My 10 year love is his ten year performance.

​

Chapter 1

After ten years of trying to win over the devoted second male lead, he finally gave me a lavish wedding.

After we got married, Evander Hayes treated me as if I were the center of his world. Yet unease never left my heart.

Because the System showed that my progress was still zero.

It wasn’t until our wedding anniversary that I found a diary hidden in the drawer of his study.

That was how I learned the truth.

Evander had awakened. He knew this world was a novel.

He knew I was the vicious female supporting character.

He knew I would eventually hurt the female lead, Sophia Reed.

To protect the woman he truly loved, he had only pretended to be deeply in love with me all these years.

The moment I realized this, the System’s notification sounded in my head:

“Mission failed. You will be erased in forty-eight hours.”

Dazed, I closed the diary. My hands were trembling.

So all of Evander’s gentleness and careful devotion over the years had only been a way to keep watch over me, to make sure I never harmed the woman he loved.

It made sense why nothing ever really changed, no matter how much he indulged me. Everything he did had been calculated.

My fingertips brushed against the phone he had left on the desk. After hesitating for a moment, I picked it up.

As expected, I found another social media account hidden on it.

The account was filled with chat records between him and the novel’s male lead, James Bennett.

Their conversation made it clear that James had also awakened to the truth about this world being a novel.

James wrote:

[According to the book, Liora had a thing for me and was always jealous of Sophia.]

[She even had her bullied, which led to Sophia’s depression.]

“Marrying such a vicious woman and having to pretend you’re head over heels for her… that’s got to be exhausting.”

“But she does not seem that bad now, and she is falling more and more in love with you.”

“If she ever finds out why you married her, she will be devastated. Are you sure you will not regret it?”

Evander’s reply was calm and detached:

[I will not regret it. As long as Sophia is happy, anything I give up is worth it.]

The words sent a buzz through my mind, followed by a chill that spread to my very core.

I set the phone down and ran out of the house.

Snow was falling heavily outside. I wandered the streets without direction.

I didn’t know how long I walked before exhaustion finally forced me onto a bench.

Moments I had shared with Evander kept resurfacing in my thoughts. Each memory tightened the ache in my chest.

I didn’t know how much time passed before an umbrella suddenly opened above my head. A familiar, low voice came from above.

“There you are. What are you doing sitting out here in the snow? And you’re not even dressed for it. You’ll catch a cold.”

I looked up.

Evander stood there in a tailored coat. His dark eyes were filled with concern.

His acting was flawless. I couldn’t tell if it was all an act, or if there was a shred of genuine feeling behind it.

When I didn’t respond, his brows furrowed even tighter.

He reached out and touched my cheek, then my forehead.

“You’re burning up. You must feel awful. Let’s get you home.”

He pressed the umbrella into my hands and lifted me into his arms, carrying me all the way back.

Back home, he helped me into my pajamas.

“I’ll call the doctor.”

I grabbed his hand without thinking.

“It’s nothing. Just a little chill. Some hot cocoa will do.”

Hearing me speak, the tension in his brow eased a little.

“Then I’ll make you some.”

As he turned to leave, I tugged at the hem of his coat again.

I held his gaze and asked softly:

“Evander… are you happy with me?”

Chapter 2

In the original story, Evander loved Sophia from afar. Every time he saw her with James, it broke his heart.

For her sake, he never married and spent his life alone.

Now that he had awakened, even if he married me only to protect Sophia, I still wanted to know one thing.

Had he ever been happy during our four years together, even for a single moment?

Evander froze for a beat. Then he avoided my intense gaze and let out a soft laugh.

“Marrying you was what I wanted. Of course I’m happy. Why would you suddenly ask that?”

When I saw that flicker of evasion in his eyes, my heart sank.

He was lying.

Of course he was. A devoted second male lead who’d tie himself to a woman he didn’t love, all for the heroine’s sake… how could he ever truly care for anyone else?

I let go of his coat and forced a faint smile.

