Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 2958

Gabriel waited until four in the afternoon, but Sylvia still hadn’t appeared. He called Georgia, and she confirmed that Sylvia had indeed traveled to C City.

He tried calling Sylvia, but no one ever answered.

Even Old Mr. Jarvis, who was usually calm and collected, began to worry. “The drive shouldn’t take this long. I hope nothing’s happened to her.”

Gabriel’s face darkened. After a moment of silent thought, he stood up and walked out.

Old Mr. Jarvis called after him, “When you find Sylvia, don’t forget to update me.”

“Understood,” Gabriel replied, his voice low and steady.

By the time his words faded, he was already out the door.

Old Wade entered, set a cup of tea beside Old Mr. Jarvis, and looked at the chessboard, smiling. “Gabriel’s moves are all over the place.”

Mr. Carnes added, “When the heart is in turmoil, how can the game stay calm?”

Old Wade asked, “Is it still possible to turn things around?”

Old Mr. Jarvis gazed at the board for a while before answering slowly, “The game’s already set up. No matter what, you have to keep playing. As long as you continue, there’s always hope.”

……

As evening fell and the bookstore grew quiet, Sylvia was the last to leave, carrying two books to the counter.

The cashier, a friendly young woman, smiled and said, “Here alone? Let me treat you to dinner—I know the best places to eat in town.”

“Thank you, maybe next time.” Sylvia smiled, politely declining. She paid and tucked her books away.

“Alright, hope to see you again soon,” the girl said.

“Goodbye!”

Much like at the restaurant, these people were also streaming their singing online. She watched for a while, and someone invited her to sing with the host; she politely declined and kept walking.

Ahead was the river cutting through the old town, its banks lined with wooden railings. Just five days into the new year, this had been the spot where she and Gabriel had parted ways.

She abruptly realized that tonight’s scene was almost exactly the same.

Taking a few more steps, she stopped dead in her tracks. Her heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of the familiar tall figure ahead. She instinctively held her breath.

A man stood by the wooden railing, apparently making a call. The phone’s screen lit up in the growing darkness, but there was no answer. Even from a distance, with his back to her, Sylvia could sense his impatience.

Her eyes stung and blurred a little as she looked at him. Slowly, she walked up behind him and put her arms around his waist.

Gabriel tensed for a moment, then lowered his phone and gazed off at the distant mountains, letting out a faint sigh.

The weather in C City was nothing like the endless drizzle in J City; the moon here was bright and clear, its light drifting through thin clouds, painting a silvery sheen over the shimmering river.