Brimming with frustration, Jared immediately raised his foot to kick open the door.
I composed myself, smoothed out my expression, and stepped out.
Jared froze for a split second before pulling me into his arms. "You’re trying to scare me to death, aren’t you, Lia? Is your stomach acting up again? Let’s go to the hospital right now."
I shook my head. "No need. A bowl of the hangover soup Auntie made will do the trick."
Without hesitation, Jared took the bowl from Auntie, gently blew on it to cool it down, and fed it to me one spoonful at a time. "Come on, drink this. Tonight, I won’t go anywhere. I’ll stay home with you."
I swallowed the soup silently, lips pressed together. Suddenly, his phone buzzed repeatedly. I knew it was her.
Annoyed, Jared put down the bowl and reached for his phone, intending to turn it off. But whatever he saw on the screen made him hesitate. His expression shifted slightly, and he quickly turned to me with an apologetic look.
"Darling, there’s a bit of a mess with the night market’s art exhibition. I..."
Before he could finish, I suppressed my disgust and replied graciously, "Work comes first. You should go. Auntie’s here, so you don’t have to worry about me."
Jared’s furrowed brows smoothed out instantly. He kissed me lightly and hurriedly promised, "Take your medicine and rest early. I’ll be back as soon as I sort this out."
I nodded, and only then did he leave, seemingly relieved.
Once he was gone, a message from her popped up again.
[You lost, Lia. On such an important day, Jared still left you. Want to know what I told him?]
I didn’t respond, but instead sent her the screenshots of their synced chat history.
She went silent for a few minutes before replying,
[Since you’ve seen it all, there’s no point in hiding anymore. Yes, I’m pregnant, and the child is his.]
I tossed my phone aside and went to the bathroom, scrubbing every inch of skin that Jared had touched.
When I came out, she had sent me photos of Jared accompanying her to the hospital.
Almost simultaneously, Jared texted me as well, [Darling, the exhibition issue is a bit tricky. Be a good girl and sleep first. I miss you.]
I couldn’t help but laugh.
He had a child with another woman, yet he still had the audacity to tell me he missed me without feeling the slightest bit of shame.
Countdown: Day Six
Jared didn’t come home at all last night. It seemed becoming a father was an exciting milestone for him.
Early in the morning, I called Professor Davis to confirm the procedures and sign the agreement for the time capsule experiment.
"Lia, this is a serious decision," Professor Davis warned. "Once you enter the time capsule, you might not return to the real world for twenty years. Are you sure you don’t want to discuss this with your family?"
I shook my head. "Since my grandmother passed, I’ve been alone. There’s no one to discuss this with."
"And your boyfriend?" he asked.
"We’ve broken up," I said resolutely.
Professor Davis looked surprised but nodded with a hint of regret. After all, Jared’s grand romantic gestures to win me over back then—kneeling in the rain for a whole day and night against his family’s objections—were widely known.
"And this time...?"
Understanding his concern, I explained my reasoning. "My grandmother’s sudden passing left a scar in my heart. I want to use this opportunity, through the time capsule experiment, to see her again from afar."
Professor Davis nodded thoughtfully and gave me a final word of caution. "The time capsule’s world is still imperfect. Be extra cautious once you’re inside. Above all, you must avoid meeting your other self in that timeline. If their consciousness awakens, it could be fatal to you."
