Returning the Ten Years I Stole

Graham looked at me as if I were nothing but a stranger. It reminded me of the cruelty he showed me when he divorced me and forced me to leave without a penny to my name in my previous life.

After stuffing a sandwich into my mouth, I got to my feet and said, "I'm full. I've got morning classes today, so I've got to go."

Leanna protested, "But you haven't touched your milk, Gwyn—"

"I'm late."

I then grabbed my bag and escaped through the front door.

I stayed at the library the entire day, researching information for studying abroad and filling out application forms where necessary.

I had given up on furthering my studies in my previous life just so that I could stay with Graham. But in this life, I was going to go as far away from him as possible. I was going to live for myself, and no one else.

That night, I considered staying overnight at the dorms, but Leanna called and said, "Hey, Gwyn! Come home for dinner, alright? I've got big news!"

When I got home, it was Graham who answered the door. He frowned when he saw me.

"What are you doing here?"

Obviously, he wasn't the one who told Leanna to call me back for dinner.

"Leanna said that she wanted to tell me something," I answered in a low voice.

Leanna then stuck her head out of the kitchen and exclaimed, "Gwyn! You're back!"

She hurried over and pulled me to the couch, sitting me down eagerly and pressing the remote control into my hands. "Stay here and watch some TV, alright? Dinner will be ready soon!"

Graham helped her out in the kitchen.

Through the glass partition, I watched him lean down to whisper something in her ear. There was a slight curve on his lips, and the look in his eyes was so affectionate I thought I was going to see flowers sprouting in them soon.

He used to cook for me in my previous life too.

When I was sick and running a high fever, he stayed up the entire night and made me some chicken noodle soup to help me feel better. When it was my birthday, he skipped his company events and came home just to cook a birthday feast for me.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Leanna asked, seeing me in a daze. She then pushed Graham out of the kitchen and said, "Go keep Gwyn company. I can finish up here."

Graham wiped his hands awkwardly and went into the living room, sitting down on the single-seater couch diagonally opposite me.

There was a noticeable distance between us both.

Silence descended in the space.

Some boring variety show was playing on the TV, and their shrill laughter was jarring and annoying.

Suddenly, he called my name. "Gwyn."

I looked at him.

His dark eyes met mine. "Study hard, stay down-to-earth, and stop thinking about things you shouldn't."

My heart felt like it was being squeezed in my chest.

Things that I shouldn't be thinking about?

In his eyes, he thought that the feelings I had for him were things that I shouldn't have and therefore shouldn't be thinking about.

When he discovered my diary in my previous life, he told me, "Your love disgusts me, Gwyneth Rowland."

He thought that I had purposely gotten between him and Leanna and ruined their relationship because I was greedy and wanted him all for myself.

However, the only thing I did was have a crush on him. I never spoke a single bad word about him to Leanna, nor did I ruin their relationship on purpose. Still, he didn't believe me.

"Got it," I heard myself saying calmly. "I won't."

During dinner, Leanna announced shyly, her cheels flushing bright red, "So, Graham just proposed to me today!"

She extended her left hand, and the diamond ring sparkled brilliantly under the lights.

"Congratulations," I said, smiling sincerely at her. "I wish you both all the happiness in the world."

Graham's hold on the fork tightened for a bit as he looked up at me.

I lowered my head and kept eating, pretending not to notice.

After dinner, I offered to clear the table and wash the dishes. I could hear the sound of laughter coming from the living room. Leanna was excitedly talking about preparations for the wedding, and Graham was indulging her, agreeing to everything she said with a low, gentle voice.

I dried my hands after I was done with the dishes, thinking that I'd tell them I had to head back to campus. However, I'd only just made it to the entrance of the living room when I heard Graham say, "I'll ask her to move out after she's graduated from college.

"I already bought a place for her near her campus. It's not right for a young woman like her to continue living with us."

Yet, Leanna didn't agree with him. "But it's dangerous for Gwyn to be living on her own! And you're both siblings, anyway. What's the matter with living together under the same roof?"

Graham's voice was faint. "She's an adult now, and she needs to have her own life. We also need a private space that we can call our own, Anna."

I stopped walking and froze on the spot.

I didn't bother listening to the rest of their conversation. I silently went back upstairs to grab my bag and left the house.

I only sent Leanna a test message after I was long gone.

"Sorry I had to leave early, Leanna, but I need to finish an assignment for tomorrow. Good night!"

I took a deep breath and sighed.

Maybe it was a good idea to move out after all. The farther away from Graham I was, the safer it would be for me.

…

Three days later, I was in the midst of researching something at the library when something suddenly hit me.

Leanna had passed away in my previous life because of bone cancer. By the time it was discovered, it had already been too late.

In other words, she might already have the cancerous tissues in her body as of now.