2
After the first stick of incense burned out, Mr. Thorne came to see me, his brows deeply furrowed. “Anya, your obsession has grown stronger.”
“You have less than twenty–four hours left. If you don’t resolve it, you’ll really turn into a
vengeful spirit.”
I showed him the first dream. Mr. Thorne was silent too. For a long time, he couldn’t think
of anything to comfort me.
But what about the second dream? I couldn’t think of a more brutal scenario. Mr. Thorne
offered an idea.
“How about this? Next time, don’t give Julian time to think.”
“I’ve seen your red thread of fate; it’s tied very strongly. Julian can’t be completely devoid of feelings for you.
If you make him choose between you and Chloe, you should look for his subconscious
reaction.”
That night, Julian held a grand party in the suburbs. When I was called over, I heard him clinking glasses with his buddies at the door.
“Guys, Anya is finally divorcing me!”
“Go wild tonight; all the drinks are on me!”
Pushing open the door, I saw wedding photos, cut in half, plastered everywhere. Julian
saw me enter, put his arm around Chloe, and tossed our wedding ring into the swimming
pool.
11:30 Sun, 6 Jul A MO
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59%
Everyone present burst into laughter. They were betting whether I would jump in to
retrieve the ring. But I just walked straight over.
I picked up a glass and clinked it against Julian’s.
“Congratulations. You’re about to get what you want.”
Then I downed the drink in one gulp. In our poorest year, I worked sixteen–hour days to
give Julian a better life, developing severe stomach problems.
But I was already dead now, what was a little alcohol?
Julian turned his head away. His eyes seemed to redden for a fleeting second. But when
he turned back, it was as if my previous observation had been an illusion. He stared into my
eyes.
“You wouldn’t mind playing a love song for Chloe and me, would you?”
Everyone was watching me, enjoying the spectacle.
Mr. Sterling’s “trouble–and–strife” wife, forced to congratulate the new couple at her own
dismissal party. But I said nothing.
I sat at the piano and began to play ‘Love Letter.‘ I had specially practiced this song to
win Julian’s heart. I could feel his gaze on my back, still as ardent as when we were in love.
But from the fourth measure, I started to hit sour notes. The kidnappers had chopped off
my ten fingers.
Although they looked normal now, they were soft as noodles, completely without strength. Julian’s face grew darker and darker. Finally, he slammed the piano lid shut.
“Anya, are you doing this on purpose? Is playing a song for me really that much of a
chore?”
“Or was your playing for me back then all a lie, too?”
I pulled my hand out. Deep red marks were pressed onto it. Julian froze for a moment. He touched my hand, flinching back from the icy cold.
<
11:30 Sun, 6 Jul A M
“Why are you so cold? Are you not feeling well?”
- 7.
59%1
A dead person’s hand, of course, couldn’t be warmed. I looked at Julian. How long had it
been since he cared about my body? I couldn’t remember.
Julian’s mood soured, and he abruptly cut the party short. After seeing everyone off, only
Chloe, Julian, and I remained at the villa gate, waiting for the car.
Chloe extended her hand and waved it at me.
A diamond, at least five carats, flashed blindingly on it. I remembered Mr. Thorne’s
words, pulled out the second stick of incense, and lit it.
A truck suddenly roared towards us from the distance. Julian had Chloe on his left and
me on his right. Everything slowed down before my eyes.
I saw Julian push Chloe to the left, holding her close. I saw the truck hit me, running over
my legs.
The second dream shattered instantly. There was no truck, no accident. Chloe and Julian were unharmed, but I collapsed to the ground from the searing pain throughout my body.
Julian shook his head hard, taking a long moment to confirm that what had just happened was only my second dream. He roughly pulled me up and slapped me.
“Are you insane, Anya?”
“If the third dream is like this again, I swear I’ll strangle you.”
But I just laughed, a bitter, hollow laugh. It made my tears well up.
Mr. Thorne had gambled wrong again. Even if it was just a physical reaction, between me and Chloe, Julian still wouldn’t choose me.
