Reborn to Let You Go

In the elite circles of New York, it was an unspoken truth: Julian Thorne lived for Liana Archer.

In kindergarten, he had shielded her from the sharp tip of a pencil. In their teens, he had climbed a tree to silence a cicada that disturbed her afternoon nap.

As an adult, a simple sigh from herspring is so beautifulwas enough for him to purchase properties in a dozen of the worlds most temperate cities, just so he could whisk her away to an eternal spring on a whim.

Except for a brief, disconnected period when hed lost his memory, Julian had devoted his entire life to her.

Even after they were married and Liana was diagnosed with ALS, when the entire city was advising him to leave her, he had simply and silently lifted her insensate body onto his back. He climbed mountains carved with ancient scripture, his every step a prayer, and traced her fingers over the weathered letters, hoping to will her back to life.

But this man, on the frigid winter day she was declared dead, sat holding her body for an entire night. Finally, he pressed his forehead to her cheek and whispered a final, heartbreaking confession:

Liana, I have fulfilled all my responsibilities to you in this life. If there is a next one, I hope you can grant me the peace of being with *her*.

Hearing is the last sense to fade after death.

Only then did Liana understand. The man who, in everyones eyes, was her devoted soulmate, had split his heart in two the moment his memory returned.

One half was for his duty to her.

The other half, he kept hidden away for Ava Chen.

The woman who had found him when he had amnesia. The woman who, the moment he remembered everything, had chosen to take her own life.

Perhaps Julians devotion moved the heavens. When Liana opened her eyes again, she heard an assistants frantic voice in her ear.

Mr. Thorne has lost his memory. He refuses to come back with us.

But weve contacted the top neurological specialist. Well have his memory restored shortly.

The words were identical, a perfect echo of the day she had found the missing Julian in her past life.

But this time, the surprise and urgency she had felt then were gone.

She pressed a hand to her throbbing temple and shook her head. Theres no need for a specialist yet.

Then, she did two things.

First, she went to the hospital for the most thorough physical examination of her life.

Second, she took the medical report to Julians parents and broke off the engagement.

Faced with their utter shock, Liana calmly laid out the pros and cons.

Julian has amnesia. He doesnt remember me, and he doesnt remember our engagement.

Instead of forcing him to accept an incurable burden like me the moment he recovers, its better to let things be. Let him marry the woman he loves. I dont want to drag him down anymore.

She meant every word.

In her last life, she had believed in their love. Even after the ALS diagnosis, she had never considered leaving him, convinced that true love could conquer anything.

But the final truth had ripped that reality to bloody shreds.

Julian didnt love her. He loved someone else.

Julians mother gripped her hand, her eyes red-rimmed. Silly child, how could we or Julian ever think of you as a burden? If he knew you were sick, he would only blame himself for not taking better care of you.

Besides, she added, Julian adores you. Who else would he possibly marry?

Liana said nothing. She simply opened her phone and played a video her assistant had just sent.

On the screen was the massive glass wall of an aquarium. A woman in a shimmering pink mermaid tail twisted and turned in the water, the sunlight filtering through the depths and coating her in scattered gold dust.

Outside the tank, Julian stood perfectly still, his gaze filled with a tenderness and fascination Liana had never seen.

The woman in the water suddenly smiled in his direction.

The gentleness that bloomed in his eyes was like a spring thaw melting winter ice, deep enough to drown in. It was as if all the beauty of spring had flooded into his gaze, yet it could only reflect that single, shimmering pink figure.

When the video ended, the living room was utterly silent.

Liana looked at Julians stunned, speechless parents and spoke again, her voice calm. This is the best choice. For both of us.

After a long moment, Julians father wiped his face, his voice hoarse. What what will you do now?

When my brother went abroad to expand the family business, I stayed because of the engagement. Ive been a bother to you both all these years. Liana lowered her eyes, hiding the emotion within them. Now that he knows my situation, hes already helping me apply for permanent residency overseas. Once the papers are through, Ill leave.

*They have the best medical teams there. I can at least live a few more years.*

A cold sweat broke out on her palm, a silent betrayal of the storm of emotion churning beneath her calm exterior.

Julians mother caught the subtle shift and asked cautiously, Liana, could you do us a favor and bring Julian back? Were just so terribly busy right now

The thought of Liana as her daughter-in-law had been rooted in her heart for too many years. She couldnt believe that the bond between the two of them could be severed so easily.

*What if?*

*What if Julian sees Liana and remembers her? What if he grows tired of that other woman?*

There had to be a chance.

