"When I was a child, they would play games of horseback battles, and I would watch from the side because you told me it would hurt me."

"When I got a bit older, they started trying smoking and drinking, and you told me those were bad habits, so I never touched those things."

"When I was even older, friends began to fall in love, and you told me an outstanding girl should maintain her loyalty and purity, and I thought you were right."

"There are many, many other things that I can no longer remember, and now you tell me Lynch is not the most suitable for me, should I listen to you?"

Severa looked at Mr. Wardrick, posing a soul-searching question.

Mr. Wardrick nodded, "Yes, I just want you to avoid getting hurt. I love you, and I don't want anyone to hurt you."

Severa shook her head slightly, "But didn't you notice? I'm not happy, I've never been happy!"

"When those people were riding horses and playing war games, I was watching them be happy."

"When they smoked and drank, indulging in music and merriment, I watched them waking up with smiles, going to sleep with smiles."

"When they were falling in love, whether laughing from love or crying from pain, I was still watching, unable to feel it."

"I don't have my own life, father, everything is what you wanted. Maybe you were right, but I'm not happy."

"I'm more like an executor and observer of what you perceive to be a 'standard life,' all the joys and sorrows, pain and happiness, have nothing to do with me."

"I really am not in pain, but I'm not happy either. If you think I shouldn't be with Lynch, I will obey your decision, but you may never see my smile again, because this has made me realize something, like some people say, I'm just a person who exists only in novels."

"You are the author, the pen is in your hand!"

Mr. Wardrick's expression had become very serious, and his wife tightly clutched his palm, partly out of worry that this elegant gentleman might get angry, and partly to offer him comfort.

Any parent's care and love for their children come from sincerity and instinct; very few are exceptions. They never feel they are hurting their children, yet sometimes their actions comically become harmful.

Mr. Wardrick gently squeezed back his wife's hand, patting it on the back.

His daughter's words gave him new thoughts. Maybe it was because he had been in control for too long, he always subconsciously believed he was right, even in family matters.

Now Severa's words made him awaken, he indeed helped the girl to avoid all potential harm, but also took away the color from her life.

She was just an observer, witnessing others' joys and sorrows, but never feeling those complex emotions herself.

This brought him to silence, prompting him to reflect on his actions, a trait common to all exceptional people.

They can listen to any suggestion and seriously reflect on whether there are mistakes in themselves instead of blindly reprimanding others for questioning their decisions.

In the period of Mr. Wardrick's reflection, Severa's emotions calmed down, and she suddenly felt a bit overboard.

Because Mr. Wardrick's actions were indeed to protect her, using his excellent experience to solve these issues, perhaps in the wrong ways, but his intentions were good.

The previous words made Severa feel she was a bit overly aggressive. She felt a little embarrassed to apologize, considering the previous fierce tone, now to apologize does seem a bit shameful.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that..."

"No!" Mr. Wardrick suddenly retorted, "You're right, Severa, I shouldn't control your life. I can give you advice, but I shouldn't make decisions for you. I need to apologize for my past foolish actions and hope you can forgive me."

"Regarding the things you mentioned...", he sighed, "those related to Lynch..."

At this moment, Severa's surprise was mixed with disbelief as she stared intently at Mr. Wardrick, nervously keeping her mouth shut, afraid that her heart would leap out of her throat if she spoke.

"...Although I still maintain my opinion, I won't oppose anything anymore. You can do what you want, but we need to reach an agreement in certain aspects."

This was almost the best news Severa could get, and she nodded continuously, "Of course, what do you want me to agree on?"

"If you haven't considered marriage, and indeed plan to, don't go to bed together."

"I understand this might make you feel uncomfortable since it's a very private matter and I shouldn't be the one to say it."

"But I have to say it, for a girl like you, chastity is more important than other things!"

"This is my only condition."

This was Mr. Wardrick's final compromise. In fact, he understands more than most that this is still a patriarchal society. No matter how vigorously the feminist movements surge, it's still not a feminist society.

