A/N: The final chapter is here!. Thank you towersita, arinanajwa, silkyjacob, Farhina Farheen davian 11, avabrilm, and guest for your comments. Thank you to everyone who has been following and liking the story so far. I hope you all continue to that for the next part as well.

Happy reading

-AG

Chapter 18: Days of future past

Wang So

He froze when she called him "Your majesty." It is not possible, She cannot remember. She continued, "You read my letters." He pulled her back into a hug. He started crying. All the pain, tears, and emotions accumulated from her death in the previous timeline were set free. He began to apologize profusely. "I am sorry, Soo. I should have been there by your side. I shouldn't have thrown you away in the first place. I am sorry. Will you forgive this foolish man?"

Hae Soo

It cannot be possible. How can he remember things that had happened in her previous timeline? He cannot have premonitions because she changed many things. They are not part of this timeline. When he started to apologize, she knew he traveled through time just like her. She kissed him first. "Your Majesty, there is nothing to forgive." She pecked his cheeks and wiped his tears away. She smiled at him. Her King traveled through to time to be with her. She will do anything to stay by his side forever.

Wang So

He saw his wife, who was lying beside him, tracing his scar. It has been so long she saw his bare face. He pecked her lips and pulled her body close to him. She broke his embrace, and she started to get dressed, indicating that it's time to talk. Once they are dressed, they both took a walk. She started narrating her story.

"I was born in modern Korea, 11th century later. My name is Go Ha Jin. I was cheated and embezzled by a man whom I thought I loved. I jumped into the water to save a little boy from drowning, but I couldn't make it to the surface and found myself transported to the 10th century. That's when I met all princes in Damiwon when I tried going back to her that when she saw him completely for the first time. I stayed back because Lady Hae and I finally had someone to care for and worry about me. When I entered the palace, I started having visions of the future, which reminded me of the evil Goryero King, who killed his brothers and nephews. I realized it was you. First, I tried staying away from you and warning others to stay from you. Later I realized that you were hurting, I thought I could help you and change you, but I failed to trust you completely as all visions slowly started to come true one by one. I dreamed of your father, Crown Prince, and Prince Eun's death. I witnessed everything though the circumstances that lead to their deaths were different; the outcome was the same. I was too late to change and too late to ignore it because I was already in love with you. After you became the King, I realized that I was pregnant that there are people out there still trying to harm us, so I ran away like a coward. I left you, and I couldn't even keep my promise to you. Halfway through the pregnancy, I realized that I might not be alive to see our baby, but thanks to heavens, I was able to see and hold her in my arms. Even though I wanted to protect you and our baby, I could stop writing and hoping for you to come to see one last time. I wanted to see you, apologize to you, and tell you that I love you."

She was sobbing during the entire time she was narrating her story. He was crying with her for all pain she suffered because of him.

She continued, "When I died here, I woke up in my timeline. For a year, I forgot about everything and everyone until one day when I saw your painting. She started sobbing. " In that painting, you were standing in a palace courtyard all alone exactly how you feared you would be when you become the King, and I did that you. I didn't fight for us, as you did. I tried searching for you there in the timeline, but I couldn't find you, so I decided to come back to you, hoping to have a chance to love you and be by your side once again.

She said, "Your Highness, I am sorry that I left you alone. I didn't tell you about our child."

Hae Soo

He replied, "I wasn't alone, I had our daughter with me who looked exactly like her mother."

She asked, "You met her?"

He smiled at the memory of his first meeting with their daughter. "she bumped into her and tried to fake an injury exactly like you did" She smiled.

Then he started narrating how his life was in Goryeo after her death. He thought her letters were from Prince Jung because it was addressed from Jung with his writing. "I never let my curiosity take over to find out why he was writing to me so many letters. I had spies around to Jung's home to protect you some time I would come in disguise. I saw you were happy with him. It was during your fifth death anniversary, and I found out that we had a child. Jung said that you wanted our daughter out of the palace. That was your last wish. I agreed; I released Jung from his house arrest, and visit me often. Nobody knew about our daughter Seol expect for Jung, Baek Ah, Ju, and I. Wang Ju was my son with Yeon Hwa. I hated him when he was an infant but later realized that you would hate me if you found out about my behavior. I slowly started accepting him, loving, and guiding him that I realized that I was about to the same mistake that my parents did.

He said, "Every day, I remember you and missed you, but it was our kids who made me move on like a king."

Hae Soo

She was happy that he wasn't alone; he raised his son, Prince Ju, well though he hated Yeon Hwa. That idiotic little piece of...Wang Jung, he so going to regret it. She could have had her happy ending, but then she realized it would never be enough and as satisfying as it is now to be in his arms, together till the end of this lifetime or more to come.

Wang So

He spoke, "We are given a second chance; we shouldn't waste our time thinking about things that didn't happen and probably will not happen this time."

"you are right, your highness," she said

"I am always right, Soo." He grinned at her. They headed back to their home to start a new life journey—this time without any secrets or any lies. As the day broke, their promises are fulfilled, new commitments were made.

A/N: The first chapter of the next part will be up next Wednesday. I am planning to write a bonus chapter here, small snippets. If you want me to write any encounters or conversations in detail or if you felt, you needed more conversation on particular scenes or incidents related to my stories. Do let me know. Thank you once again for being part of this journey. stay tuned for more dramas, action, and love in the upcoming part: Third time around.

-AG