Chapter 3

The third time Lillian and Andrew crossed paths was at a bar.

Lillian had wrapped up a business deal when her client, a greasy middle-aged man, insisted she join him for drinks. He kept pushing glass after glass her way, never letting up.

"Ms. Turner, one more. If you don't, you're not showing me any respect," the client pressed.

Lillian put on a polite smile, but inside, she was desperately searching for an escape route.

Out of nowhere, a hand snatched the glass right out of her grip.

"She's allergic to alcohol." Andrew showed up out of the blue, standing right next to her and saying coolly, "I'll drink it for her."

He downed the drink in one shot, flipped the glass over with a bang, then grabbed Lillian and headed straight for the door.

The client was completely thrown off.

Andrew didn't bother to look back.

*****

Outside the bar, the night air was cool.

Lillian yanked her hand free. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm stalking you," Andrew said deadpan.

"Relax, I'm joking," he added, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it up. "I happened to walk by and saw you getting pushed to drink. You really can't say no in those situations?"

Lillian paused for a moment. "I can, but sometimes, you can't."

Andrew blew out a puff of smoke and glanced sideways at her. The neon lights danced across his face, flickering on and off. "Lillian, isn't it exhausting, keeping up the act?"

Lillian's heart gave a sudden jolt. What act? What was he talking about?

But when she met his eyes, all the words she wanted to say vanished.

After that day, Andrew kept popping up everywhere in her life.

Whenever she was working late into the night, he'd text her: [Don't overdo it. Your life belongs to you, not anyone else.]

If she was getting pressured to drink at a business dinner, he'd show up in time and take the drink for her.

And if she bumped into him outside her office building, he'd look at her deadpan and say, "I'm passing by."

Olivia teased, "He's totally into you."

Lillian shook her head. "No way. He's cold as ice."

"Even ice melts." Olivia winked. "It depends on who's doing the warming."

Lillian didn't respond. She glanced down at her phone. Andrew had sent her a message: [Come in for your check-up tomorrow. I'll be on shift.]

*****

Jason finally lost it.

"Lillian, are you seeing someone else?" he blurted out, waiting for her at the office entrance, eyes rimmed red. "You've been dodging me for months."

Lillian stared at him. Ten years ago, that wounded puppy look of his was her biggest weakness. The moment he acted hurt, her heart would soften, and she'd cave to whatever he asked.

But now, she wanted to laugh. "Jason, isn't Emily always showing up to see you lately?"

Jason's expression darkened. "How do you know about her?"

"I know a lot more than you think." Lillian stepped around him. "Don't block my way. I'm busy."

"Wait, Lillian." Jason grabbed her arm. "There's nothing between Emily and me. It's family business—"

"That's enough," Lillian cut him off. "Whatever you have with her, it's not my concern."

Jason froze, like he never expected her to say that.

Lillian yanked her arm free and walked off without glancing back.

Jason went crazy trying to win her back.

He sent her flowers, bags, and jewelry, whatever he could think of. He waited outside her office every day, and roped Olivia in to put in a good word for him.

"Lillian, he's your boyfriend. Don't you think you're being a bit much?" Olivia asked carefully.

Lillian didn't look up from her files. "Too much? Honestly, I think I'm being pretty polite."

Olivia was stunned.

"Olivia," Lillian finally looked up, "do you know what it's like for a woman to find out, after ten years of marriage, that her husband was with someone else before they got married?"

Olivia was left speechless.

Lillian didn't say anything else. She closed the file, stood up, and said, "I'm heading out."

*****

At the hospital, in Andrew's office, Andrew didn't look up. "Back for another check-up? You're really becoming a regular."

"I'm passing by." Lillian copied his usual line.

Andrew looked up at her. His lips twitched, like he was about to smile but managed to hold it back.

"Take a seat." Andrew pointed at the chair. "Give me five minutes. I need to finish up this case file."

Lillian sat down, watching him from the side as he scribbled away, the pen scratching softly on paper. Sunlight poured in through the window, landing on his shoulder. The whole scene felt so calm, almost like a painting.

Suddenly, she thought back to her previous life. Jason never waited for her, not once. It was always her waiting for him to get off work, for him to finish his social dinners, for him to remember to come home.

"What's on your mind?" Andrew suddenly asked.

Lillian blinked, coming back to herself. "Nothing."

Andrew set his pen down and looked at her. "Lillian, there's something in your eyes."

"What is it?" Lillian asked.

