The day of the city youth exhibition arrived.
For everyone else, it was just a competition.
For me…
It was the day I would prove that the future I saw in my dream could be changed.
In my previous life, this was the moment when everything began to collapse.
The stolen painting.
The false accusations.
The humiliation.
From that day on, everyone believed I was a selfish rich girl who bullied an innocent transfer student.
Nora became the victim.
I became the villain.
But this time…
I was ready.
The exhibition hall was filled with reporters, judges and students from different schools.
The painting that carried Nora’s name was placed in the center.
“Old Light in the Rain Alley.”
My painting.
My two months of sleepless nights.
My emotions.
My memories.
Everything had been stolen.
But I wasn’t worried.
Because the truth was still hidden.
And the truth always had a way of appearing.
Julian stood beside Nora.
He was still the same person from my dream.
The person who believed he was protecting justice.
The person who never stopped to ask whether I was actually guilty.
Nora looked nervous.
She held onto Julian’s sleeve.
“Julian…”
“Don’t worry.”
He lowered his voice.
“I believe you.”
Those words were familiar.
In my dream, he had said the same thing countless times.
But every time he believed her…
I lost something.
My reputation.
My family.
My life.
I looked away.
I no longer wanted to fight for his trust.
Because soon…
He would know the truth himself.
The judges began reviewing the paintings.
When they arrived at Nora’s work, everyone praised it.
“The composition is excellent.”
“The emotional expression is very mature.”
“It is rare for a young artist to have this level of control.”
Nora lowered her head modestly.
“I just painted what I felt.”
The audience applauded.
Julian smiled.
That smile used to belong to me.
Or at least…
I thought it did.
Then the chief judge suddenly stopped.
He looked at the painting carefully.
“Wait.”
Everyone became quiet.
The judge stepped closer.
“Turn off the main lights.”
The hall became dark.
A few seconds later, ultraviolet lights appeared.
A faint mark slowly emerged beneath the final layer of paint.
A signature.
My signature.
The entire room fell silent.
The judge’s expression changed.
“This painting has been modified.”
The reporters immediately moved forward.
“What happened?”
“Is there plagiarism?”
The judge pointed at the hidden signature.
“The original artist left a hidden mark.”
“Only the creator would know where it was placed.”
Everyone looked at Nora.
Her face turned pale.
“No…”
She shook her head.
“I don’t know anything about that.”
Julian immediately stepped forward.
“Maybe someone is framing her.”
His voice was firm.
But this time…
No one immediately believed him.
Because the evidence was right there.
The painting belonged to someone else.
The judge ordered an investigation.
The club members started whispering.
The same people who had accused me yesterday…
Now looked at Nora differently.
Sabrina’s expression became complicated.
“Iris…”
She looked at me.
“Why didn’t you explain before?”
I smiled slightly.
“Would anyone have believed me?”
She was speechless.
Because she knew the answer.
No.
Nobody would have.
Julian stood frozen.
His eyes stayed on the painting.
Then slowly moved to me.
For the first time…
There was doubt in his eyes.
“Iris.”
His voice was lower.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
I looked at him.
“Would you have listened?”
He froze.
Because he knew.
He wouldn’t have.
Not when Nora was involved.
Not when he had already decided who was innocent and who was guilty.
That night, the Blake family mansion was unusually quiet.
Julian’s grandfather personally called me.
“Iris.”
His voice was tired.
“I heard what happened.”
“I want to apologize.”
I sat by the window.
Looking at the city lights.
“There’s no need.”
“You were never the one who hurt me.”
The old man sighed.
“But Julian…”
I closed my eyes.
“Grandfather Blake.”
“Do you know what is the most painful thing?”
“When everyone else misunderstands you, you can explain.”
“But when the person you love chooses not to believe you…”
“Nothing you say matters anymore.”
The old man was silent.
After hanging up, I received another message.
From Julian.
“I need to talk to you.”
“I’ll be waiting at the old garden.”
I stared at the screen.
In my dream…
That was the same place where Julian had once promised Nora that he would protect her forever.
The same place where he told me:
“You ruined everything.”
I deleted the message.
Then I blocked his number.
Because this time…
I wasn’t waiting for him to choose me.
Three days later.
My father placed a passport on the table.
“You are really leaving?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
My mother held my hand.
“What about Julian?”
I looked at the engagement ring sitting beside me.
The ring I had worn since childhood.
The symbol everyone thought represented my future.
I picked it up.
Then placed it back into the box.
“He already chose his future.”
“And now…”
“I choose mine.”
That night, I boarded the plane.
The city lights became smaller beneath the clouds.
In my dream, I stayed until the end.
I fought.
I begged.
I waited.
And I lost everything.
But this time…
Before Julian could destroy my life…
I walked away.
What I didn’t know was…
The moment I left the country, Julian finally discovered the truth behind Nora Hayes.
And the girl he thought he was saving…
Was the person who had been destroying his world from the beginning.
