36
“You were by my side for sixteen years. We fell in love, we got married, we had Leo.”
“But Rhea,” Damian’s grip on my hand tightened. “Do you know? The world we live in is just one of thousands of pre–written timelines.” He touched my face. “You’re the heroine. Logan is the hero.” A small, bitter smile touched his lips. “And I am the irredeemable villain.”
“In the original story, you were supposed to save twelve–year–old Logan, and he was supposed to take you back home with him.” He said, “How could you choose me? How could you not even give him a second glance?”
“It wasn’t allowed. By the time the System intervened, the story was so far off track, it had no choice.”
“So it forcibly removed you from my life.”
Damian’s gaze was deep, as if he were trying to peer into my soul. “It faked your death and wiped your mem-
ories. It took you back to Logan’s side. He and the System worked together to create a brand new past for you, a perfect love story for the hero and heroine.”
His voice was soft. The entire time, he watched me, as if afraid I would break.
But all I felt was a sense of clarity. No wonder. No wonder my life had felt so hollow. No wonder Logan see- med so unnervingly perfect. I even suddenly remembered the on–screen comments–the ones that always
vanished the moment Logan appeared.
He and the System had built me a perfect castle of lies.
But now, Damian was here. He had finally come and unraveled the mystery for me.