Chapter 3

Still, things weren't turning out the way Andrea had wanted them to. She didn't even know what had transpired between Jamie and Xavier before this.

When Andrea arrived on the dot, they both looked decent and amicable. It was totally unexpected for her. So, was she the one overthinking things instead now?

"I hope whatever happened today doesn't happen again," Xavier said solemnly.

He had understood what Jamie was trying to tell him.

People in the elite circle often resorted to dirty tactics and underhanded ways to get what they wanted. Andrea had grown up in that environment, so of course, she would know a dirty trick or two.

However, the Lockharts and the Walkers were very closely bound together, so Xavier couldn't possibly jeopardize his relationship with Andrea, especially over something as minute as this.

Additionally, if it hadn't been for Andrea back then during that terrible event, Xavier probably wouldn't even exist anymore because he'd never have been able to make it out alive.

That was the main reason why he was always willing to overlook Andrea's occasional dirty tactics here and there.

"Jamie's just an 18-year-old student. She can't do anything much, so you can just ignore her existence," Xavier said, looking at Andrea.

Andrea lowered her head. She could understand that this was a warning from him. After keeping quiet for a while, she smiled faintly at him and said, "I guess I poked my nose somewhere it didn't belong today. I won't do that again. I'm sorry."

After she took the initiative to apologize, Xavier just hummed softly in response.

The driver drove the car to the Walkers' residence. Andrea lowered her head and stared at her pale fingers, deep in thought.

It was just as Xavier said—Jamie was just a high school student. There wasn't much that she could do anyway. Moreover, the Lockharts and the Walkers were already bound together with their exchange and transactions, and she and Xavier were even childhood friends.

Maybe Andrea had really been overthinking it.

…

The next morning, Jamie woke up to an empty room.

In her past life, today would have been the last day she ever saw this room again because she was shipped overseas at once.

Jamie felt a mix of emotions surging within her as she thought of it.

This apartment was like a cage that Xavier had prepared for her. She could barely do anything with him watching and supervising her all the time.

She used to always stay here, except for that one year she'd been sent abroad to further her studies. She'd spent many nights rolling in the sheets with Xavier in this bed.

But now that she had another chance at life, Jamie decided that she was going to keep her distance from Xavier and set up boundaries between them. She wanted to forget all of those memories.

Even if it meant breaking her heart as she recalled scenes of Xavier spoiling her, loving her, and allowing her to do whatever she wanted to him, she knew that it would ultimately result in Xavier's cold and heartless expression directed at her while she drowned in a pool of her own blood.

Memories like this made the hackles on the back of Jamie's neck rise.

However, on the verge of death, she heard the couple's voices again. Who were they?

Also, at that very last moment, Xavier had picked her up, and she could feel his warm tears dripping down onto her arm.

Still, everything was too late.

Jamie took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She immediately got up from bed. She had to find a new place to stay.

Luckily for her, she managed to find an old, run-down apartment near her school after searching for hours. She then immediately moved in without hesitation.

Jamie didn't bring any of the clothes, jewelry, or accessories that Xavier bought for her and kept in this apartment. She just brought a few changes of clothing and her school uniforms.

She only brought a 26-inch suitcase with her when she left Bay Heights.

Xavier had called her school earlier saying that she wouldn't be attending today, so Jamie made sure to take advantage of the extra time she had to pack up all of her things.

Neither Jamie nor Xavier contacted each other, not even when Jamie went back to school after that. Jamie figured that Xavier probably never even realized that she'd left his apartment.

Lockhart Group released a public statement announcing that Xavier and Andrea's wedding would take place in October of that year.

Jamie went quiet for a long time when she saw the news.

This time, in her second life, Xavier would marry Andrea, and they would have kids of their own and be with each other until the end. Meanwhile, Jamie would remove herself from their relationship altogether.

That sounded just wonderful.

She didn't want Xavier to live his life while hating her anymore this time.

Xavier and Andrea's wedding announcement made it to the top of the news that day. Jamie saw Andrea smiling and shining brightly as she was being interviewed by a reporter.

"I'm grateful for everyone's blessings," Andrea said, smiling widely at the cameras.

For some reason, Jamie thought that Andrea was putting on such a huge smile because she wanted her to see it. Andrea was claiming ownership of Xavier and proudly showing it off to Jamie. After all, Andrea had been really good at this in the past life too.

She would use the most silent way to inflict the most painful and impressive wound on her enemies.

Jamie turned off the television and bowed her head, focusing on her homework and revisions instead.

She wasn't a bad student, but she used to focus most of her time and effort on Xavier instead of her studies last time. That was why she was just getting by in her studies at school.

However, now that she was fully focused on her studies and revising for the SATs, she managed to get the top ten highest scores in the SAT examinations. Even her teachers were pleasantly surprised.

When the results were announced, Jamie immediately applied to get into Aster College, which was located in Asteria.

The reason for that was that she would be meeting someone who would become one of the most important people in her life.

…

In the blink of an eye, it was soon the final week of August, and Jamie was enrolled as a first-year student at Asteria College.

She had never once talked to or contacted Xavier, let alone seen him, since the last time. However, she still knew all the latest updates about him because he often made headlines on the local news regarding his wedding with Andrea.

Such a huge fuss was created about it that the elite circle was entirely abuzz with their news. Nonetheless, Andrea was the one who often made the appearances, while Xavier stayed in the shadows. It was as if the wedding had nothing to do with him at all.

Jamie felt puzzled. From what she could remember, Xavier was deeply in love with Andrea and had wanted only the best for her at their wedding the last time. This time, however, she felt something was wrong with the whole situation.

The cafeteria lady suddenly interrupted Jamie's thoughts as she called out to her. "Miss, where's your meal card?"

Jamie snapped out of her thoughts. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'll swipe it at once."

Jamie felt embarrassed when she realized she had forgotten to bring her meal card. There was no other way she could have paid for her food.

There was still a long line behind her, and the cafeteria lady was obviously getting impatient.

Jamie hurriedly scanned the line of people, hoping to see someone she knew to lend her their card when someone's hand suddenly appeared in front of her.

The hand held a meal card, and with a loud beep from the card machine, Jamie's meal was paid for.

Jamie still hadn't returned to her senses when she heard a male voice say, "It's done."

She lifted her head on instinct and saw a handsome young man in a white button-up shirt and jeans. His fringe fell just beneath his eyebrows, and he had deep-set eyes and a tall nose.

That wasn't the only thing tall about him, though. He stood at over six feet tall, towering over her.

As soon as Jamie recognized him, she felt her eyes stinging with tears.

It was Alvin Summers. What a relief that he was still alive!

"Go eat," Alvin told Jamie in a low voice, devoid of any emotion. He then quietly turned around and walked toward a table nearby.

It was only then that Jamie snapped out of it. "Thanks, Alvin."

Alvin paused very briefly in his footsteps. However, he didn't have much of a reaction. He just continued walking back to his table, sat down, and went on with his lunch.

Jamie fixed her gaze on him as quietly as ever.

Finally, they met again.