Chapter 16 1/2 The scene before Julia overlapped with a memory from years ago . For a moment , she felt as if she'd been transported back in time - to when Keith had dropped to one knee . Overflowing with love , he had proposed after two years of dating , right under the cherry blossom tree where they'd first fallen for each other . She remembered how thrilled she'd been that day and how her heart had raced with excitement about their future together . Now , she felt that same flutter but something else too - doubt . Julia had indeed moved on from Keith . But love still felt foreign to her , like uncharted territory she wasn't sure she was brave enough to explore again . After all , she'd always been a coward when it came to taking risks . Whether it was Keith's 100 declarations of love back then or Calvin's proposal now , her response had always been the same - to be paralyzed by fear . She was terrified that Calvin might turn out to be another Keith . Just then , Julia felt a gentle squeeze on her hand . Looking down , she saw it was Lydia's . She looked up in surprise to see her mother smiling at her - a look that was both tender and reassuring . " Just listen to your heart . As long as you're true to yourself and not ruled by fear , you'll never regret trying , " Lydia said . Julia lowered her gaze again and looked at Calvin , who was still kneeling in front of her . The diamond in the open ring box sparkled brilliantly under the lights , its polished silver band engraved with both their names . Through his deep , earnest eyes , she saw a nervous anticipation that mirrored her own . It was as if he were silently telling her that all she had to do was listen to her heart and choose the path that felt right . Julia asked herself whether she was ready to accept Calvin's love - if she was ready to take another gamble and become his partner for life . And in that moment , all she could hear was her own heart pounding . She finally reached out her hand , her gaze softening as she gave him a quiet , resolute nod . " I … " But before she could finish speaking , a figure in a server's uniform suddenly pulled a knife from beneath the service cart . Her eyes were filled with rage as she lunged straight toward the group in the spotlight . " Go to hell ! " she roared . Everything happened in a split second . Screams pierced the air as guests scattered in panic , running in every direction - except for one person who charged straight into the commotion . " Jules ! " Chapter 16 2/2 " Julia ! " Three voices shouted almost at once . Calvin felt his heart stop . Just as he scrambled to his feet to pull Julia to safety , the gleaming tip was already aiming toward her . As the knife loomed closer in her vision , she instinctively dodged to the side , but forgot about the steps beside her . A sharp pain shot through her ankle as her legs gave out , and she tumbled down . When she looked up , the knife was inches from her face . In that terrifying moment , a strange thought flashed through her mind . There was something familiar about the twisted , cold expression behind the mask , though she couldn't place where she'd seen it before . The tip of the knife pierced into a body . Scarlet blood splashed , and a bloody flower bloomed on someone's chest . The attacker thought she'd succeeded . But when she looked up and saw who had been stabbed , her hand that held the knife trembled . She exclaimed , " Keith ? " " Ugh … " Keith's face twisted with pain as he looked at Julia , whom he had just shoved out of harm's way- toward Calvin . He parted his lips to speak , but each breath brought excruciating pain . He couldn't form a single word . Seeing that her first strike had missed its target , the attacker yanked the knife free and lunged at Julia again . Calvin shielded her , spinning around to kick the attacker's wrist . The knife clattered to the ground as the attacker's wrist went numb , causing her to cry out in pain . Hotel security guards rushed to the scene as soon as they received the report . When the attacker tried to retrieve the knife , one of the guards kicked it away and pinned her to the ground . Julia forced herself to stay calm . Despite her trembling hands , she pulled out her phone and made two quick calls - 911 and an ambulance . At that moment , one of the guards ripped off the attacker's mask . After hanging up , Julia turned around . She frowned when she saw the attacker's face . It looked familiar , but she couldn't quite place it . Chapter 17