Returning the Ten Years I Stole

The night I sleep with Graham Rowland, he has just broken up with his girlfriend, Leanna Sandoval.

Out of responsibility, he marries me. Our marriage is calm and steady. I once believe this is forever.

But then, Leanna dies of illness.

When he goes to mourn her, he learns that Leanna discovered what happened between us that night. That is why she loses hope and leaves him.

At the same time, he discovers my secret diary of unrequited love. He becomes convinced that I deliberately destroyed their relationship and comes to hate me deeply.

He divorces me, leaves me with nothing, and makes my life difficult at every turn.

At the brink of death, I hear him say in an icy voice, "Your love disgusts me."

When I open my eyes again, I return to two hours before the fateful event that night—when he is about to get drunk after the breakup.

I grab my coat, rush out of the room, and knock on Leanna's door.

Gwyneth's POV

Leanna Sandoval was stunned when she saw me. Her eyes were red and puffy, and it was obvious that she'd been crying earlier.

"Gwyn? What are you—"

"Leanna," I said, trying to sound calm. "Can I come in and talk?"

The living room was a mess. There was also a half-eaten cake on the table.

I smiled at her and went straight to the point. "I'm here to apologize on behalf of Gram. He forgot your birthday, and that's entirely his fault."

Leanna bit her lip and said nothing.

"It's not that he doesn't love you; he just doesn't know how to show it. He's never been good at that. You broke up with him, and he's now drinking his sorrows away at the bar."

I paused for a second before saying, "Leanna, I think you should go after him."

In my previous life, Graham Rowland would also go drinking at the bar all night long on Leanna's birthday. He had never gotten over her.

Leanna looked at me and smiled all of a sudden. Yet, the tears in her eyes continued streaming down her face even more.

"How could such a cold, aloof person like Graham have such a kind and thoughtful person like you as his sister? I'll head to the bar now. Thanks, Gwyn."

After telling her which bar Graham was at, she changed out of her home clothes and went out the door.

I heaved a long sigh of relief as I stared at her back. That night wasn't going to happen again in this life.

I went home and dug out my old diary that I'd hidden in a deep corner of my wardrobe.

I was ten years old, homeless and wandering the streets at night when Graham—18 at the time—took me in. He was cold and aloof with everyone else, but he was very gentle with me. I knew that I had fallen in love with him when I was old enough to realize it.

However,