On the way to finalize my divorce from Adrian, I died in a car crash. I’d refused to let him go after finding out he cheated on me with Seraphina Sterling. We’d spent three years tormenting each other. I even tried to end my life, but nothing could bring him back. I finally decided to let go, but fate had other plans. We died instantly, only to be reborn together. It was our wedding day again. Adrian, instead of holding the bouquet, dropped it and rushed to embrace Seraphina, who stood among the guests. “I’m calling off the wedding! In this life, Seraphina will be my only wife.” Adrian stared at me, his eyes wary and annoyed. He probably expected me to throw a fit again, to refuse. But my gaze was calm. I simply said,”I agree.” The wedding dissolved into chaos, but someone still managed to post a video online, making it the top trending topic of the day. The comments section exploded. @AnonymousUser: Wait, weren’t Adrian Donovan and Adrian Donovan childhood sweethearts? Why is he suddenly in love with Seraphina? @LoveIsBlind: Just growing up together doesn’t mean it’s love. I say, Aurora should step aside for true love. She shouldn’t use her heiress status to break them up. @Heartfelt_Wishes: Even though Seraphina comes from a humble background, she and Adrian clearly have true feelings for each other. Miss Sterling should just let them be happy. @BoycottDonovan: Exactly! True love conquers all. If the Sterling family tries to force them apart with this arranged marriage, I’m boycotting all Sterling Corp. products! People even flocked to Sterling Corp.’s Ins account, demanding we approve Adrian and Seraphina’s union. They threatened to boycott Sterling Corp. if we dared to harm Seraphina. And just like that, Sterling Corp.’s stock began to plummet. I clutched my phone tightly. In my previous life, Adrian had manipulated public opinion to pressure Sterling Corp., ruining several of our projects just to force me into a divorce. Now, in this life, he was already using the same tactics, threatening us through the media, simply because he feared we might hurt Seraphina. My dad slammed his hand on the table, fuming. “Seraphina, what were you thinking?” Seraphina was one of the scholarship students Sterling Corp. supported. Because I pitied her difficult past, I took her on as my assistant after she graduated. She was shy and insecure, so I taught her confidence and grace, introducing her to my social circle. I showed her high-end brands, brought her to exclusive galas, bought her beautiful evening gowns. Even when I was with Adrian, I’d bring her along so she could experience the world. I helped her emerge from her ugly duckling phase. Adrian once praised me, calling me kind-hearted and generous for changing her impoverished life. Now, her eyes darted nervously before she dramatically dropped to her knees. Tears instantly glistened on her delicate face. “I… I also like Adrian, but I know I’m not worthy of him. I never dared to express my feelings. But since Adrian is willing to call off his wedding for me in public, I’m willing to be with him.” “Please, Miss Aurora, let us be together.” She reached out, trying to grab my hand, whispering conspiratorially, “You taught me that when an opportunity presents itself, you must seize it without a moment’s hesitation. Adrian, I’m not letting him go.” I recoiled, disgusted, shaking her hand away. I hadn’t used much force, but she collapsed to the floor as if brutally shoved. Adrian suddenly burst into the room, scooped Seraphina into his arms, and roared at me. “Adrian, if you have a problem, take it out on me! If I ever see you bullying Seraphina again, I swear, I won’t go easy on you!”