“Just curious, that’s all. Whatever happens, I hope you find happiness.”

Evander looked puzzled. He smiled and gently pinched my cheek.

“I’m happy as long as you’re here. What’s with you today? Enough talk. Let me get you that cocoa before you really do get sick.”

As I watched him walk away, the smile at my lips slowly faded. I lowered my head in quiet desolation.

Even knowing the truth, I found I couldn’t hate Evander.

He didn’t love me, but he had truly been good to me.

When the System brought me into this world, I was living in the body of an eight-year-old.

In a way, Evander and I had grown up together.

When I was sixteen, I was cornered by a group of thugs in an alley.

He had rushed in without hesitation to protect me and ended up injuring his arm.

When I was eighteen, my parents divorced and each started new families. Neither of them wanted me.

It was Evander who took me home and gently told me that he could become my new support.

In my original life, I was an orphan. Here, my own parents didn’t want me. Life felt painful and suffocating.

He was one of the few sources of warmth I had ever known.

Even if the feelings were fake, the help was real. I was endlessly grateful to him.

A violent pain suddenly tore through my chest, dragging me back from my thoughts.

I pressed a hand to my chest, knowing all too well what this was—the System, claiming my life.

I murmured, my own voice sounding strangely calm to my ears.

“Maybe the world gets its happy ending once the villainess is gone.”

Evander would no longer have to fear that I might change for the worse and hurt the woman he loved.

He would no longer need to sacrifice his entire life, pretending to be affectionate with a woman he didn’t love.

The next morning, I woke up wracked with cramping pain. I struggled to brace myself against the table as I stood, nearly collapsing.

Luckily, Evander caught me the moment he walked in.

He looked at my deathly pale face and frowned. “This looks serious. It doesn’t seem like just a cold. I’m taking you to the hospital.”

I shook my head.

It was the System draining my life. Going to the hospital would be pointless; they wouldn’t find a thing.

Evander’s arm tightened around my waist, his tone leaving no room for argument. “You’re going.”

He carried me to the hospital. The entire way, his brows were tightly drawn with worry, making me fall into that illusion again, as if he truly cared.

While we were waiting for the doctor, I saw James enter the hospital with Sophia in his arms.

Cold sweat beaded on Sophia’s forehead. She looked to be in great pain.

Evander saw them too. His expression changed instantly.

He grabbed a passing nurse’s arm. “What happened to her?”

“She has acute gastroenteritis. Her boyfriend is discussing the treatment plan with the doctor.”

Evander looked back at me.

My heart shuddered, but I kept my voice soft. “I’m fine now, really. Go check on Sophia. She’s a friend.”

Chapter 3

Evander hesitated, looking conflicted. In the end, he said,

“All right. She does look worse off. I’ll go check. Call me if you need anything—I’ll come right back.”

With that, he hurried off toward Sophia.

I watched quietly as he and James rushed around her, both of them full of worry and concern.

A deep pang of envy shot through me.

So this was the heroine’s charm.

She could make both the male lead and his rival fall for her, willing to give up everything.

The doctor calling my number pulled me back to reality.

I turned and walked into the examination room.

The diagnosis was multiple organ failure.

I didn’t have much time left.

I had expected it, yet hearing it spoken out loud still left me feeling a little sad.

I sat there in a daze for a while.

Then it suddenly hit me that my time was running out, and I hadn’t taken care of what came after.

Evander was busy, and he didn’t truly love me anyway.

I didn’t want to trouble him with my affairs after death.

I took a taxi to Serenity Hills Memorial Park.

After choosing a headstone, a staff member came over with a registration book.

“Name of the deceased? And your relationship?”

“Liora Carter. It’s for me.”

The staff member looked up at me in surprise.

“You’re so young to be doing this alone? Where’s your family?”

I thought of the parents who had long since cut ties with me,

and of the husband whose heart belonged to someone else.

After a long silence, I spoke softly,

“I… don’t have any family.”

The staff member said nothing more.

