go.

"I'm glad you realized, I'm glad you realized!" her adoptive father was agitated, but then he realized something was wrong.

"Mag, your ears"

"Yes, I can hear now."

After a brief exchange, she hung up the phone.

Her adoptive father booked a flight for her, and it happened to be on the day of the wedding.

Looking at the dozens of messages sent by her adoptive parents, her nose tingled.

Throughout all these years, she refused to reunite with her adoptive parents and grandparents for someone like Adam.

She was really too foolish.

Only late at night did Adam finally return to the room.

He climbed into bed, carrying a cold air and the scent of a strong perfume.

Since her parents had passed away, she felt especially insecure.

Only in his arms could she sleep peacefully.

But that night, she avoided the arm he habitually extended to her and, surprisingly, had a peaceful night's sleep.

The next morning, as soon as Mag woke up, her eyes fell on the black lace lingerie in the laundry basket. A knot formed in her stomach as she realized that this piece, which should symbolize love and affection, was actually a painful reminder that Adam had bought it thinking of Catherine.

Without hesitating, she picked up the lingerie and threw it in the trash, as if she wanted to get rid of that memory that hurt her.

Meanwhile, her doubts about the previous night began to haunt her. She wasn't sure if her attitude had made Adam more alert; what she knew was that, after half a year without having dinner together, he had prepared breakfast himself.

Looking at the seafood porridge on the table, she pushed it aside and silently checked the process for obtaining a visa.

Adam's phone kept vibrating with messages.

In the voice message, Catherine greeted him playfully, saying good morning, and complained that he hadn't been gentle with her the night before, making her waist ache so much that she needed him to massage it.

Adam didn't look at Mag, smiling as he pressed the voice message button.

"Was I not being gentle, or is it you, you little seductress who is never satisfied? Last time, Mag bought me a massage cream. I'll take it for you."

Mag looked at him.

With such a natural attitude, it was obvious that such scenes must have been repeated countless times over the years.

They talked for a while.

Then Adam noticed that Mag hadn't touched the food.

"Didn't you like it?" He signed.

Mag put down the spoon.

"An insect fell into it, so it's dirty."

"How disgusting." She signed back.

His hand, which was constantly responding to messages, finally stopped for a few seconds, and impatience flashed in his eyes.

"Why don't you just eat and die?" He muttered and frowned, throwing the porridge from the bowl into the trash.

Then he signed with his hands, asking if she wanted him to make a sandwich.

She shook her head.

Passing by the calendar, she saw the date to try on the wedding dress.

It had been a week already.

At the time, Mag didn't understand how any work could be more important than the dream of getting married.

But, as she browsed Catherine's social media, reality imposed itself painfully.

She saw Adam enjoying moments that should be shared between them: hiking, seaside walks, and dips in hot springs with his little assistant. The contrast was cruel and revealing.

Feeling a wave of frustration and heartache, Mag calmly tore off that sheet and threw it in the trash, as if she could get rid of that pain.

Then, she turned and went back to her room, her heart heavy.

The idea of what could have been now seemed like a distant echo, as she tried to find a way to move forward.

The sound of the ball of paper falling into the trash can made him finally realize that something was wrong.

He saw the door tightly closed.

Sensing that something was wrong, Adam went upstairs to the room.

Opening the door, he found Mag hanging up a call, and he froze in place, as if he had been struck by lightning.

Her look, a half-smile, didn't offer many answers.

"Are you on the phone?" he asked in signs, the concern plastered on his face.

Mag looked at him and, after a moment of hesitation, replied with a gesture:

"It was just a sales ad." Adam followed her gaze to the cell phone screen and saw 143 contacts marked as ads.

Immediate relief ran down his stiff back, and he decided not to dwell on the matter any further.

With a smile, he signed to her:

"Today, I'll accompany you to try on the wedding dress."

That phrase brought back memories of when they were just eighteen years old; Adam remembered staying with Mag in front of a wedding dress shop window, dreaming that one day she would be his most beautiful bride.

Mag, at fifteen, always smiled and nodded when Adam talked about it. Since then, all her birthday wishes were about marrying him.

Now, as she nodded again, there was renewed hope in her heart; perhaps this was the chance to fulfill the dream of the innocent Mag of eighteen years ago who once believed that their love could become a reality.

Mag began to reflect on the teenager who once believed she had found her Prince Charming. That dreamy girl, full of hopes and promises, now seemed so distant.

"It was time to say goodbye to her", Mag thought.

It was necessary to let that naive version go forever, so that she could finally face the reality that was before her.

With a deep sigh, she felt that she was ready to break free from that romantic image that held her back so much.

It was an act of courage, a recognition that she needed to move forward and find her own path, away from the fantasies of an idealized love.

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