Chapter 3
But Mom said we weren't little kids anymore. Once we decided on something, there was no way to take it back.
I knew.
No matter how headstrong I was or how much crazy stuff I pulled that made people shake their heads, my family always had my back.
They'd fix everything for me, no questions asked—always cleaning up my messes and supporting me no matter what.
In that last life, I really failed them.
I felt sorry for what happened back then. It was because I gave my heart to the wrong person, and that was what brought on all this heartbreak.
I swore that this time, I would keep them safe.
Just give me a chance to make amends.
As for Kamron, our story ended in the last life.
When love hurt too much, I would let it go.
The Veronica who loved Kamron—and the innocent life that never got to see the world—had vanished into the depths, lost forever beneath the waves.
Now, I only loved myself and my family.
I wouldn't, and couldn't, let myself fall for anyone ever again.
I called Kamron to tell him I was going to stay at home for a while.
He wasn't on board at first, but after his parents rang him up, when he called me again, his voice was clearly panicked.
Kamron's tone had totally changed; he sounded nervous and unsettled.
"Vero, Veronica, listen to me, alright? Please, don't make any decisions when you're pissed off, promise me?" Kamron said.
"If you want to stay at home, sure, as long as you want, whatever makes you comfortable. Just—please—don't rush anything. Wait for me to come talk to you in person, okay? I honestly have no idea what I did wrong, but at least let me explain, just don't shut me out for good like this. Please..."
"Vero, are you even listening? You don't have to answer, just let me talk. I swear, I'll get it all straightened out today, and then how about I take you out for some fun, just us two. What do you say?" he continued.
I held my phone, not saying a word for a long time.
Kamron was still talking on the other end, but none of it really registered with me.
Lost in thought, I realized I'd pleaded with him like this before.
I must've called him over and over.
Was it ten times, twenty times, or a hundred times?
I'd lost track after a while.
But he never picked up a single one.
I called from sunrise till sunset, dialing over and over, my fingers aching as I lost count of how many times I'd tried. At last—after what felt like an eternity—he finally answered.
As soon as he picked up, he sounded completely fed up.
"What do you want?" Kamron asked.
I hadn't eaten or had a drop of water the whole day.
My throat was so parched and scratchy that the words barely came out.
But that didn't matter. I forced myself to swallow and asked, voice trembling and small.
"Kamron, you know about what happened to my dad's company, right? I... I honestly don't know where to turn anymore..." I said.
"I know. It was me," Kamron said.
I'd kind of suspected it all along, but hearing him confess—hearing that cold truth from his own lips—still sent me crashing down on the spot.
I collapsed right there on the floor, tears pouring down my cheeks.
"Why? Why would you do this? My family never wronged you. They treated you like family, watched over you since you were little... How could you do this to them?" I asked.
"Enough! If you're just going to bring this up, I'm ending the call," Kamron said.
"Shh... go back to sleep, sweetheart. It's no one, just nobody important," Kamron said on the other end of the line.
That gentle, soothing tone—clearly, it wasn't meant for me.
In that moment, I understood everything.
"Did my family do something to Paulina? I swear, they didn't mean any harm—everything they did was just for me, just trying to stick up for me. If you need to get revenge, let it fall on me, okay? Don't drag them into this," I said.
"Please, Kamron, I've never asked you for anything before. Just this once, for the sake of all the years we grew up together, don't destroy my dad's company. Please, just let them go," I pleaded.
"Kamron..." I called out to him.
"Are you even listening?" I asked.
"Kamron? Kamron... Please, don't hang up on me..."
I didn't even remember what else I pleaded after that—just that all that was left in my ears was that cold, endless beep, echoing in the emptiness.
Not long after that call, Mom messaged me.
She told me that she and Dad had already handled everything, so I didn't need to worry about a thing.
She told me to listen to my brother and sister, and reminded me I'd always be her little princess—the one she'd treasure in her heart forever.
She said none of the troubles out there were my concern, and as long as I could stay happy and carefree, that would be all she'd ever wish for.
I just couldn't shake this uneasy feeling, so that night, I hurried back home to the William family.
The house was all lit up, same as ever.
But I didn't see Mom in the living room, glued to her idol dramas, or Dad off to the side, half watching business news while stealing glances her way.
They were both gone.
I headed upstairs, finding my parents' bedroom with the door standing wide open.
But they weren't there.
Instead, there was this weird, haunting smell hanging in the air.
Until that night, I'd never believed a human body could bleed so much—it was a horror I could barely process.
My family had shielded me from reality so completely that I'd lived life wrapped up in a soft, safe bubble.
I was naive—so painfully naive, it was honestly kind of pathetic.
There was so much blood...
I never thought there could be this much.