Chapter 3

3 I lied to young Jake, telling him that older Jake was on a business trip overseas and that the time difference made it hard to get in touch.

So naturally, he moved in with me as my boyfriend.

He didn't know why he was here.

He said, "I guess I was wondering if I'd be with you in ten years, and if we'd have a baby. I really wanted to see if I lived up to my promises. And then, when I woke up, I was here."

His eyes held the hope of a young man looking toward the future.

His love was sincere and pure, and I couldn't bring myself to burst his bubble.

Until 30-year-old Jake suddenly showed up.

Twenty-year-old Jake overheard it.

"Annie, we're getting... divorced?"

He stumbled out of the closet, dumbfounded.

Even though I told him that our relationship had grown stale, and we were splitting up amicably, young Jake clearly couldn't accept it.

The blow was too much for him.

"Divorce? Why would you divorce me? I don't want a divorce! And our relationship isn't stale at all!"

"I can still feel how much you love me!"

He cried, then suddenly stopped, stunned.

"Wait, did I change?"

...

Jake had always been smart.

It was normal for him to figure it out so quickly.

But he couldn't believe it and frantically searched the house for evidence that he still loved me.

But 30-year-old Jake rarely came home, and there was hardly any trace of him left in the house.

Young Jake searched from the bedroom to the study, and he even guessed the combination to the safe, finding the divorce papers and medical record.

"You... You had an abortion? Have I made you that desperate?"

Young Jake was devastated, tears in his eyes, looking up at me with a hurt expression.

It broke my heart, and I rushed over to hug him.

"It was because I wasn't healthy, that's why I had an abortion. Don't cry. I won't get a divorce, okay?"

"Really?" he asked, wiping away his tears.

"Promise! I'll go and cook your meals for you. It's your birthday today!"

Of course, it was a lie.

If promises meant anything, there wouldn't be so many heartless people in the world.

Young Jake stayed with me for three months.

Clinging to me every day, afraid that I would go and get a divorce.

"Baby, I'll treat you well."

He lived up to his word, acting as a proper husband, as the thirty-year-old version of himself should.

He spent every day researching how to make nourishing soup for me.

He even wrote a "Pamper Your Wife Handbook."

"After I leave, I'll leave this manual for thirty-year-old me to study!"

...

On Jake's birthday, I bought young Jake his favorite chocolate cake.

Back when we were struggling financially, we couldn't afford it, but now, I let him eat all he wanted.

But he wasn't satisfied.

"Wife, more than eating cake, I want..."

He raised his eyebrows.

I instantly understood, and my face flushed red.

"What are you thinking!"

Before I could say anything, he picked me up and carried me into the bedroom.

"Baby, have some sympathy."

He really knew what he was doing!

Young Jake licked his lips and slipped under the covers.

Just as my heart began to race, we heard the sound of a key in the front door, followed by the lights switching on.

I sat up in shock.

Only Jake could open the door!

Oh, God!

Why did he have to come back now!