With clear sympathy in their eyes, they helped me complete all the procedures.

I had barely stepped out of Serenity Hills Memorial Park when Evander called.

He explained,

“Sophia was on an IV, so I stayed with her and lost track of time.”

“I just checked your department, and you weren’t there. Where are you? I’ll come get you.”

I replied gently,

“I stepped out to buy some fruit for Sophia. I’ll be back soon.”

Sophia’s voice was faintly audible in the background.

Evander said hurriedly,

“Okay. Hurry back, and be careful.”

The line went dead before I could reply.

I stood there for another two minutes before turning to a nearby shop to print out a divorce agreement.

Then I bought a bag of fruit and headed toward Sophia’s hospital room.

When Sophia saw me, her face lit up with delight.

“Liora! It’s been ages! You didn’t have to bring anything! Thank you!”

I set the fruit down.

Looking at her bright, sunlike smile, I couldn’t help but smile as well.

“It really has. Are you feeling better?”

“Much better! Thanks to James and Evander taking such good care of me.”

Sophia happily tried to get up and hug me,

but she pulled at her still aching stomach and cried out, bending over in pain.

Evander was at her side in an instant.

“You’re still hooked up to an IV. Don’t move.”

Sophia smiled sheepishly, while Evander looked helpless.

I lowered my gaze, a quiet ache rising in my chest.

Chapter 4

Sophia pulled me over to sit beside her, wanting to chat for a while.

The moment I sat down, a sharp pain stabbed through my chest.

I lost my balance as my body swayed, and in the chaos, I accidentally tore out Sophia’s IV line.

Blood immediately welled up on the back of her hand.

Evander’s face darkened instantly. He shoved me aside.

Caught off balance, I fell hard. My arm took the brunt of the impact against the floor, a cold sweat springing to my brow from the pain.

He hurried to grab Sophia’s hand. When he saw the blood on her skin, his gaze turned noticeably colder as it landed on me.

“Liora, what the hell was that?”

I met his suspicious stare. My heart twisted painfully, but I rushed to explain anyway.

“I didn’t mean to—it was an accident!”

“An accident?” Evander cut me off sharply. “What kind of accident is that?”

He pulled Sophia outside to find a nurse and deal with her injury.

Enduring the pain, I pushed myself to my feet, intending to follow them and apologize to Sophia.

I heard Sophia mutter,

“Don’t be so harsh. The look you gave her just now was terrifying. She clearly didn’t mean it.”

“And she doesn’t look well at all. She might be sick. You should take better care of her. Apologize to her when we get back.”

Evander pressed his lips together. Irritation churned in his chest, but he still replied,

“I know what she’s capable of.”

“Sophia, you’re too trusting. If someone truly means you harm one day, you won’t even see it coming.”

Separated by only a wall, every word of their conversation reached my ears.

My steps slowly came to a halt.

I’d forgotten.

I was the villainess.

In their eyes, I was always a threat to Sophia.

My fumbling with her IV line had just cemented that image.

My gaze dimmed. Without saying anything, I returned to the hospital room, placed the divorce agreement on the table, and wrote a single sentence on the paper beside it.

By the time Evander and Sophia came back, I was already gone.

Sophia asked in surprise,

“Where did Liora go?”

Evander frowned. His eyes fell on the two extra sheets of paper on the table.

In that instant, an unexplainable wave of panic surged through his chest.

On the table lay a divorce agreement and a blank sheet of paper.

Written on it were the words:

[I’ve signed the papers. Wishing you a lifetime of peace and happiness.

May you never be alone.]

Evander’s fingers clenched tightly. Panic finally set in.

He was out the door before the thought fully formed, desperate to find her.

A crowd had gathered at the hospital entrance.

He forced his way over, only to hear voices buzzing around him.

“So tragic. She just walked out of the hospital and collapsed. They brought so many doctors, but it was too late.”

“Multiple organ failure, they said. Nothing anyone could do.”

