A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

"Strawberry candy is your favorite, isn't it? I brought you a lot," Emily said. She opened one and put it in her mouth. The candy tasted sweet, but she could not help but feel bitter.

For a maiden to die at such a young age is like a flower that wilts before it blooms. Life was so unfair.

Victor took the bag of candy and opened each one. He stuffed all of the candies into his mouth. His handsome face formed bulges because of the candies stuffed in his mouth. He looked strange and funny at the same time.

Emily was taken by surprise. If she didn't know any better, she would think that he was like a masochist. "Victor, what are you doing? You could choke," Emily said worriedly.

Victor managed to mumble "I'm okay," despite his stuffed mouth. Emily continued to look at him curiously as he continued, "This is her favorite. I will eat it for her."

In his mind, doing this was like being with her and seeing her. He would do what the things she used to do until they become his ingrained habits.

She's gone but he isn't, and he has to live day by day. All he could do was to try to live her life for her.

He looked up, barely able to speak, as he tried to eat the candy. "Anne, did you lie to me?" he called out. "You told me to have candy whenever I feel bitter. You told me that candy can cure all the bitterness in one's heart. If that's true, then why do I still feel bitter? Why do I still hurt?"

Days without her were so bitter. Even the candies he was eating tasted like bitter herb.

Emily couldn't help but pity him and cry for him. This wasn't Victor the man anymore; he was Victor the corpse. He was a dead and hollow soul trapped in a gorgeous man's body.

Anne's death made him this way.

"What if I was dead, just like Anne? What will happen to Jacob?" Emily thought.

For the first time, she truly understood how Jacob felt. She finally understood Jacob's concern that she might died giving birth to this baby.

If she did die, would he be as heartbroken as Victor?

Emily didn't even want to think about it.

After staying at the cemetery for a while, they left in silence. They went home, both lost in their own thoughts.

her hurriedly as soon as

asked Emily anxiously. "Why didn't you answer my

seeing so many missed calls from

Victor, who just got out of the car, but dropped the topic. "Since you're back, let

voice was filled with concern, and it stroke Victor as uncanny. But looking at Sean's stoic face, it gave nothing away. "I won't

to lose control and put Emily in harm's way again. He had already lost Anne. It would devastate him to lose Emily, too. So he had to make a

He needed to.

...

day, the emotional turmoil and everything else, that night, Emily dreamed of

were all bloodied. His voice

sweat ran down her temples and her heart pounded so loudly, it might as well jump out of her

her chest pounded in pain. She missed him terribly, and

she called

so sorry."

she looked for her phone in the dark.

he has been. But for now, she'd settle

to guess that it would be her on the other

your mind, Emily," she told herself. "If you do this, there

Jacob's number! Cursing her reflexes for doing what was only in her head, her face suddenly turned pale.

did she ever

as she was about to end the call, it was picked up

Gone was his charming and

hang up but she couldn't do

Jacob repeated. "If this is some kind of joke, I'm

whimper. Instinctively, she covered her mouth with her hands, not wanting

wanted to hang up, she didn't want him to

seconds of silence, Jacob spoke again.