"These people are such a hassle. I wasted my time just to delay her death." The man wearing a mask and hat stopped his car in front of a hospital. Sandra could clearly see that the skin on his hands was reddening in certain areas.
From the beginning, Sandra had been pretending to be unconscious, keeping her eyes tightly shut. She was terrified, realizing she was in the hands of the demon hunting her.
Unfortunately, even though they had come face to face, she still couldn't see his face. The man was clever in hiding his identity. Who was he really?
"You can't die before that day comes, Sandra. Be grateful I'm healing your wounds today, so your death is postponed." He smiled as he carried Sandra into the emergency room.
After that, the man handed her over to the nurses and left immediately. He told the hospital that Sandra was a hit-and-run victim he had helped.
"So that demon caught you?" Lukas wiped Sandra's tears as she recounted what had happened.
"It wasn't him who kidnapped me at first."
"Who then?"
"You wouldn't believe me, just forget it."
"I believe you." Lukas said firmly. "Whatever you tell me, I will believe it."
Sandra hesitated. If she told Lukas, his marriage to Kayla would fall apart. The fate she was trying to change might not change at all.
"Tell me, who did this?"
"N-no one."
"Say it!" Lukas demanded with sharp eyes. "Was it Kayla? My mother? My father? Thomas? Maxim? Tell me who it was. I'll make them pay."
Sandra looked at him with teary eyes, then sobbed softly.
"Why are you crying?"
"No reason."
"I know you're hiding something. Is your request for a divorce because you're afraid I'll die? Did you see my death while saving you from the demon?" Lukas asked a series of questions.
Sandra cried harder. Why were his guesses so accurate?
"So I'm right?"
"We need to change fate, right? Please trust me, Lukas. This is the best way. We have to part so that fate can change. You'll die because of that demon. I don't want you to die in vain because of me." Sandra pleaded seriously.
"Even if we divorce, I'd still get involved in your mess with that demon. So there's no point avoiding me with a divorce." Lukas chuckled lightly. "Isn't it better if we stay together? That way, you'll get to be with me until the end."
Slap! Sandra smacked Lukas hard. Her breathing became heavy, and her glare intensified. These past few days, she had been consumed by fear, and now Lukas dared to talk about death so lightly?
"Say that again and I'll rip your mouth off." she warned.
"Sorry." Lukas gave in.
"Why were you found unconscious near the grave? Did someone find out your real identity? Were they trying to kill you by bringing you to your original body's grave?" Lukas asked, shifting the topic.
Sandra looked at him again, shocked by how accurate he was once more. She nodded slowly, her head bowed, then hugged Lukas tightly.
"Who did it?" Lukas kissed the top of her head.
"Will you believe me?"
"Just say it."
"Arhan, Kayla's brother." Sandra said, her voice trembling. "He knows everything. He was taking me to the grave. He wanted to kill me."
"What does Kayla's brother have to do with you?"
"What else? It's about his sister. Every brother would protect his sister."
"So you think Arhan wanted to kill you so Kayla could be with me?"
"If you don't believe me, then don't ask in the first place. If you want proof, it's too late. The demon already burned him. His bare hands could produce flames that big." Sandra exclaimed, finally letting out all her fear.
"I'm not saying I don't believe you. I just want to understand why. I'll get to the bottom of it."
"But Lukas, what if they accuse me of Arhan's death? I was with him when he burned. I pretended to be unconscious when the demon showed up. I saw everything, even though I couldn't see the demon's face."
"My men already investigated the scene. There were no signs of an accident, no traces at all, no fire either. It's strange. But since we're dealing with something not human, we better get used to strange things."
"Why did I have to be born like this?"
"Don't say that. You had to be born as a diamond soul so we could meet. I'm happy to have known your amazing personality." Lukas tapped her nose.
"Stop flirting. What if I was ugly? Would you still say all this?"
"If I was attracted to Sandra's beauty, I would've fallen for her a long time ago. But I only started falling when you showed up, when you started nagging me every day." Lukas kissed her briefly.
"Flirt."
"I love you." Lukas embraced her tightly.
"I love you too." Sandra blushed.
"Forget the demon for now. Let's face it together and find a solution. As for Kayla, I'll find out if she was involved in the murder attempt Arhan planned."
"And if she wasn't involved?" she asked coldly.
Lukas looked closely at Sandra after that question, frowning as if demanding an explanation.
"Don't look at me like that. Your breath stinks."
"You're jealous?"
"Me? Jealous?" Sandra pushed him away harshly.
"You're not really serious about the divorce, right?" Lukas rested his chin on her head, smiling. There was a strange peace in knowing Sandra was finally being honest.
Sandra looked up at the handsome face with a racing heart.
"But what if..."
"Don't worry. I won't die from that demon."
"I'm afraid you'll end up like Prince Lukas, stabbed by the demon's sword and dying horribly, leaving me, leaving our child. How could I go on if that really happens?" Sandra cried again, unintentionally oversharing.
"So you're afraid of losing me?" Lukas teased.
"That's not it..."
"You care so much?" Lukas lifted her chin with one finger. "You love me that much?" He brought their faces close together.
"So you dreamed we were Prince and Princess?"
"Don't make fun of me. I'm serious. That wasn't a dream. We're reincarnated from the past. We're reliving the same events. Stop joking."
"Dear, why so sensitive? I wasn't—"
"Don't call me dear! That's what the prince—"
"Even back then, my love was that deep, huh?" Lukas wiped her tears. "I don't even know when I started loving you this much. Love truly can't be predicted."
"I don't want you to get hurt. Stop joking and calling me that."
"So how did we look back then? Was I still handsome? Did you sneak in as my wife through a soul exchange back then too? Whoa..."
"You're mocking me?"
"I'm not. I'm seriously impressed."
"Deep inside, you're probably laughing at me, right?"
"I—" Lukas's words were cut off when their family arrived. Thalia rushed in and hugged her daughter-in-law. Emilio helped Maria walk toward them.
"Sandra, are you okay?" Thalia asked frantically, inspecting Sandra for injuries.
"Lukas, you're unbelievable. Did you—"
"Mom, stop. We've made up. Yesterday we just had a little fight." Lukas cut her off.
Slap. Maria hit Lukas with her cane. "You brat! She's carrying your child, and you still can't protect her properly. Instead, you run around cheating. Be more like your father. A loyal man."
"We're fine now."
"Shut up. Don't talk back. Sandra, tell me what Lukas did." Thalia demanded.
"Mom, Lukas and I made up. He's changed. It was just a misunderstanding." Sandra smiled shyly.
"Didn't I tell you?" Lukas hugged his wife sweetly. "You look beautiful when you smile. Smile again!" he teased, kissing her flushed cheek.
Emilio smiled watching the sweet bickering. He was happy to see their closeness and hoped no more disasters would come. After two years of coldness, they finally looked like a real couple.
Maria watched them with misty eyes too. She felt her life's mission was fulfilled. Her child and grandchild had found happiness. Now she was ready to leave this world any time.
But her gaze accidentally fell on Sandra's hand.
A white cross-shaped mark.
A mark she knew all too well.