Chapter 135

Chase shoved him aside. "I need to see Amanda."

He was spent, barely able to stand, let alone walk. "Help me, hurry! Or she'll slip away again."

"Mr. Reyes, please, don't do this," the driver pleaded, clearly frightened by Chase's condition and worried he might hurt himself.

But Chase's emotions were laser-focused on me, silencing all other voices.

I stepped into the church, surprised to find someone there at this late hour. He was the same man who had given me talismans on my previous visits. The last time was for my grandmother, last fall—it hadn't been this cold. After a miscarriage, I'd been weak and fainted halfway up the hill. When I recovered, I met him in the priest's cell. He'd given me the talisman with a serious air, instructing me to keep it close, that it would help me through a trial.

I nodded, thanked him, and planned to give it to my grandmother before the wedding. Back then, I hoped it might give her a few more years. Now, I understood. The priest must have known I was on borrowed time and intended for me to keep the talisman myself. Perhaps fate had already decided this was my time.

He was tapping a wooden statue, chanting words I couldn't understand. I knelt on the cushion at the chapel's front. Looking up at the towering, solemn deity, a flood of emotions overwhelmed me. My previous visits had been for others. I never imagined my first prayer for myself would be like this.

Oh, mighty deity, if you can hear me, I ask for just one more chance. I've lived a good life; neither I nor my unborn child should end like this. I refuse to accept it. Why do the good die young while the wicked thrive? If I could have another chance, I'd pay any price, even endless suffering, falling into darkness, never seeing light again. I'd sacrifice everything for one more shot at vengeance!

With my prayer, the tapping on the wooden statue beside me quickened, like beans tumbling down a chute—thump, thump, thump—racing down.

"Ah…" A soft sigh escaped the priest. When I turned, his eyes were open. In that moment, our eyes met. I felt like he could see right through me. Could he really see me?

But then I realized he wasn't looking at me. He spoke again, "Mr. Reyes, why are you putting yourself through this torment? Deep obsession becomes a demon."

Mr. Reyes?

I turned to see the side chapel glowing with thousands of eternal lamps. Who lit all these lamps? I followed the lights and spotted someone in the sea of flames. He was in a wheelchair, surrounded by flickering lights.

I was stunned. What was Derek doing here?

Unable to hide my confusion, I stepped towards him. A strange wind blew with each step, making my dress dance in the candlelight. I stopped before him, quietly taking in his handsome, sorrowful face. Derek was unlike anything I'd imagined.

Suddenly, his eyes brightened, locking onto mine as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He trembled. "You… you're back…"