Chapter 306: I Agree
Maggie laid her hand gently on her cheek, staring out the window with an empty gaze.
“Am I mentally ill?” she wondered. “Am I as erratic as Timothy?”
No. I'm better than Timothy But is it fair for me to mock him?
Do you hate Nathael?” Maggie redirected her focus toward Timothy, finally reaching the crux of their discussion.
Timothy didn’t respond directly, merely suggesting, “What if you end things with him?”
Hearing these familiar words, Maggie’s heart skipped a beat. The last time, these words had led to consequences for both her and Nathael. Although Timothy hadn’t come out unscathed, it had been a lose-lose situation. No one emerged victorious.
Maggie remained silent for so long that she noticed the sun gradually descending in the west. The sky took on hues of golden orange, casting a warm glow over the restaurant. The city, the tall buildings, and the roads all appeared draped in a delicate veil. Maggie continued to stare vacantly out the window.
Although she had expected Timothy to bring up the past and had prepared her response, she found uttering those words incredibly challenging. Her mouth felt heavy, her throat tight, and her eyes stung. Her nose felt submerged, making it hard to breathe, while her cars felt numb. Every cell in her body resisted.
Maggie never realized that sadness could be so silent, that not even a single word could escape her lips.
Timothy didn’t rush her and merely toyed with the ivory ball in his hand, occasionally producing a faint sound.
Maggie looked out at the city and whispered softly, “When I first came back, I envisioned growing old with him; I wanted to explore paths untraveled in past lives, witness unseen sights, and experience new things with him. I wanted to love both him and myself properly.”
Timothy stayed silent, listening attentively.
“But I never imagined this. Just when I thought we could enjoy everlasting happiness, I discovered that my…”
Nobody knew how disheartened she felt. Yes, disheartened. It was akin to being full of ambition and planning a grand romance, only to take a step forward and realize it was no longer attainable.
Maggie sighed softly, and as she turned to face Timothy, there was a hint of resigned tears in her eyes as she whispered, “Since my time is limited, whether we break up sooner or later doesn’t matter.”
The doctor had given her less than six years. If Timothy hadn’t interfered, she might have waited another four years before parting ways with Nathael. Although it would have been more painful then, she was reluctant to part with him. But now, with no alternative, the timing was inconsequential.
“I agree, but I have a condition,” Maggie stated, her voice gentle as she gazed directly at Timothy.
Timothy met her gaze, feeling somewhat dazed. He struggled to find the right words for her eyes. They were beautiful, clear, and pure, with a touch of detachment, like polished glass or a flowing stream. But now they were filled with sadness, though only a few tears lingered. Still, they pierced his heart like an arrow, causing cracks to spread. Yet she managed to smile, though it held a hint of loneliness. Despite it all, she remained composed and extremely rational.
Timothy found it amusing and chuckled. “Are you negotiating with me, Maggie?”
“Yes. I’m worried that you’d hurt Nathael, but you might not always win. Even if you use me as a bargaining chip again, I can choose death. It’s a no-win situation for both of us then,” Maggie said, her tone icy.
Timothy stayed silent, suddenly feeling like the woman before him was just like him—a risk-taker and maybe a bit crazy.
Timothy looked down for a moment before meeting Maggie’s gaze. “Continue.”
“I’ll end things with him, and you can’t hurt or threaten him anymore. You’ll forgive and forget, start fresh,” Maggie’s voice was cold, with a hint of hoarseness. Timothy smirked. “Do you really think so highly of yourself?”
Maggie smiled coldly. “If you think I can hurt him, then yes, I do. Besides, Nathael sacrificed his life for me in our past lives. It’s only fair.”
Timothy chuckled. “Alright, I agree, as long as he doesn’t come after me first.”
Maggie knew Nathael wouldn’t seek trouble with Timothy, but she wondered how he’d react if he knew the breakup was because of Timothy.
After thinking for a moment, Maggie said, “My breakup with him has nothing to do with you.”
“Fine,” Timothy agreed firmly.
Maggie continued, “After I’m gone, you must keep your promise, or else…”
Before Maggie could finish, Timothy chuckled. “Who knows which one of us will go first?”
Maggie paused, remaining silent for a while. Then she said, “I’ll end things with him in a month.” She wanted to buy some time. A month was probably the most Timothy would agree to.
Timothy scoffed. “You’re really into him.”
Maggie whispered, “I’m not a good person. Nathael has given me so much, so I owe him everything.”
Maggie didn’t know how she left the restaurant. Even in her car, she still felt the chilly breeze. It seemed like her expensive car was leaking air, letting in the cold from all sides. Maggie leaned back in her seat, her eyes slightly red. She blinked as a layer of mist formed on her eyelashes. Although she had come up with what to say, actually saying it out loud felt like tearing her heart out. The facade of her emotions was torn away, revealing the harsh reality beneath: cold and hopeless.
Maggie felt like she had no more strength to speak, as if she was seriously ill again, with no hope of recovery. She couldn’t imagine how much pain Nathael would feel. He loved her so much, and she was going to hurt him. Maggie felt like a terrible person.
She wiped away her tears, laughing at herself. Her past life was like a joke, and this life felt like a dream.
Just then, Nathael called, and when she saw his name on her phone as “Crazy Old Fool Nathael,” Maggie chuckled, feeling a twinge of sadness.
The extraneous text at the end ("Send Gifts 70," etc.) appears to be unrelated to the chapter itself and has been omitted. The name "Timmothy" has also been consistently corrected to "Timothy."