Chapter 1Let Go of Bygone Days, Awaken to Love’s Fading

On the seventh anniversary of our relationship, my boyfriend and I announced my pregnancy. That night, he planned a spectacular marriage proposal.

There were fireworks, a drone show, and all our friends and family were there to witness it.

I lowered my head shyly, holding out my hand, waiting for Jack to slide the ring onto my finger.

But then, a shimmering figure materialized in the air. It yelled at Jack.

“I’m you from ten years in the future! Don’t marry Nina. The future you will wish she were dead.”

The figure pointed to a quiet girl standing in the corner.

“That is your true love. In ten years, you’ll take a knife for her. You’ll divorce Nina for her.”

“I know you haven’t met her properly yet, but once you get to know her, you’ll see how wonderful she is.”

“The future you will fly in lobster for her birthday and fill notebooks with everything she loves. Every moment with her, the very air will feel sweet. Even your arguments will feel like part of the romance.”

“Only then will you understand that what you feel for Nina isn't love. It’s just habit.”

The 24-year-old Jack standing before me stiffened his neck.

“Impossible! The only person I love is Nina!”

Our friends, seeing him argue with thin air, burst into laughter.

“She’s already said yes, man! You don’t have to keep professing your love!” one of them teased.

I played along. “So, when are you coming over to meet the parents officially?”

But he slowly straightened up, the ring box still clutched in his hand.

“I… I think maybe this is too soon.”

“Nina, just… wait for me. I need to think.”

Everyone exchanged confused glances.

And in the air, the man who called himself the future Jack shot me a triumphant, provocative smirk.

* * *

The romantic proposal ended in a confusing anticlimax.

The 34-year-old Jack wanted to find the other girl, Chloe, but he was tethered to his younger self, a ghostly passenger in our car. He was dressed in a sharp, cool-toned suit that fit him perfectly, his expression dark and scowling. The small space of the car suddenly felt suffocating.

I watched him out of the corner of my eye.

What neither of them knew was that I could see the older Jack, too.

He radiated the cold confidence of a mature, successful man. When his eyes swept over me, they were filled with an undisguised disgust, as if I were his sworn enemy. It was a jarring contrast to the 24-year-old Jack, whose gaze had always been soft and full of love for me. Other than their shared face, this older man was a complete stranger.

When we got home, the older Jack took a tour of our apartment, like a critical landlord.

“This place is a fixer-upper, isn’t it? You should renovate. Get rid of that Monstera on the balcony; Chloe likes succulents.”

“And no more fresh flowers. Chloe is allergic to pollen. She likes handmade cookies, so replace the fruit in the fridge. And she loves those big, plush bears—get a giant one for the sofa.”

A vein throbbed in my Jack’s temple.

“Enough,” he hissed through gritted teeth. “I told you, I only love Nina. I don’t even know this Chloe person!”

The older Jack just chuckled, like he was looking at a fool who refused to see the truth. “You’ll see how wonderful she is once you get to know her.” A gentle, nostalgic smile touched his lips.

Then his eyes fell on me, sitting on the sofa, and his voice turned to ice. “And Nina… she’s just a mistake you made when you were young.”

My hand, resting on the cushion, clenched into a fist, my nails digging deep into my palm.

Jack and I had been desk-mates in high school. He’d played his guitar under my dorm window for three months straight to win me over. He’d run all over town in the dead of winter to buy me the hot chocolate and pastries I was craving. When a drunk harassed me once, Jack had shielded me, getting his head split open with a bottle for his trouble.

He’d told me that the first time he saw me, he felt a spark. That his life wouldn’t be complete without me. His love had been a burning, brilliant fire, and his unwavering devotion had won me over.

From school uniforms to office attire, we’d known each other for ten years, been in love for seven. We had been part of each other’s lives for nearly half our existence.

Even if we were to break up someday, how could I, Nina, become nothing more than a mistake from his youth?

I looked at my Jack, who was standing on the balcony. His knuckles were white, his jaw tight with suppressed anger and a fierce desire to defend me.

I let out a small breath of relief. Maybe in the older Jack’s timeline, something had drastically changed. But the 24-year-old Jack, the one here with me now, was still completely mine.

But then, the older Jack spoke again, and my heart seized in my chest.

“If you don’t believe me,” he said with a cruel smile, “I can help you see the truth about your own heart.”