Chapter 3

Andrew caught that look of utter despair in my eyes instantly.

He didn't have time to think about anything else. After steadying Emily, he ran after me.

"Nina, let me explain," he grabbed my wrist, his voice urgent. "Emily's mom had a sudden heart attack yesterday and didn't make it. She couldn't handle it alone—"

Emily's dad had walked out years ago and never came back.

I looked at him bitterly. "Andrew, I don't even know when you and Emily got close enough for this.

"Ever since you hung up on me, you've ignored me for hours—not even one text, not a single call."

Andrew hesitated, words catching in his throat. Something seemed to dawn on him, and his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

In the end, he just looked down, unable to offer any explanation—barely whispered, "Sorry."

I pointed at the direction of the small hall. "Anyone in there is more suited than you to be by Emily's side and handle things after her mom passed. Who are you to her, anyway?"

Shame flickered across his face. "I wasn't thinking. When she called, she was practically collapsing.

"Seriously, I just wanted to help her out...

"Sorry, I didn't think it through."

At that moment, I finally knew how deep his connection with Emily really was.

All my earlier hopes felt so stupid now.

What was I even thinking, trying to fight for a last chance? Andrew was clearly into Emily.

Even if I stayed with him, we'd still end up the same way we had in my previous life.

Emily—the woman who never got to be with him—would always be the one he couldn't forget, and I'd just be the wife he settled for.

I shook my head and pulled my hand free. "Andrew, you worry about her, you care about her, and you've even—fallen for her."

Andrew stared at me in disbelief. "What are you even thinking? I only did this because she saved my life once—"

He suddenly fell silent, realizing he'd blurted out something I had no idea about.

My eyes burned and blurred, but I stared right at him, my voice raspy. "Andrew, you've always had me beat at just about everything.

"But there's one thing you can't win against me."

I tried to smile, but before I knew it, the tears just came pouring out. "I'm braver than you."

Hearts change. I'd always known that no one could ever guarantee their love for another would stay the same forever.

I was braver than Andrew when it came to facing the cracks in our relationship.

Just like the answer he once gave to that question on the forum—too many people had witnessed our love story.

We carried all their hopes, but that doesn't mean we have to let their expectations tie us down.

And now, standing in front of this younger Andrew, I didn't want to repeat the same mistakes.

So what if letting go of years of love made others feel pity?

Why couldn't I have someone who wanted only me, someone who would live this life with me and me alone?

Andrew had no idea what I'd gone through, or how I was feeling at that moment. To him, the breakup came out of nowhere. I'd always been the one who tried to understand, but this time, I didn't even let him get a word in.

His eyes filled with a hurt sense of injustice. "Nina, how can you bring up breaking up so easily?

"Did all those years we spent together mean nothing to you?"

I lowered my gaze and slowly removed the necklace from my neck. The small ring strung on it clinked softly as I pressed it back into Andrew's palm.

In my previous life, this ring had eventually been replaced with a wedding band. But in this life, I no longer needed it.

"Andrew," I said quietly, "the decision you can't make—I'll make it for you.

"Three people can't share one love.

"And you can't hold an umbrella for two women at once."

Andrew's face went pale. "Nina—"

I wiped the tears from my face.

Andrew, I was the one who wanted to break up with you. No one would think it's your fault. You didn't need to carry that burden anymore.

I was setting both of us free. I just hoped that this time, he could live his life true to his own heart.

I took a deep breath and let it out in a heavy sigh.

"Let's just go back to being the childhood friends we always were." With that, I turned and walked away, leaving Andrew frozen in place, unable to move.