Chapter 26
Five years had passed since I disappeared from Alexander Sterling’s life, taking the divorce papers and vanishing with my parents five year liner Julian Blake found me and showed me what real love could be. We were deeply in love and recently engaged–Julian had proposed on a quiet evemag by the lake, promising me a lifetime of respect and equality.
Julian and I built a life together–steady, respectful, and free from the constant fear and manipulation I’d endured with Alexander. He never tried to control me, never made me feel like I was his possession. For the first time, I felt truly loved for who I was.
We were planning a romantic getaway to celebrate our engagement when Julian spotted an old friend in a café. Amira–tall, graceful, with a delicate heart–shaped face. Her eyes lit up when she saw him.
The moment I saw her, a chill ran through me. It was like looking in a mirror–the same high cheekbones, the same almond chaped eyes, even the way she tilted her head when she smiled. And her name–Amira, so eerily similar to my own Aria. Julian had never mentioned knowing someone who looked so much like me, with a name that echoed my own.
“Julian Blake! It’s been ages!” She embraced him, holding on a moment too long.
Julian introduced us, his hand resting protectively on my waist. “Amira, this is Aria, my fiancée.”
“Fiancée?” Her smile remained, but something flickered in her eyes as she studied my face. “How wonderful. The resemblance is… remarkable. Even your names…” She cleared her throat. “I’m taking a trip to see the mountain lakes.”–
Before I knew it, Julian had suggested we join them. “It’ll be fun,” he insisted. “Amirá and I were close in college. I want you to get to know her.”
I agreed, ignoring the unease creeping up my spine. That night, I asked Julian about the uncanny resemblance between Amira and me, and our similar
names.
“Is that why you approached me that first day? Because I reminded you of her? Because my name is almost hers?”
Julian hesitated. “I noticed it, of course. But you’re different in all the ways that matter, Aria. You’re you.”
His words should have comforted me, but they left me wondering what exactly had drawn him to me in the first place–and if he’d been trying to replace what he’d lost.
During the trip, Julian was attentive as always, but I caught him watching Amira–the way her hair caught the light, how she laughed at her boyfriend’s jokes. They shared private memories I wasn’t part of, inside jokes I didn’t understand.
“She was special to you,” I said one night.
Julian squeezed my hand. “That was years ago. You’re my future, Aria.”
I believed him–until the landslide.
We were driving along a mountain ridge when the earth gave way. Our car slid toward the edge, metal groaning as rocks pummeled the roof. I remember Julian’s panicked eyes meeting mine for a split second. He seemed frozen, torn–his body half–turned toward me before his gaze darted to Amira’s terrified scream. In that moment of hesitation, something shifted in his expression, and he lunged across the seats toward her instead.
His body shielded her completely as the car tipped sideways. Something sharp pierced my leg. The last thing I saw before darkness took me was Julian protectively curled around Amira, his back to me. That split second of indecision told me everything I needed to know about where his heart truly belonged–and who he had really been seeing when he looked at me all this time.
I woke up alone in a hospital bed, my leg throbbing with pain. A steel rod had punctured it, the doctor explained. I was lucky not to lose it.
It’s been seven days since I woke up in the hospital, with no one by my side except the nurse.
Thinking about the fiancé who had left me behind, My eyes darkened a bit.
I grabbed my phone, which had run out of battery, borrowed a charger, and turned it on. There was no message from Julian. Just as I was about to turn it off, I saw Julian’s name flashing on the screen.
As soon as I answered, his accusatoryvoice pierced through:
“Aria, what are you trying to pull now? In that situation, Amira has a heart condition, what was wrong with me taking her away? We were already
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Chapter 28
rescued, there was going to be a second team of rescuers. Why didn’t you just follow them back? I had to leave because Thai & bin
the company. Your Job doesn’t pay much, so what are you so upset about? You haven’t answered my calls for days!
I listened calmly as he poured out his frustrations, there wasn’t a hint of concern in his voice, only accusations, every word was talking down to me, while defending Amira.
When he finally finished pouring, I hoarsely said, “I’m in the hospital…” But before I could finish, he interrupted:
“Aria, can you stop using such pathetic tricks to get my attention? Always trying to get the attention, you’re disgusting. You’re doing this because you never believed that Amira and I were innocent, right? Why is your mind so nasty? No wonder Amira always says you’re full of schemes.”
Then he hung up. When I called him back, 1 found out that he had blocked me.
I laughed at myself and found a caregiver.
I wasn’t going to neglect my health just because Julian wasn’t worth it.
I stayed in the hospital for 20 days. During that time, Julian didn’t call me even once.
I had surgery to remove the steel rod from my leg. Although I might have a slight limp, my leg was saved, and for that, I was grateful.
After these things happened, I decided to start loving myself more.
20 days later, I was discharged from the hospital, but unexpectedly, I received a call from Julian.
When I answered, he asked, “Aria, have you reflected on what you did wrong?”
“Why should I reflect?” I replied coldly.
Julian was taken aback by my tone, then softened his voice:
“We are the ones in a relationship. Amira and I have always been innocent, but you always make a fuss. That was a landslide, and she was so scared, plus she had a heart condition. I just hoped you’d be more understanding.”
The more he spoke, the more justified he sounded, perhaps even convincing himself.
He then said, “I know I was wrong to leave you behind that day. I’ve booked a restaurant. Let me take you out to dinner?”
His tone wasn’t particularly sincere, but after being with him for so many years, I knew this was his way of making amends.
But after experiencing the moment of death and leaving me at that moment by him, I no longer had any hope for Julian.
During my hospital stay, I reflected on my past with Julian and realized that when you invest too much in a relationship, you become afraid of losing it, and end up becoming excessively submissive.
I had spoiled Julian too much, letting him punish me whenever he wanted, and making me suffer whenever he wished.
In the past, whenever he offered a vague reconciliation, I would immediately take the opportunity to make up with him, ignoring the real issues between us.
That’s why his friends never thought highly of me, seeing me as nothing more than a pushover.
And they were right–if I weren’t such a pushover, how could Julian treat me with such disregard? ·
When he suggested dinner, I suddenly felt a sense of peace and said, “Come pick me up from the hospital.”
He seemed to freeze, probably remembering the time he accused me of using underhanded tactics to get his attention, never expecting that I was truly in the hospital.
He insisted on coming to pick me up with a gentle tone.
But I waited for a long time until it got so late. I eventually took a cab home, ate takeout, and never saw any sign of Julian.
I packed up my things with my injured leg.
I saw that Amira had posted a picture of a candlelit dinner: “I knew you’d always be there when I needed you”
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Chapter 26
Looking at the seemingly romantic picture, I suddenly felt a sence of release.
In Julian’s heart, I would never compare to Amira As long as Amira was around, I would always be the one left behind
I went from being mad every time that happened, until now, making a scene to accepting it as normal. After experiencing the moment of death. I suddenly felt it was all so meaningless.
Why should 1. in the prime of my life, let a man decide my fate?
