The Seventh Chance

At Crestwood University, the love story of Vincent Fuller and Mira Saunders was the stuff of legends.

Vincent was the physics department's renowned heartthrob, known for his cold demeanor and an air that kept everyone at a distance.

Two people were exceptions.

One was his childhood sweetheart, Mira, with whom he shared a deep bond.

They were on the verge of ending their seven-year romance with marriage.

The other was Ella Clayton, a persistent admirer Vincent openly despised and avoided.

Despite his strict adherence to propriety, Vincent had told her to get lost countless times, yet she remained undeterred, chasing him for seven years.

Mira never took Ella seriously.

As the medical department's famous fbeauty, Mira saw Ella as an insignificant nobody in comparison.

That changed when Mira saw the nickname Vincent had given Ella on his phone.

He called her "Sweetheart."

For the first time, Mira lost her temper and gave Vincent the silent treatment.

That night, when she ignored his messages, Vincent, usually so proud, knelt before her, slapped himself hundreds of times, deleted and blocked all of Ella's contact information, and begged for forgiveness.

He swore solemnly that he would never hurt her again.

But soon after, Mira found a star-shaped hair tie in his pocket.

It was a style she had never used.

During their second fallout, Vincent didn't notice her anger for a full day.

When he did, he abandoned a multi-billion-dollar deal, flew to Seavelt to buy her favorite pineapple pastries, and waited for her in a freezing blizzard all night, nearly turning into an ice statue.

Mira's heart softened, and she forgave him.

The third time, Mira noticed the red safety charm she had given Vincent was now on Ella's wrist.

She told him, "Vincent, let's break up."

He went berserk, using his family's influence to ground planes and halt trains, chasing her down and holding her so tightly it felt like he wanted to meld her into his arms, tears streaming as he swore, "Mira, I love you so much. The thought of you leaving drives me insane."

Mira, dragging her suitcase, couldn't bring herself to leave.

Then came the fourth, fifth, and sixth times.

Vincent seemed to know her love for him was her weakness, certain she would always wait if he turned back.

Until the seventh time.

With their wedding approaching, they began living together.

During an intimate moment, Vincent got a call from an unknown number and hesitated before answering. "I've told you a hundred times, stop bothering me!"

Sweat beaded on his forehead, his expression impatient, his tone harsh.

A faint sob came from the other end. "Vincent, I'm not trying to bother you... but I think someone's following me. I'm scared."

Vincent froze, glancing at Mira's calm face, and said irritably, "Your phone has a one-tap emergency app. Press it, and the police will come."

He hung up.

"Mira..." He leaned down, whispering in her ear.

But his heavy breathing betrayed his agitation, his mind clearly elsewhere.

The next second, his phone rang again.

Vincent answered instinctively, "I already told you-"

Chaos erupted on the other end, rough male voices mixed with a helpless female cry. "Please, let me go..."

Vincent shot upright, his usually stoic face filled with panic, shouting, "Ella, where are you?!"

No response came.

He immediately checked his phone's GPS, grabbed his coat, and rushed toward the door.

"Vincent!" Mira's voice stopped him in his tracks. "This is the seventh time. We-"

Before she could finish, Vincent, frantic, cut in, "Mira, you heard what's happening. Someone's life is at stake. Whatever it is, we'll talk when I get back."

Without waiting for her reply, he hurried out.

Mira stared at the closed door, tears slowly trailing down her cheeks, soaking the pillow.

After forgiving Vincent the third time, she had made a serious pact with him, "Seven years of love, I'll forgive you seven times. After that, we're done."

Back then, he stared at his phone screen, mumbling an agreement.

Perhaps he never took her words to heart, which was why he trampled on her feelings time and again.

But he didn't know this time she was truly leaving.

Mira slowly pulled the blanket over herself, burying her entire body.

She and Vincent had been together for seven years, and Ella had pursued him for just as long.

In college, Mira and Vincent met in a general education class, becoming desk mates by chance.

During one class, her pen leaked ink, staining her clothes, and he immediately handed her his fountain pen, thoughtfully tying his jacket around her waist.

On Mira's birthday, she was engrossed in a lab experiment.

The lights went out, and Vincent appeared, holding a large bouquet of roses under soft ambient lighting, his eyes full of warmth. "Mira, I'm into you."

The next day, the campus forum exploded.

Everyone congratulated them, except Ella.

She ran to Vincent in tears, seeking confirmation, and collapsed when she saw his hand intertwined with Mira's.

Her crush on him was no secret.

Every day, she wrote him a love letter, only for him to reject and tear it up without mercy.

She skipped classes to work and buy him gifts, trailing him like an obsessive stalker.

Vincent loathed her, doing everything to avoid her.

Whenever she appeared, his gaze turned icy, and he spat the cruelest words, "Have you no shame or dignity? How can someone be so pathetic!"

Ella, eyes brimming with tears, always replied, "I love you."

But at some point, things changed.

Vincent began fiddling with his phone during meals with Mira, the profile picture a star.

Though his tone remained cold, he stopped blocking Ella's calls and no longer rejected her gifts.

Sometimes it was pastries she queued for in the south end of town, other times a bouquet from her part-time job.

When Vincent spoke of Ella, his once-cold disdain softened.

Now, a single call from her was enough for him to abandon Mira and rush off.

Lost in the darkness for who knows how long, Mira pulled out her phone and sent Vincent a message, "We're done."