For the next six months, Evan and I had no contact.
The first I heard of him was when the car accident case was closed. All three parties were required to be present to sign the final. papers, but I was away for work. My lawyer came back and gossiped with me about it, amused.
He said Evan arrived early, impeccably dressed, and stood by the door, constantly glancing outside. He seemed distracted, disappo- inted not to see someone. It was only when Faye reminded him of something that he awkwardly explained he was just paranoid
about being followed.
That same night, I saw Evan’s social media. He was on a cruise ship, making a grand, public declaration of his love for Faye, as if trying to convince himself, repeating over and over that he loved her.
The next time was at Dr. Miles Corbin’s private clinic. My mentor had recommended him, and under his care, my fingers were alm-
ost fully healed.
Not long after I left my appointment that day, Miles called me. He said a man had come in for acupuncture right after me who seemed to recognize me. He had stared at my back for a long time, and then during his treatment, one of his eyes had started watering uncontrollably, followed by a severe headache.
That night, Evan posted a video of his proposal to Faye. It looked incredibly rushed, like a spur–of–the–moment decision. He didn’t
even have a ring as he knelt before her.
After that day, Evan started going to Miles’s clinic more frequently. I had finished my treatment and never went back.
20:46
A few days later, Miles called me again. “Evan let slip the time and location of his engagement party,” he said. “He said it several times, and each time, he made a point of telling me not to tell anyone else.”
Miles paused for a beat, his tone half–joking. “If you happen to be a fan of the food at that hotel, I have a gift certificate for a dinner
for two. Interested?”
By the time Miles asked that question, there had been a delicate tension between us for a while. It wasn’t that I wasn’t tempted. But every time I was, I’d remember the phrase “My heart wouldn’t lie to me,” and the feeling would sour.
But in that moment, hearing Miles’s nervous breath through the phone, I suddenly realized I really wanted to see him.
11
Evan hired a lot of security for his engagement party. They were stationed in rings, three layers deep, all with earpieces, on high alert as if guarding against an invasion.
Stranger still, Evan himself was holding a walkie–talkie. While greeting guests, giving his speech, even exchanging rings with his fiancée, his eyes were constantly, distractedly, on the device.
“If you let her in, you’re all fired,” he’d said into it.
A guest joked, “Is Mr. Thorne really so irresistible that he has to personally guard against someone crashing the party to steal him away?”
Faye looked uncomfortable. She forced a smile and explained that they had no choice; they were just so tired of being hounded.
My best friend, who was there with Samuel, couldn’t take it anymore. She rolled her eyes dramatically. “Tired of being hounded?
You’ve got some nerve.”
“Everyone knows it’s been six months since you paid her back, and she hasn’t contacted you once!”
Faye’s face flushed with anger. My friend just clicked her tongue. “And look at your fiancé’s face. Does that look like fear to you? To
me, it looks a lot like… anticipation.”
“And let me tell you, even if he is, it’s pointless. She’s next door having a romantic dinner with her new boyfriend right now!”
12
Evan’s engagement party became a bit of a joke.
The party–crasher never showed up. But the groom ran out to find her.
When Evan finally found me, Miles was gently kissing my forehead.
In that instant, Evan’s eyes turned a violent red. He lunged forward and slammed his fist into Miles’s face.
Miles didn’t flinch. He wiped his lip and threw a punch back.
The two of them were tangled together until Faye came running out. She clung to Evan’s arm, sobbing. “Evan, darling, stop it! Come
back with me, or we’ll miss the ceremony!”
Evan froze. He stared at her, silent for a long moment.
“Evan, let’s go back. You said you’d listen to me from now on, so now…” Faye looked up at his face as she spoke.
One glance, and she froze. Her words died in her throat, and she took a terrified step back.
Evan still didn’t speak. He looked down, slowly, deliberately, prying Faye’s hands from his arm.
Then he turned to face me.
The moment his eyes met mine, I knew.
bered W
20:46
He remembered. He remembered everything.
His eyes were shot with red, and he looked at me with an expression of profound, soul–crushing grief. He didn’t say a word, but tears were already streaming down his face.
He tried to speak several times, his voice a broken, trembling mess.
*…Rhea.*
He whispered my name.
Rhea, I thought… I thought I would never see you again!”
13
The day of the accident, Evan had gone with me to pick up my new car. On the way back, I was driving my car in front, and he was following behind. As we crossed an overpass, a heavy truck suddenly swerved and came straight for me. The guardrail was low. I was either going to be pushed off or crushed.
In that split second, Evan floored it. With a sickening screech of metal, his SUV slammed into the truck, forcing it off its trajectory. Both vehicles crashed into the guardrail.
Before he lost consciousness, his eyes, full of tears and an infinite longing, were on me. He had whispered, “Rhea, I want so badly…
to see you again.”
Evan didn’t die. But in that moment, our story did.
Living two lives, I always felt I never got to say a proper goodbye to the Evan I had loved. Now, that man was awake again. He stood before me and said, “Rhea, I thought I would never see you again!”
The resentment and heartache from two lifetimes surged up, and my own eyes instantly reddened.
Evan was crying too, silent, suppressed sobs shaking his frame.
“… Your hands,” he finally choked out, the words a struggle. “Can you… can you still hold a needle?”
I opened my palms and held them out for him to see. “… They’re almost healed. Miles says they should be completely better in abo-
ut six months.”
Evan smiled, a look of immense relief on his face. But as he smiled, fresh tears fell. “…And your arm? Did it… did you break any bon-
es?”
I moved my arm to show him. “It’s fine. Just a flesh wound. It healed a long time ago.”
“…That’s good. That’s good.” Evan repeated the words over and over, his voice a relieved murmur.
After that, a long silence fell between us. The dim candlelight flickered, making his shadow seem exceptionally lonely. He stood at a distance, just looking at me with that same sorrowful gaze, his feet rooted to the spot, not daring to take a single step forward.
As he watched me, his composure finally broke. He covered his face, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
I didn’t move. I stood there, watching him from a distance.
“Evan, there’s something I never had the chance to say to you before.”
He stilled, looking at me with a mixture of hope and terror. “Say it. I’m listening.”
