Chapter 3

"Now, Caleb's grandfather can finally stop worrying," Helena said.

Caleb's father, Liam Vale, set his newspaper down hard on the coffee table when he saw me walk in alone.

"Did Caleb bail on you again? You're getting married soon. When he comes back later, I'll—"

"Mr. and Mrs. Vale, I'm not going to marry Caleb," I interjected.

After my parents died, I became an orphan. Liam and Helena took me in and gave me all the love that I'd lost.

I had always been obedient and grateful, but this time, I had to defy their wishes.

I looked straight at them and spoke slowly so they would hear every single word. "Mr. and Mrs. Vale, I've decided not to marry Caleb. I'm flying overseas tomorrow. Once I leave, I won't be here to look after you anymore. So you'll have to take care of yourselves."

Helena froze, panic flashing across her face. "Your parents are gone. You only have us. We're your family. Where would you even go?"

"Is it because of Layla? Is she messing with you again? We're not letting her off the hook. Don't leave just because you're upset!"

In my previous life, Liam and Helena had begged me the same way. In the end, I lost my husband, they lost their son, and every one of us lived with regret.

I brushed away the tears at the corner of Helena's eyes and tried to comfort her. "Mrs. Vale, forcing a relationship will never bring happiness. Caleb doesn't love me. I shouldn't force him to marry me.

"I had a dream last night. In the dream, I married Caleb, but he was always cold to me. He buried himself in work until he made himself sick, and even then, he refused to let me care for him. He told me that I brought him nothing but pain. In the end, he lost his life at 31 years old because he tried to save me."

The ache in my chest sharpened as I spoke.

Helena stared at me, stunned. "Well... That's just a dream. Aurora, Caleb would never treat you like that."

I sniffed and forced a faint smile. "Dreams usually mean the opposite, don't they? Maybe we're not meant to be husband and wife, but I still hope he lives a long, peaceful life.

"He looks so capable out there, but at home, he puts up with so many things that he has no say in. I just hope you can respect what he truly wants."

I gave them a deep bow. Then, I set my passport down on the coffee table, my voice trembling. "I really have made up my mind. I'm letting this go. For all the years you have raised me, I will remember your kindness even in my next life."

Liam's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. He reached out quickly to pull me back to stand upright.

Helena's eyes were red as she stuffed a thick stack of cash into my bag. "Oh, sweetheart. If you've made up your mind, then go and see the world. But keep this in mind..."

She suddenly wrapped her arms around me and held me tight. "We're always here for you."

I bit down hard on my lip to keep myself from crying.

As long as Caleb stayed alive, it didn't matter if he resented or misunderstood me.

The sight of him lying in a pool of blood had lodged itself in my heart like a thorn I could never pull out.

...

At 10:00 pm, I stood on the top floor of the art museum and watched the Ferris wheel's lights turn slowly, drawing bright circles across the sky.

Footsteps rushed up behind me. Before I could turn around, a hand clamped hard around my wrist.

Caleb's eyes were bloodshot. He shoved his phone in front of my face.

On the screen was a photo from the emergency room, showing Layla's pale face half-covered by a white sheet.

"Aurora, are you happy now?" His voice came out raw and hoarse, a tone I had never heard from him before.

"Just because I didn't drive you home, you had someone leak her information! Now, she's slit her wrists!"