After having his identity stolen by Diego for so long Caleb is finally free, however seeing how life and everyone around moved on without him, including Cornelia, he is left feeling completely cast aside and destroyed and so ends up roaming aimlessly throughout Meridian and beyond. The Guardians also return to Earth and proceed with their lives.

 A couple of years pass and Cornelia discovers she's pregnant. Wanting to give the child a stable family and being forced to avoid a scandal by being part of the elite Hale family she rushes into a marriage with Peter. They have a little girl which Cornelia names Dahlia, but happiness does not last long... when little Dahlia is around 5 years old she passes away victim of a car accident.

 Cornelia is left completely devastated with grief at the loss of her child and with an empty existence. The rushed and early marriage with a man she did not love at her core did not last for much longer and ended up in divorce. The career, studies and ice skating passion she left behind for the sake of her lost child seemed now out of reach. The luxurious life as a Hale member, which in previous years was a source of pride and comfort, now looked meaningless... a pretty lie dressed in gold, pretty dresses and fancy parties. 

She felt her depression creeping in stronger than ever before ( a well hidden condition she suffered from throughout all her life known only by her parents and grandmother. Fortunes were spent on medication and treatments which never really worked ).

 As a last hopeful attempt at finding purpose and happiness Cornelia decides to travel to Meridian. Searching for him... Hoping to see Caleb again. 

She is told he was last seen roaming the forests around Elyon's Kingdom. A race of tribal Galhots are said to inhabit such places in small villages and communities scattered in the heart of said forests. 

Cornelia, following the directions, finds one of these villages and by sheer luck ( or perhaps misfortune ) in it she finds Caleb, however she finds him married to one of the village's women and with a son, a lively lad named Kai. 

Cornelia recognises the strong woman Caleb's with: Dilla, who helped them free him from Diego years ago and that also shared a past with him being his bodyguard and lover during his years as rebel leader before they met. 

There is still love between Caleb and Cornelia, however she cannot bring herself to destroy his family... Coming to Meridian looking for him seems to have been a mistake. 

 Cornelia feels her last remains of hope turning into dust, and without her daughter, without a purpose and without her love she prepares to flee wishing to disappear, wishing to end her pain by any means  necessary... but she is stoped. A hand reaches out to her accompanied by a deep, soothing and kind voice. She also recognises the large tribal warrior that calls out to her now, Ballard, Dilla's twin brother who also helped in the fight against Diego. Feeling her distress he approaches her offering help. No matter how much her legs urge her to run away, something about him compels her to stop and stay... and so not having anywhere else to go she does just that.

 Not quite understanding why, she remains in the village. Ballard's presence soothes her... his shy smile is kind and inviting and his eyes, although blank and blind, seemed to pierce through her mask and shell reading and understanding her like no one else. He shows her his world... and in the middle of this simple way of life surrounded by radiant green Nature, her element, she starts to heal from her pain. Despite knowing that she still loves and always will love Caleb, Cornelia slowly and gradually feels her heart starting to divide itself in two... half of it now belonging to Ballard as well. ❤️