"Something nobody else can figure out." Andrew stood up and grabbed his coat. "Let's go. I'll treat you to dinner."

They ended up at a tiny pasta house hidden in an old part of town.

"My mom used to run this place," Andrew ordered two plates of beef pasta. "After she was gone, I came by sometimes."

Lillian glanced at her pasta. "Your mom..."

"She passed away. I was fifteen," Andrew replied quietly.

Lillian paused, then said softly, "Same here. My dad passed away when I was twelve."

Andrew looked up at her. For a moment, their eyes met, and neither of them said a word.

The pasta house was steamy, the owner bustling behind the stove as the pots bubbled away.

"How did your dad die?" Andrew asked.

"He drank himself to death," Lillian replied, picking up some pasta with her fork. "After my mom remarried, he started drinking nonstop. In the end, it was alcohol poisoning."

Andrew stayed silent, then pushed the side dish toward her.

Lillian blinked, a little surprised.

"Eat more." Andrew kept his head down. "You're so skinny."

After that day, something seemed to shift between them.

Andrew started inviting her out. It was not real dates, but simple things, like sharing a meal, waiting for her outside the company after work, and walking her home.

"Don't you get tired of showing up around me every day?" Lillian asked.

"Yeah, it's exhausting," Andrew said deadpan. "But it's still better than not seeing you."

Her heart gave a little jolt. "Andrew, what are you trying to say?"

Andrew pulled the car over to the curb and turned to face her. The car was dim, the streetlights shining in from outside.

"Lillian," he said quietly, "you pretend to love him, and I'll pretend I'm not in love with you. Looks like we're a pretty good match."

That night, Lillian couldn't sleep.

She lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Andrew's words kept echoing in her mind. "You pretend to love him, and I'll pretend I'm not in love with you."

Was she faking it with Jason? Maybe so.

After time-travelling, her feelings for Jason had soured long ago. It wasn't that she didn't love him. She couldn't bring herself to anymore. Once she'd seen the truth, all that was left was a cold emptiness inside.

But what about Andrew?

She reached under her pillow and pulled out that piece of orange candy. The wrapper was a bit wrinkled.

It was the one Andrew gave her the first time they met, and she'd been holding onto it ever since, though she wasn't sure why she kept it.

*****

The next day, Jason proposed.

He rented out the most expensive restaurant downtown, covered the floor in roses, hired a live band, and got down on one knee in front of dozens of friends and family.

"Lillian, marry me," he said, holding out the ring, his eyes rimmed red. "You're the only one I'll ever love."

Everyone around them started cheering, "Say yes."

Lillian stood there, watching Jason before her. Ten years passed for her. It was the same scene and the same words. In her previous life, she would've cried her eyes out. Now, all she could do was laugh at the irony.

She looked down at the ring in his hand.

It was a big, flashy diamond. She wore it for ten years in her previous life, and in the end, another woman got to wear it.

"Jason," Lillian said, her voice calm, "can you honestly say I'm the only one you love?"

Jason's expression froze.

"What about Emily?" Lillian stared him down. "How long has it been between you two? Ten years? Or maybe twelve?"

The whole place went dead silent.

"L-Lillian, let me explain," Jason stammered, panic flashing in his eyes.

"Explain what?" Lillian shot back, her gaze icy. "Explain how you've known her since college? Explain why you kept seeing her after we got together? Explain what you did in your previous life—"

She stopped herself. She couldn't talk about her previous life.

"Forget it." Lillian turned away. "We're done, Jason."

"Lillian," Jason cried out.

She didn't look back. As she walked out of the restaurant, she heard Jason calling her name behind her, his voice almost sobbing, like in her previous life, when she used to chase after him, begging, "Do you still love me?"

But now, she didn't care.

Outside the restaurant, Andrew was smoking by his car, waiting for her.

As soon as he saw her step outside, he crushed out his cigarette.

"Been crying?" he asked.

Lillian touched her face, surprised to find her cheeks wet. She hadn't noticed when the tears started.

"No," she retorted stubbornly.

Andrew didn't say a word. He walked over, took off his coat, and draped it over her shoulders. Then he took her hand and slipped it into his pocket.

"Let's go. I'll take you home," he said.

His hand was warm. Lillian glanced down at their intertwined fingers and suddenly felt a sting in her nose.

"Andrew," Lillian said softly.

"Hmm?" he said.

"Why are you so good to me?" she asked quietly.

Andrew stopped and turned to face her. The streetlight washed over his face, softening his features.