“I heard. I was in for tests with her this morning. So young. So pretty. Her name was Liora, I think? Liora Carter.”

Chapter 5

A roar filled Evander’s mind, and his vision whited out.

Behind him, the frantic shouts of Sophia and James faded into a distant buzz.

His legs were moving of their own accord, propelling him in a mad dash for the ER.

The door to the emergency room was half open. Evander rushed forward in a single stride and shoved it hard. The door flew open with a loud crash.

“Mr. Hayes, stop! You can’t go in there!”

Several nurses hurried over to stop him.

But Evander was frantic beyond reason. He brushed them aside without a second thought.

He stumbled to the bedside. His hands trembled violently as he reached for the white sheet and slowly drew it back from the patient’s face.

In that instant, his entire body froze.

“This… this isn’t Liora?”

Just then, Sophia caught up to him, gasping for breath.

“Evander! We were yelling for you! It’s not Liora—the woman who collapsed. Just a similar-sounding name.”

Evander paused, stunned. Then, filled with guilt, he gently pulled the white sheet back into place, his voice hoarse.

“I’m so sorry. I acted recklessly just now and caused you all so much trouble.”

Once he was outside the room, Evander finally let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

He wiped his palm, slick with cold sweat, against his pants.

Thank god. It was a false alarm. Liora was safe. That was all that mattered.

Outside the room, Sophia stood with her arms crossed, her brows tightly knit as she studied him.

“What is going on with you two? Why did Liora just take off like that?”

“I…” Evander’s lips moved, but for a moment, he didn’t know how to explain.

Sophia’s frown deepened, a note of reproach in her voice.

“Look, I don’t know what’s between you, or why you’re so convinced Liora’s someone she’s not. But you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

“All I know is, she’s been a perfect wife to you and a true friend to me. Isn’t that enough?”

It felt as though an invisible hand had clenched tightly around Evander’s heart, making it throb painfully.

Sophia was right.

In the novel, Liora was the villainess. Yet in all the years since, she’d never hurt a soul. She’d even befriended the heroine.

Meanwhile, he himself had lived in constant fear, doubting her at the slightest hint of trouble.

Evander slowly lowered his gaze.

At that moment, James let out a faint, knowing smile and reached out to pat Evander on the shoulder.

“Evander, you’re all bark. You’re not half as cold as you pretend to be. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have lost it back there.”

“Say what you will, but that girl’s love for you is plain for anyone to see.”

“Stop overthinking things. Sophia’s got me. She doesn’t need your protection. Stop hiding from your own feelings and do what’s right.”

James was still smiling, but there was a depth in his eyes that was hard to read.

Evander looked at him with a complicated expression.

After a moment of silence, he slowly nodded.

James said nothing more. He wrapped an arm around Sophia’s waist, and the two of them turned and left together.

Evander stood where he was, watching their figures fade into the distance.

He slowly lifted his hand, staring at the divorce papers crushed in his fist.

The sight of her neat, familiar handwriting sent another sharp pang through his heart.

So she had known everything all along.

Chapter 6

Memories of Liora washed over him, unbidden.

When they were sixteen, he had deliberately staged a heroic rescue from a group of thugs, hoping to make Liora fall in love with him.

But the plan backfired, and he ended up with a broken arm.

When the doctor came to him with the report showing his fracture, Liora cried even harder than he did. Her tears wouldn’t stop.

She apologized over and over, blaming herself and calling herself a jinx who brought him nothing but bad luck.

Seeing her so utterly distraught, he couldn’t find it in him to blame her.

Half‑joking, he said,

“Guess you’re stuck with me, then.”

To his surprise, Liora took him at his word.

She gave a solemn nod and, for months after, juggled three jobs a day.

When she finally placed the savings she had scraped together over those months into his hands, he was both shocked and amused.

He laughed at how naive she was, at how foolishly adorable she seemed.

When they were eighteen, Liora had sent him a long, heartfelt text, every line brimming with affection.

