“But this stupid thing meddled the first time I laid my eyes on her,” I said as I pointed my chest. “I thought I could control this but I couldn’t. Why can’t we control our hearts for once? It's just a heart, a tiny little thing, damn it.”
“If we can control all the things in our lives, then how can we be happy? The heart is there to be our guide about the things and the people that could make us happy.” Erasmus patted my shoulder. “You are so full of what-ifs. Haven’t you realized yet that it was because of your what-ifs that Levana died? Such as what if Levana lives longer? What if she’s not sick? What if you help her? What if someone can really heal her? Ingram, Levana was destined to die then. And so is Brianna as a mortal. Don’t be blinded by your what-ifs this time around. Tell Brianna the truth and let her decide for herself.”
“But-“
“In the past, you denied Levana the chance to make a decision of her own. She was supposed to die. And she was ready to die. But you meddled with her destiny. The truth is, Sullivan wouldn’t be able to succeed in messing with the doppelgangers if only they had a strong resolve. See? Despite what you did, Levana still died early. And you know what’s worse? She died unhappy. She could have died the other way around. She could have died happy while being with you in the final hour of her life but you took that chance away from her.”
I had stopped reminiscing when I heard a round of applause. Only then did I remember that I was inside the church. When I glanced at the altar, I saw the newlyweds kissing. I quickly turned towards Brianna’s direction. I saw how she lowered her head.
I clenched my hands tightly. Brianna and Kristoff’s relationship was not something that can be taken lightly. I knew that he still had a special place in Brianna’s heart since he was her first boyfriend. And… I was jealous.
After more than three centuries, I was able to feel something towards the opposite sex again through Brianna. She may look like Levana but I had different feelings for them. What I feel for Brianna was deeper, more powerful, more passionate, and more aggressive. Levana will always be my one sweet love from the past while Brianna was proving to be my dark, wild, sinful, and intense reason to be alive.
When I left for a while, I went to my mansion in Tanay where Kiara and Erasmus were currently staying. I had to be away to think because if Brianna was afraid, so was I. And that fear started when I fell in love with her, when I realized that the curse was real. One wrong move and the thing from the past could happen again. I could lose Brianna.
I was also anxious that once I decide to reveal the truth, she might not be able to accept me. While I was away, I had Kiara guard her. She couldn’t be alone especially now that Sullivan was also in the country. I was confident to take some time off because according to the Shaman I talked to; Sullivan wouldn’t be able to mess with Brianna for the time being since he was busy scheming something. Whatever that was, I don’t care anymore. I was just relieved that Brianna was still safe from his grasp.
But there were days when I couldn’t hold back. When the night comes, I’d go back to my apartment and watched Brianna sleep. I would lay beside her and would leave only when she was about to wake up. There were also moments when I’d follow her to the places she goes to. The recent one was when she was at the mall. I wanted to tell her everything right there and then.
But I hesitated.
Erasmus’ words made me realize a lot of things that’s why I finally decided to show up. And today was the day I plan to take a risk. I will let Brianna decide. When I could no longer stand seeing her wince, I closed my eyes and stopped the time.
I walked towards her and lifted the person sitting beside her. I was the one who sat there. I held her hand and kissed her lips with all the love I feel before the clock started turning again.
Brianna’s eyes widened after seeing me. But it didn’t take her a while to close her eyes and respond to my kisses. If not for the guests who cleared their throats, we wouldn’t have stopped. She smacked me on the chest with that adorable embarrassed expression on her face. Her cheeks turned red.
“How did you get here?”
“I stopped the time and sat beside you.”
She giggled. “You’re crazy.”
“I know.”

(Brianna)
“I DON’T understand. If you have a mansion as great as this, then why are you staying in the apartment? Your living room here was a lot bigger than that apartment,” I said with awe while looking around Ingram’s mansion.
When he invited me to his place in Tanay, I agreed right away and did not think about attending the wedding reception anymore. After all, I had already fulfilled my duties in Stella’s wedding. I didn’t want to let the chance slip away now that Ingram seemed to finally willing to open up to me.
We used Ingram’s black sports car to travel. Dexter, his right-hand man, would be the one to return my car in the apartment.
Until now, I still couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I’d always known that Ingram came from an affluent family judging by his car alone which had me self-conscious about my second-hand car which I got from my savings in writing novels. Ingram’s mansion was even bigger than my mother’s mansion. It had floor-to-ceiling walls and black and white furniture.