“Karina, your choice is good and wise. I think clearly it is good that you can think it through. Regarding the matter of marriage, I believe you can come back in three years and then consider it. These few years are not a big deal.”

I feel a little guilty at this moment. Originally, they wanted me for this project. They wanted it named for me. But I had always been obsessed with James. It made me refuse to accept the invitation from my mentor.

The mentor had no choice but to look for someone else. But in the end, there wasn't a single qualified person, which ultimately delayed the progress of the entire project process.

***

I had finished processing the last of the documents in my office. I quickly tidied up my desk. When I was done and about to leave the room, I heard a familiar scream outside the door.

“I have obviously worked very hard, but I didn't expect that Karina would suddenly want to take up the quota. My efforts for this month have all been in vain, you know?”

It was Annette Diggory. I clenched the door handle tightly. I knew her as James's secret lover. The woman who made me and him unable to reconcile for thirty years.

I dared to open the door of my office. A familiar face appeared in front of me. It was James. He looked down at me with a sense of oppression I had never felt before.

“Karina, return what previously belonged to Annette.”

I looked at James’s expression, as well as Annette's behind him. She was still crying and out of breath behind him. 

I shook my head. “I’m sorry, but it’s impossible, okay.”

James’s face had never had such an incomprehensible expression. “What do you mean, Karina?”

I just stared at him silently. He was still trying everything for Annette.

“I've already been forced by you to agree to marry you. Do you think I don't know that you have arranged the wedding venue, Karina? You won't even go, right? You're just doing it to make things difficult for Annette!”

Annette also stepped forward with red eyes. “Karina, I really worked hard for this. After I leave it will be impossible to bother you guys. Please, Karina. I hope you will also be relieved.”

I said loudly, “You know whether you really work hard or not. You can’t apply for this project, Annette.”

Annette stalled after hearing my words. Her eyes became even redder. 

Before she applied for this project, she originally wanted James to accompany her so that I couldn't block them. But since I hurt myself several times, James thought of the kindness my parents had once shown to the Mountbatten Family. It made him finally agree with a pinched nose.

Annette decided to go by herself in a fit of anger. But in the end, these months were more of a gambling component. The preparations were not done properly at all. In her previous life, she hadn't been successful in her application. 

James, however, frowned. “It's not like you gave her a chance. What makes you think she can't apply? Please give us the reason.”

I shook the document. “Just based on the fact that Mr. Matteo as the mentor has already signed and stamped it for me.”

“Karina, please.”

James clenched his five fingers. The disappointment in his eyes was unprecedented. 

“I thought you were just a bit capricious. I never expected you to be so vicious like this. You don't even lack this opportunity, Karina. But Annette paid a lot to get to where you are today.”

James continued to talk at length. Meanwhile, I didn't care at all.

“I didn't think you'd go so far as to empty a spot for Mr. Matteo in order to make things difficult for her!”

The more he spoke, the more unsteady his breathing became. Now he looked at me coldly. 

“Listen to me, Karina. Even though you made me agree to marry you in return for your kindness, just based on this incident, I will never treat you as my wife in my life.”

“I know it, James.”

I nodded frankly at him. I had already experienced this in my last life.

James turned around and walked away. He took Annette's shoulder and comforted her softly.

“It's okay, Annette. I'll find you to find another opportunity, okay? Please, don't be sad.”

That gentle look, I had dreamed of countless times in my previous life. But I couldn't get it in my previous life. I also won't get it in this life either.

I was told in my heart, ‘I really should go, James.’

I thought James wouldn't meet me again before the wedding. But I didn't expect one thing. When I returned to the wedding room I booked and opened the door, I met him at eye level.

Without waiting for me to say anything, he walked around me and left in large strides. I still have not recovered yet.

At this moment, there was a bowl of ginger soup on the dining table. The temperature was just right. For a moment, my heart was full of mixed feelings.

I vaguely recalled that in my previous life, he also took care of me while disliking me. I knew it was just because my mom and dad wanted him to take good care of me before they passed away.

