“We, the White family, don’t need anything else, as long as we have Elisa,” said Hamish.
Hamish questioned, “Even if the White family loses everything, even if she has nothing, even if she puts your son’s life in danger from time to time, do you still want her?”
Mrs. White replied, “For Louis, Elisa is his life. So, losing her is like losing his life. They love each other, Hamish. Loving someone doesn’t always mean keeping them by your side. It’s about seeing them happy.”
Hamish said, “Aunt, do you remember what Grandfather taught us? Emotional people are worthless. The Burns family prioritizes self-interest, and being cold-blooded is a protective shield.”
Mrs. White sighed bitterly, “How many lives has the Burns family cost with those words? Over the years, they have been killing each other, inflicting harm on their own kin, all for the sake of wealth. It’s tragic, but not everyone connected to the Burns family is like that. Leaving the Burns family can change a person.”
Hamish looked at the figure in front of him, his eyes bloodshot and his vision blurred. He strained his eyes, but the figure remained blurred. He reached out, feeling the cold night wind passing through his palm. His fingertips felt as if pricked by needles, causing him to tremble uncontrollably. The sound of fireworks in the sky masked his choked breathing.
He wondered if he had left the Burns family earlier, without thoughts of revenge, would he still be so cold-blooded and selfish now? Would the outcome be different? Would Elisa still be by his side?
They could watch fireworks together in this winter, eat apples on Christmas Eve, make wishes under the Christmas tree on New Year’s, make dumplings on New Year’s Eve, and snuggle on the sofa while watching programs on New Year’s Day. They could be the first to say “Merry Christmas” to each other. He would even knit scarves and braid her hair…
If only he had understood earlier… But there are no “ifs.”
There is a saying that people always pursue the best option, but often the consequences of pursuing the best option turn out differently than expected.
“Elisa!” Hamish screamed with blood in his mouth, but he had no awareness of the blood pouring from his mouth. The pain in his chest tore at his heart.
Just a moment ago, when he pushed Elisa away, he told her not to look back. But now, he wished she could turn back and look at him, even just one last time.
He longed for it in his heart, but he couldn’t say it out loud. He coughed hoarsely, his body uncontrollably shrinking. Finally, he couldn’t bear the weight and knelt on the ground, clutching his chest and watching the warm liquid pooling on his hand. The night was too dark, his gaze too blurry, and he couldn’t tell if it was blood or tears staining his hand.
Covering his chest, he looked up at Elisa and mumbled incoherently, “Elisa, look back at me… please, just one look. Elisa… Elisa… I’ve done so many wrong things to you in this lifetime. I won’t expect your forgiveness, but I hope there’s a next lifetime… If I meet you early, I promise I will love you… I will…”
He knew Elisa might have grown tired of hearing these words, but he still wanted to say them. There are things in this lifetime that can’t be done, so he could only hope for a next lifetime.
Elisa paused for a moment, said something, and continued walking forward, not looking back. Her determination was unwavering.
In truth, Hamish was already content now. At least Elisa had accompanied him in his final moments. At least she wore that wedding dress. At least he made a ring that fit her finger size, even though she never wore it.
“Thank you, Elisa, for saving my life all those years ago. Thank you for making me understand what it feels like to be loved and favored. Thank you for satisfying my last bit of longing. Thank you for allowing my life to be more than just hatred.”
It’s not easy to come to the human world. It’s the darkness that makes the light shine so brightly.
…
When Elisa couldn’t walk any further, Louis would go to her without hesitation.
Just like he once said, no matter the place, time, environment, or situation, as long as Elisa walks towards him, he will always open his arms to welcome her.
“It’s cold walking barefoot, isn’t it?” These were Louis’ first words as he looked down at Elisa’s feet, covered by her dress.
Elisa shook her head, unable to hold back a laugh. “How did you know I was walking barefoot?”
