"We’ve only just started dating. Shouldn't we each spend Christmas with our own families?" Emily suggested, trying to keep things light. Jackson, however, wasn’t pleased. "I wanted to take you home to meet my parents. Emily, do you not want to meet my family at all?" "I... I just think it’s not the right time yet," she tried to explain. "We’ve known each other for years. How long do you need before it’s the right time?" Jackson’s frustration was evident, and Emily tried to calm him down. "Jackson, these things take time. It’s a gradual process," she said gently. Jackson shook his head, his voice more serious now. "Your expression tells me you're resisting being a part of my life." Emily bit her lip, unable to find the words to refute him. He was right. Though she had agreed to be his girlfriend, she realized she and Jackson were never going to have a typical relationship. Jackson was always giving, always waiting for her to reciprocate. But every time he gave more, Emily found herself pulling away. She knew what love was like—because she had loved before. And this wasn’t it. "Emily, do you love me?" Jackson grabbed her hand, his voice trembling with emotion. "Vincent said you would never love me, but I don’t believe him. I just need to hear it from you. Do you love me?" Emily raised her eyes to meet his gaze, but the intensity of his stare made her flinch. "Emily, answer me," he pressed. "I..." she hesitated. "Answer me," Jackson demanded. Emily felt cornered, like she had no choice but to speak the truth. She took a deep breath, then said, "Jackson, you’re a good man. I don’t want to lie to you. The truth is, I’ve never felt ‘love’ for you, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to love anyone again." "Then why did you agree to be with me in the first place?" Jackson’s voice cracked. "Yes, I chased you, I wouldn’t leave you alone, I followed you everywhere. Is that why? Did you agree to be with me because you pitied me?"Emily quickly shook her head. "No, of course not, Jackson. You’re kind and dependable. These past three years, I don’t know how I would have made it through without you. I thought... I thought if we spent the rest of our lives together, even if I couldn’t love you fully, at least we could be companions, like soulmates." "Soulmates?" Jackson gave a bitter laugh. "You mean like friends?" "I mean that if you ever fall in love with someone else, you can tell me, and I’ll let you go. I won’t cling to you. But if that day doesn’t come, we can stay together and live a peaceful life. Wouldn’t that be okay?" she asked, her voice small. Jackson shook his head. "I don’t want to be your soulmate. I want you to love me, the way you loved Vincent." "Jackson..." "When you were struggling the first time, it was Vincent who saved you and helped you through it. That’s why you fell in love with him. But now, it’s me who has been there for you. Why can’t you love me the way you loved him?!" Jackson’s grip tightened on her shoulders as he leaned closer. "I’ve been with you for three years, Emily. Vincent wasn’t even around for one. Why does he get to be in your heart, and I don’t?" Jackson’s words echoed in Emily’s mind all night long. Even in her dreams, his anguished question lingered. Their trip to the grocery store had ended on a sour note, and she never made dinner for him. Before storming out, Jackson had shouted, "Vincent was right—you don’t love me!" Emily had wanted to comfort him, but there were no words she could muster to deny his accusation. In the end, all she could offer was a sigh, watching as Jackson walked away, disappearing into the crowd. On the ride home, Emily sat in the back of a taxi, listening to the late-night radio. The host, a woman with a warm, soothing voice, was taking calls and helping listeners with their love problems. On a whim, Emily dialed in. She expected to wait on hold for a while, but to her surprise, the call was quickly connected. "Hello, caller. What’s troubling you tonight?" Emily opened her mouth, but no words came. There was too much to explain, too much history to unpack. After a pause, she said, "Never mind. Thank you." And hung up. As the host tried to recover from the abrupt end, she said, "Well, it seems this caller may have found her own solution. Whatever it is, we wish her all the best and hope her future is bright." A solution?Emily rested her head against the cold window of the taxi. If she knew the solution to her problems, she wouldn’t have called. The next morning at work, Ken wasn’t in yet, but a new ID badge and pass were neatly placed on Emily’s desk. Had Cathy relented? Ken burst through the door a little later, beaming from ear to ear. "Morning, Miranda!" "Morning." Emily smiled back, catching his infectious energy. "What’s got you so cheerful this early?" "Cathy got fired!" Ken announced triumphantly. Emily was surprised. "When did that happen?" "Apparently last night," Ken explained, his voice bubbling with excitement. "Dylan made the call, and as of today, she’s gone. I can’t tell you how happy I am!" Emily thought back to the previous night. Satan had still been at the hotel when she left, but by the time she returned, the room was empty. Dylan must have taken him away. It seemed Dylan wasted no time in getting Cathy dismissed. "It must’ve been because so many people complained to Dylan about her," Ken speculated. "Anyway, I’m glad it’s over. Oh, you got your new badge, huh?" Emily nodded. "It was on my desk when I got in this morning." "Great! Now things can go back to normal. Everyone can focus on work again," Ken said, relieved. After a moment, his gaze lingered on her, and he asked casually, "So, Miranda, what’s fun to do in the UK? I’m thinking of taking my family there for Christmas vacation." Amanda's words planted a seed of doubt in his mind. "I wouldn’t recommend it," Emily replied. "London is cold and the air quality isn’t great in winter. If you’re looking for a relaxing holiday, you’d be better off going somewhere warmer and more affordable." Her answer was practical and neutral. Ken didn’t press further, laughing it off. "Alright, I’ll keep that in mind. Come on, let’s head upstairs for a meeting."