Chapter 1

In an abandoned warehouse in the suburbs, Isla Bennett curled on the ground in pain. Her ten fingers lacked nails and were currently bleeding. She was close to passing out from the pain. Ava was laughing hysterically while holding a pair of pliers. “Does it hurt, Isla?” The latter stood up and stepped on her fingers hard while smiling ferociously. “I’ve been wanting to do this! If Noah hadn’t been protecting you so well that I hadn't gotten the chance to do it, do you think you’d be alive now? It’s sad that you’re dumb enough that you’re divorcing him because of Henry Thompson! Hahaha… Don’t blame me, then!” Jealousy flashed through Ava’s eyes when she mentioned the name of Noah Payne. She then kicked Isla’s stomach. The latter, who was twitching from pain, spat a mouthful of blood. “Ava… Why? Why!” Isla screamed with bloodshot eyes. She thought to herself that she had never done anything to upset her stepsister, so why would she kidnap her? Why was she torturing her? “Why?” Something sinister flashed through Ava’s eyes as she grabbed her hair and yelled. “Because you’re in my way! Why were you born the first daughter of the Bennetts? Why does Noah like you but he won’t even look at me? Why did that old geezer give you the company?! “As soon as you’re dead, I’ll get the company, and Noah will like me! So tell me, shouldn’t you die?” Ava grabbed her hair and smashed her head against the cold wall after she was done speaking. Isla felt dizzy. She fell weakly to the ground, bleeding. The other woman let go of her and stood up. She picked up the gas bucket on the side and splashed gas everywhere. The moment the lighter touched the gas, a wave of fire spread. It was ferocious as it burned. Ava ran out of the warehouse immediately… Isla watched her leave in despair, feeling deep regret. She had made ridiculous mistakes in her life… If she could do it all over again, she would never push the man who had loved her all his life away. Noah, Noah… “Isla!” A shriek came, startling her into looking up. Through the scorching flame, she saw Noah, and the two of them locked eyes. His usually handsome and calm face was filled with terror, and his eyes were bloodshot! Tears fell from Isla’s eyes. She opened her mouth, but she could not say a word. She saw him rush into the fire like a madman before she lost consciousness entirely. He was running toward her… … “No… “No… Noah… No!” Isla screamed and opened her eyes. “Do you hate me that much, Isla?” A deep voice suddenly came. Isla jolted. That voice… She turned her head instantly. She turned so abruptly that she felt dizzy. She then shut her eyes and laid her head on the pillow. She felt sore all over her body, as if she had been run over by a car, especially that particular part of her body… Seeing that she had shut her eyes and said nothing, Noah thought she was admitting to what he had asked. His eyes dimmed as he got off the bed. The sound of water then came from the bathroom… Isla only felt less dizzy after resting for a while. She sat up with difficulty and looked around. She was shocked. This was the bedroom she had been sleeping in with Noah since they had gotten married. How could it be… Had she not died? She shook her head, the blanket slipping. Only then did she realize she was naked, and there were signs of intimacy from last night all over her body. She seemed to suddenly recall something and she grabbed her phone from the bedhead and checked the date. 2022? So she had been reborn a year ago?! She remembered Ava inviting her to Henry’s birthday on this day a year ago. She had drunk a lot, and when she had woken up, she’d had sex with Noah. Back then, she had thought he had seized the opportunity to force her into it. One moment before she had died, she had heard from Ava that she had drugged her that night. If Noah had not made it in time and brought her home, nobody knew what would have happened. She clenched her fists as she thought about this. Hatred flashed deep in her eyes. Noah happened to see that when he got out of the bathroom. He could not help but chuckle. Did she really hate him so much because he’d had sex with her? So she liked Henry very much! “I’ll sleep in the guest room.” He looked away and left after saying that in his deep voice. Isla instantly reacted. Seeing that he had his hand on the handle, she yelled in panic. “Hubby!” Noah shook, his pupils shrinking. He froze there in disbelief. What had she called him… Hubby? He held tight to the handle, mockery flashing through his eyes as he said coldly, “Don’t worry. I won’t do anything to Henry. He’ll be released tomorrow.” She saw his cold profile and felt pain and guilt. She had been mean to him in her previous life. She used to only be slightly nicer to him if she needed a favor. He definitely thought that she was begging for Henry since she had called him “hubby”. She was worried that he would cause him trouble. “I’m not talking about him!” She quickly explained, worried that he would misunderstand further. He turned his head and looked at her doubtfully. “I’m just trying to say…” She bit her lip and blushed. “You can stay here.” Noah stopped breathing. He thought he had heard wrong. “You…” Shock flashed deep in his eyes, but his face sank when he recalled something. He scoffed. “You want me to sign the divorce papers?” Isla started panicking upon seeing that he had misunderstood again. Before she could react, she saw him open the drawer and take out a document. The words “divorce agreement” on the document were particularly glaring. She felt her heart squeeze as she saw him flip to the last page of the agreement and grab the pen on the table, ready to sign his name. She paled from shock. She quickly put on her nightgown and screamed in panic. “Don’t sign it, no!” She hopped off the bed and grabbed the agreement. She then tore it into pieces without hesitation. The shreds of paper fell while Noah looked at her in confusion. She was the one who had prepared the agreement, wasn’t she? She wanted to get a divorce, and he was making it come true for her. Why had she… Isla patted her chest from shock and told him coquettishly while blinking, “Hubby, let’s not get a divorce, okay? It’s late. Shall we go to bed?” Noah gulped as he looked at her sparkly eyes. There was an unfathomable emotion in his eyes. “No.” He looked away and rejected the idea with a cold face. “I’m going to the guest room.” He turned around, opened the door, and left. The door separated the two of them. The smile on Isla’s face disappeared immediately, and a great sense of threat surged inside of her. She went after him instantly. However, she got a cramp in her leg as soon as she moved. She sat on the bed from the pain, and it took her forever to ease the cramp.