Late Love, Empty Hands

My words made Mom and Dad soften their stance. I quickly signaled Ivan.

We had a lifelong unspoken agreement.

Whenever Ivan wanted to do something Mom and Dad might oppose, I would first smooth things over with them, then he could speak his mind.

Ivan said, "Mom, Dad, after I marry Vicky, I'll still care for you. Please approve our marriage."

Seeing Ivan beg before them, I pushed even harder.

With no way to oppose Ivan anymore, Mom and Dad finally nodded.

Ivan could marry Vicky as he wished, and the tragedy of my previous life would not repeat itself.

I unclenched my fists and relaxed.

After Mom and Dad went to bed, I returned to my own bedroom.

I opened my diary, ready to write. Suddenly, the door swung open.

I looked up and saw Ivan.

He glanced at my notebook, and his expression darkened immediately.

As I stood, his hand clamped over my neck.

"Iris, are you writing about your filthy thoughts of me again?"

His hand was large and strong, and I struggled to breathe under his firm grasp.

"What are you talking about?" I forced out the words.

Ivan picked up my notebook.

"When you were a teenager, you used a notebook like this to record your feelings for me."

So it seemed that he had read my diary before. I couldn't believe his audacity.

Anger and frustration flared inside me.

I forced his hand away from my throat, snatched the notebook, and hit him with it.

"What are you trying to do? Isn't it enough that I let you be with her? Yes, I used to like you. That was my mistake. I don't like you anymore. What else do you want?"

I rarely got angry with him. He looked stunned.

"You like reading my diary, huh? Then read it! I did write about a guy, but it wasn't you."

After saying that, I pushed him aside and ran out.

…

I was sitting in a cafe with Amelia, who was practically bouncing with excitement. She asked, "You agree to date my brother? Are you really going to be my sister-in-law?"

Her voice shot up several octaves, drawing glances from other customers. I reached over and lightly covered her mouth.

"I ran into him a few days ago. We talked, and things went well."

My cheeks warmed.

Amelia wrung her hands, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Be honest. Last time, my brother confessed to you, and you rejected him. How did you end up getting together now?"

Half a year ago, Marcus Hackett, Amelia's brother, had confessed his love to me. At that time, my heart belonged entirely to Ivan, so I had rejected him.

After being reborn, I corrected that mistake. Meanwhile, Vicky and Ivan flaunted their relationship in my house every day.

Vicky constantly asserted her claim over Ivan.

No matter how many times I stepped back and insisted that I had no interest in Ivan, it did no good.

Left with no choice, I hid from them.

I was frustrated, so I went to a bar and drank a little too much. When the room spun, a man cornered me in the restroom and tried to take advantage of me.

Tears filled my eyes as I struggled against him. Suddenly, Marcus appeared and punched the man to the floor.

When he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe my tears, I couldn't help but laugh.

"Marcus, you really are old-fashioned. You still carry a handkerchief with you, huh?"

He shook the piece of plaid cloth helplessly. "Do you know how expensive this is?"

"It doesn't matter. Tissues are still more convenient."

He nodded, acknowledging the truth, and tossed the expensive handkerchief into the bin.

"Iris' word is law."