Three Chances To Love Me Again

The night I confessed my love to my boyfriend, he wept so hard he could barely breathe. He said he had seen the future and in that future, he had done something he would regret for the rest of his life. He couldn’t remember everything he’d seen. Only one thing was clear: no matter what happened, I had to give him three chances. “Don’t ask me why,” he whispered through his tears. “Just promise me. No matter what I do, give me three chances.” I was hopelessly in love with Jared Lockwood, the heir to the most feared mafia empire in the city. So I promised. Years later, that promise became the cruelest mistake of my life. The man who once swore he’d die for me became a stranger. By the time he placed his signature on our divorce agreement, I had stopped hoping he would remember the man he used to be. Then I heard a familiar voice. “Don’t.” I turned. Standing before me was Jared at nineteen—young, terrified, and still hopelessly in love with me. His eyes filled with tears as he stared at the man he would become. Then he looked at me and whispered, “You promised me three chances, didn’t you?” Chapter 1 Audrey’s POV [I know this must be painful for you. But what Jared and I have is real. I hope you can find it in yourself to let him be happy.] The message lit up my phone. It was from Selena Morgan, Jared Lockwood’s secretary. Aside from that message, the rest were photos. Jared with Selena at a private Lockwood club. Selena sitting beside him during a family dinner, her hand resting intimately on his shoulder. The two of them, drinking together in the back room of one of our casinos. And the last photo showed them kissing against the floor-to-ceiling windows of Jared’s penthouse. I stared at the screen for a long time only then did I finally accept it. Jared was no longer the man I had once loved. We had met when we had nothing. For seven years, I had stood beside him while he fought his way to the top of the underworld. I had taken a bullet meant for him. I had been dragged into an enemy family’s basement and tortured for three days because I refused to tell them where Jared was hiding. I had watched him bleed after ambushes and stitched his wounds with my own hands. I had buried men we once called friends. I had abandoned sleep, comfort, and every ordinary life I could have had for the sake of building the Lockwood empire with him. Seven years. Seven years of blood, betrayal, and living with a gun within reach. And after everything we’d survived together, Jared had chosen to share his bed with his secretary. I didn’t hesitate. I drafted the divorce papers. Just as I was about to sign my name, a familiar voice sounded beside me. “Don’t.” The voice struck me like lightning. My fingers froze. Slowly, I turned and there stood Jared at nineteen — young, terrified, and still hopelessly in love with me. His eyes were already red with tears as he stared at the man he would become. Then he looked at me. “You promised me three chances, didn’t you?” For a moment, I couldn’t speak then I laughed softly. “All right. Three chances it is.” My phone rang again. It was Jared. I answered and put the call on speaker. His cold voice immediately filled the room. “How many times do I have to tell you to leave Selena alone?” I stared at the younger Jared beside me. The boy’s expression darkened. “She’s my secretary. She works for me. Whatever problem you have with me, keep her out of it.” I almost laughed. “Your secretary?” My voice was quiet. “After seven years of taking bullets for you, burying your men, and nearly dying in an enemy’s hands, this is what you’re defending?” There was a brief silence then Jared’s voice hardened. “Don’t make this about the past.” The nineteen-year-old Jared’s fists clenched. “How dare he talk to you like that?” His voice trembled with fury. “He should be on his knees thanking you.” I looked at the boy who still remembered every sacrifice I had made and smiled at him. Then Jared’s present-day voice came through the phone again. “You’ve become bold lately. If you have something to say, come to the Lockwood estate and say it to my face.” A pause. “You have thirty minutes.” The call ended. I looked at the nineteen-year-old Jared. “That’s the first chance.” I wasn't even sure whether I was speaking to the boy standing beside me or to myself. By the time I reached the Lockwood estate, forty minutes had already passed. Chapter 2 Audrey’s POV The streets around the Lockwood estate were packed with traffic. By the time I reached Jared’s private office, forty minutes had passed since his call. I had barely stepped through the door when his voice cut across the room. “Audrey, I gave you thirty minutes. And now—” “Mm.” I cut him off without looking at him. Then I walked past his desk and dropped onto the sofa. Selena was already there. She sat quietly in one of the chairs, her head lowered, her eyes red. My indifference seemed to ignite Jared’s temper. He slammed his palm against the desk. “Audrey, what’s with that attitude? You still refuse to admit what you did?” But before I could speak, Selena beat me to it. “Jared, it’s nothing, really. Just a necklace. Don’t blame Audrey.” The moment she said that, Jared’s anger only deepened. Yet instead of lashing out at her, he restrained himself, his voice softening as he turned to comfort her. “How can you say it’s nothing? She was petty enough to try to take the necklace I gave you. Don’t worry. I won’t take her side in this.” Then he turned back to me, his tone sharpening like a blade. “Audrey, I’ll give you one last chance. Give the necklace back to Selena.” I almost laughed. How many times has