Therefore, even if we argued to no end, he didn't hesitate to donate 600cc of blood after I was injured and hospitalized. Even if we had just said we would never see each other again, the next second, I was going to be hit by a car, he wouldn't hesitate to jump on me and push me out of the way.

He was just returning the favour with his life. Unfortunately, I always wanted him to give me his heart as well.

Sipping the ginger soup, which may be the last time I drink it, I suddenly remembered something. With a quick glance at the date, my heart clenched. I hurriedly put the bowl down, calling my men as I put on my shoes.

“Get to Alley 6 on 13th Street!”

It was still raining heavily outside. I rushed out without even being able to grab my umbrella. 

Relying on my memory, I arrived at the alley where Annette was violated in my previous life. Sure enough, there were a dozen tall men surrounding a girl at this time.

“Don't think that you don't have to pay back the money because your parents are dead. I have already given you a grace period until today. So, can't you get the money? Then pay me with your beautiful body!”

I shouted, “Stop!”

I hit the head of the leader with a beer bottle. Then I grabbed Annette's hand and ran outside.

“Oh, gosh!”

The rain was wet and slippery. It made Annette fall hard to the ground. I pulled hard a few times. But I failed to pull the person up. Unfortunately, the dozen men had already chased after her.

There was no way out. I shielded the person behind me. 

“Run! I'll hold you up!”

“I, I can’t.”

Annette seemed to be frightened. She hugged herself and shivered. 

I shouted firmly, “Run now!”

I struggled to fend off the incoming men. Even with ten years of Taekwondo training, I still couldn't stand the siege of more than a dozen men surrounding me.

I ordered, “I can't hold on for long! You go now and find the police!”

Annette said softly, “I am so scared. I can't move.”

Annette's voice trembled like no other. I clenched my teeth and kicked the man to buy myself a little time. I turned back and tried to pull the person up with force. 

Unfortunately, someone suddenly screamed and pushed me hard. The blade ran through my body. My breath was also caught in my throat.

“Oh, no. You are bleeding now.”

The leader didn't expect me to come crashing in. He obviously didn't want to make a scene. At the moment, his hand holding the hilt of the knife was a little unsteady.

I looked at Annette with wide eyes. She held her head and trembled as she looked at me.

“I’m sorry. I’m too scared.”

Gritting my teeth, I violently pulled out my knife. I turned around and swung it at those people. Originally, I didn't want to make a scene. But now seeing that I was mad again, the dozen or so people were so scared that they immediately scattered and fled in all directions.

I stumbled two steps and almost didn't stand still. The rain blurred my vision and hazily. There seemed to be footsteps rapidly approaching.

I subconsciously stretched out my hand to look for support, but a huge force pushed me. It made my back slammed heavily against the wall.

It was James. He held the trembling Annette in his arms. He then looked at me through clenched teeth.

“I have already promised to marry you, Karina. Why are you still driving people to extinction? Do you want to kill everyone?”

The wound was torn with piercing pain. I covered my chest and swallowed a mouthful of blood with difficulty.

“James, I'm not what you think.”

James shouted, “Shut up!”

He picked Annette up gently. “I will never believe a single word you say again, Karina, never.”

“James, please, help me.”

Annette trembled and leaned into his arms. James immediately lowered his head. At this moment, his eyes were full of heartache.

James said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Annette. I'll send you to the hospital right now.”

I called him softly, “James.”

I wanted to say something else, but I fell heavily to the ground. Blood and water were gathered in large streams to form a pool. In a daze, all I could see was James back.

James hugged Annette tightly. He carried her into the car without looking back at me. 

On the other hand, I was shivering from the cold rain. My outstretched hand fell heavily into the blood.

Before I closed my eyes, I seemed to see the cars of my men and the flashing police lights. When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed.

Through the glass, James’s face disappeared in an instant. I closed my eyes for a while. I just thought he still remembered that he had promised my parents that he would always come over to see if I was dead or not.

Those murderers were apprehended. The police told me that if I hadn't shown up in time, Annette Diggory would have been dragged off to the red light district by them now to solicit clients.