His heart had started racing the moment he read it. He called her again and again, but she never picked up.

A sense of unease crept into Evander’s chest.

By the time he finally found her, Liora was curled up in a corner, crying her heart out.

He panicked and rushed forward, pulling her tightly into his arms.

She’d clung to him, pouring out her sorrow in a voice raw with tears.

With every word, it felt like a knife twisting in his own heart.

That day, he’d vowed to be her rock, to give her the home she’d never had.

Perhaps too much time had passed, so much that he had almost forgotten that, at the very beginning, he had once loved her with genuine passion.

So when did everything change?

It was probably the day he reunited with Sophia.

Those long‑dormant feelings surged back like a tidal wave.

He couldn’t help himself.

He found his eyes and thoughts drawn to her every move.

On one side was Liora’s blazing, all‑consuming love.

On the other, the heart‑fluttering rush of seeing Sophia again.

Torn between the two, he’d agonized, yet comforted himself with the thought that he was safeguarding Sophia’s happiness.

But now, the illusion shattered, and he saw the absurdity of it all.

What he’d called devotion was, in truth, a double betrayal.

That explained the quiet sadness in Liora’s eyes over the past few days.

Even as she smiled and wished him happiness, something had clearly been missing.

She must have been in so much pain, hurt that the one person she trusted most had deceived her as well.

A great weight settled on Evander’s chest, making it hard to draw breath.

With trembling hands, he pulled out his phone and called his secretary.

“I need my wife’s location. Now. I’m going to her.”

Chapter 7

After leaving the hospital, I waved down a taxi and headed straight for Serenity Hills Memorial Park.

I could clearly feel my body growing weaker by the day. I didn’t know when I might suddenly be gone.

So I rented a small place nearby and specifically contacted the staff at Serenity Hills Memorial Park, asking them to check on me every few hours.

That way, if I passed unexpectedly, they could take me straight there for cremation. It was simpler for everyone.

I never understood why the elderly often sat so still, watching sunrises and sunsets, watching the world pass by.

Now I finally understood.

When my heart felt so heavy and stifling, I simply didn’t have the energy to do anything else.

So most of the time, I moved a chair onto the balcony, sat down, and quietly watched the world outside.

In my last half‑hour, I pushed through waves of pain.

Following the staff’s directions, I slowly climbed a small hill—a place known for its wish tree, where people left tokens of hope.

They had given me a wooden plaque and told me that I could carve my wish for the next life on it.

If I hung it on the tree at the top of the hill, the wish would come true.

I held the plaque and fell into deep thought.

At first, I thought of wealth, luxury—a life of ease and comfort.

Then, I considered a happy family—whole and complete.

But in the end, my hands shook so badly it took everything I had to carve one simple wish:

[If there is a next life, let me love myself.

Let me live freely, for no one but myself.]

In this life, I had been far too timid.

Because I grew up starved of love, I spent my short twenty‑plus years desperately chasing after it.

Next time, I wouldn’t live like that.

I’d live boldly—

I’d shine a light that was all my own.

With one minute left on the clock, I finished carving.

I took a deep breath and slowly hung it on the memorial tree.

My strength spent, my vision went dark. I stumbled, my body tilting toward the slope.

I thought I heard Evander’s voice. It was probably just a hallucination at the moment of death.

Next life, I’m living for me.

A profound relief washed through me as I let my eyes close.

Suddenly, someone grabbed my hand tightly.

I was yanked backward and fell into a warm embrace.

My eyes flew open.

The first thing I saw was Evander’s reddened eyes.

He stared at me with eyes wide open, his voice trembling as he shouted hoarsely,

“Liora, have you lost your mind?”

“Picking out your own plot? Was all this just to die?”

I stared back, dazed. My gaze dropped to the watch on my wrist.

The time displayed had already passed the moment the System had told me I would die.

And yet… I was still here.

Chapter 8

Just as confusion filled my mind, the System’s voice suddenly rang out in my head.