this happened? Selena would provoke something, make herself look innocent, and somehow I became the one who had to explain myself. It didn’t matter what I said anymore. Jared had stopped trusting me long ago. Rising to my feet, I unclasped the necklace from around my neck and tossed it lightly onto the floor at Selena’s feet. That single gesture broke the restraint of both Jareds—the one from nineteen, and the one from twenty-seven. The nineteen-year-old Jared burst into tears. “Audrey, please… don’t… don’t do this.” But the twenty-seven-year-old’s eyes blazed red, his fury no longer containable. “Audrey! Do you think I’ll tolerate this insolence?” The necklace lying on the floor was the only piece of jewelry I had ever worn. Seven years ago, Jared had just completed his first major assignment for the Lockwood family. He had come home covered in blood, but the first thing he did was pull a small box from his pocket. Inside was a simple silver necklace. It wasn’t expensive. Jared had spent nearly all the money he’d earned from that job on it. He fastened it around my neck himself, his eyes shining with a boyish pride I had long since forgotten. “Audrey, this is all I can afford right now. But one day, when I become the head of the Lockwood family, I’ll give you everything you want.” From that day forward, I never took the necklace off. And he did eventually become the head of the Lockwood family. He gave me power, wealth, and the Lockwood name. But the necklace he once gave me with all his heart eventually found its way around Selena’s neck. I saw no point in speaking further. Turning, I headed for the door. “Audrey!” Jared’s furious voice followed me. But before I could reach the door, Selena spoke again. “Jared, calm down.” She stepped closer to him. “If the necklace you gave me really means that much to Audrey, then maybe I’m the one at fault.” Her voice trembled. “It’s only natural that she’d want it back. Please don’t blame her. I don’t mind.” I stopped. Selena lowered her eyes. “Honestly, I’ve never had anyone remember my birthday or give me something so precious before.” A faint, sad smile touched her lips. “Having you celebrate it with me was already enough. The necklace doesn’t matter.” Her words slowly drained the anger from Jared’s face. His shoulders relaxed. Then he looked at me. For a moment, something almost like compromise appeared in his eyes. “Audrey.” I turned. “Give Selena the necklace back.” His voice was calmer now. “I’ll buy you another one. Something better.” I stared at him. He continued. “I promise.” I looked at the necklace lying on the floor. Then I looked at the man who had once placed it around my neck with shaking hands. “I don’t want it. Not this one and not anything you could ever buy me in the future.” Chapter 3 Audrey’s POV I had said everything I needed to say. I turned and walked out of Jared’s office but before I could reach the elevator, the nineteen-year-old Jared suddenly rushed after me and caught my arm. “Audrey, please… don’t.” His voice was shaky. “Let’s take the necklace back, all right? I gave it to you.” His eyes were already red, and there was hesitation in his voice, as though he was afraid I would be angry with him. I looked at his younger face. He looked nothing like the cold man I’d just left behind. My heart softened despite myself. “All right.” I sighed. “But this counts as the second chance. Are you sure you want to use it now?” He nodded without hesitation. I reached up and gently ran my fingers through his hair then I turned back toward the office. But the moment I pushed the door open, the sight inside made the nineteen-year-old Jared’s expression change instantly. Selena was in Jared’s arms and they were kissing intimately. The moment they saw me, they immediately pulled apart. Jared’s expression hardened. “Audrey! When did you become so rude?” His voice was sharp. “Don’t you know you should knock before entering my office?” I gave him a cold look and walked straight toward them. My eyes fell on the necklace. I bent down to pick it up but Selena quietly shifted her foot, pinning the chain beneath her heel. I straightened. Selena lowered her eyes, her voice soft and meek. “Audrey, I was only trying to calm Jared down. He was upset. Please don’t be angry.” The false humility in her voice made my chest burn. Jared immediately turned toward me. “Look at you, Audrey.” His eyes were cold. “Selena is trying to be considerate, yet you keep making things difficult for her. Apologize to her.” I ignored him. My eyes remained fixed on Selena. “Move.” She didn’t. Instead, she looked at me innocently. “Audrey, I really didn’t mean anything by it.” Then Jared stepped forward, his hand caught my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Apologize to Selena!” I stared at the man in front of me then my eyes shifted past him to the nineteen-year-old Jared who stood frozen near the door, tears streaming down his face. He looked devastated. The sight of him made all the anger inside me disappear. “I’m sorry,” I said quietly. Selena immediately stepped back. “Oh, Audrey, you don’t have to apologize. Really.” Her voice was gentle. “Please don’t.” But as she lowered her head, I caught the faintest smile at the corner of her lips. I no longer cared what Jared said. I bent down, pulled the necklace free from beneath Selena’s shoe, and picked it up. Then I walked out. The moment I stepped outside the Lockwood estate, the nineteen-year-old Jared followed me. He was crying so hard that his shoulders shook. “Audrey… I’m sorry.” He kept apologizing. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I’m sorry.” I reached up and gently stroked his hair. “It’s all right.” I gave him a faint smile. “You didn’t do anything wrong.” We drove in silence for a while. Then I looked at him. “Do you know what tomorrow is?” He blinked at me. His confused gaze drifted toward the clock displayed on the dashboard. Then his expression changed. His cheeks flushed, and excitement slowly appeared in his eyes. “It’s the day I’m going to propose to you.” I smiled. Six years ago, on our first anniversary, Jared had made me a promise. No matter how much money he had—or didn’t have—six years later, on Valentine’s Day, he would propose to me. At the place where we had first dreamed about our future together. By the sea. I looked at the nineteen-year-old Jared. “Good. Then you’ll come with me tomorrow, won’t you?” My voice softened. His eyes lit up immediately. But after a moment, his smile faded. He seemed to gather his courage before speaking. “Audrey, do you know why I can see the future?” I shook my head. He took a slow breath. “When you told me you loved me, I made a wish. There was a shooting star that night.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “I wished that I could see what our future would become but I didn’t know I wouldn’t remember it.” His eyes filled with tears again. “I won’t remember anything I’ve seen until tomorrow night. When the clock strikes midnight… I’ll remember everything.” Chapter 4 Audrey’s POV The nineteen-year-old Jared wiped another tear from his cheek. “So tomorrow night… he’ll regret everything.” I didn’t know whether he was trying to convince himself or me. Neither of us expected the twenty-seven-year-old Jared to actually appear at the beach. But he did. He hadn’t come to keep the promise he’d made to me. He had come for Selena. The beach where Jared had promised to propose to me was now covered in red roses. Black SUVs lined the road behind them, and armed Lockwood men stood at a distance while fireworks had been arranged along the shoreline. At the center of it all stood Jared and Selena, holding hands. The moment he saw me, his expression hardened. “Audrey, you actually followed me here?” His voice was cold. “Are you spying on me now? How pathetic.” Selena remained beside him, her fingers intertwined with his. I looked at the man standing before me. Then I quietly said, “Your three chances are over, Jared.” The nineteen-year-old Jared immediately clutched my arm. “Audrey, please…” His voice trembled. “Don’t say that. Maybe he prepared all of this for you. Let’s go see, okay?” I looked at him. He was desperate to believe that the man he would become hadn’t completely forgotten the promise he once made. But the twenty-seven-year-old Jared’s voice was ice-cold. “Audrey. Get over here.” I gave the younger Jared a gentle look before stepping forward. The moment I did, the older Jared’s expression darkened. “What more do you want from me?” His voice rose. “You took Selena’s necklace, and I let it go. Now I’ve arranged all of this for her by the sea, and you’re still trying to ruin it?” I glanced at the roses scattered across the sand then at the fireworks waiting behind them. I shrugged. “I’m not here to ruin anything.” I looked around. “I just came to watch the fireworks.” I paused. “So if you don’t mind, have someone bring me two chairs.” Jared stared at me. For once, he seemed to have no response. I ignored him. I took the nineteen-year-old Jared’s hand and led him away from them. We sat farther down the beach. He was still crying. I quietly tried to comfort him, but his tears wouldn’t stop. Behind us, the twenty-seven-year-old Jared eventually seemed to relax when he realized I wasn’t going to cause a scene, he pulled Selena closer. She leaned against him, whispering into his ear. I felt nothing. I simply held the younger Jared’s cold hand tighter. Time passed. The night grew darker and as Valentine’s Day slowly came to an end, fireworks suddenly exploded across the sky. Colorful lights reflected over the dark ocean. The nineteen-year-old Jared looked up in wonder. I turned toward him. Then he reached into his pocket. My breath caught. He pulled out a small black box. The ring he’d prepared years ago. He stood. Then, beneath the exploding fireworks, the nineteen-year-old Jared dropped to one knee in front of me. His eyes were filled with tears. “Audrey…” He opened the box. “Will you marry me?” I covered my mouth, tears immediately blurred my vision. “Yes, a thousand times yes!” I exclaimed happily. Tears streamed down his face. “You’d still marry me despite everything?” I smiled. “Of course. I'll always love the Jared before me and not the person you turned out to be.” I didn’t know how long we sat there crying before I finally extended my trembling left hand. His face broke into the brightest smile I’d seen on him all night. He gently took my hand and just as he was about to slide the ring onto my finger— The clock struck midnight. The nineteen-year-old Jared suddenly began to glow. I froze. His body dissolved into countless points of light before my eyes. “Jared…” I reached for him but there was nothing left to hold. My tears finally spilled over. “Goodbye…” My voice broke. “My Jared.” Then Selena’s voice sounded behind me. “Jared, look at her.” Her voice carried a mocking sweetness. “She looks so pitiful, sitting there all alone. Who exactly is she talking to? I'm so glad I have you. You make me so happy.” I turned. At some point, Selena had brought the twenty-seven-year-old Jared behind me. Her fingers were wrapped around his arm. She was smiling. But Jared wasn’t. He was staring at the empty space where his younger self had disappeared, tears streaming down his face.