Foolishly In Love

Miley's POV

As soon as the car came to a stop, one of Jennifer's closest friends came running toward us.

"Julian! Something's wrong. Jennifer's having an asthma attack! She can't breathe!"

Without a second's hesitation, Julian flung the door open and jumped out.

"I'll go check on her. You head home first. I'll meet you at Polaris tonight."

I nodded, even as my heart bled. "Alright."

He looked at me, puzzled. "You're being this agreeable? Haven't you always hated when I ran to her?"

I said nothing because I knew that in his heart, I would never come before Jennifer.

He sneered. "Right. You've already got the engagement contract. You got what you wanted—no need to keep pretending."

He climbed into the other girl's car without so much as a backward glance, leaving behind only the bitter ache in my chest.

But what I had ever tried to stop wasn't his feelings for Jennifer.

In my past life, I knew the truth—Jennifer had dealings with shady, wealthy men behind the scenes. I tried to warn Julian to stay away from her.

But he thought I was just jealous. He said I was spreading lies.

Now, as long as he can be happy, I'd let him run to Jennifer a thousand times over. I'd even disappear from his life if that was what it took.

I pushed open the door to the Asher family's home.

Julian's mom, Natalie Roberts, greeted me warmly and immediately pulled me into the living room, saying she'd cook something for me.

Julian's dad, Bruce Asher, seeing I'd come back alone, frowned.

"That brat didn't come home with you? You're engaged, for heaven's sake! How can he still be this careless? Just wait till I get my hands on him!"

Their kindness made my heart ache.

My mother died young. My father remarried and brought home a new wife, and a stepsister two months younger than me.

I suffered years of neglect and abuse in my own home. It was Julian's parents who had taken pity on me, who looked after me like their own.

I had always tried to be the obedient girl they could be proud of. But this time, I had to disappoint them.

I looked at them both.

"Bruce, Natalie… I'm not going to marry Julian. I'm leaving the country tomorrow. I won't be able to keep you company anymore."

The spoon in Natalie's hand clattered to the floor. Panic flooded her eyes. "What nonsense are you saying? Why would you suddenly go abroad?"

"Did Julian bully you again because of Jennifer? Tell me. I'll set him straight!"

"Don't do anything foolish. Julian cares about you. Otherwise, why would he risk his life to save you?"

"You even gave up law school and switched to home economics, just to become a good wife for him!"

They said the same things in my last life.

And what happened?

I became a widow. They buried their only son. All of us drowned in regret.

I reached out to wipe away Natalie's tears—and, in truth, to wipe away my own.

"Natalie, Julian doesn't love me. I shouldn't have forced him. I had a dream last night… In it, we got married. But he was miserable. He avoided me all the time. And then… he died at thirty, trying to save me."

Just saying it made my chest tighten until I could barely breathe.

Natalie stared at me, stunned. "That… that was just a dream, Miley. Julian would never…"

I forced myself to stay calm. "Bruce, Natalie, I don't have to marry him. I just want him to live a happy life.

"He's the heir to the Asher family, but so many things in his life were never up to him. Just this once, I want him to have the freedom to choose who he marries.

"I've already bought my plane ticket. Please, let me go."

Bruce stayed silent for a long while. Then he let out a sigh and helped me to my feet.

Natalie wiped her tears and pulled a black card from her purse, shoving it into my hands.

"If this is your decision… we'll respect it. But no matter what happens, the Asher family will always be your home."

My tears fell at once. I threw my arms around her. "Thank you, Natalie."

As long as this engagement was called off, the tragedy of my previous life would never happen again.

Julian would live a long, happy life. Julian's parents would never know the pain of losing a child. And they would never come to resent me.

In this life, everyone would get their happy ending.

His second regret—I suppose I've helped him make peace with that too.

Now, I only had one more regret left to fulfill. The clock was still ticking on those twenty-four hours. Could I really complete my task?

That night, I went to the rooftop of Polaris Restaurant.

Not for myself, but to pray for Julian and Jennifer.

I looked up at the sky and made a wish on the meteor shower: Please let Julian be happy.

"Miley."

A familiar voice rang out. My heart leapt. I thought maybe, just maybe, I still held a place in his heart.

But when I turned around, I saw him storming toward me, fury in his eyes. He grabbed my wrist.

"You know how much I hate people who stir up drama. Just because I didn't come to Polaris with you, you ran crying to my parents? You told them lies so they'd call and scold Jennifer?! She got so upset, she crashed her car. Her kidneys are failing. She's dying now. Are you satisfied?!"