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But as I entered,Zach followed silently.
“What are you doing?”
He smiled bitterly.“Rachel,can’t I even have a glass of water?”
Fifteen years of history softened me.I let him in,texting Ethan.
Zach knew my house like his own.
Over the years, through mutual support, I had never denied the joy he brought into my life.
But it wasn’t love.
I watched Zach chug several drinks,staring at a corner.
Suddenly,he opened a drawer and pulled out my diary.
Red-eyed,he approached,voice choked.
“Rachel,look. Do you remember? It’s your diary.”
“One night,you sneaked some wine and asked me to carry you to find it.I saw you crying, writing about how sad you were,and that you liked me.”
“You wrote Zach was great,you’d love him forever.”
“I promised you that night.You kissed me,and I caught you.”
“But you forgot everything when you woke.”
“I thought it was just an illusion,my own fault for testing whether you really liked me.”
“I didn’t know if you saw me as a brother or something more.”
“Rachel,I messed up.Can you give me another chance?”
I stared at the diary,stunned.
I’d nearly forgotten—I thought it was destroyed.
Last life,begging Zach to stay,I showed him this diary,proving I wasn’t lying about my pain.
Rushing to Fiona,he shredded it himself.
Now it was intact.
But I didn’t love him anymore.
If he had seen my diary so early but never again after we got married, it must mean he had stopped caring.
When he loved me, he would secretly observe my moods and the details of my life.
Wiping endless tears,I calmly tore the diary in half.
“Sorry,Zach.I can’t love you again.”
I tried to leave.Red-eyed,Zach grabbed my arm,refusing to let go.
Until Ethan burst in,punching him.
“Rachel,don’t go,please?”
Zach,clutching his bleeding nose,still wouldn’t release me.
“Sleep here if you want.”
“Ethan,let’s go home.”
I shook him off,taking Ethan’s hand.
Outside,I hugged Ethan,cooing,“Kiss me.”
Ethan,pained,touched my swollen eyes,pinning me against the car,kissing from eyes to lips.
I didn't feel sad for Zach.
I just felt…an indescribable feeling.
But in Ethan’s arms,I felt so much better.
After a while,he tucked me into the car,driving home.
Zach leaned against the second-floor window,eyes red,wrist bitten bloody,tears falling on the wound.
Beside him,the torn diary.
When junior year arrived, Ethan and I got engaged.
Ethan, an orphan, took me to his guardians' graves last year. I couldn’t yet visit my parents—not because Ethan wasn’t worthy,but I feared breaking down,recalling that cold,dark night.
Now,I was ready.
Ethan rambled nervously all night,a rare sight that eased me.
We knelt at my parents’graves and talked from dawn to dusk.
If your spirits could see, you would be happy, wouldn't you?
Your daughter’s healthy,with the love of her life.
If there is a next life, I hope to have you as my parents again, with me being healthy, taking care of you, and living a long life.
“Let’s go.”
Ethan kowtowed thrice,leading me home.
The engagement was grand—booked hotel,hired designer.With no parents to guide us,Ethan researched every detail online.
On engagement day,Zach replaced the driver.
Before I even realized it, he had driven me to the riverside.
My wrists were tied with rope.
Zach gently fixed my hair.“Don’t worry,Rachel.I won’t hurt you.”
“I just want to talk.”
“You don’t know—Ethan’s like a mad dog,guarding you so tightly.I just want to talk.”
Nervous,I watched him,but before I spoke,he continued.“Rachel,I’m leaving the country soon.”
“Even my mom doesn't want me anywhere near you.”
“I love you so much.”
“Maybe you can't let me go because we were never actually together.”
His eyes gleamed strangely,tears welling.“Rachel,I had a dream.”
“In it,I was a terrible person, discarding everything I cherished.”
“I’ll never forgive that me.”
“Rachel,I just came to say goodbye.Don’t hate me,okay?”
I pursed my lips,shocked.
Did he dream…of my past life?
Before I could think,Zach grabbed my chin,kissing me despite my struggle.
As I bit him,he turned abruptly and jumped into the river.
I heard him say—
“Rachel,I’m sorry.”
Ethan’s car arrived.He untied me frantically.I pointed to the river and shouted,“He jumped!”
Holding me tightly, Ethan grumbled and called for rescue.
“Die to haunt you forever?Not a chance.”
I kissed Ethan’s face.When Zach was pulled up,Ethan kicked him,taking me to the engagement.
We exchanged vows.
From that day on, we were engaged, a warm bond for two without families.
After college,Ethan and I started a business.My heart never ached again—he cared for me so well.
So,so well.
I never saw Zach post-graduation.Rumor said he went to the Arctic.
Ethan and I taught in rural areas,providing desks and books.
We founded a charity foundation with the hope of easing the world’s suffering,bit by bit.
A year after graduation,Ethan and I got married.
Ethan, with a jealous look, tossed a gift from the Arctic into storage, covering my eyes as he did so.
When doctors said I shouldn’t have kids,Ethan got a vasectomy.
Five years,ten years,decades later,
We remained happy.
