Chapter 4

I always treated her like a little sister. It was later that she confessed she didn’t want me to be her “brother” anymore.

I knew deep down she still had feelings for Luthen, so I told her seriously not to confuse love with gratitude or family-like attachment. Even if she were just my sister, I’d still treat her with the same care.

However, she stood there with tears streaming down her face and said, crying, “I know it’s you I love. After all these years of being by your side, I’ve fallen for you. I just didn’t realize it.”

I asked her, “And Luthen? Do you still love him? I ask for a relationship that’s fully committed. If you can’t promise that, then I–”

Before I could finish, she grabbed my collar, kissed me, and looked at me with shy but determined eyes.

“You’re the only one I love. I couldn’t see it back then. But now I’m sure I want you by my side.”

Because of that sentence, I gave up my offer to a top overseas university. Because she said she wanted to eat my cooking every day, I turned down a high-paying job at a prestigious investment firm. Instead, I followed her to every filming set, cooked her meals, and made sure she was taken care of.

When we reached the right age, I proposed, again and again, but she always brushed me off, saying she didn’t have time. In the end, I promised her we didn’t need a wedding or make it public. Only then did she finally agree.

I had no regrets. I supported her through everything, stayed quietly by her side for ten years as her hidden husband.

When the news broke that Luthen’s plane had gone down, she suddenly wanted to celebrate our ten-year anniversary. I thought she wanted to make things up to me, so I carefully planned a trip, used all my savings to craft what I believed was the perfect getaway. However, in the middle of the flight, tens of thousands of feet in the air, she jumped.

I unlocked her phone. Her notes were filled, top to bottom, with words of love for Luthen. She had never really cut ties with him. Their chats were filled with large transfers for holidays and birthdays.

She wrote, “If I had another chance, I’d be with Luthen. I’d never settle again.”

So I was just a compromise. In that moment, all the love I had for her turned to ash.

When I was sent back in time, I didn’t stop her when she said she wanted to break up. The pain from my past life had taught me everything I needed to know.

After her grand love confession, they kissed passionately, lost in each other. As I had promised, I deleted every trace of our past together, including her number.

I thought we’d never cross paths again in this life, but it seemed fate had other plans, and here we were, face to face once more.

I didn’t want to get involved, so I turned to leave. However, Luthen clearly wasn’t done with me. He picked up a dirty bar rag and threw it straight at my face.

“You really went out of your way to track down Cara’s schedule. What exactly are you trying to do? Snap out of it. Just look at yourself, pathetic. You can’t even feed yourself. And you think you can have a woman like her? Beg me,” he sneered. “Maybe I’ll put in a word and get you a job as a security guard. Even that job pays six grand a month. That should be enough to keep you alive.”

Someone nearby, clearly eager to please, chimed in. “This is the most luxurious five-star hotel in Harbor City. Working security here would be a huge favor. Mr. Waltz is giving you a golden opportunity! With your vibe, you’d never land something like this on your own. You should be thanking him.”

I clenched my fists and took a deep breath. “There’s no need. I already have a job.”

Luthen scoffed, the corner of his mouth lifting in scorn. “With that sorry look? What kind of serious job could you possibly have?”

I could tell he wasn’t going to let me leave until I gave him an answer. So, a little annoyed, I said simply, “Trading.”

The moment the word left my mouth, Cara shot me a look of pure disdain, like I’d just admitted to committing some unforgivable crime.