“Congratulations. At the final moment, the target, Evander Hayes, has achieved complete devotion.”

“Mission accomplished. You are cleared to remain in this world.”

The moment the voice fell silent, the pain vanished—swept away as if by a sudden wind.

I slowly lifted my head.

Tears streamed down Evander’s face like broken pearls, rolling endlessly along his cheeks.

In my memory, he was always the picture of calm restraint. Nothing ever seemed to ruffle him.

On ordinary days, only matters related to Sophia could ever throw him into chaos.

This was the first time I had seen him cry for me.

As his tears hit the ground, it felt as though they were dripping straight into my heart.

A tangle of emotions choked me. I wanted to speak, but the words died on my lips.

Before I could speak, Evander suddenly held me even tighter. Through the fabric of our clothes, I could clearly feel the heat of his body.

He apologized to me, his voice hoarse, as if it had been scraped raw.

“Liora… it’s my fault. I was wrong. I know I was wrong.”

“I’ll trust you completely from now on. No more misunderstandings. No more lies—I swear it.”

“You’ve always talked about the beach. Let’s go. We can leave right now.”

“What do you want? Anything. I’ll get you anything. I’ll spend my whole life making it up to you. I’m only happy when you’re with me.”

“Please… don’t leave me. Just one more chance. I’ll make this right, I swear.”

Had he said these things just two days ago, they would have been everything I’d ever dreamed of.

I would have been so moved that I would have thrown myself into his arms without hesitation.

Now, I felt emotionally numb. Nothing could stir even a hint of feeling in me.

I knew he meant every word.

But his love had once been like countless blades, cutting me until I was covered in wounds.

Now, I had neither the courage nor the strength to accept it.

I slowly raised my hand and gently pushed him away.

Evander went rigid. He stood frozen, disbelief clouding his eyes.

“Liora, you…”

I met his gaze. The love that had once lit my eyes was gone, replaced by a deep, unshakable calm.

The corners of my lips curved into a faint smile.

“Evander, did you know? I realized a long time ago that your attention was elsewhere… on Sophia.”

Evander froze, then hurried to explain.

“How could that be? I clearly—”

I interrupted him and continued.

“That year, my sophomore year, you became so busy. Secretive, always working on documents you had no use for.”

I’d asked him once, curious,

‘Why are you going through all these financial aid forms? They’re not for you.’

He’d answered smoothly—too smoothly—

‘Just curious, that’s all.’

But I still caught the flicker of panic that flashed through his eyes.

In the original story, the heroine struggled with poverty.

I had already begun to suspect something, yet I still chose to trust him.

After all, for so many years, I had firmly believed that the person Evander loved most was me.

In the end, reality dealt the crushing blow—

he had betrayed my trust.

Chapter 9

A flicker of panic crossed Evander’s eyes at my words. He reached for my hand.

“Liora, I promise—from now on, there will be no contact. None.”

“You can have full access to my phone. My assistant will send you my schedule daily…”

I gently pulled my hand back and smiled.

“That’s enough. I’m not blaming you. It’s just… some paths, once left behind, can’t be walked again.”

“Evander, I don’t blame you. But I’m not going back.”

From now on, I only wanted to live for myself and love myself properly.

The light in Evander’s eyes dimmed bit by bit.

His lips pressed into a thin line as he stared at me for a long, silent moment.

Finally, the words seemed dragged from him.

“So there’s… truly no chance?”

I turned around, my voice firm.

“No. Go find your happiness, Evander. And I’ll start mine.”

After saying that, I stepped forward and walked straight ahead.

His hand shot out on instinct, closing on nothing but air.

All he could do was stand there in a daze, watching my figure fade into the distance.

That very night, I went to the hospital and had a full physical examination done again.

When I saw that every indicator on the report showed I was in excellent health, the weight on my heart finally lifted, and I let out a long breath.

I tallied my savings. With that security in mind, I first rented an apartment for two months.

Then, I prepared to re‑enter the workforce and find that shining version of myself again.