As she thought this, she glanced at her husband and saw the same hopeful look in his eyes. He clearly agreed.

Yes, weve just taken on a massive new project. Im completely swamped, his father chimed in, his tone heavy with helplessness.

Liana knew exactly what they were thinking.

But looking at their pleading eyes, she couldnt bring herself to refuse.

Still, she knew better than anyone. Julian would not be swayed by her.

Their hopes were doomed from the start.

She went to the aquarium where Ava Chen worked, as requested.

In the break room, she saw him. Julian was sitting quietly, dressed in the most ordinary casual clothes, a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes and a mask covering most of his handsome face, as if terrified of being recognized.

In his hand, however, he held a small, pink piggy thermos, a stark contrast to his cool, aloof aura.

Lianas gaze lingered on the thermos for a second, and he immediately looked up, his eyes sharp with alarm.

Who are you?

Her voice was gentle, soothing. Dont be nervous. I dont mean any harm.

The moment she spoke, something seemed to click in his mind. His brow furrowed, and his tone became cold and dismissive.

Im not going back with you. You can forget it. I dont care about the so-called Thorne dynasty. To me, nothing is more important than Ava.

Liana had never heard him speak like this. With her, he had always been gentle, indulgent. She stood frozen, momentarily stunned.

The tense atmosphere was broken when Julian suddenly shot to his feet. He rushed forward and swept Ava, who had just emerged from the water, into his arms.

He gently wiped the droplets from her cheeks with his sleeve and handed her the thermos.

Ava sipped the warm water, then playfully pulled down his mask and kissed his cheek.

Just as Julians eyes darkened and he leaned in to kiss her back, she quickly pulled the mask up again.

I dont want anyone to recognize you, Ava pouted, a hint of smugness in her voice.

Liana watched them, her mind flashing back to the days before Julians disappearance. It had been a minor car accident. The doctors had said he only needed two days of observation before he could be discharged. But he had vanished from his hospital room.

The last surveillance footage showed a slender woman wheeling him out on a gurney from the morgue.

No wonder he had been so hard to find.

He had been hidden away, kept from sight.

Ava finally noticed Liana, and she froze, as if rooted to the spot. She quickly sent Julian away and grabbed Lianas wrist, her grip so tight her nails dug into Lianas skin.

Liana winced. Before she could speak, Ava began to ramble, a frantic edge to her voice. It wasnt my fault! I didnt hide him on purpose!

Liana saw the panic in her eyes and said coolly, You know whether you did or not.

Realizing she couldnt hide it, Ava bit her lip and her emotions finally boiled over. Liana, I know hes only ever had you in his heart! The moment his memory comes back, hell drop me and run back to you!

But Ive loved him since the first time I saw him in high school! Ive loved him for so many years and never gotten a single glance from him. This was my only chance

I just wanted him to stay with me for a few more days, thats all! Just a few days!

Her voice cracked at the end, turning into a sob.

Liana listened quietly, her gaze drifting past Ava to Julian, who stood behind her. His eyes were dark and fixed on Ava, his entire body tense, like a storm about to break.

The man who had once been her shadow, her guardian, was now another womans guard dog.

Ready to pounce and tear a piece of flesh from her if she made a single wrong move against Ava.

Liana couldnt quite name the feeling in her heart.

She only knew that in this new life, she couldnt selfishly bind Julian to her side anymore.

After all, to him, she was now nothing more than a responsibility.

She offered Ava a faint smile. You dont have to be afraid. Im not here to break you up. Im here to take you both back to the Thorne estate.

Ava was stunned. Both of us? she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

Youre the woman he loves. If we left you here, he would never agree to come with us.

Liana remembered the scene from her past life. The bodyguards had forcibly taken Julian home. He had torn at the bars of his room like a caged animal, his hands a bloody mess. He had even jumped from the third-story window, stumbling away, desperate to find Ava. His parents, terrified he would hurt himself again, had chained him up. But he had nearly severed his own hands and feet to get free. He was determined to crawl back to Ava if he had to.

It wasnt until the doctors restored his memory that he finally calmed down.

But that was also when he learned of Avas suicide.

He fell gravely ill, losing the will to live. It was Liana, whispering pleas in his ear day after day, who finally brought him back.

But the Liana of that time hadnt realized that from then on, the look in his eyes when he gazed at her would never again hold the same raw emotion he had shown for Ava.

Go pack your things. Youre coming back to the estate with Julian.

Lianas voice was steady, calm. His parents know about you. They wont object to your relationship.

