Jennifer arrived in Nimbus City. It was an unfamiliar city, yet it brought her an unexpected sense of safety.

After carefully scouting around for half a month, she opened a small old bookstore named Jen's on a quiet street in an old district.

The store wasn't big, but it had beautiful natural light.

She spent three months renovating it, transforming the once shabby space into a warm and cozy reading corner.

Nimbus City's rainy season was long. Jennifer stood by the glass door of her bookstore, staring blankly at the gentle curtain of rain outside.

Suddenly, the wind chime at the door gave a jingle.

"Welcome," she said out of habit as she turned, only to freeze slightly when she saw who had come in.

A tall man stood at the entrance, holding a long black umbrella. Raindrops trickled from the edges of the canopy onto the floor.

In his arms was a little girl at about five or six year

After that, Kevin and Clara became regulars at the bookstore. 

Almost every weekend, they would come by and stay for an hour or two.

Clara always sat quietly in the corner on the small couch, completely absorbed in her picture books. Meanwhile, Kevin would pick a medical journal and sit beside her, reading in silence.

Sometimes, Jennifer would make them a pot of tea. Kevin would always thank her politely, and Clara would sweetly say a cheerful thank you before burying herself back in her books.

One sunny Saturday, Kevin suggested taking Clara to the amusement park.

"Come with us," he said, pushing his glasses up and inviting her sincerely. "Clara keeps saying she wants to go with you."

Jennifer had wanted to refuse, but she relented when she saw the eager look on Clara's face.

The amusement park was filled with people. Clara held Kevin's hand with one hand and Jennifer's with the 

When Jennifer opened her eyes again, the blinding white light made her squint.

The sharp scent of antiseptic filled her nose, and the steady beeping of a heart monitor could be heard.

"You're awake?" The doctor came over to check her pupils. "You've fractured three ribs. Fortunately, you were brought here in time. Any later, and you wouldn't have made it."

Jennifer stared blankly at the ceiling, and the final image before she lost consciousness replayed in her mind.

Leonard had chosen to save Samantha without any hesitation, and he hadn't even looked back when the warped elevator door came crashing down on her.

She tried to move, but pain instantly radiated from her chest to her entire body.

Surprisingly, she didn't even shed a tear. She guessed that she had suffered through so much pain that even her heart had gone numb.

Three days later, Leonard came to discharge Jennifer.

He stood at the doorway of the hospital room, dressed in an impeccable suit as usual. His gaze lingered on the bandages wrapped around her chest before he finally said, "Samantha is a dancer. I can't let anything happen to her legs."

Jennifer slowly looked up at him.

Leonard continued calmly, "So, I was forced to have you make a small sacrifice. You're a housewife. Even if your mobility is affected, it won't matter much."

Jennifer said nothing. For the first time, she saw this man she had loved for half her life with complete clarity.

His features were still as handsome as ever, but he had never had room for her in his eyes.

She said hoarsely, "Leonard, if I had died that day, would you have cared?"

Leonard's frown deepened, but he did not answer.

Instead, he pulled out a black credit card from the inner pocket of his suit and placed it on her bedside table. "Don't ask meaningless questions. This is compensation. As long as you behave and raise the kids well, you'll always be Mrs. Faron."

Jennifer suddenly laughed.

In her last life, she had died while still carrying that title, but so what?

She was the one who died alone, forgotten as she was consumed by the flames.

So, in this life, she no longer cared about being his life.

Jennifer would live a better, brighter life. She would find someone who truly loved her.

She couldn't hold it any longer. She wanted to tell him that she didn't want him anymore. "Leonard, I…"

Leonard's phone rang, cutting her off.

Leonard answered it, and Samantha's sweet voice came through the receiver. "Leonard, the kids and I are waiting for you at the restaurant. We've got a surprise!"

His expression instantly softened. "I'll be right there."

After ending the call, he glanced at his watch and said coolly, "I have something to do. The driver's waiting downstairs."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Jennifer's fingertips dug unconsciously into her palm, but she didn't say anything in the end.

Forget it, he would soon find out from Samantha that the divorce agreement had already taken effect. She didn't want him anymore, and she didn't want the two children who now treated her like a stranger.

She pressed the call button. "Mrs. Potts, please send my luggage to the airport."

An hour later, she deleted all of Leonard's contact information and left the credit card in the hospital drawer.

As the plane took off, the clouds outside the window were dyed a brilliant golden red by the setting sun.

Jennifer gazed at the dazzling sky and closed her eyes with a smile.

In this life, she would never compromise herself for anyone.

The days she had spent humbling herself for love would vanish forever into the skies with this flight.

What lay ahead was a brand new future. It would be one that belonged to her, and her alone.

Jennifer arrived in Nimbus City. It was an unfamiliar city, yet it brought her an unexpected sense of safety.

After carefully scouting around for half a month, she opened a small old bookstore named Jen's on a quiet street in an old district.

The store wasn't big, but it had beautiful natural light.

She spent three months renovating it, transforming the once shabby space into a warm and cozy reading corner.

Nimbus City's rainy season was long. Jennifer stood by the glass door of her bookstore, staring blankly at the gentle curtain of rain outside.

Suddenly, the wind chime at the door gave a jingle.

"Welcome," she said out of habit as she turned, only to freeze slightly when she saw who had come in.

A tall man stood at the entrance, holding a long black umbrella. Raindrops trickled from the edges of the canopy onto the floor.

In his arms was a little girl at about five or six years of age. Her hair was in two braids, and she timidly curled up in his embrace.

"Do you have any pi

Chapter 9