A Vow Lost to Time

[Frank, I know this must be painful for you. But what Agnes and I have is real. I hope you can find it in yourself to let her be happy.]The message lit up my phone. It was from Nicholas Morgan, Agnes Grey's assistant.Aside from that message, the rest were videos and photos.An impassioned embrace beneath the famed Tower of Love.Whispers of affection before the murals of one of the most famous museums in the world.Naked bodies tangled on the sands of a tropical paradise.And even images of their unrestrained pleasure against a floor-to-ceiling window.Only in that moment did I fully understand that Agnes was no longer the woman I had once loved.We had met when we had nothing. For the sake of her acting career, I worked day and night, pouring every cent into her performances and running errands for her film crews.For seven long years, I toiled until I slept on subway rides home, drank so hard at business parties that my stomach bled. Piece by piece, I built a company from

I had said what I wanted to say. I strode out of the office.But before I could reach the elevator, the nineteen-year-old version of Agnes suddenly rushed forward and clung to my arm."Frank, please… don't. Let's take that watch back, all right? I gave it to you."Her eyes were rimmed red, yet her voice was hesitant, as though she feared I might be angry.Looking at her fresh, unadorned face, my heart softened in spite of myself."Fine. But this will count as the second chance. Are you sure you want to use it now?"She nodded firmly, without a moment's hesitation.I ruffled her hair, then turned back from the elevator and walked once more toward the office.But when I pushed open the door again, the sight that greeted me made the nineteen-year-old Agnes explode with fury.Nicholas was holding Agnes in his arms, whispering intimately against her ear.The moment they saw me enter, the two sprang apart."Frank! When did you become so rude? Do you not know you should knock befor

I cast Agnes and Nicholas a cold glance, then turned to leave.The nineteen-year-old Agnes would never return. With her gone, I had no reason to be entangled with the twenty-seven-year-old Agnes.But I had barely taken two steps when her voice called out."Frank, don't… don't go."Perhaps it was her gentle tone, one that still carried a trace of meaning in my heart, that made me pause to hear what else she had to say.Seeing me stop, Agnes's face lit up with relief."Frank, I'm sorry, I forgot. I'll have them prepare everything again, all right? Frank, I was wrong. Please forgive me."Yet her words only struck me as laughable. Even as she apologized, her fingers remained twined with Nicholas's.Perhaps noticing my gaze, she suddenly seemed to realize and hurriedly let go of his hand. She took a step as if to chase after me, but Nicholas caught her arm and whispered something. She froze where she stood.I didn't bother to see what she said or did next. The moment the nineteen-ye

"Nicholas… where are we?"I forced my voice steady, careful not to provoke the madman in front of me.He let out a jagged laugh. "Hahaha, Frank, you're supposed to be a smart man. Can't you tell?"Of course, I knew. But keeping him calm was the only chance I had.Before I could think of what to say next, one of the men beside him spoke in clumsy English."Sir, hurry… better kill now. Ski resort… accident found… no good."The words seemed to ignite Nicholas's rage."Shut up! I paid you all plenty. The resort is huge. So what if one person disappears?"He roared, then struck me hard across the face. My head snapped to the side as his hand fisted in my hair, yanking me up."Frank, you bastard! Do you have any idea how much it cost me to win over that whore Agnes?" His voice cracked into a shriek. "I licked her boots, washed her feet, massaged her shoulders. I was her dog—her slave. I even hand-washed her underwear!"His face twisted, spittle flying."For years, I endured it all

I laughed until my voice broke, raw and ragged."Agnes, do you know what I told myself the moment I heard those words? Do you know what I said?"She stared at me, eyes wide, brimming with desperate hope. "Wh-what was it?"I looked at her face—so unchanged from the girl I once knew, yet now masked beneath layers of flawless makeup."I said this: I never regretted meeting you. And I was even willing to give you one last chance."My voice was calm.Her entire body trembled, light flaring in her eyes, as if joy and relief had surged through her veins. But before she could speak, I cut her off."But that chance is already gone. You never let go of Nicholas's hand—not even to apologize. I waited at home after that for two full hours. Where were you during that time?"I pressed the call button on the bedside table. The nurse entered, and I spoke with ice in my tone."Please escort this woman out of my room. I don't ever want to see her again. And hand this recording over to the polic