Chapter 4

The late autumn wind was chilly, and I instinctively hugged my arms.

I signaled Adrian to wait for me in the car. After hesitating for a moment, he draped his coat over my shoulders before getting into the car.

Even when facing Julian, he chose to respect and trust me.

I clutched Adrian's coat tightly, watching Julian approach with unsteady steps.

His eyes were dark and unreadable.

"Why did you marry Adrian? Is he really better than me?"

I was speechless at his words, but thinking back to everything that happened before I married Adrian, I couldn't help but smile.

That year, I was still a rookie director barely stepping into the film industry. Even new media short drama producers wouldn't look at my scripts.

To chase my dream, I had spent almost all my savings.

When I was at my wits' end, Adrian took on my script.

He didn't look down on me. Instead, he carefully went over the plot details with me, recommended suitable actors, and helped me win my first director's award.

On the day I received the award, he confessed his feelings to me.

I won't deny that I had developed feelings for him during our long association, but because of the shadows from my past life, I forced myself to stay calm.

I asked him:

"If I'm with you, can I still continue my career as a director?"

Adrian was surprised by my question:

"You're an independent person. You can do anything you want without needing my permission. I love you, so I'll support you with all my might."

I took a deep breath and continued:

"I like children."

Adrian chuckled softly:

"So do I."

I accepted his pursuit, and from that day on, he became the catalyst for my new beginning.

Later, we got married.

Adrian respected my wishes and held a simple wedding in a church with only close friends and family.

Then, we had Lily.

Seeing my happy expression, Julian felt as if his heart was being pricked by needles.

With reddened eyes, he asked me again:

"That little girl, is she really your child?"

"Yes."

"You weren't willing to have a child with me, why could you have one with him!"

Hearing this, I suddenly recalled the ultrasound report I had clutched tightly until my death in my previous life.

That child had already developed a regular heartbeat, but ended up perishing with me in the fire.

My chest hurt so much I could barely breathe, and my vision blurred with tears.

Julian was still accusing me of betraying him. Finally, I couldn't hold back anymore and slapped him across the face.

Julian held his swollen cheek, looking at me in disbelief.

"We once had a child."

"On the day you drove us off the cliff, I was going to tell you."

"I used to feel incredibly guilty about that child, but now I'm just relieved. At least my child didn't have a father like you."

Upon hearing this, Julian froze on the spot.

He covered his mouth, as if he had received a massive shock, and asked me with a trembling voice:

"No, didn't you go to have an abortion that day?"

"Serena told me she saw you enter the abortion clinic with her own eyes!"

"She said you thought I was too poor, so you didn't want to have my child!"

At that moment, I finally understood why Julian had called me selfish when we met again after all these years.

"If I really looked down on you, why would I have married you without hesitation?"

Julian was completely devastated.

He collapsed on the ground, mumbling:

"I killed my child... I killed them."

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I looked at the man before me, feeling nothing but ridicule.

"I walked with you for so long, gave you so much, yet you easily believed someone else's words."

I turned to leave, but Julian grabbed my hand:

"Claire, I was wrong. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you."

"Please come back to me. I can't live without you."

I shook my head and pulled my hand away:

"Julian, you forgot."

"'Let's never see each other again in this life.' Those were your words that day."

I understood that no one could change the past.

Fortunately, I had truly let go.