Part 1After She Disappeared

After luring me abroad, Randall O’Neill held a lavish engagement party with his first love back home.

I saw it on a stranger's phone—him, taking her hand, slipping my wedding ring onto her finger.

The guests were buzzing with surprise.

"So she's the one Mr. O’Neill truly loves!"

Randall just smiled, a silent confirmation. Then, he announced he would offer the legendary stallion, Obsidian, as a betrothal gift to his new fiancée.

Seeing this, a calm smile touched my lips. My heart, weary and heavy, simply teleported back across the ocean.

What Randall didn't know was that I came from a thousand years in the past, here only to repay a debt to his family.

And Obsidian, the legendary stallion? He was my companion, my steed. I had given him to Randall as a gift on the day we registered our marriage.

Now, watching their fingers intertwine, a profound exhaustion washed over me. A promise that spanned a millennium, shattered in a single moment. It was time for Obsidian and me to go home.

...

Randall probably never imagined I could teleport, faster than any airplane he could charter.

By the time I returned, his proposal to Isabelle had been a resounding success. Photos of their blissful moment still scrolled across the grand screens of the hotel ballroom.

I was sitting in the office of the Keeper of the Veil, the guardian of time travel, watching it all unfold.

The Keeper, Silas, was trembling.

"My lady," he stammered, "are you sure? Perhaps Mr. O’Neill has a reason for all this… a difficult situation…"

I pointed a slender finger at the giant screen outside the window, at the intimate photos of the happy couple.

"Are you suggesting I'm blind, Silas?"

He shook his head frantically, trying to placate me. "But Mr. O’Neill gave explicit orders to have everything restored to normal before your return! He still cares for you, my lady, he does—"

I raised a hand, cutting him off. My voice was sharp as ice.

"A mere Keeper," I said, "after a few days as Randall O’Neill’s assistant, have you forgotten your place and your duty?"

In truth, I knew exactly what Randall was doing.

Isabelle was his childhood sweetheart, a dream from his youth. Now that she was back, they had a silent understanding. This was their chance to give their "missed connection" a perfect, storybook ending.

This engagement party was their gift to themselves.

He had coaxed me into taking a trip abroad precisely to keep me in the dark while he and Isabelle carried on with their sordid affair. He wanted to give her a love that was bold and public, while I remained his secret, hidden wife.

But I saw it. And I would not tolerate impurities in my love.

If Randall chose her, then he could have nothing to do with me.

Silas, shaking, processed the paperwork and stamped my release. "The full reversal process will take seven days," he informed me.

I slammed my palm on the desk, shattering it into splinters.

"Seven days is too long. You have three."

I turned and left without another word. Behind me, I heard Silas stamping his feet in frustration.

"Oh, Mr. O’Neill, what have you done? You foolish, foolish man! It's over now. You can live with your regret."

Once outside, I teleported to a high vantage point, a spot with a perfect view of the hotel where they were celebrating. The guests had all departed.

Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of the presidential suite, I saw Randall and Isabelle, their gazes tangled, electric. They were wrapped around each other. After several glasses of champagne, Isabelle had gone limp in his arms. I saw a flicker of conflict in Randall’s eyes, but it passed. His hands slid around her slender waist, and he carried her upstairs.

Even though I knew it was over, I picked up my phone and called him.

"Randall," I said, my voice light, "where are you? Do you miss me?"

His voice was thick with guilt, trembling slightly. "Cathy! Of course I'm at home. I miss you so much. I wish I could fly to my beautiful wife's side right this second."

A cold smile touched my lips. Oh, really? Then let me grant your wish.

"Then come pick me up. I'm at the airport."

Randall shot to his feet, glancing at Isabelle, who was now stirring on the bed. His brow furrowed. "Cathy, isn't your flight supposed to land tomorrow night? Why don't you head home first? I have to leave right now, the office just called an emergency meeting."

"Alright," I said, and hung up. A chill seeped into my very bones.

I had given him a chance. He chose Isabelle.

The moment he hung up, Randall frantically ordered his subordinates to take down all the public screens and begin damage control. On the bed, Isabelle let out a soft moan. Randall turned, a fond look on his face as he gently pulled the covers over her.

She had been faking it, of course. Seeing her chance, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss.

Without a moment's hesitation, Randall loosened his tie, unbuttoned his shirt, and their bodies became a mess of tangled limbs.

Watching them, I couldn't say I wasn't hurt, but a greater sense of release washed over me. After centuries of wandering, my heart longed for my family from a thousand years ago.

Now, finally, I could go home.

The sight of their carnal embrace disgusted me. I had no interest in watching the rest. I turned and went back to the house Randall and I had shared.

As I was packing the few things I had left there, a picture message arrived on my phone.

It was from Isabelle.

It showed her and Randall, locked in a passionate kiss, her body covered in love bites.

Along with the photo came a single, taunting sentence.

"Cathy, has he ever been this wild with you? Two boxes of condoms are already empty."

A sharp pain lanced through my heart, but I was never one to take an insult lying down.

I sent back a photo of my own.

"I don't know about Randall, but I've certainly seen the pictures of you getting wild with that muscle-bound trainer in Europe."

Message sent.

I could just imagine Isabelle, sleepless and frantic all night.

It was wonderful. I slept like a baby.