My colonel husband Ethan Collins died in the line of duty, but I didn’t hesitate to cancel his identity registration. Three days later, on the wedding day of his twin brother Logan Collins and childhood friend Violet Myers, I resolutely took the substantial death benefits and married someone else with my son Anthony Collins. Everyone called me cold-blooded and heartless, but I felt immense satisfaction watching “Logan” with his reddened eyes. This was because in my previous life, I had recognized that the body sent home wasn’t Ethan’s, but Logan’s. When I went to confront him about it, I accidentally overheard Ethan discussing with his mother Layla Collins about marrying Violet, who was engaged to Logan, in three days. Ethan said, “Mom, Aurora is strong. Besides, we have Anthony. She’ll definitely be fine. But Violet has waited for Logan through so many Christmases. If she learns about Logan’s death, she might follow him to the grave.” I was stunned and wanted to expose the truth, but Ethan knocked me unconscious with a club. Ethan told everyone I had gone mad from grief. He locked me in a warehouse and made me watch him marry Violet. Later, because Violet found Anthony too noisy, Ethan put sleeping pills in my crying son’s food when he came looking for me, and Anthony never woke up again. On the day Anthony was carelessly buried, I desperately ended my life in that warehouse. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day Logan’s body was brought home. ***** “My son! How could you just die like this? What will become of your wife and child?” Layla’s piercing wails brought me back to reality. I looked at the corpse that bore Ethan’s exact features, then lowered my head, my heart far from calm. I had actually been reborn, back to the day Logan’s body was returned. Indeed, the one lying in the coffin wasn’t my husband Ethan, but his twin brother Logan. In my previous life, when news of Ethan’s death arrived, I cried in despair. I threw myself onto his body, only to suddenly notice the absence of that red mole behind his ear. I immediately realized that Ethan must still be alive, and that “Logan” who had escorted the body home was actually Ethan. Filled with joy at discovering he wasn’t dead and confusion about why he would do such a thing, I was about to question him when I overheard the heartbreaking truth outside Layla’s door. Layla asked, “Ethan, are you really going to take Logan’s place and marry Violet in three days?” Ethan’s tone was resolute: “Of course. Mom, Logan and Violet have been engaged for so long. Violet has been waiting for him to return. Now that Logan is dead, what if Violet can’t handle the shock and chooses to follow Logan in death? You watched Violet grow up. Could you bear to see her die? It’s better for me to marry Violet. That way, after we have children, they’ll still be Logan’s. In the future, Logan will have someone to honor his memory.” Layla seemed somewhat convinced but still hesitated: “If you do this, what about Aurora? Anthony is only two and a half. Aren’t you afraid she won’t be able to handle it? Aren’t you afraid she’ll remarry?” Hearing Layla’s words, Ethan laughed: “Mom, don’t worry. Aurora loves me deeply. How could she possibly remarry? She has a resilient nature. Besides, we have Anthony. Even for Anthony’s sake, she’ll definitely persevere.” If I hadn’t heard all this, I would indeed have spent my entire life in the Collins household as he predicted, raising Anthony. But knowing the truth, I felt this was utterly unfair. I angrily pushed open the door. However, just as I was about to expose Ethan’s identity to everyone, he mercilessly struck the back of my head with a club. When I regained consciousness, I was already locked in the warehouse with no escape. Ethan told everyone that because my husband had died, I had gone mad from excessive grief. After that, no one believed my words anymore. From the warehouse, I watched him happily marry Violet and heard the sounds of their intimacy. Unable to find me, Anthony cried incessantly, disturbing Violet’s sleep. Violet merely complained once, and Ethan frantically bought sleeping pills and put them in Anthony’s food. Anthony died less than thirty feet away from me. After Anthony’s death, they felt no guilt whatsoever. Linking arms with Ethan, Violet looked down at me condescendingly and said, “Aurora, your luck is just terrible. Your husband and son were both killed because of you. If my husband hadn’t pleaded for you, I definitely wouldn’t allow you to live in my house. But to put my mind at ease, he compensated me with your dowry on Ethan’s behalf. From now on, just stay put in this warehouse.” Standing beside her, Ethan said nothing, only gazing at her adoringly. Only then did I realize that although Ethan had married me, his heart had always belonged to Violet. For Violet’s sake, Ethan was willing to abandon his identity and family. In his eyes, Anthony and I weren’t worth a single strand of Violet’s hair. I was both furious and resentful, yet I couldn’t even escape that tiny warehouse. Eventually, I found a rope and desperately took my own life. In the moment before I died from suffocation, I was still filled with regret. Why had I ever married a bastard like Ethan? Fortunately, I was reborn, and things could still be changed. Wasn’t Ethan certain I would spend my entire life in the Collins household protecting him? I absolutely won’t let him have his way!
