Now, only Cameron and Greta remained in the room.

    Tension hung in the air, tight as a drawn bow. Greta''s eyes, once bright with stubborn affection, now held nothing but weary resignation as she looked at Cameron.

    "Cameron, do you me me?" Her voice was so soft it barely made a sound, as if she could shrink herself small enough to disappear. That''s how she always was around him-humbled, almost apologetic.

    Cameron was cold, distant. "Would it change anything if I did? Nell and I... we''re strangers now."

    Tears slipped down Greta''s cheeks as she edged closer. "Cameron, Morris is out of his mind. He''d do anything to get Nellie. Why go up against him? You can''t win with someone like him."

    Cameron''s handsome features tightened, a crack running through hisposure. "If Nell ever remembers, she''ll see Morris for the wolf he really is. She''d never choose him. Nellie''s too kind for someone who''s all scheming and lies."

    Greta''s sobs came harder. "So you''re giving up on me? You''re picking Nathalie over me, aren''t you?"

    Cameron''s patience snapped. "Her name is Nellie. She''s my Nell. She''s not Nathalie."

    Greta''s eyes flew wide, shock written all over her face. "You''re just as obsessed with her now, aren''t you?"

    Cameron''s fists curled tight. "She was meant to be my wife."

    Greta pleaded, "Cameron, if there really is such a thing as reincarnation, do you really think every life is just a repeat of thest? In the Timeless Cycle, you and Nellie were happy together. But out here, this is a new life. Nellie can fall in love with someone else if she wants to. Doesn''t she have that right?"

    "Cameron, if you keep living in the past, you''re just going to keep hurting. You need to let it go. Treat the Timeless Cycle like it was just a dream..."

    Cameron shook his head. His jaw was rough with stubble, pride lost somewhere along the way, reced by exhaustion. The cracks in him showed just how rough these years had been.

    "Why should I let her go?"

    He was stuck, sinking deeper in his own misery, surviving only by clinging to the scraps of sweetness Nellie had given him just enough to get by.

    "Greta, do you understand? My dad never loved my mom. From the outside, we looked perfect. But inside, we were a mess. All I ever wanted was a real home-a gentle wife, happy kids, a ce I could protect, no matter what."

    "So when I found out that Nellie and I actually had that, even for a little while-do

    you know how much it kills me to remember how I let her down?"

    "I''ll never be happy again."

    "I lost my wife."

    Greta shook her head frantically, hands over her ears as if she could block out if pretending would make them the happy couple they once were.

    Cameron''s voice, aet

    "Cameron, you''re being so cruel. Don''t you see that?"

    Cameron looked at her, empty and numb. Once, his whole world had revolved around Greta, but now, she meant nothing-no warmth, no love left in his eyes.

    “Greta, I took Nell''s kidney to save your life. From that day on, we were even. The only person I owe now is Nell."

    "You don''t have to chase after me anymore. I don''t love you. Not anymore."

    Greta broke down, sobbing so hard it looked like it would tear her apart "Cameron, you can''t just stop loving me. If you don''t want me, what''s left for me?"

    Cameron watched her fall apart, unmoved, as if her pain was invisible.