Chapter 1918

Someone called out to her, "Liza, wake up."

She blinked awake and saw Fermin standing in front of her.

It was dark, just the two of them in the room.

Her tears spilled out. She hugged him, sobbing, "I saw Garland, Dad, and Mom."

She had never met Marian in person. Marian's image was frozen in photos.

But in that dream, she saw her parents, like it was real.

"Silly girl, it was only a dream." Fermin's voice was soft.

Liza cried harder. "I had so much I wanted to say to them."

Fermin patted her back. "It's okay. Don't cry." Original content can be found at fιɴdnοvel.net

"But..."

"When happiness is right there, nobody cherishes it. You only regret it when it's gone. Even if you stayed in the dream, you wouldn't feel the pain of reality. Bouncing between dreams and reality just traps you deeper."

He wanted Liza to live happily in the real world. He didn't want her to be stuck in a fake dream's joy.

Fake was fake. Dreams always ended, and waking up could break her.

That night, Liza cried for hours. Fermin stayed, soothing her.

By morning, her eyes were red and swollen. Exhausted, she fell asleep.

Fermin left the room, taking the potion with him.

This stuff was dangerous, but it worked fine for medical use.

...

Back in Seamar City, William sneezed and rubbed his nose.

He wondered if he had caught a cold. Then he forgot it, eager to find a buyer for his potion.

...

Liza woke up that afternoon. The dream's details were fading, like any other dream.

She went to the shrine and lit incense for her parents.

Since Bert's death, she hadn't cried like she did last night. That breakdown seemed to release all her pent-up grief.

"Dad, I can stand on my own now. I dreamed of Mom. She's as gorgeous as you

said, though she's kind of scary when mad. I love her anyway."

Liza wiped their photo. "I'm a professor now. You're proud, right?"

She set the frame back and smiled.

Even in her dream, her parents and brothers loved and spoiled her unconditionally.

Then she thought of Drake, wondering why his last name was Sampson.

She pulled out her phone and texted Drake. [Were you ever a Sampson when you were younger?]