Chapter 1

On our seventh wedding anniversary, my husband suddenly raised his glass to me and said, "I never realized how pathetic you are." I froze, unable to understand why he would say such cruel words. "I spent less on you than I would on a maid. You've belonged to me for seven years, and you'll belong to me for the rest of your life. So, tell me, is this the way you expect me to repay you?" His voice dripped with exhaustion and hatred as he continued, "You're worth nothing compared to Heather." Something inside me shattered. Suddenly, the building shook violently. As the chandelier crashed down, he threw himself over me, shielding me with his body. Despite being covered in blood, he managed a smile and said, "I've settled my debt to you. If there's a next life, don't be such a disgrace again." After they laid him to rest, I stepped off the edge of a 30-story building. When I opened my eyes, I was back on that very day. His mother stood before me, an arrogant smile playing on her lips. She held out a marriage contract and asked, "Would you like to become my daughter-in-law? You'll gain 100 billion dollars in assets and all the love you could ever want." I was caught off guard. After a long pause, I whispered, "No. I'm already engaged." Jolene Fairchild's face twisted with confusion. "But you're only 16 and an orphan. How could you possibly have a fiance?" I lowered my gaze and forced out a lie. "He's my neighbor, and he's always been kind to me." Jolene's fingers clenched tighter around her rosary beads. All of a sudden, she let out a sharp sigh. I knew she held no affection for me, nor was her behavior motivated by any sense of obligation. Instead, it was driven purely by superstition. After all, I had once saved her son by the sea. It was exactly as the fortune-teller had predicted years ago. If I joined their household, I could turn their luck around and bring them blessings. In my past life, I had been blind to this harsh truth. But this time, I would never let myself be fooled again. Seeing the determination in my eyes, Jolene could only relent. The moment I walked out of the hospital, a sharp voice stopped me in my tracks. A man rushed toward me, his head wrapped in gauze. His pale face was marked with frustration as he grabbed my wrist firmly. "Bring out that marriage contract! There's no way I'm agreeing to this!" The fire in his eyes said it all—he had been reborn, too. I yanked my hand free and wiped the sweat from my temple. "What are you talking about? I don't know you," I said, my voice calm and steady. Emmett Reid froze, his brows knitting together. "Drop the act. You risked your life to save me just because you knew my family's loaded, didn't you?" I looked up and smiled. "So, you're the one who fell into the water, huh?" Emmett's expression shifted. He was clearly uninterested in arguing with me, instead going straight to the point. "Did my mother give you a marriage contract? Take it out and tear it up right now." He kept his gaze fixed on me, closely watching for any subtle change in my expression. His tension was palpable. It was clear he feared I might still cling to him in this life. A dull ache stirred in my chest, yet I concealed it behind a mask of confusion. "Mrs. Reid did mention it, but I refused." Emmett's features hardened, disbelief coloring his voice. "You refused?" I waved the envelope in my hand. "Marriage aside, what I truly want is the money." Far from easing up, Emmett's brow furrowed deeper. He grabbed my hand and snapped, "Don't play games with me. I swear, I'll never let you be my bride. Last time—" He abruptly trailed off, cutting himself off mid-sentence. I pretended not to understand, wearing a look of confusion. Slowly, I took a step back. He gritted his teeth and snorted coldly. "Now that you've taken the money, you'd better stay far away. Don't think you can use some 'debt of gratitude' to worm your way into the Reid family." Taking a brief pause, he went on, "Of course, I'm not some heartless man. I can help you find a new place to live, so you won't have to return to that shabby fishing village. I'll even pay for your college education." His words tore at my chest. Just then, a young woman came up and slipped her arm through Emmett's. "Hey, Emmy, why are you out here? The doctor said you need to rest!" Immediately, Emmett's tense expression softened into a warm smile. "It's just a minor injury." My eyes instinctively drifted to their intertwined arms before I cut in firmly, responding to his earlier words, "Thanks, but I don't need your help." Under their stunned gazes, I turned and stepped onto the bus.