Chapter7
When Eveline came to, she was in an unfamiliar bedroom.
The wounds on her body had been carefully bandaged, and her clothes had been changed into a set of silk men’s pajamas.
Her emerald pendant lay on the nightstand beside her, and next to it–its twin, now broken clean in half.
She blinked, startled. Before she could fully process it, a warm puff of breath caught her attention. She turned and found the Samoyed sitting at the side of the bed.
A ring of fur around its neck was shaved. It looked thin, pitiful even–quietly wagging its tail, a far cry from
the reckless creature that had crashed into her in the cave.
“You’re awake? Are you feeling okay anywhere?”
Martin pushed open the door, stepping in with a glass of warm water in his hand.
He didn’t ask what had happened that day. He honored her dignity in the most respectful way possible.
A strange ache welled in Eveline’s chest. She turned quickly toward the dog to hide it, forcing herself into
calm.
“Why is it here?” she asked.
“Its owner probably doesn’t want it anymore,” Martin said, handing Eveline the glass of water.
“When I found it, it was tearing into the barbecue supplies you brought. Looked like it hadn’t eaten in days.”
Eveline almost choked on the water. She stared at the dog for a moment, then sighed quietly.
The dog knew nothing of human spite.
She couldn’t bring herself to blame it.
But still… it stung a little.
Adrian had lied to her for so many years, and in the end, he hadn’t even left her with a single illusion of a
dignified goodbye.
Her grandfather used to say emeralds could serve as guardians.
Maybe that shattered emerald had absorbed all the love, resentment, and pain she’d buried deep-
shattering to free her from love’s cruel masquerade.
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Let it be, she thought.
Whatever was left inside her finally dispersed–just like that broken emerald.
Two days later. At the bridal boutique.
Eveline arrived to find Adrian already there.
Words seemed to catch in his throat, but after a pause, all that came was the same polished smile and hollow tone:
“You should go try on the dress, Eveline.”
He didn’t want to revisit the past. And she didn’t plan to drag it up either.
Instead, she offered him a light smile and followed the assistant into the fitting room.
Seeing her so calm, Adrian felt a wave of relief wash over him.
He’d spent the past two days taking care of Maria. It wasn’t until this morning that he realized–he hadn’t heard from Eveline once in two whole days.
Thank God she was fine. And seemingly none the wiser.
If his father ever found out the truth, these seven years of careful planning would crumble in an instant.
Yes… he did feel a little guilty. But there was no room for regret now.
Frustrated, he started toward the door for a smoke. But just as he stood up, Eveline stepped out of the
dressing room.
She wore a cathedral train gown, no makeup, and still–breathtaking.
Martin stared, momentarily speechless. He stepped forward, wanting to say something, but the words
wouldn’t come.
Eveline smiled softly and asked, “Do I look beautiful, Adrian?”
“… You do,” he replied after a beat.
Beautiful enough to seem unreal. And suddenly, he felt like she was slipping further and further away from
him.
His phone buzzed. The sound yanked him back to the present.
Before he could speak, Eveline turned to him with that same gentle smile. “It’s probably work, right? Go
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ahead–I’ll be fine on my own.”
After all, this dress wasn’t being worn for him.
Adrian didn’t catch the nuance. He just felt a strange anxiety settle in his chest.
Still, after a moment’s hesitation, he nodded and left.
At the door, he cast one final glance back at her, silently whispering an apology in his heart–Eveline, if
there’s a next life, let’s meet in love first.
He sped away. Not long after, Martin arrived and parked just outside.
He entered to find Eveline about to change out of the dress.
His gaze lingered on it for a moment before he said quietly, “I remember… you loved this one years ago.”
Eveline blinked, surprised he knew something so trivial. But then she shook her head. “People change. So
do their tastes.”
“This dress–it’s not comfortable. I’d like to pick another.”
Like the dress, like the person.
Martin caught the meaning. He smiled faintly and didn’t press further.
Instead, he joined her in choosing a new gown.
From this moment forward, he would have time to walk beside her.
The Next Day.
At six in the morning, Martin picked Eveline up from the villa.
At the same time, Adrian left the city, driving toward a private airfield between two counties.
By eight, Eveline was in the bridal chair, makeup being applied. Martin left to pick up her grandfather from
the care home.
And Adrian? He turned off his phone–making the final preparations for his staged death.
At ten, guests began to arrive.
By noon, Adrian’s private jet was making its first low–altitude test flight.
Eveline sat before the mirror. Martin was fixing her hairpiece.
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When he finished, he held out his hand.
She placed hers in his.
The music swelled. She drew a steady breath, and together, they walked into the ceremony hall.
From that moment on, Adrian–whom she had once loved with all her heart–was dead.
Just like he wanted to disappear in the moment of her greatest joy, leaving no trace behind.
From now on, they would never see again.
Elsewhere.
The private jet destined for a fiery crash rose into the midday sun.
The harsh glare stung Adrian’s eyes. He watched the plane disappear into the sky, then sank back into his
car.
But something on the passenger seat caught his eye–a flash of metal.
It was a ring.
The engagement ring he had once slipped onto Eveline’s finger.
Adrian’s heart lurched. A wave of panic crept into his chest, tangled with something dangerously close to
regret.
A voice inside him whispered, louder and louder–Go back. Now. There’s still time.
Chapter7
