“Liliana Stevens!”
The man’s voice cracked with panic, sharp enough to knock the senses back into her.
Everything was freezing. Numbness rushed through her limbs as she struggled to stay afloat.
She managed to break the surface, gasping for air, eyes stinging as she forced them open. What she saw was a young man in a dark blue coarse shirt, cutting through the water like his life depended on it—just to get to her.
Not too far behind him, golden wheat fields swayed in the breeze.
A chill ran through her. That field...she knew it. This...this wasn’t now.
She was back.
Back… decades ago?
The weight of that realization hit like a punch to the gut—sharp, cruel, leaving her breathless.
‘No...’
‘Please don’t come near me again!’
‘I don’t deserve it...’
Her mouth opened, trying to cry out, but all that came was water and silent sobs.
Tears spilled over, mixing into the churning river.
She didn’t know why or how she got sent back, but she remembered what this moment meant. It was here that Ethan Brooks had saved her.
And what had that earned him?
A wife who resented him every day. Who tore into him for every little thing. Who, after he split from his family for her, left him without hesitation the minute college entrance exams returned—just to run back to the city.
Ethan had always seemed like a man who wouldn’t bow to anyone. But for her, he’d begged. He’d broken himself.
And what had she done?
Thrown it all away. Picked Victor Powell over Ethan—a man couldn’t hold a candle to him.
She had to learn the hard way what real suffering meant. Victor used her, then discarded her like trash, staging her death as an “accident” once she outlived her use.
Death didn’t even set her free.
She'd been bound to Ethan, watching silently as the news of her death shattered him.
Watched him devote the rest of his life to taking Victor down. Took down the entire Powell family, brick by brick.
She stayed by him in ghost-like silence, for decades, until the day he stood by her grave, told her he was this close to avenging her family.
That moment damn near broke her soul.
But before she could process any of it or finally follow him in peace, his car skidded out of control and got crushed under a semi.
Everything went black.
And when she opened her eyes again, she was back in this river.
“Liliana, hang on!” Ethan’s usually sharp face was twisted with raw fear now.
He swam harder, faster—like nothing else mattered.
Her heart ached so bad it almost drowned her again.
She tried to swim harder, tried to get away—she didn’t want him to save her this time.
Not again. She’d already harmed him and his mom enough for one lifetime.
Just then, something caught her eye—green, glinting against the water on her wrist.
It stopped her cold.
Was that… Ethan’s mom’s jade bracelet?But wasn't that bracelet only dug up by Ethan Brooks sometime after the 80s?
Why was it suddenly on her wrist now?
If anyone saw it, they’d definitely think she was some pampered young miss showing off.
Liliana Stevens got flustered, trying to pull it off quickly, not wanting to get in trouble.
But when she lifted her arm again, the imperial green jade bangle had vanished without a trace.
Did it drop into the river?
She dunked her head into the water, hoping to find it.
The moment Ethan Brooks saw her disappear into the water like that, his heart nearly stopped. Without thinking, he dove right in after her.
She was splashing deeper into the river, and he didn't even pause to figure out the best way to reach her. He just swam towards her and grabbed her shoulder.
His calloused fingers brushed across her skin, and it was like an electric current jolted through her.
Liliana shuddered, her whole body going limp, drained of all strength.
Her arms and legs, though, seemed to move on their own—gravitating toward him.
Ethan didn’t notice anything strange. Worried, he pulled her close and swam upwards.
But just as they broke the surface, Liliana twisted in his arms with surprising agility.
Her slender limbs coiled tightly around him, wrapping around his waist underwater like a snake.
Her soft face pressed against his sun-weathered cheek, the roughness of his skin making her tremble.
Liliana knew full well what she was doing. But her body wasn’t listening.
Her hands, restless and curious, weren’t content staying over his clothes.
They kept fumbling, trying to find a way to touch his skin directly.
What the hell was happening to her?
Ethan swallowed hard, throat dry, and looked down at the young woman clinging to him.
Liliana caught his gaze. Her already pale face flushed bright red with embarrassment.
“I... I...”
Honestly, she had no idea why just being near Ethan made her lose control like this.
Even when she told herself to stop, it was like she was glued to him.
And worse yet—she didn’t want to stop.
After dying once, she’d grown a thicker skin.
If fate wouldn’t let her walk away from Ethan, then fine—she’d follow her heart this time.
From today on, she’d live a good life with this simple-minded man.
She was going to make him the happiest guy alive.
“Easy, let go a bit,” Ethan murmured, gently coaxing her.
But the sweet scent of her, that soft warmth—it seeped into his senses, made his head spin.
He couldn’t help leaning in, brushing his cheek against hers, nuzzling a little.
“What took you so long?” Liliana bit her pale lip, voice muffled and full of tiny grumbles.But that soft little voice, fragile and full of need, hit him straight in the gut.
Made a guy wanna hand over his whole damn heart.
So timid, and she still dared to run toward the river?!
Ethan Brooks clenched his jaw, eyes dropping to the girl in his arms.
Her face, soaked and pale from the cold water, had lost all its color.
Her dark, silky hair stuck messily to her cheeks.
She already looked pitiful enough, yet somehow, that look only fired up something deep and dark in him.
He bit the inside of his cheek, cursing himself silently for being such a damned creep.
He didn't dare look at her again—this tiny girl could suck the soul right out of him.
Ethan powered through the water, heading for the bank, though carrying someone like this made swimming way tougher.
He was slower, sure, but not in danger of going under.
It was early autumn, and their soaked clothes weren’t doing much—they clung tight, showing off every curve.
Even with the cold water, Ethan could still feel every inch of her soft body pressing against him.
It was almost like the river wasn't cold at all, but boiling hot.
Still, he knew the heat wasn’t from the water; this was all on him, being too damn human.
Their bodies were tangled tight, stuck together like braided rope.
But even now, Liliana Stevens’s body kept acting out, like it wanted more.
She shifted her hips a little, making Ethan suck in a breath.
His already dark eyes turned even deeper, desire swirling in them like a storm.
"Cut it out!" he grunted, adjusting her in his arms and giving her soft side a light smack.
