Chapter 7

Although they knew the idea was nonsense, seeing Isabella eager to try it, everyone ended up buying one. Meanwhile, Antonio bought all the wishing bottles. His friends couldn't resist teasing him. "Tony, do you think you'll be able to fill out all those wishing bottles? Share a few with us!" "Yeah, Tony, you already have everything you could want. You're being greedy with all these wishes." Smiling, Antonio turned to Norah. His eyes were soft with affection. "I don't need anything, but I hope Norah can have everything she wants." The group chuckled and teased him further. "Tony, you're the ultimate love-struck husband!" Normally, someone might be embarrassed by such teasing, but Norah said nothing as she looked at the pile of wishing bottles. She focused on writing her wish. Curious, Antonio leaned in to see. However, the moment he saw the first word, Norah quickly hid the paper. "If you look at it, it won't come true." Upon hearing that, he didn't insist. He just gently ruffled her hair. "Your wish will definitely come true, Norah." Norah smiled without a word. Yes, her wish would come true. As she placed the paper inside the bottle, she glanced at it one last time. It read, "May Norah and Antonio never meet again in life or death." As Antonio had finished writing out the last of the wishing bottles he had purchased, the meteor shower was coming to an end. As they were about to leave, they suddenly heard a gasp. Turning around, they saw Isabella sitting on the ground, her eyes red with tears. "I think I twisted my foot. It really hurts…" At the sound of her distress, the group rushed over. Antonio couldn't stay composed any longer. He pushed his way through and lifted Isabella into his arms before heading down the mountain. Norah didn't stop him. While the group gathered around Isabella, she turned and walked up the mountain to find the vendor who had been hanging the wishing bottles. She paid him again. "Excuse me, could you help me take down the wishing bottles you just hung up?" Soon, Norah returned to the top of the mountain with the removed bottles. She found a quiet spot and began opening each one of the bottles Antonio had written. "May Isa always be happy." "May Isa be filled with joy and all things go well for her." "May Isa live a life free from illness and misfortune and be surrounded by good people." "May my beloved Isa live a life of joy and peace." Each of the 99 wishing bottles contained a wish for Isabella. Not a single one was for Norah. Her eyes reddened. In the end, she ignored the scattered wishing bottles and turned to leave the mountain. As she reached the bottom, she saw Antonio pacing restlessly. The moment he saw her, he rushed over and pulled her into an embrace. His voice was filled with worry. "Where have you been, Norah? I didn't see you after I came down. I'm so glad you're okay. Don't leave my sight like that again!" Seeing his anxious expression, the guys gathered around and teased him again. "We already said there's only one way down the mountain, and you'd be fine. Tony just didn't believe us. Guess worry really does make you lose your head." "Norah, you have no idea how anxious Tony was. When he realized you hadn't come down yet, he was about to burst into tears!" Their words were meant to show how much Antonio cared for her. But as she glanced past the crowd, her eyes locked onto Isabella at the back. Isabella's foot was visibly bandaged, and she had calmed down considerably. As she listened to their words, a subtle hint of pride appeared in her eyes. The enigmatic smile on her lips seemed to say that she had seen through Antonio's true feelings and was flaunting it to Norah. Her expression seemed to say, "Look, everyone says he loves you, but the one he truly cares about is me." A surge of humiliation filled Norah's chest, but she quickly suppressed it. It didn't matter. This would all be over soon.