Alexei was never the same after I disappeared. He drowned himself in alcohol every day.

My father died in an accident while searching for me. My mother fell into despair and even thought about ending her life. In the end, with our relatives’ persuasion, she adopted a girl named Camille. She looked a bit like me.

At Camille’s coming-of-age ceremony, Alexei who had turned a successful man fell in love with her at first sight. He started pursuing her passionately. After years of getting closer, the two finally got married last year.

And just then, I... the me from ten years ago... suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I came into this strange new world, still covered in the dust of the past.

My mother spoke about everything so calmly, but her words felt like a heavy stone pressing on my chest.

Back then, Alexei had promised to marry no one but me. We only had one argument and now he had married someone else?

He used to love me so deeply…

As if he could read my thoughts, Alexei sighed softly. “Emilia, ten years have passed. We’ve all moved on. Back then, you vanished without a word. You almost destroyed both of our families.”

He finally asked, “You can’t be that selfish. Do you want everyone to die for you?”

“I didn’t disappear on purpose!” Looking at his familiar yet distant face, I felt tears sting my eyes. “It was just a normal morning. I opened a door and the next thing I knew… I stood here—ten years later.”

I added, “I don’t know what happened, or how to go back. And I don’t understand… how my loving family had turned so cold.”

The more I thought about it, the sadder I felt. However, Alexei simply told his assistant to send me away. He calmly handed me a black credit card.

“Camille is pregnant now. My mother needs to stay home to take care of her. It’s not convenient for you to live with us.”

“I’ve asked my assistant to book a nearby hotel for you. You can look around. When you find a house you like, just tell him to buy it for you.”

“If you need anything else, just use the card. If you don’t understand something, ask Alfred.”

Every word he said meant one thing: 'don’t come near me again'.

I stared at the VVIP black card in my hand, feeling slightly dizzy.

Back then, what Alexei and I wanted most was to buy a small home of our own in the Capital City. We dreamed of raising our child there, of having a real family, no more leaking roofs, no more desperately wanting for clothes we couldn’t afford.

Now, the house was within our reach and there’s more money than I could ever spend. Ironically, I couldn't feel happy at all. Because… I no longer had a home.

Everything here was perfect, but none of it belonged to me.

I looked around helplessly. All the sadness I had been holding in finally burst out the moment security guards came to escort me away.

“Why? Why are you treating me like this? What did I do wrong? Alexei, did you forget? You once swore in front of my parents that you’d treat me well for life!”

Thinking of the past, I wiped my tears and kept crying. “Alexei, you weren’t like this before. You loved me so much.”

“You used to bring me small cakes from your office, holding them carefully in your hands. On my birthday, when we had no money, you secretly sold your blood just to buy me a gift.”

“And once, when you lost your job, I sold our wedding jewelry to help us get by. When you found out, you cried alone for so long and said you’d become successful—so I’d never have to suffer again.”

“How long has it even been? Have you forgotten everything? Just last night we were still holding each other!”

Alexei looked at me quietly. A thousand emotions seemed to stir in his eyes. In the end, he only sighed softly.

“Emilia, that was ten years ago. I have my own family now, my own life. I can’t—and I won’t—go back to the past for you.”

Then what about me? What was I supposed to be? And what about the child inside me?

Just yesterday, Alexei was still eagerly waiting for our baby to be born. Why did he suddenly have a family with another woman overnight?

I cried until I could hardly breathe. But Alexei was determined to send me away. Even Camille couldn’t bear it and tried to persuade him to let me stay. He still wouldn’t change his mind.

He simply turned his head away and said in a tone I couldn’t quite understand, “Emilia, people can’t live in the past forever. I can’t and neither can you.”

I froze for a moment. Then slowly, I loosened my grip—on his hand and on the past I refused to let go of.

Yes… everyone else has moved on. No one should have to stay behind with me in yesterday.

I lowered my head and walked slowly toward the door. My mother tried several times to speak, to stop me. Yet, after hesitating, she stayed silent.

When I reached a familiar door, I took a deep breath. I wished that by opening it, I could return to ten years ago—to those who truly loved me.

But no.

Beyond that strange door was a strange hallway. The family I once knew looked at me with unfamiliar eyes.

Suddenly, I felt so tired. My knees gave way and I fell before I could stop myself. Just before I lost consciousness, I saw Alexei running toward me, catching me firmly in his arms.

When I opened my eyes again, everything still felt strange. It felt as if what I’d seen before I fainted had only been a dream.

I could hear my mother was speaking to Alexei nearby. “Do you really have to be this cruel? Emilia is my daughter too. I just can’t bring myself to do this.”

“Mom, we’ve finally made it through. Please, stop clinging to the past. When I married Camille, I promised I’d let go and live a good life with her. I’ve already wronged Emilia once—I can’t betray Camille too.”

My mother sighed in resignation. “Maybe… that’s for the best,” she said softly. “But Alex… please take care of yourself too.”

Their voices grew fainter and fainter until I could no longer hear them. Cold tears slipped into my palms. I wiped them away—along with my broken heart.

No one came to see me in the days that followed.

Alexei's assistant, Alfred, brought me the newest model of phone and patiently taught me how to use it. Then, as I stared at the empty contact list, I realized I had no one to call.

Everything I remembered belonged to the past. I was the only one trapped in this strange new future.

The fight of that night meant the world to me. But to them, it was just a small, forgotten incident from ten years ago.

No one cared anymore.

I had no interest in the brilliance of this future. Sadly, I had no way to return to the past.

After a long deep thoughts, I asked Alfred to take me to my father’s grave.

As I stood before the mound of earth, I poured out all my grief and pain—to the only one who might still listen.

“Dad, I’m sorry. I swear I won’t fight with Alexei anymore. I won’t make you or anyone angry. Please, come back. Please, all of you, come back to me.”

“You said that when my baby is born, you’d be the one to give him a name. You said that when I came home, you’d cook your best beef brisket just for me.”

“You can’t break your promise like Alexei did. You’re my family—the closest family I ever have in this world. Why did you leave me too?”

Light rain began to fall, pattering softly on the ground. A moment later, an umbrella appeared above my head.

My heart trembled. I looked up with hope—but it was only Alfred.

He looked a bit embarrassed and explained, “Mr. Durand went with Camille for her prenatal check-up. He won’t be coming here today.”

I sighed weakly and said I needed to leave. But on the way out, I ran into Camille.

Her arms were crossed and the gentle look she once had was gone.

I was confused for a moment. Then suddenly, Camille grabbed my hand and slammed her head against a rock.

A shout came right after. “Emilia! What are you doing?!”

“Emilia, stop following me! Don’t appear in front of me again!” Alexei rushed over, pushing me away. His voice shook with anger. “You disappeared without a word back then and ruined all of our lives. It took me years to move on, to build a new life. Now you want to destory it too?”

“Emilia, I don’t love you anymore.” He looked straight into my eyes and said each word with clear intent. “Please… please forget the past and let me go. I’m begging you.”

The rain poured harder. I couldn’t tell whether the wetness on my face was rain or tears. The world around me felt so huge yet I belonged nowhere.

Suddenly, pain twisted in my stomach. I instincitively reached out toward Alexei for help—but instead, I accidentally pulled a pocket watch from his hand.

The moment it began to tick, memories long sealed away flooded my mind.