A Journey from Bitterness to Truth (Matilda and Yvan) novel Chapter 500

"Let's head out. I'll leave my number at the hotel so they can look for it when they clean the room. If they find it, they'll give me a call."

Criss held Matilda's hand tightly. "Don't fret, it's just a keychain. I'll buy you a new one, something branded! It'll look way better than the one you had."

He thought Matilda was merely attached to the keychain that had been with her since childhood, figuring once she got a newer, fancier one, she'd forget all about the old one.

But memories and habits... they aren't so easily discarded, are they?

With a heavy heart, Matilda checked out of the hotel. Criss had arranged for a rideshare to take them to Whty City. Throughout the journey, Matilda remained sullen, clearly distracted by the loss of her keychain.

Criss couldn't quite understand. It was just a keychain... Was it really worth all this sorrow?

But when he glanced at the woman beside him, she lifted her head, her eyes slightly reddened, a clear sign of distress.

Criss paused, "What's wrong? It's just a keychain. Why the tears? I'll buy you several new ones, okay? Don't be sad..."

Matilda's voice was shaky, "I bought it for Yvan, and then he threw it out of the window."

It was the keychain she had dived into a chilly pond at night to retrieve, desperately searching until she found it.

Later, when she fell seriously ill and was in a coma, she clutched that pair of heart-shaped pendants tightly in her hand, pouring all her hopes and affection into that simple ornament. It represented her past self.

Losing it felt like losing a piece of her past, as if her history had suddenly vanished without a trace.