Chapter 2 Lucian Has Been Reborn as Well

The light in Rosalie's eyes gradually faded. She shut them, her heart heavy with despair. Without warning, a searing hand gripped her wrist. In a dizzying whirl, she was pulled into a firm embrace. "Hold on to me!" the man called out, scooping her up by the waist. His grip was anything but gentle. Rosalie felt as though she were nothing more than a stray cat in his hands. But in the next moment, an explosion erupted in front of them. His strong palm cradled the back of her head, pressing it firmly against his chest. The acrid scent of burning smoke filled her lungs, and a scorching wave of heat swept past them. But amidst the smoke and fire, Rosalie could sense a piercing gaze on her. It felt both foreign and curiously familiar. The smoke stung her eyes, making them difficult to keep open. Rosalie squinted, trying to make out the figure who had come to her aid. Behind the firefighter's mask, she could only see two dark, impenetrable eyes staring at her. All of a sudden, she caught a glimpse of Lucian from the corner of her vision. He was standing on safe ground, his arms wrapped around Camelia. He held her close, as though she were a precious treasure he had finally gotten back. In his gaze, Rosalie saw a depth of anxiety and fear she had never witnessed before. Slowly, she closed her eyes. A single tear traced down her cheek. She was almost convinced now that Lucian had also been reborn. This time, however, it was Camelia he had chosen. In her previous life, he had saved Rosalie, causing Camelia to die in the fire. For seven years, he kept Camelia's photo close, mourning her every day and night. He had refused to let any other woman carry his child. At last, he had saved the woman he loved, making up for the mistakes of his previous life. He was probably over the moon. Rosalie's lips twisted into a faint, mocking smile. Perhaps this was for the best. If fate had given them another chance, it was probably only to bring this ill-fated connection to an end. It was time for her to let go. With the smoke suffocating her and her emotions spiraling, Rosalie's vision blurred, and she succumbed to darkness. Just before she lost herself completely, she thought she heard Lucian's frantic voice shouting in the distance. "Where is she? Where's Rosalie?" But then again, she must have gotten it wrong. After all, Lucian's heart and mind were entirely occupied with Camelia. What could Rosalie possibly mean to him now? … When Rosalie opened her eyes again, it was already morning. As she slowly blinked awake, the first thing she saw was her mother, Abigail Clark, looking down at her with a worried expression. "Rosa, are you awake? Do you feel any pain or discomfort?" Rosalie's eyes instantly filled with tears. She sat up and instinctively threw herself into Abigail's arms. "Mom… I've missed you so much…" Thankfully, Abigail was still alive. In her past life, that hadn't been the case. Less than six months after Rosalie married Lucian, her parents went on a business trip. Their private jet crashed into a remote mountain range, and no traces were ever found. In the years that followed, Rosalie was left with nothing but Lucian's empty love. She never again felt even the smallest spark of warmth. Back then, everyone's gaze was fixed on her barren womb, murmuring about her inability to conceive. No matter how much agony her body endured or how the bitterness gnawed at her heart, she had to face it alone. There was no one she could turn to. Many nights, she would wake up in tears, quietly wishing for Abigail to hold her once more. All Rosalie yearned for was the comfort of her words, to hear her gentle voice assuring her that everything would be okay. Thankfully, fate had given her a second chance. This time, she would make sure those tragedies would never be repeated. Abigail gently patted Rosalie's back, her voice shaking with relief and fear. "Last night must've been terrifying for you. I'm so glad Lucian acted fast and pulled you out… I was so worried! "My precious daughter is about to be married. If anything had happened to you, how could I possibly go on living?" Rosalie's brows knitted together. Last night, Lucian had rescued Camelia. Someone else had been the one to pull Rosalie out. Lucian had no right to take the credit. But for now, Rosalie couldn't afford to explain any of that. She gripped Abigail's hand, her voice steady and unwavering. "Mom, I'm not marrying Lucian."