I’d heard those threats too many times in my last life; I was immune. But seeing the raw, red welts on his back now, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of disorientation. Those were the marks of the Donovan family’s punishment. Adrian and I had grown up as childhood sweethearts, both the youngest in our families, so we always had plenty to talk about. During our school days, he’d always wait for me outside my villa so we could walk to school together. While other kids had one-on-one tutors, we had one-on-two sessions. During holidays, we’d chase the Northern Lights in Santa Claus Village in Finland, and watch stars in the highest dark sky park. In my rebellious high school years, I once mentioned how thrilling motorcycles seemed. He practiced tirelessly, covered in bruises, yet he’d still grin at me. “Come on, my princess, let’s go for a ride.” But he lost control on a turn, and we crashed. We lay side-by-side in hospital beds, giggling like fools. Our bodies hurt, but our hearts felt warm. After we recovered, his father still punished him. His back was striped with bloody welts from a cane, and I cried my eyes out. He, however, brushed it off, saying only I could make him break the rules and get disciplined. Now, he was willing to be whipped bloody just to be with another woman. It was true then, that love was real. But it was also true that love could change so easily. Mr. Donovan kicked Adrian hard. “You rebellious fool! I will never agree to you being with this woman. Give it up now!” “The alliance between the Sterling and Donovan families must go through.” Adrian’s eyes were resolute. “You don’t need to agree. Seraphina and I are in love. I won’t marry anyone but her in this life.” He picked her up, staggering towards the door. One had a back full of bloody marks, the other was crying a river of tears. They looked like star-crossed lovers torn apart in a TV drama. Mr. Donovan was about to say more, but I stopped him. “I don’t want a man whose heart belongs to another woman. The marriage pact between the Sterling and Donovan families is off.” Mr. Donovan hesitated for a moment. “The partnership between Sterling and Donovan is already established. Caleb heard about your canceled engagement, and he’s willing to form an alliance with the Sterling family. What do you think?” I was taken aback. Caleb was Adrian’s uncle, ten years older than me, and had been developing business overseas. In my last life, he hadn’t married even by forty; I heard he had a past love he couldn’t forget. Mr. Donovan added, “It’s fine if you don’t agree. The Sterling-Donovan partnership can still continue.” I nodded. “I accept.” He had his white moonlight, and I had no interest in love. As long as our marriage benefited our families, that was all that mattered. True love? What was that worth? Hearing this, Adrian, who had paused at the doorway, took a deep breath and continued out. Five years later, during the Lunar New Year festivities. Caleb and I returned to the States. At the family dinner, I unexpectedly ran into Adrian. I gave a slight nod and turned to leave. But Adrian called out to me, the usual disgust and impatience gone from his eyes. “Are you doing well?”
I nodded casually. “I’m doing great.” “I heard you have a child?” His tone was complicated. “You used to say you wanted a DINK lifestyle, that you didn’t like kids?” He was referring to our last life. We’d been married for two years with no children. After a medical check-up, I discovered Adrian had low sperm count. To spare his male pride, I never told him, instead claiming that I didn’t like children and didn’t want them. He’d wholeheartedly agreed back then, saying it was perfect—no one to interrupt our couple’s world, just the two of us for life. There was no need to explain it now. I simply said, “Preferences change. I love having a child now.” Thinking of my son, born after ten months of carrying him, my face softened. He’d just returned to the States and was still adjusting; Caleb was upstairs putting him to sleep. I wondered if he was asleep yet. Adrian’s expression grew even more complex. “Are you still upset that I left you for Seraphina?” His voice carried a sigh. “I know you’ve also been reborn, otherwise you wouldn’t have been so calm when I called off the wedding five years ago.” “In the last life, you even tried to end your life to win me back. How could you willingly have a child with someone else in this life?” “You’re stubborn, Aurora. You don’t let go of someone you’ve fixated on so easily.” “Aurora, you don’t have to pretend to be so calm in front of me.” Listening to his analysis of me, my thoughts drifted back. I was stubborn, always pushing until I hit rock bottom. In my previous life, I genuinely couldn’t accept that the person I deeply loved could change his heart so easily. I pulled out photos of us playing as children, hoping to rekindle memories of our shared past. Adrian dismissed them as childish games. I reminded him of his vows under the Northern Lights, where he’d promised me forever. He claimed they were just meaningless words said in the heat of the moment. I stormed his company, making a scene, accusing him of infidelity and bad character. In response, he retaliated against Sterling Corp., stealing several of our projects. Unable