Louis replied, “I know everything about you, including your height.” That’s why he could tell if Elisa was wearing shoes or not.
At the sound of his voice, Elisa’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and she gazed at Louis without saying a word.
Until Louis reached out and held her trembling, icy hand.
Elisa held his hand back, her nose turning red, as she choked and said, “I almost thought you were an illusion.”
Louis’ chest constricted, his eyes welling up. “You can always ask me again and again, to see if I’m an illusion.”
“I’m sorry.”
Louis had lost weight, a considerable amount. Even with his thick clothing, he still seemed frail, as if he would be swallowed by the bitter cold wind.
His warm palm, as always, wasn’t much warmer than her own at this moment.
Being so close, Elisa could almost see the bloodshot veins in his eyes, the chapped lips. His breath trembled, and he held her hand tightly, as if afraid she would disappear.
It wasn’t just Elisa who was afraid that Louis was an illusion; Louis was also afraid of that possibility.
When Elisa uttered the words “I’m sorry,” an indescribable pain reverberated in Louis’ body. Ferocious impulses clashed, and blood surged through his mind. For a moment, he felt a suffocating pain and dizziness, as if everything he saw was spinning.
Struggling to steady himself, he wondered why Elisa would apologize. Did she want to leave him?
He continued to hold Elisa’s hand, but his grip had softened slightly, as if he was afraid of hurting her.
Elisa suddenly hugged him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left without saying anything, without discussing divorce with you, without shutting off my phone so you couldn’t reach me.”
Louis said, “You never have to apologize to me. It’s me who found you too late.”
Though it hadn’t been a month since they last saw each other, it felt like they had been apart for years.
She should have relied on him instead of trying to handle everything on her own. They could have shared the burden and solved the problems together. Why did she leave without telling him anything?
She always believed she should solve the problems she caused on her own, afraid of destroying the White family, afraid of causing harm to Louis.
But things didn’t always go as she expected. Her leaving would only bring more pain to Louis.
What she thought was good, was not good for the person who loved her.
Looking at it from a different perspective, if Louis had left her without a word, she would have suffered as well.
Fortunately, he never doubted her and always believed in her. They fulfilled their promises and returned home together.
The winter air was cold, and the surroundings were filled with colorful lights and balloons from the decorations of the past few days. The sound of fireworks filled the sky, fast and momentary, yet beautiful.
So, this is what Hamish had been trying to do these past few days – he wanted her to leave. It wasn’t just a passing remark.
For once, Hamish kept his word.
The sound of fireworks was loud, and Hamish’s voice came from behind, sounding like an auditive hallucination.
Hamish was a person of both ruthlessness and tenderness. When he fell in love with someone, he would cherish them above all else, willing to give them the whole world. He would do everything to make them happy.
Elisa didn’t believe in second chances. If someone truly falls out of love, they never go back. No matter how much they do or how well they say it, love is gone.
She and Hamish made the same mistake: they both mistook the person, falling into an abyss and waiting for someone else to save them. Once someone reaches out, they hold on desperately.
Elisa gripped Louis’ hand, and they walked towards the car, illuminated by the light of the fireworks, able to see everything clearly on the ground.
“Elisa!” Suddenly, Hamish’s voice came from behind, strained and desperate. “Elisa, can you please look back… If there’s a next lifetime, and I meet you early… I will…”
Elisa paused but didn’t turn back. She only glanced upwards at the fireworks.
In this lifetime, what she couldn’t do might be something she hoped for in the next lifetime. Just like how people always expect to finish today’s tasks tomorrow, but tomorrow still appears while the next lifetime cannot be guaranteed.
“Maybe you said the same thing to me in a past life,” Elisa murmured softly, raising her head slightly, lips quivering. “Hamish, I wish you a safe and prosperous life, with warm sun in the winter and cool breezes in the summer. May everything go smoothly, with no sickness or disaster. May you meet the right person and grow old together… From now on, may we both live in peace year after year.”