A Warning from Seven Years Ahead

"The house isn't ready yet, so Savannah will be staying with us for a while," Caleb Wheeler continued.

"Oh, and let the cook know we'll need another place setting at dinner. Have them make something light. Savannah just got back from overseas, and she's probably still adjusting after the long flight..."

Caleb continued talking, but I couldn't hear a word he said. I stared at the message on my phone, too stunned to make sense of it.

"Delilah?"

Savannah Gordon's gentle voice pulled me back to reality. She gave me an uneasy look.

"Are you okay? You look a little pale. Are you uncomfortable with me staying here? I can always get a hotel..."

Caleb immediately frowned at me.

I finally came to my senses and forced a smile.

"Of course not. You're Caleb's sister, so you're family to me, too. Stay as long as you need and make yourself at home. You two should catch up. I'll go talk to the cook."

As soon as I was out of earshot, I angrily texted the person on the other end.

[Caleb says Savannah's his foster sister. How could she be his first love? You're lying! Who are you?]

Five minutes later, a reply appeared.

[I'm you, seven years from now.

[Tell the cook not to use black pepper. Savannah's allergic.

[You and Caleb will have a huge fight tonight, but it won't make a difference. Even without the pepper, Savannah will find something else to blame you for.]

I didn't know whether to believe her. After hesitating for a long time, I passed along the warning.

At dinner, Caleb brought Savannah to the table. Without hesitation, she sat down beside him, taking the seat I always used.

I stopped in my tracks.

Savannah looked up at me with an innocent smile. "Is something wrong?"

Caleb glanced at me, but didn't say anything.

The sight left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I sat across from them anyway.

Savannah gave me a faintly triumphant smile. After only a few bites, however, she suddenly grabbed her throat and began coughing violently.

"Ugh..."

Caleb jumped to his feet. He pulled her against him and patted her back. "What's wrong?"

She slumped weakly into his arms. "Black pepper. I'm allergic. I can't breathe. Did Delilah..."

Caleb's expression changed instantly, and he rounded on me.

"What's wrong with you? Savannah is allergic to black pepper. Did you do this on purpose because you didn't want her staying here? How could you be so selfish?"

I stood there, too stunned to speak. My eyes stung as I tried to understand how Caleb could believe I was capable of something like that.

"You never told me she was allergic."

"Stop making excuses! Move, I'm taking Savannah to the hospital."

Just then, the cook rushed out, carrying a trash can.

"Mr. Wheeler, you've misunderstood Ms. Hanson! She warned us ahead of time not to use any black pepper. Look, we threw it all away. We even cleaned the grinders just to be safe."

Afraid Caleb still wouldn't believe him, the cook held out his phone with the security footage pulled up.

"We checked everything carefully."

Caleb froze and looked down at the screen. The footage clearly showed the kitchen staff throwing away every seasoning blend that contained black pepper after I gave the order. Nothing was added to the food afterward.

Meanwhile, Savannah had stopped gagging the moment the cook appeared. The color was already returning to her face.

I turned to look at her. "Are you feeling better?"

Only then did Savannah seem to realize she had been caught. Unable to keep up the act, she quickly tried to explain.

"I'm sorry. I think I panicked and worked myself up. Please don't blame Delilah, Caleb."

Caleb looked away from the footage and turned to me, guilt flashing across his face.

"Delilah, I..."

I knew what he was about to say, but it no longer mattered.

I now believed the person texting me really was me from seven years in the future, and I needed to talk to her.

"I'm not hungry anymore. I'm going upstairs to rest. Enjoy your dinner."