to get through to him, I went to Seraphina. I confronted her, demanding to know why she betrayed me after I helped her escape her difficult past, only for her to turn around and push me into hell. Seraphina, however, calmly stated that I was the one who taught her to seize every opportunity to climb higher, and Adrian was simply an opportunity I had delivered to her. Behind my back, she frequently used my name to arrange meetings with Adrian. Small, accidental touches, subconscious glances—she slowly but surely lured Adrian away. After hearing this, I slapped her repeatedly, cursing her as a cheap, conniving woman. Adrian, however, violently slapped me, calling me a shrew. Seraphina cowered in his arms, looking utterly pathetic. “Adrian, Aurora didn’t mean it. Please, don’t be angry with her, okay?” Adrian looked at her with such tenderness. “You’re always so kind. She’s not like you. She’s an heiress; she has everything. But you only have me. If I don’t protect you, who will?” That scene stabbed me to the core. The man who had once been so worried if I accidentally tripped was now slapping me. Utter despair washed over me, as if the very foundation of my long-held feelings had collapsed. I lay in the bathtub, slitting my wrist. My parents, worried, came to check on me and found me, rushing me to the hospital. They cursed Adrian, then cursed me, asking what they would do if I left them. It was then that I noticed the many gray hairs on their heads, the deepened wrinkles on their faces. In that moment, I seemed to snap awake, to let go. It took half my life to rip Adrian from my heart. I agreed to the divorce, but then came the car crash. Perhaps fate wanted to give us a second chance, so we were reborn on our wedding day, and destiny began to spin anew. My thoughts returned to the present, facing Adrian, who was reminiscing about the past. I couldn’t help but find it amusing, and indeed, I chuckled. After experiencing death, all those crumbling emotions had long since been swept away by the current of time. “You’re overthinking it. I was just thinking about my husband and son.”
I tried to leave. But Adrian suddenly grabbed my arm. “Aurora, I…” “I’ve been looking for you, Adrian. There you are!” Seraphina suddenly appeared, grabbing Adrian’s hand before he could reach for mine. Adrian frowned. “Why are you here?” Seraphina’s face held a hint of grievance. “Your family doesn’t like me. I didn’t want to face them alone.” Then she looked at me, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, regretting what she’d just said about his family. She possessively linked her arm through Adrian’s. “Aurora, welcome back to the States! But… why are you here alone with my husband?” “I don’t mean anything by it, of course, I just worry what people might misunderstand.” She was elegantly dressed now, but deep in her eyes, a barely concealed worry flickered. Seeing the hidden meaning in her words, I stated directly, “Not everyone is like you, desperate to seduce someone who’s already taken.” “Besides, I have no interest in picking up someone else’s trash, so don’t worry about anyone trying to steal him from you.” As soon as I finished, both Adrian and Seraphina’s faces fell. I didn’t look at them again and went straight upstairs. Years ago, when Adrian insisted on marrying Seraphina despite his family’s objections, Mr. Donovan had sent him to a smaller company in the South. Even when he came back for the holidays, he couldn’t stay in the family mansion and had to use a hotel. I’d heard before that Adrian rarely returned to the old family estate. Yet, I saw him again at dinner the next day. I was quietly eating when suddenly, a shrimp landed on my plate. Adrian’s voice was gentle and natural. “You love this dish, and it’s a bit far. Here, have some.” The table immediately fell silent. I frowned, intending to discard the shrimp, but Caleb gently took my hand and picked up the shrimp himself. “Your aunt doesn’t like shrimp. Don’t serve it to her next time.” Adrian instinctively retorted, “How can that be? She loves shrimp!” I cut him off. “I’ve never liked seafood since I was a kid. My whole family knows that. Especially shrimp.” I only ever pretended to like it because Adrian did. Adrian seemed to recall something, and his face went pale. Later, while taking a walk after dinner, I saw Adrian and Seraphina talking in a corner of the garden. The wind carried snippets of their conversation. “We usually just came for the second day of the Lunar New Year and left, right? Why are we staying today? You’re not here to see Aurora, are you? Is she seducing you?” “What nonsense are you spouting? Don’t you dare assume everyone is manipulative just because you are!” Seraphina’s face burned. “If you hadn’t been open to cheating in the first place, could I have seduced you? You’re losing your patience with me, Adrian. Are you regretting it?” “Don’t be ridiculous.” Adrian irritably lit a cigarette and walked away. That night, as they said their goodbyes, Seraphina passed by me and seemed to trip, pulling me down with her. Caught off guard, I fell on top of her. Beneath her, a pool of crimson spread. She looked at Adrian, eyes wide with terror. “I… I think I’m pregnant! Our baby… will it be okay?”
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