After making up my mind, I pinched my thigh hard and put on a devastated expression, throwing myself onto “Ethan’s” body. I cried so hard I nearly fainted, making all the relatives and friends who came to pay their respects tear up with me. “Poor thing. Without a husband, what’s she going to do?” one man said. A woman chimed in, “Exactly. If I remember correctly, Anthony is only two and a half. Life’s going to be tough for her.” Feeling everyone’s pitying gazes, my heart grew colder and colder. Even the Collins family relatives who barely knew me understood how hard it would be for a woman to live alone, but Ethan had never considered any of this. He thought I had a “resilient nature,” so he felt justified in making me suffer. Even now, he calmly finished Logan’s funeral and then announced his wedding date with Violet in front of everyone. Someone asked in confusion, “Logan, why are you in such a rush? Ethan just died, and you’re already eager to get married?” Ethan waved his hand dismissively, “Ethan and Violet grew up together. His dying wish was for me to marry Violet soon and give him a nephew.” Since only Ethan was with Logan when he died, everyone naturally assumed Ethan’s words represented Logan’s wishes. After hearing this, seeing both Layla and me keeping our heads down in silence, the others felt something was off but kept quiet. After everyone left, Ethan took Violet’s hand and stopped me. “Aurora, I need to ask you a favor. “I know your dowry was pretty generous. Could you lend me some gold jewelry for Violet? Since Ethan’s dead, you can’t wear them anymore anyway, right?” He said it was a favor, but his tone left no room for refusal. I cursed his shamelessness in my head. Not only had he inexplicably taken my husband from me, but now he wanted to steal my dowry too. Glancing at Ethan’s muscular build, I wasn’t stupid enough to confront him directly. “Logan, you’re too kind. We’re all family, of course I can. I’ll personally deliver them to Violet on your wedding day.” Violet was so moved her eyes welled up, “Logan, you’re so good to me. You’re the best man in the world.” Ethan chuckled softly and affectionately tapped her nose with his finger, “This is nothing. I wish I could give you all the good things in the world.” Violet playfully hit him, her tone carrying a hint of showing off, “You’re terrible. Aurora’s still here, and she just lost her husband. Don’t upset her.” Ethan glanced at me, “Aurora’s definitely not petty. But don’t worry, Aurora—you’re part of the Collins family, and Anthony is my nephew. We’ll never mistreat you two.” Hearing this, Violet looked displeased, not wanting her husband to take care of another man’s wife. Just then, Anthony walked out of the house and headed straight for Ethan with outstretched arms, “Daddy, hold me.” Violet’s face immediately darkened as she stepped between Anthony and Ethan, “Anthony, he’s not your daddy. He’s your uncle.” Anthony looked up, completely confused by what she meant. He still tried to get closer to Ethan, but Ethan heartlessly pushed him away, “I told you I’m not your dad. Aurora, you need to teach this child properly. It’s lucky this happened in our family—what if strangers saw this and got the wrong idea? The Collins family has a very respectable reputation.” Anthony fell to the ground and burst into tears. I quickly helped him up. Hearing Ethan speak so self-righteously, I trembled with rage. With great effort, I suppressed my anger, “I’ll handle my child, Logan.” Ethan relaxed and suddenly felt a bit sorry for Anthony. He reached out to pat Anthony’s head, but Violet said, “Logan, you promised to go shopping with me. Don’t waste time.” Watching their retreating figures, Anthony’s hopeful expression dimmed, and his crying gradually weakened, “Mommy, Daddy’s gone. Doesn’t he want us anymore?” My heart ached as I gently stroked Anthony’s head, “Anthony, that’s not your daddy. Your daddy is dead and won’t come back. How about Mommy finds you a new daddy to keep you company?” Anthony didn’t understand what death meant yet. But watching Ethan walk away without looking back, he grabbed my hand and nodded.