A small portion of power can be given to those women, but the real ruling power remains in the hands of men.

So far, the highest political position held by a woman in the Federation is just a mayor. In the Federation's highest political hall, Congress, there are several hundred seats in the House and Senate combined, and not one is held by a woman. Although they demand to let women in every day, has anyone gotten in so far?

Maybe someday they will, but at this stage, within ten or twenty years, it's unlikely.

In business, there might be slightly more freedom, but looking at the chairmen of all the major consortiums, not one is a woman, all are men.

If they can't come together, and Severa marries an ordinary person in the future, the other party might consider her lack of chastity as a sign of being just an "honest person." He won't truly love her, but if she retains her chastity, the situation would be completely different.

The same is true for someone of a similar background. Having chastity is not just about loyalty in marriage; it also changes many attitudes.

To marry a debauchee and to marry a chaste woman are completely different feelings and experiences for men!

Even if the marriage fails in the future, maintaining a pure relationship can earn her more recognition from the Judge and society during a divorce case.

People like women to show fidelity and feel wronged, to watch them lick their wounds and cry, and then people can, representing society's moral high ground, do something. It might sound excessive, but that's what society is passionate about.

So Mr. Wardrick's only requirement is that if there's no marriage, there should be no relationship.

Severa almost immediately nodded and agreed as soon as he finished speaking, "I agree, Father, I understand what you mean, and I know these are the right decisions for me. Is there anything else you'd like to say?"

Her face was all smiles, a rare, heartfelt, uncontrollable smile that made Mr. Wardrick unsure whether to be happy or sad.

His daughter is growing up?

"Take our head servant, other servants, and some other people with you. I don't want you to encounter danger in that broken place, and then...," he gestured for her to "hurry along."

Severa immediately stood up, lifted her skirt, and curtsied slightly, "Thank you, Father, I'm touched by your decision. You've finally stood by me."

Then came her mother, "The breakfast was delicious. Thank you for your daily efforts. I'll go pack my luggage first..."

Watching their daughter leave almost running, Mr. Wardrick couldn't help but laugh, yet his wife was somewhat worried, "Is it okay to do this?"

"Good or bad doesn't really matter. The important thing is she wants to face life on her own, so give her a chance."

"She's right. We can't take care of her for her entire life. We will eventually grow old and buried underground. I can take care of her now, but what about later?"

"In her world, she will have to face it herself one day."

"As for Lynch and this...," he glanced indifferently at the newspaper with the sweetly smiling girl, "it's just a phone call away, no need to worry. I liked her courage when she defied me and her thinking when she spoke."

"This shows she's excellent!"

Mr. Wardrick picked up a napkin and dabbed at the corner of his mouth, "This was also her first rebellion, truly a day worth commemorating!"

"We should give her first rebellion a good outcome, shouldn't we?"

Mr. Wardrick maintained his elegant smile, everything under control.

The songbird from Mr. Wardrick's home is about to fly out of the cage and truly stretch her wings in the sky. In Curilan City, some have seen this news.

After all, Lynch, a rising business magnate with not many scandals but many labels, still attracts media and public attention.

Paired with a young female star gradually entering the public eye, people need some amusement during dreary times.

In the apartment, Catherine's best girlfriend angrily looked at the news and photos in the newspaper, widening her eyes in disappointment, "Aren't you going to say something, Catherine? Your boyfriend is cheating on you!"

Catherine lay lazily on the bed, stretching her body, "He's not my boyfriend. We broke up, and I was the one who dumped him!"

Thinking about this, Catherine couldn't help but laugh out loud. Of course, she still needed to comfort her classmate, more upset than herself, "Okay, have you seen Lynch from high school? He was even more handsome than what you see now."

"I had to deal with everyone, from the cheerleading captain to the buck-toothed glasses girl in the last row. Many were better than me, but in the end, I won."

"If you knew him, you would understand that perhaps no one can truly enter his heart. Doesn't that thought make you feel better?"

"Instead of thinking about these things, why not sleep more or read more books!"

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