Chapter One

The phone kept ringing with a constant stream of notifications—photos and location updates sent by his team. With such a flood of information, Jonathan could hardly distinguish what was useful and what wasn't. Too many opportunistic people, drawn by the reward, had joined the search. Even with hired help to sift through the leads, it was an overwhelming amount of work. At that moment, he regretted his decision. But what else could he do?

Apart from relying on the collective power of the internet and the few hints Anna occasionally revealed, he had almost no way to trace her whereabouts. Sitting on the bed, John felt on the verge of despair.

Just then, a few lines of text announced some new photos.

"Jonathan, someone reported that Anna was seen in front of York Minster in England. We've already sent people to investigate. You should get there as soon as possible." Upon reading this news, Jonathan felt a surge of hope. Whether the lead was true or not, he had to pursue it. He couldn't let go of this sliver of hope.

Days without Anna were days he could barely endure. She was like water and oxygen to him—essential for survival. The fact that he had held on for this long was already a testament to his sheer willpower. Like a fish flopping desperately on dry land before its last breath, Jonathan wasn't ready to give up. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd had proper rest. Every day without Anna… He only allowed himself one or two hours of sleep when his body literally couldn't take any more—all for the sake of even the smallest update about her.

On the plane to England, he continued managing work back home, refusing to let up. After landing and collecting his luggage, he had no idea that Anna, at that very moment, was boarding a flight at the same airport. By cruel coincidence, they missed each other once again.

While speeding off, Jonathan searched the area near the cathedral. He checked every nearby hotel but couldn't find any trace of her. After what felt like an eternity of searching, he finally received some information from a cameraman.

“That beautiful American woman? She checked out hours ago. You just missed her,” the hotel staff said. “If you had come just a few hours earlier, you might have caught her.”

Jonathan stood in place. He had been so close—only hours away. If only fate had been kinder, he might have seen her. Was the universe really this cruel? Did it truly refuse to grant him a single meeting with her?

"Thank you," he said, expressing his gratitude before leaving, despondent. Wandering aimlessly in a foreign land, he felt lost. He had no home. In that moment, memories of his first meeting with Anna resurfaced. Back then, he never imagined he could love someone this much. He hadn't even considered marriage, believing he would spend his life focused solely on work. But from the moment he met Anna, he knew he was done for. That unfamiliar feeling of falling in love made him feel both vulnerable and profoundly happy for the first time in his life. When he was pursuing Anna, even a single glance from her could keep him elated for days. If the Jonathan of that time could see the way he was now, he would probably die of frustration.