The house was silent, showing no sign of anyone inside.

Xavier frowned and turned toward the Miller house.

Arriving there, he found Mr. Miller drinking tea in the courtyard.

"Sir, is Nancy back?"

Mr. Miller set down his tea cup, looking annoyed. "She’s not back. Where did that girl run off to now? The banquet is this noon, and she’s still wandering around."

A sudden wave of panic hit Xavier.

Without another word, he turned and left the compound, heading toward the locksmith.

Halfway there, his foot struck something hard.

He thought it was a stone, but looking down, he saw a key.

It was brass, tied with a red string.

He recognized that red string.

Nancy had gone to a temple three years ago to get it for him.

He had kept it tied to his keys ever since, never taking it off.

Xavier slowly bent down to pick up the key.

As he gripped it in his palm, it dug painfully into his skin.

He took a deep breath, desperately telling himself it might have been dropped by accident.

Nancy wouldn't have thrown it away.

Or... or maybe this wasn't his key at all.

After all, many keys looked alike.

He quickened his pace, almost running back to his house.

Standing at the door, his hand trembled slightly as he held the key.

He inserted it.

He gave it a gentle turn.

The door opened.

The house was silent, the bedding folded neatly.

Every wedding item he had prepared for her remained untouched.

Standing in the empty room, Xavier suddenly remembered the scene from that morning—

Nancy, standing at the gate with her canvas bag.

He had assumed she was eager to move in, so he had smiled and handed her the keys to get settled.

She had taken the keys and nodded.

Why hadn't he looked closer at her then?

That expression of hers—it wasn't the look of someone about to move into a new home.

Just then, the village chief came running over in a hurry.

"Xavier! Xavier! There’s been a mistake!"

Xavier spun around. "What mistake?"

The village chief gasped for air, slapping his thigh. "My wife and her big mouth—she got the story all wrong! The truck that broke down was going to another village. It had nothing to do with us. Our village’s military truck arrived at six this morning. It picked up the recruit and left ages ago!"

Xavier’s head throbbed. He gripped the chief’s shoulders tightly and asked in a low voice.

"Who did it pick up?"

"Who else could it be? It was your Nancy!"

Chapter 8

Xavier’s face turned deathly pale.

"Anyway, I’ve delivered the message. As for Mr. Miller... you’d better be the one to tell him. I'm too embarrassed to even open my mouth."

With that, the village chief turned and left.

Xavier stood at the doorway, his knuckles white as he gripped the keys.

She was gone.

She had taken her luggage and boarded that truck at six o'clock.

She had thrown her keys on the road and taken nothing with her.

None of the things he had bought for her—she didn't want any of it.

Xavier closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He didn't understand.

He had been good enough to her in this life.

The engagement, the banquet, the wedding—nothing was missing.

What more did she want?

Why did she insist on taking that spot?

She had waited fifty-three years for him in the last life; he was compensating her in this one. What could she possibly be dissatisfied with?

Lost in these thoughts, he stood at the door, motionless.

After an unknown amount of time, footsteps sounded behind him.

"Xavier!"

Xavier turned and saw his mother walking toward him in a hurry.

She was wearing a dark red silk cheongsam, her hair styled perfectly.

She was dressed impeccably from head to toe, clearly having made an effort for the occasion.

"Mom? Why are you here? Didn't you say you couldn't get time off from the base?"

His mother smiled. "No matter how hard it was, I had to come! After all, your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event."

She patted her son’s shoulder and looked around.

"Where’s the bride? Look at the time. Your father has been waiting at the restaurant for ages. Why are you still standing here?"

Xavier opened his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he couldn't find the words.

At that moment, Wendy ran up, panting for breath.

"Xavier, why are you still here? Everyone is already at the restaurant. My father sent me to hurry you along. Where’s Sister? Is she still doing her makeup?"

Xavier looked down, his voice tight.

"Nancy... is gone."

"Gone? Where did she go?" Wendy asked.

Xavier spoke with difficulty. "She went to the army. The military truck picked her up at six this morning."

Wendy was stunned.

"What do you mean?" His mother’s voice rose sharply. "Isn't today your wedding day? What is she doing running off to the army?"

Xavier said nothing.

Wendy bit her lip, her eyes slowly turning red, her voice filled with grievance and accusation.

"How could Sister do this... if she wanted that spot, she could have just told us. Why did she have to do it this way? Xavier, you booked four full tables at the restaurant today. All our relatives and friends are there. Isn't she intentionally trying to humiliate you?"

His mother’s face turned grim, and she grabbed her son’s arm.

"Xavier, what on earth is going on? Explain it to me! Weren't things going well? When we spoke yesterday, you said everything was on track. Why did she suddenly run off?"

Xavier kept his head down, silent.

His mother was breathless with anger. She let go of him and gave a cold laugh.

"Fine. Just great. I took leave and spent half the day traveling here, only for the bride to run away. All our friends and family are at the restaurant waiting for the wedding feast. Where am I supposed to hide my face? Where is your father supposed to hide his?"

Wendy stepped forward, gently taking his mother’s hand and speaking softly.

"Auntie, please don't be angry. Sister... she might have had her reasons."

His mother patted her hand and sighed. "Wendy, you are the sensible one. Unlike your sister, you know the weight of your actions."

Wendy looked down and bit her lip, looking as if she had made a monumental decision. She spoke slowly.

"Auntie, as things stand... I have an idea. I just don't know if you and Xavier would agree to it."

His mother looked at her. "What idea?"

Wendy looked up, biting her lip shyly.

"I could take my sister's place... and marry Xavier."

Chapter 9

His mother was stunned for a moment.

Wendy quickly lowered her head, her voice becoming even softer.

"I know it’s shameless of me to say this. But all the relatives and friends are here today; we can't let Xavier stand in the restaurant alone and be laughed at. Besides... I’ve liked Xavier since I was little. I only kept it to myself because of my sister."

As she finished, her face flushed to the tips of her ears, and she kept her eyes down, not daring to look at anyone.

His mother looked at her, becoming more satisfied the more she looked. She turned and took Xavier's hand.

"Xavier, Wendy is right. Things have already come to this, and there must be an ending. I’ve watched Wendy grow up; she has a good heart and is sensible. If you marry her, I can rest easy."

Xavier stood there, his mind a complete mess.

Seeing him remain silent for so long, Wendy’s eyes reddened with embarrassment.

"Xavier, if you find it too difficult, just pretend I never said anything. I just... I didn't want to see you humiliated."

His mother immediately took Wendy’s hand, her expression full of affection.

"Wendy, you are a good child. If our Xavier can marry you, it’s his blessing."

She turned back to Xavier, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

"Xavier, it’s settled then. You and Wendy will get married; we'll just say there was a mistake before. We can't let the guests go home on an empty stomach."

Xavier looked at Wendy, his lips twitching.

He knew in his heart that the one he always loved was Nancy.

It was true in their last life, and it was true in this one.

But what about Wendy?

In the last life, she had been with him for fifty-three years, borne him three children, blocked a bullet for him, and stayed by his side during his most dangerous moments.

She was his partner, his wife, and the mother of his children.

He owed Wendy no less than he owed Nancy.

His mother urged, "Xavier, say something! Your father is still waiting at the restaurant!"

Xavier closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Fine," he heard himself say.