My voice trembled slightly, though he didn’t seem to notice. He paused for two seconds, then said, “You’re back?”

“Where are you? I’ll come get you.”

Seeing that scene in the garden, my heart had shattered.

But now, he was acting so tender.

“I’m at the front door.”

I replied softly.

Nathan had bought this house for me when I turned eighteen.

He'd said, “Sarah, no matter who you're with, this house is yours.”

“My Sarah deserves to feel secure.”

But now, he was living here with another woman, and they had a child.

By the time Nathan came out, I’d composed myself.

He walked towards me, his footsteps crunching through the snow. His eyes held a look of concern.

He pulled me into a hug, his warm breath on my ear.

“Sarah, three years apart, you’ve gotten thinner.”

The scent of peaches filled my nostrils.

His smell had changed. He used to smell faintly of tea.

I recoiled from his touch, pushing him away.

His pupils constricted, then he smiled.

“Our Sarah’s all grown up. She understands the boundaries between men and women now.”

“But I’m your future husband. Don’t be so distant, okay?”

He’d once been a shining light in my life.

I only said that because when I first arrived at the Rivers' house, I was very introverted.

I was often bullied at school. Once, I was cornered after school.

Nathan had appeared, driving a Maybach, cornering those bullies.

He’d pulled me behind him.

I'll never forget his cold voice, “Sarah Miller is my sister. Anyone who dares to bully her again, I won't let them get away with it.”

But now, he felt like a stranger.

It was the same face, yet I didn’t feel the same spark.

Nathan reached out to touch my face, and I saw a ring on his ring finger.

It hadn’t been there before.

“I’m tired. Can I rest?”

I looked him in the eye.

Panic flashed across Nathan’s face.

“Y-yes…”

“But we have guests tonight. A friend of mine just had a baby, and he didn't have a place for the first month party so it’s being held here.”

“You won't mind, will you?”

I used to think he was perfect.

Whenever I was bullied, he’d appear.

Whenever I felt unwell, he’d handle things calmly.

One winter, while buying firecrackers, we saw a couple fighting.

The guy had cheated.

He’d said, “Sarah, you need to be careful when choosing a man. Find someone like me.”

“I’ll never deceive anyone.”

But now, he was full of lies.

Perhaps because of my maturity, I didn’t want to expose him.

I wanted to see how long he could keep up the charade.

“I don’t mind.”

Nathan smiled, trying to take my hand, but I dodged him.

Surprise flickered in his eyes, then he chuckled, almost as if to reassure himself.

“You’re distant now.”

“It’s alright. I’ll always be here, to help you become your old self again.”

But I knew I could never go back.

Three years ago, he'd tricked me into going abroad.

I’d seen too much death, experienced the horror of seeing a child smile one moment, and then be a lifeless body the next.

That's when I learned to cherish time.

Because tomorrow and accidents are unpredictable.

So now, I wouldn’t waste my time on someone unworthy.

Nathan didn’t take me to my old bedroom but to the guest room.

He explained, “My friend wants to save face. He told everyone it’s his house, so he’s temporarily using the master bedroom.”

“I’ll have the housekeeper clean it later. You can move in then, okay?”

“Okay.”

I put down my bag.

He watched me for a few seconds, then said, “You probably don’t like noisy places either. Rest here. I’ll go take care of things.”