A thousand questions swirled in Avas mind. Were Julians parents angry she had hidden their son? Did Liana hate her for stealing the man she loved? But all these questions were drowned out by a wave of overwhelming relief and joy.

She quickly grabbed Julians hand, her smile radiant, and rushed off to pack.

Only then did Julian seem convinced that Liana meant Ava no harm. He pursed his lips, his attitude softening slightly. Im sorry. I thought for a moment you were going to hurt Ava.

His every emotion was now tied to Ava.

No one remembered the times when Avas incessant pursuit had driven him to bury his face in Lianas shoulder, feigning exasperation, urging her to play the part of the "rightful queen" and stake her claim.

Liana, you have to tell them I belong only to you. You have to be firm about it.

He would even make fierce faces for her to imitate, and they would always end up dissolving into laughter, tumbling onto the sofa in a playful heap.

What a pity.

Julian no longer belonged to her.

Liana managed a faint smile and led them back to the Thorne estate.

Julians parents were visibly disappointed, but they quickly masked it, launching into stories about his past, trying to jog his memory. When it came to introducing Liana, however, they hesitated.

Im the friend you grew up with. You always treated me like a little sister. Liana spoke up, deliberately drawing out her words in a mock complaint. You even promised to find me a boyfriend, but then you got amnesia and the matters been delayed ever since.

The others in the room who knew the truth had complicated expressions, but Julian didnt suspect a thing. He apologized again, even joking, Alright, once things settle down, your big brother will get right on it.

His hand rested naturally on her head, ruffling her hair, the gesture so familiar it even surprised him for a moment. But he quickly dismissed it, attributing it to their "sibling-like" past.

Yet, when he saw his room filled with old things belonging to both him and Liana, a sense of unease crept back in. He suppressed the strange feeling, instinctively wanting to hide it all from Ava. He carried everything out into the courtyard and set it on fire.

The blaze woke Liana from her sleep.

She threw on a robe and went outside to see all her shared memories with Julian going up in smoke.

Photos from their childhood, award certificates theyd won together, even the candy wrapper shed left behind years ago every piece crackled and turned to ash.

The firelight danced on Julians profile, and the cold glint in his eyes, illuminated by the moonlight, was starkly clear in the flickering shadows.

A sharp pain lanced through Lianas heart, as if it were being squeezed in a vise.

Since her rebirth, she had filled her days with endless tasks, trying to numb herself. She thought she could suppress all her emotions, but in the quiet moments, the pain she had so deliberately ignored would always return to haunt her.

She dug her nails into her palm, trying to hide her vulnerability from Julian.

Just then, he turned and saw her.

He smiled, his expression open and friendly. We didnt have partners back then, so it was fine for us to be close. He paused, his tone serious. But now that Ava is living with me, she wouldnt be happy seeing all this. So Im burning it. I hope you dont mind.

Liana shook her head and bent down to pick up a half-burnt wooden doll from the ground. It was from their trip to a remote mountain village. He had nearly slipped off a cliff to get this pair of dolls, which were said to be blessed by a shaman. The villagers had told them that if two lovers each kept one, they would be protected for all their lives.

He would never remember any of this.

Its fine, she replied softly. You might as well burn the things in my room too.

The flames licked at the air, hot and fierce, but Liana felt as if she were submerged in ice water.

After the last memento was burned, she turned to leave, but Julian grabbed her wrist.

His eyes held a hint of helplessness. Can you help me with something?

Soon, she understood.

Servants bustled around the courtyard, carrying boxes of fireworks to an empty clearing next to the estate.

Julian joined them, and when the last box was moved, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. In the darkness, his eyes shone brightly.

Avas been on edge since she got here. Ive been trying to cheer her up all day, and she finally said she wanted to see fireworks. He pointed to the boxes. They need to be set off in a specific order to spell out a message in the sky. Im worried the staff will mess it up. I was hoping you could supervise.

Liana froze, nearly asking him what he took her for.

But before she could speak, he continued, I just feel a sense of calm when youre around. I must have really trusted you in the past.

He looked at her, his gaze sincere. Can you?

In the silence, Liana managed a difficult nod.

He immediately broke into a smile and pressed a bag into her hands. These sparklers are for you. As a thank you.

He ruffled her hair again, then turned and strode away, his steps quick and eager.

One by one, the fireworks exploded overhead, the sound deafening.

Liana tilted her head back and read the words written in the sky:

*Dawn to dusk, I watch the clouds, walking, I think of you, sitting, I think of you.*

*Spring flowers to winter snow, waking, I dream of you, sleeping, I dream of you.*