Back to the Past: Setting Him Free

I gave Sebastian a gentle smile.

"Sebastian, check it tomorrow. There'll be a surprise," I said softly.

His eyes landed on me, his brows knitting together. "You're acting weird today. Are you so happy to marry me that you've gone crazy?"

Honestly, it was something to be happy about.

Because I finally got to see you alive again.

I smiled and said, "I think you're the best person in the world. Anyone who marries you will be very lucky."

He let out a cold laugh and turned away. If I hadn't known he didn't love me, I might have thought he was just shy.

Just then, I heard a young couple nearby chatting excitedly.

"There's gonna be a once-in-a-century meteor shower tonight! Legend has it that couples who watch it together will stay in love forever. Let's go see it, babe!"

My steps slowed.

I remembered that on this same day in my previous life, I had clung to a small, selfish hope that maybe Sebastian could fall in love with me if we watched the meteor shower together.

But all I got in return were his cold, cutting words. He had said, "A couple who's just going through the motions watches a meteor shower, and you think that'll make it real?

"By that logic, if the whole world watched it together, there wouldn't be a single unhappy marriage. What kind of fantasy are you living in?"

This time, I didn't dare to hope anymore.

But to my surprise, Sebastian suddenly spoke. "If you want to see the meteor shower, I'll go with you. But don't even think about a honeymoon. Work's busy. I won't have time."

I looked at him in surprise, not expecting him to offer first. But then, almost immediately, I understood.

Sebastian might have had a sharp tongue, but he had always been kind at heart. Otherwise, he wouldn't have risked his life to save me three different times.

The first time was when I was 18. I had been mugged in an alley, and he stepped in to save me. He took a knife to his right hand, and the injury damaged his radial nerve.

After that, he could never lift heavy objects again, and his dream of becoming a pianist was crushed forever.

The second time was during the earthquake. We were trapped together under the rubble.

He tricked me into eating the last of the food and water, giving me the only chance at survival. If the rescue team had arrived even a little later, he would have died in that debris.

The third time, when a huge truck came barreling toward us, he pulled me into his arms without hesitation.

Shards of flying glass pierced the back of his head, but because he held me so tightly, I walked away with nothing more than a few scratches.

He had risked his life for me three times. How could I ever hope to stop loving him?

Sebastian didn't wait for my answer. Growing impatient, he said, "Well? Are you coming to see the meteor shower or not?"

Snapping back to reality, I gave him a bright smile. "Sure. Tonight, we'll watch the meteor shower together."

Only then did Sebastian's frown finally ease.

He flagged down a taxi.

"I'll drop you off at home first. I'll come pick you up later, and we'll head to the observatory," he said.

Just then, his phone rang. After answering, his brow immediately furrowed.

"Gillian hurt her hand. I'm gonna go check on her. You head home by yourself, okay?"

I nodded. "Alright."

He looked at me, surprised. "You used to hate it when I went to see her. What, you had a change of heart?"

I opened my mouth to say something, but he let out a cold laugh before I could.

"Right. I guess it doesn't matter anymore. We're married now, so she's no threat to you. Text me when you get home. I'm heading out."

He climbed into the car and left, never once seeing the disappointment and bitter smile on my face.

The truth was, I had never really tried to stop him from caring about Gillian.

It was just that one time, Sebastian's parents and I had accidentally witnessed Gillian kissing a much older man.

After digging a little deeper, we found out she had long been kept by different sugar daddies.

Only then had I tried desperately to keep Sebastian from getting too involved with her.

But he never knew. Even after Gillian's death, he spent ten whole years drowning in guilt and grief.

If I had to choose, I would rather see him together with Gillian than watch him suffer endless pain and, in the end, die because of me.

Guilt and self-reproach could crush a person completely.