Chapter 19
Hayes returned to his hotel like a lost soul.
He’d taken the earliest flight over, hit the ground running without even catching his breath before frantically searching for her. Now all his energy felt drained–even lifting his hand was exhausting.
He didn’t know how to win Lennox back, but he knew one thing for certain: he couldn’t lose her.
He collapsed onto the bed as overwhelming fatigue crashed over him, strange fragments flashing before his eyes. Half–conscious, he fell into dreams.
The dream showed him the past life Lennox had described.
He floated like an observer, watching another version of himself doing unfamiliar things.
At that past wedding, Raina had also threatened suicide to force him. But his past self’s eyes had been even colder than now–he’d said “go die somewhere else” and turned to take Lennox’s hand.
He’d thought that was the end of it, until a year later when he ran into Raina on the street.
She was heavily pregnant, pale as she stopped him, saying she’d been saved by fishermen after jumping into the sea. After losing her memory, she’d married and had a child, but now her husband had died at sea and she was desperate, finally remembering him.
Out of gratitude for saving his life, he’d rented her a place in the suburbs, given her a black card, occasionally checking on her.
He’d always remembered he was Lennox’s husband. He’d never crossed the line.
At the dream’s end, he watched his past self’s gaze fall on a woman who’d been hit by a truck, completely losing composure. He’d rushed over like a madman, holding Lennox’s lifeless body and crying hysterically.
Overwhelming grief consumed him. He jolted awake, tears soaking his pillow, throat dry and aching, his heart feeling like it had been torn apart.
He stared at the ceiling for a while, then suddenly got up and headed straight for Lennox’s shop.
Lennox was the same as always–with no customers in the shop, she lay in her lounge chair, swaying contentedly.
The door chimes rang. Lennox pulled the book off her face and looked toward the entrance.
“Welcome…” Her words cut off again.
“Why are you back?” Annoyance flashed across Lennox’s face. “Wasn’t what I said yesterday clear enough?”
Hayes opened his mouth, quickly walking over to crouch in front of Lennox, unconsciously fidgeting with his clothes.
“Len. I dreamed about the previous life you mentioned.”
Lennox hadn’t expected him to say this. She froze completely.
Hayes‘ voice was hoarse: “I saw everything. I saw it all, including you dying under that truck.”
“So?” Lennox’s voice was cold. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
“I didn’t cheat.” Hayes looked at her seriously. “What you saw wasn’t real.”
“Raina’s child wasn’t mine. I just happened to run into her on the street–she hadn’t died–and I helped her and her kid.”
“Len.” He gripped her hand tightly. “I didn’t betray you!”
15:21 O
A Billion–Dollar Goodbye: Too Late for Second Chances. Mr. Ex
14.4%
Chapter 19
“Whether past life or this one, you’re the only person I’ve ever loved.”
“Len, can you… give me one more chance?”
His eyes reddened, tears threatening to spill.
Lennox had never seen Hayes like this–humbly begging someone just for forgiveness.
She sighed. “But my death was real.”
“Whether you betrayed me or not, the fact remains that you hid your contact with Raina from me.”
“You know how my mother died, Hayes. She was pregnant when Raina’s mother made her so angry she died along with her unborn child. My little brother never even got to see this world.”
“You say what Raina’s mother did has nothing to do with her, but who’s going to pay for my brother’s life?”
“You should have known how I’d react to finding out about your contact with her, but you did it anyway. Hayes, from start to finish, you never asked for my opinion or considered my feelings.”
She stared straight at him, each accusation like an arrow piercing his heart.
“Wrong is wrong. I don’t forgive, and I absolutely won’t look back!”
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