"A past life?" Calliope latched onto the key phrase.

How could he know about a past life? How could he possibly know that she had loved Gideon in that life?

"I'm so sorry," Silas began, his voice thick with emotion. "I couldn't save you in our last life. I failed to stop the accident. I couldn't change your fate on the spot, so I did everything in my power to give you a new one."

He looked at her, his gaze an ocean of deep, tender affection.

"I wanted to be better to you this time, but... my own time is running out. I can't give you anything more."

"Callie, I'm sorry I let you misunderstand me," he continued, his voice laced with regret. "I'm sorry you thought I had someone else in my heart."

"I truly never meant for that to happen."

“Callie, I should have told you everything from the start. It's my fault I made you suffer. I'm so sorry."

Calliope could only shake her head, her mind reeling as she stared at the man before her. As the realization dawned on her, her breath hitched in pure, unadulterated shock.

"So, my rebirth... you knew about it? You're the one who brought me back?"

He had known everything all along.

He had been hiding it this entire time. His help was never a coincidence. He had been helping her since her past life?

The weight of the revelation settled upon her, one shocking layer after another. She looked at Silas, her mind struggling to comprehend the magnitude of his words.

"How? How did you bring me back?"

Calliope was sharp. Silas kept repeating that his time was short, yet he appeared perfectly healthy. If his time was running out, there could be only one explanation.

He had paid a price to bring her back.

And that price, she horrifyingly suspected, was himself. That was why his time was short.

She looked at him, her expression a mixture of shock and heartache. He had made such a monumental sacrifice just to give her another chance.

Was he really going to die? Had he sacrificed his own life so she could be reborn into this world?

"Silas... did you trade your own life to bring me back?"

She stared at him in disbelief. "Why would you do that? Why?"

"Because love you," Silas said, his gaze unwavering and gentle. "From the first moment I saw you, through all the time we spent together... you might not have known but I fell love with you without even realizing it. swñovels

"I couldn't bear the thought of you suffering, and I couldn't stand the world without you in it."

"You're so wonderful, so brilliant. You didn't deserve to leave this world."

He reached out, softly tucking a

stray strand of hair behind her ear

He then leaned in his face full, tenderness that seemed to overflow, and gently kissed her.

She was the gravity in his orbit, the only soul he had ever truly seen

"Was it worth it?" Calliope's eyes reddened. "Was it worth giving up your life giving up everything me?"

A sharp pain pierced her heart. It was unbearable.

for

She remembered all the times she had been afraid of him, all the times she had tried to keep her distance.

And all along, he had been planning for her, willing to give his own life for her. This was Silas, the man who loved her.

She had been so blind before, choosing Gideon and missing out on an entire lifetime with him.

She was grateful he was by her side now.

But he said his time was running out. He was leaving. What was she supposed to do?

If it were just a divorce, she could accept it. But how could she possibly accept him leaving this world for her sake?

"I don't want you to go!"

Tears streamed down her face. "I won't let you go! What gives you the right to decide my fate?”,