I gave Alex a gentle smile.

“Let’s look at it tomorrow, Alex. There’s a surprise,” I said softly.

His gaze lingered on me, his brow furrowed. “You’re acting strange today. Are you deliriously happy or something?”

To be honest, it was a happy occasion.

After all, I was finally seeing you alive and well again.

I smiled. “I think you’re the best person in the world. Whoever marries you will be the happiest person alive.”

He snorted and turned away. If I didn’t know any better, I’d almost think he was just shy.

Just then, the conversation of a young couple nearby drifted over.

“The view from the mountain tonight is going to be amazing! Let’s go see it, baby!”

My steps slowed.

I remembered, on this very day in my past life, I had selfishly hoped Alex would go see the night view with me, thinking maybe he’d fall in love with me.

All I got for my troubles were his cold, cutting words.

“A fake couple looking at the night sky is going to make it real? What kind of fairytale are you living in?”

This time, I didn’t dare to hope.

But to my surprise, Alex spoke up. “If you want to see the view, I’ll go with you. But don’t get any ideas about a honeymoon. The company is busy, and I don’t have time.”

I stared at him, shocked that he’d bring it up. Then, a moment later, I understood.

Alex, for all his sharp words, was a good person at his core. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have risked his life to save me twice.

Once, ten years ago, when I was drowning in a lake, he was the one who dove in without a second thought.

Another time, when a runaway truck barreled towards us, he didn’t hesitate to pull me into his arms. The shattering glass embedded in the back of his head, while I escaped with minor scratches because he held me so tight.

How could I ever stop loving a man who had twice thrown himself in front of danger for me?

“Hey? Are we going or not?” Alex asked, a hint of impatience in his voice.

I snapped back to reality and gave him a brilliant smile. “Okay. Tonight, together.”

Only then did the deep crease in Alex’s brow finally smooth out.

He flagged down a cab.

“I’ll take you home first. I’ll pick you up later, and we’ll go to the mountain,” he said.

Just then, his phone rang. After answering it, his expression soured.

“Eleanor was in a car accident. I have to go see her. Can you get home by yourself?”

I nodded. “Okay.”

He looked at me, surprised. “You used to hate it when I went to see her. Change of heart?”

I was about to speak, but he cut me off with a cold laugh.

“Right. We’re ‘married’ now, so she’s not a threat to you anymore. Text me when you get home. I’m leaving.”

His car sped away, and he never saw the disappointed, bitter look on my face.

The truth was, I’d never really tried to stop him from caring about Eleanor.

Except for that one time when Alex’s parents and I accidentally discovered that she had been cheating on him for a while.

It was only from that moment on that I desperately tried to keep him from getting too entangled with her.

But he never knew. Even after Eleanor died, he drowned in guilt and grief for a whole decade.

If I had the choice, I would rather see him with Eleanor than watch him suffer endlessly and ultimately die because of me.

Guilt and regret are heavy enough to crush a person.

With a sigh, I went to my university to finalize the paperwork for my transfer to London for advanced studies, and then I went home.

Alex's parents had already prepared a full dinner table. As soon as I walked in, his mother, Margaret Hayes, grabbed my hand excitedly.

"Yve, you're back so soon? Are the marriage papers all done? Where's Alex? Why isn't he with you?"

"He had an urgent matter at the company, Mrs. Hayes. He had to take care of it," I replied.

She frowned, clearly displeased. "That boy. On such an important day, and he still can't let go of work."

Alex's father, Robert Hayes, just smiled. "Being career-focused isn't a bad thing. They're married now, so there's always time for family dinners."

Margaret muttered under her breath, obviously not happy.

Seeing this painfully familiar scene, my eyes began to sting.

"Mr. Hayes, Mrs. Hayes," I began, "Alex and I didn't get married. I've already arranged to continue my studies in London. I'll be leaving in a few days."

Margaret froze.

"What do you mean you didn't get married? Did Alex bully you? He's all talk, you know. He really cares about you."

"We've all seen it. You stayed by his side, you taught yourself psychology just to help him. Your feelings for him are real."

"You two love each other, you should be together! Besides, you know better than anyone that Eleanor is not a good girl. We can't just stand by and watch her win!"

Robert quickly chimed in, "Alex is just stubborn. Once you're married, he'll come around."

Their words were so familiar. They had said the same things in the last life.

But in the end, forcing it only brought regret to all of us.

I gently took Margaret's hand in mine. "Please don't be upset, just listen to me. It breaks my heart to say it, but you can't force love. Alex… he never really loved me."

"I had a dream last night," I continued, my voice soft. "In the dream, Alex and I got married, but he would never come home. He buried himself in work day after day until he developed a stomach ulcer."

"Even when I brought him soup, trying to help, he wouldn't drink it. He wouldn't let me take care of him."

"He said that being with me brought him more pain than happiness. And when he was 32, he died saving me from a runaway truck."

As I spoke, my chest grew so tight it was hard to breathe.

Margaret looked horrified. “But… that was just a dream, Yve. Alex wouldn’t—”

I sniffled and forced a smile onto my face.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, maybe it's fate trying to warn me. Maybe it’s telling me that it’s okay if he doesn't marry me, that it’s okay if we aren't husband and wife."

“All I want is for him to live a long and happy life. The signs were there all along. Alex loves music and hates business. He hates having his life planned out by his family.”

“If it weren't for the family pressure, he never would have agreed to marry me in the first place.”

“The root of all this… is me. I was the mistake, and I don't want to be that mistake anymore.”

“I've already arranged my transfer to London. I will never forget your kindness. I promise, I'll still take care of you in the future.”

Margaret wiped a tear from the corner of her eye when she thought I wasn't looking. “You're a good child. It’s Alex’s loss for not having you.”

I hugged her. My eyes were red too, but I was still smiling.

“It’s okay. If I can't be your daughter-in-law, I'll be your daughter. No matter what, I'll always be here for you both,” I whispered.

Finally, Alex's parents smiled through their tears and agreed to let me go.

I thought of the second wish Alex had written in his diary. Maybe now, in a way, it had come true.

The time machine only allowed me to stay in the past for 36 hours. Now, I had only one last regret to fix. Could I do it?

As night fell, I went to the seaside alone.

Leaning against the railing, a faint flicker of hope rose in my heart as I waited for an Alex who might not even show up.