I polished my résumé. Almost as soon as I sent it out, interview offers started coming in.

I picked a few with competitive offers and scheduled the interviews.

Within days, I’d landed a position at a company that was a perfect fit.

In those first weeks, I was like a sponge, soaking up every bit of knowledge and skill I could.

Slowly, I stepped out from under the shadow of heartbreak and threw myself into my work.

One day, after finishing my tasks, I received a message from Sophia.

[Liora! Long time no see. You vanished last time. Dinner tonight? We need to catch up properly.]

I hesitated for a moment, then replied with a simple “Okay.”

After work, I went to the address she’d sent.

But the moment I walked in, I saw a familiar figure—Evander.

My heart gave a lurch. Without a second thought, I turned to leave.

Evander reacted quickly and grabbed my arm.

“Liora, wait. Please. Just… sit with me for a minute.”

His voice was full of pleading.

I was silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

“You weren’t answering my messages… so I asked Sophia to reach out.”

He looked down, shamefaced.

After our last conversation, I’d blocked him, resolved to never see him again.

I just hadn’t expected him to be this persistent.

Evander sat across from me, his fingers tracing the rim of his cup, his eyes unable to settle on anything.

Heavy shadows bruised the skin beneath his eyes. He looked pale, drained.

He asked me questions in a scattered way—from where I was living to how my job was going.

Finally, I’d had enough.

“If you have something to say, Evander, then say it.”

Chapter 10

Evander took a delicate box out of his pocket and slowly opened it.

Inside, a diamond necklace caught the light, glittering brilliantly. It was clearly worth a fortune.

“I saw this and thought of you immediately. I had to have it for you.”

I knew enough about jewelry to recognize it as the work of a master—a piece symbolizing unwavering love.

I’d always loved anything that sparkled, and Evander knew that.

I knew this was his way of apologizing, but I felt nothing anymore. I had no intention of accepting his feelings again.

I gently shook my head and refused.

“It’s too much. I can’t. I’m sorry, but I should go.”

With that, I stood up and walked away without looking back.

Evander stayed where he was, staring blankly at my retreating figure.

James walked over from a table in the corner. He stopped beside Evander, raised his hand to pat his shoulder, and let out a long sigh.

“Well, she’s made her choice. What now?”

Evander clenched the necklace in his hand and spoke in a low voice.

“I’ll wait for her.”

“Wait? For what? She won’t even look at you. Don’t tell me you’re planning to wait a lifetime.”

“Yes.”

James laughed in frustration.

“I told you, man. You’re a day late and a dollar short.”

“In the book, you waited a lifetime for Sophia. Now you want to do it all over again for Liora? You sure?”

“I’m sure. I owe her that much.”

There was stubborn determination in Evander’s eyes.

James fell silent for a moment, then sighed again.

“What a pair you are. And if she never looks back, ever, you’re sure you won’t regret it?”

Those familiar words left Evander silent for a long time.

Finally, his voice rough, he said,

“I won’t regret it. I’ll wait a lifetime if I have to. This time… I mean it.”

After that, Evander never sought me out again.

I thrived at work, climbing the ladder steadily. From time to time, I received gifts sent by Sophia. Every single item suited my taste perfectly.

When I thanked her, Sophia sounded baffled.

“Gifts? I didn’t send anything. Oh… it must be Evander, using my name.”

“Just keep them. If you send them back, he’ll just send more. What’s the use? One more gift won’t change anything.”

I smiled at her reasoning and agreed.

After hanging up, I checked the bottom of the gift box and found a letter tucked inside.

It was from Evander. The message was simple—he would wait a lifetime.

I closed the envelope and casually tossed it into a drawer.

The promise might have been sincere, but it no longer held any power over me.

The wish I had carved onto that plaque didn’t need to wait for another life.

It could be fulfilled in this one.

I finished packing, drew back the curtains, and let the evening light flood the room.

I knew my life was finally my own.