Chapter 1446


    Later on, Zephyr, guided by his heart and that dream, willingly became a stand-in for Caleb, never


    insisting that Katharine call him by his true name-Zephyr.


    He met Katharine and became Caleb, immersing himself in Caleb’s likes and dislikes until he was


    indistinguishable from the man. On restless nights, he would gaze at Katharine and wonder if he was


    truly Caleb or if he was still Zeph.


    It was yearster, after bearing two children for him, that Katharine realized he wasn’t Caleb. She fled


    from him like one escaping a flood or a wild beast, vowing never to see him again.


    Only then did Zephyr stop questioning his identity. He knelt before Katharine, desperately trying to


    convince her he was Caleb, who had merely lost his memories, begging her not to leave him.


    By that time, Katharine hade to recognize who stood before her. Her rity dawned from having


    unwittingly fallen for Zephyr, someone other than Caleb. The realization terrified her.


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    She felt she had betrayed Caleb, having vowed to dedicate her heart to only one for a lifetime, yet she


    had fallen for another so easily and even borne his children. What was she to do about her Caleb?


    Katharine was tormented, barely living. Zephyr was no less affected. Their lives had be entwined


    through this twist of fate. It was only when Katharine forgave herself that they found peace together.


    Even having epted Zephyr and not Caleb, Katharine couldn’t forget her past love. Every year on the


    anniversary of his death, she would take their children to visit his grave, perhaps so Caleb could see


    the child he never knew.


    Katharine lived bound by a sense of debt to Caleb and the child she had left behind, a life not entirely


    happy, yetforted by Caleb’s presence in another form.


    Who doesn’t have aplex life? Whatever the case, life goes on. Yet Katharine still prayed that in the


    next life, she would meet Caleb again and promised not to hurt him this


    time.


    Katharine’s life stood still at this point, with Zephyr still assuming Caleb’s role. And because of that


    dream, Zephyr loved Katharine unreservedly, their life together bittersweet.


    When Bernard and Eleanor saw them, Zephyr was adding a touch of honey to a ss of honey water,


    stirring it before handing it to Katharine, “You’ve got to watch your diet these days, stay away from


    anything too cold.”


    Katharine took the ss, sipping gently, then looked up at Zephyr with a smile, “Caleb’s


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    honey water is always the best.”


    Each time Katharine called him Caleb, Zephyr’s heart skipped a beat, a bitter sweetness he couldn’t


    resist, “If you like it,e to me whenever you’re feeling unwell, and I’ll make it


    for you.”


    Katharine stood, leaning over the bamboo table, and kissed Zephyr’s cheek, “Deal.”


    Zephyr, brushing his cheek where she kissed him, half-joked, “I’ve told you, I’m considering monastic


    life; you shouldn’t be doing this.”


    Katharine teased back, “You’ve entered my life, and as for the monastery, I’m afraid you’ll have to give


    that up.”


    Zephyr avoided her gaze, concentrating instead on the tea leaves he was steeping, “If I hadn’t


    considered a spiritual path, I would never have met you, and without meeting


    you…”


    He couldn’t finish the thought, instead, he simply covered the teapot and reached out to caress


    Katharine’s face, “Since I’ve met you, I willingly enter your life. But from now on, you must never run


    away.”


    He was no saint. If she stirred his heart, she must stay within it forever. If she ever dared to leave, he


    wouldn’t let her go easily.


    Katharineughed it off, “After all the trouble I went through to find you, why would I run? I’ll stay by


    your side, cling to you for a lifetime, and we’ll have a couple more kids to tie you down so you can


    never leave me…”


    Zephyr knew she wished to have those children for someone else, and he couldn’t help a bittersweet


    smile, agreeing to her words. As they spoke, they noticed two figures standing at the bamboo gate.


    The man was stunningly handsome, the woman breathtakingly beautiful. Zephyr had never seen


    anyone more striking, especially the man whose casual stance made him stand out like the brightest


    winter scene.


    Remembering something Robin had mentioned, that Caleb had sacrificed himself to protect someone,


    Zephyr guessed the man at the gate must be the one Caleb had died for-the one Katharine resented


    yet yearned for. Despite Katharine’s feelings, Zephyr couldn’t ignore their arrival.


    He dropped his hand from Katharine’s face and looked up, “Are you here to see me, or are you looking


    for Katharine?”