I was well aware of that. Annette couldn't be saved in her last life. By the time James rushed in with his men, she had already been beaten to death. Also since then, she has been traumatized physically and mentally. After seeing James and I married, she killed herself in despair.

Thirty years after the wedding, James suspected more than once that that rainy night was my handiwork. And when I was angry, I would also confess to a crime that didn't belong to me. He pushed our relationship further into the abyss.

Fortunately, I have paid it back. In the previous life, he used his life to protect me, but in this life, I used my life to protect his sweetheart.

***

When I woke up with a start, only to find that it was James who was holding the infusion bottle. It made me recall my memories.

When I was a child, my first infusion spit out that the medicine was cold. From then on, every time I got an infusion, James would use his hand to help me warm it up. 

At this time, our eyes met. Unfortunately, James avoided my sight.

He said with a low voice, “I'm going to change the wedding site to Windermere Lake.”

I was stunned for a while. “You already know?”

“Well, Annette told me all about it.”

The phone suddenly vibrated. It was a message from one of my subordinates, George.

George: [Ms. Karina, Ms. Annette has agreed to be a bride]

I sighed after reading George’s message. I said in my heart, ‘It's good that you're happy. You have to know as long as you are happy.’

James looked over at me with doubt flickering in his eyes. He then quickly resumed his previous cold state.

“I'm the one who's sorry for you.”

I replied, “You don't have to apologize, this is my own choice.”

The cell phone rang. James's words were interrupted. I saw the caller's username. It was Anette.

James said, “Okay, I'll be right over. So, don't be afraid.”

He quickly hung up the phone. James tucked the corners of the quilt for me.

“See you at the wedding.”

I nodded. “Don't worry, James. The gift will arrive even if I’m not there.”

He turned back in the doorway and frowned at me. “Don't joke with me, Karina.”

I smiled without saying anything. James was stunned. He then quickly turned his head away.

At the same time, my mentor sent a message to me.

Mr. Matteo: [The flight is tonight. Are you physically okay? Do you want me to change your ticket for you?"]

I replied to his message.

Karina: [No need, Mr. Matteo. I will come to you right away].

***

The wedding day came quickly. James held the roses. He quietly waited for me to come out of the dressing room.

I knew he had always disliked this wedding. But at this moment, he actually developed a little bit of anticipation.

He didn't know when he had become less resistant to this wedding. Perhaps it was after Annette was rescued. She then confessed during her statement that I had nothing to do with those debt collectors. 

Thinking of the fact that he personally pushed someone down in the rain with his own hands. At that time, his eyes were full of Annette. It made him not even realize that I was seriously injured at all. 

After that, he couldn't sleep all night long. Looking at my unconscious appearance, James was afraid several times that I would never be able to open my eyes again.

It was also at that time that he vowed to take care of her as much for the rest of his life. It had nothing to do with love, it was only about apologies.

If she wanted to get married, then she would get married. She liked Windermere Lake, so she did it here. Even if he was trapped by her for the rest of his life, he resigned himself to his fate. 

The door to the dressing room opened and James gripped the rose tightly. A corner of the wedding dress was revealed. He felt his heart miss a beat.

“James.”

Annette's shy smile appeared in front of him. Meanwhile, James’s breath stagnated.

“Is it you?”

“Yes, it is, James.”

Annette shyly stepped forward. He then took James’s arm. 

“This surprise, do you like it?”

James was only silent. Then someone walked towards them.

“Mr. James!”

The men happily ran over. “Ms. Karina's gift has arrived!”

James turned his head around. A row of Rolls Royce was parked on the street. As soon as the doors opened, roses rushed out.

“These are all prepared by Ms. Karina herself! There's also a greeting card!”

James lowered his head for a while. The beautiful handwriting surprised him.

[These 9999 roses are the symbol that I will pray for you and your beloved to live long and happily until death do them part.]

The card was clutched out of its folds. The henchman was taken aback:

“Mr. James, are you okay?”

James's throat rolled. His voice was hoarse.

“Where is she?”