Chapter 1
After my husband fell asleep, I was watching TV alone and happened to catch Ryan, who had just made his comeback, being interviewed. He was talking about the most important person in his life.
Everyone—and honestly, me included—thought he'd mention Charlotte.
They were once so madly in love and inseparable, and now, they were the golden couple in the entertainment industry—the kind everyone was obsessed with. Seriously, one couldn't find a pair more perfect than them.
But Ryan looked straight into the camera, like he was speaking directly to me.
He said, "It took me five years to figure out that the one I truly love isn't my first love, but the person who was always there for me when my world was falling apart.
"She loves irises, blue origami cranes, and seeing me dressed in light colors.
"If I ever get the chance, I want to find a way to begin again with her."
Ryan's confession set the whole internet on fire. Everyone was desperate to find out who that lucky girl was.
One night, after I broke the iris in the vase, my phone lit up—it was Ryan.
He said, "Three years, Eva. Not a single day have I forgotten you.
"Give me one more chance, will you? Can we start over?
"This time, I promise—I'll take care of you, for a lifetime. Forever and always."
I didn't reply. The next day, I posted my marriage certificate to my Instagram—for the first time in three years.
After that, I declined every single one of Ryan's frantic calls.
Because honestly, his love—no matter how deep—just came too late for me.
*****
After tucking in my husband and our little one, I settled down to watch TV, busying my hands making one of those tiny crafts my daughter always asked for.
Then, just when I least expected it, Ryan's face popped up on a talk show.
Three years had gone by, and he looked a lot more grown-up now. Even when the host tossed some pretty provocative questions his way, he didn't blow up like he used to.
Three years ago, Ryan was quietly blacklisted for standing up for himself.
He could've leaned on his family's connections, but he chose to tough it out on his own—taking every bit part that came his way, until finally he broke through and got back on top.
As the show was winding down, the host—normally sharp-tongued—finally tossed out a rare, heartfelt question.
He said, "We all know these past three years have been tough for you, so here's my last question.
"Who do you think was the most important person to you during those three years?"
Right then, the camera cut to the audience, where a sea of fans were holding up signs with Charlotte's name, shouting it at the top of their lungs—as if it were turning into a full-blown Charlotte rally.
That scene was like a stab behind my eyes; I dropped what I was working on and grabbed the remote, ready to change the channel.
But right before I hit the button, the camera cut back to Ryan.
Unlike before, when he used to beam at the sight of Charlotte's name flashing across the crowd, this time he seemed distant, his gaze soft yet tinged with an almost hidden regret that was hard to define.
Something flickered inside me, and I let out a self-mocking little laugh.
Did I really expect anything different? Who else would he say, if not Charlotte?
A wry smile tugged at my lips as I hit the button, but the TV didn't respond.
I assumed the remote was busted. I sighed and was about to get up and turn it off the old-fashioned way.
But right as I was getting up, Ryan's voice suddenly came through the TV.
He said, "It took me three years to realize the person I love most isn't my first love, but the one who stuck by me when things were hardest.
"She loves irises, blue origami cranes, and seeing me dressed in light colors.
"If I ever get the chance, I want to find a way to begin again with her."
The whole room froze in a stunned hush.
Even I was caught off guard.
The fans in the audience glanced at each other in disbelief—clearly, nobody saw that coming from Ryan.
After all, Charlotte had made it public that she was allergic to irises and never wanted to see one in her life.
Instinctively, I tightened my grip on the blue origami crane I'd just folded, my eyes flicking to the irises I'd arranged in the vase. A storm of feelings welled up inside me.
Only then did I realize—Ryan was dressed in a pale blue shirt tonight.
I let out a wry, self-mocking laugh and tossed the crumpled blue origami crane into the trash. I looked over at the family photo hanging on the wall, then let my eyes fall.
What good did it do, you saying all this now, Ryan?
There was no way I could give you another chance now.