Two years later, I had finally adjusted to life abroad.
Of course, this wouldn't have been possible without the help of Sebastian.
From initially feeling uncomfortable, I gradually became somewhat spoiled under his indulgence.
It was a feeling I hadn't experienced in a long time.
After marrying Julian, though he was considerate in many ways, I always felt pressured.
I couldn't be as carefree as I used to be, playfully asking for things that were unreasonable.
I worried he worked so hard, and I didn't want to be a burden to him.
Plus, his partners' wives were so mature and graceful. I already felt out of place.
But Sebastian was different.
At first, I didn't want to trouble him. I even considered moving to another country to distance myself from him.
But he insisted, saying I was the only child of the person who saved his life, and he could only be at ease if I stayed by his side.
Since I was short on funds, I had to postpone the idea.
That delay, however, gave him the opportunity to worm his way into my life.
After I applied for a design program at a foreign university, he would cancel his busy work schedule to pick me up from school.
His excuse was that the country wasn't safe, and if I refused, it would be like putting myself in danger.
He didn't care for private chefs' delicacies but loved the "dark cuisine" I prepared, willingly becoming my experimental food tester.
He took me to his favorite restaurants.
When I, unaware, drank mouthwash in public, he calmly picked up the bottle and drank it himself, explaining that he had always thought there was a special flavor to it.
He would pull me in for photos and secretly print them, creating albums.
For the first time, I was able to leave pictures of my life through another person's lens. Every time I asked why he was so kind to me, he always said:
"Actually, to repay your father, I became brothers with him. You should consider me your uncle." I always pouted when he took advantage of me with his words.
But I knew in my heart that he was a liar.
Because every time he coaxed me, the sound of his heartbeat, pounding against my chest, was deafening.
Perhaps it was because Victor filled my life, and with my heavy studies and trivial daily tasks, I didn't have time to think about Julian or Victoria.
Unless, of course, my only friend, the one who knew the truth, had new gossip about them.
It was she who still couldn't let go of the past pain and resentment.
Through her, I gradually learned what had happened in these past two years.
The email I had set to be sent before my "death" had affected Julian more than I had anticipated.
He had always made enemies with his arrogance, and many wanted to bring him down.
Although they ultimately failed, Julian's position was no longer as powerful as before.
My friend told me that Julian had once tried to follow me abroad.
For several days, he had been acting as if he had lost his mind, even trying to stop the people I had contacted, unwilling to let me be buried.
Until Victoria showed up, claiming she was pregnant.
For the sake of that child, Julian had finally given up on ending his life.
When I heard that, my heart, which had been calm for so long, stirred slightly.
But it was only disgust.
Because after I was buried, Julian had stood by my tombstone, making a promise.
He said I had always been kind and that I would want him to be a good father. He wouldn't let me down.
Later, Victoria gave birth to a girl, and Julian named her Adelaide Moore.
My friend was curious how Victoria could tolerate it, but I wasn't surprised.
She certainly could tolerate it. She was willing to lower herself to achieve her goal.
But my friend added that Julian often publicly humiliated Victoria, mocking her for not being up to par.
To this day, he still hadn't married her.
And he had even made a firm declaration: "His wife will only ever be Adelaide."
I thought he could only annoy me from across the ocean, never imagining that we would have a chance to reunite. Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
Three years after my "death," my professor invited me back to my home country for a design competition. The competition was being held in that very city, the one filled with memories.