What Ethan didn’t know was that he wasn’t the only one in this world with a childhood companion. I made up an excuse to go out and called Andrew Martin, who I’d grown up with since childhood. When he learned that I wanted him to introduce me to a man because I was planning to remarry, he got somewhat angry. “Isn’t Ethan treating you well?” Andrew’s simple question brought tears to my eyes. I briefly explained the situation, then heard the angry sound of him punching the wall. After a long while, Andrew said, “Alright. I’ll introduce you to a reliable man.” I breathed a sigh of relief. Once I left on the day Ethan and Violet got married, I’d have nothing more to do with the Collins family. However, before that happened, I still had many things to take care of. Because I was Ethan’s widow, canceling his military registration went exceptionally smoothly, and I collected the survivor benefits directly. After setting aside the portions for his father Colton Collins and Layla, I deposited all the remaining money into my savings account. When I got home, I gathered up all the Christmas items related to Ethan and burned them in the kitchen. By the time Ethan returned with Violet, those things had long since turned to ashes. However, he didn’t notice any of this. Seeing me in the kitchen, he instinctively gave me instructions like he used to: “Aurora, make some spaghetti with meat sauce for dinner tonight.” It wasn’t until Violet pinched his arm that Ethan snapped back to reality. Then he coughed awkwardly twice and said, “Violet, I remember someone saying Aurora makes the best spaghetti with meat sauce. I’d like her to make some for us to try.” Violet looked suspiciously between me and Ethan, then snorted coldly, “It’s just spaghetti with meat sauce. What difference does it make who cooks it? Once we’re married, I’ll learn to make it for you too.” Ethan quickly took her hand. “That won’t do. Did I marry you to make you work? Someone else will handle those household chores. You just need to rest well and give me a child.” Violet was delighted by his words. Then the two of them went into the house, chatting and laughing. I stood there, pondering Ethan’s words, and couldn’t help but let out a scornful laugh. Layla’s health had never been good. Ethan needed to earn money, and Violet needed to rest well. Besides me, who else could handle the household chores? So his plan was to have me serve their entire family. However, even knowing his intentions, I didn’t argue. After all, I only had two days left before I’d be gone. As if I had no temper at all, I let Ethan and Violet order me around constantly. Even Layla, who had long been convinced by Ethan, couldn’t stand watching it anymore. She warned them a few times, and only then did they restrain themselves somewhat. However, Violet had been spoiled by her family since childhood. Even though she appeared to listen to Layla on the surface, she was still defiant inside. Then she started throwing tantrums with Ethan. Ethan indulged her completely. Just hearing her say that walking made her feet hurt, he spent all the money he had on hand to buy a car. Then he even bought an oven, a refrigerator, and a complete sound system that few people in town would ever purchase. When these items were delivered, the Collins house became the focus of the entire village. Everyone was shocked by what Ethan had bought. One man said, “Logan, you’re spoiling your wife too much. These things aren’t cheap, are they?” Another man chimed in, “Yeah, you bought so many things. Even marrying a city woman wouldn’t cost this much, would it?” But Ethan looked at Violet adoringly and said, “Money doesn’t matter. I just want to give Violet the best and make her the happiest bride.” Hearing his words, many people felt both envious and jealous. One woman, noticing me standing silently to the side, deliberately stirred up trouble: “Since the Collins family is so wealthy, Ethan must have spent quite a bit when he married Aurora too, right?” Ethan’s smile froze. He kept his head down, not daring to look at me. I knew why he felt guilty, so I sighed and said, “When Ethan married me, I didn’t even ask him for a bride price.” Not expecting me to say it so directly, the woman was stunned and laughed awkwardly twice, saying, “That might be because their circumstances weren’t good at the time.” After saying this, even she felt guilty. Both Collins sons had previously served in the military. Now one son had died. They must have received substantial survivor benefits. So this ostentatious wedding for Violet was clearly due to favoritism. Many people looked at me with more sympathy in their eyes. Seeing that Ethan was also lost in thought, Violet said, “This is my fault. I didn’t consider Aurora’s feelings. Logan, why don’t you return these things? I don’t want Aurora to feel wronged.” The slight guilt Ethan had just begun to feel toward me quickly disappeared. He said, “She doesn’t have these things because her fate isn’t good enough—she doesn’t deserve them. What does that have to do with you? Violet, you’re too kind. You need to be careful not to be bullied by scheming women in the future.” Ethan was actually suspecting that I was jealous of Violet and deliberately mocking them. I didn’t want to argue. Watching him work hard to move these things into his and Violet’s room, I sneered inwardly. Ethan’s money definitely wasn’t enough to buy all these things. But if you added the survivor benefits, it would be more than enough. I had thought he would come to me directly to ask for it. But I didn’t expect that the person who came to find me the day before the wedding would be Layla. She glanced carefully at my expression, then said hesitantly, “Aurora, you must have collected Ethan’s survivor benefits, right? That’s quite a substantial amount. Why don’t I help you manage it?” I frowned, looking puzzled. “Layla, that would be too much trouble. Anthony will be starting school in a few years, and there’ll be many expenses. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to keep asking you for money, would it?” Layla glanced at Anthony sitting on the bed, her expression somewhat hesitant. Of course she genuinely loved Anthony, but she felt he might not be her only grandson. After making up her mind, Layla dropped her reserved attitude. “Aurora, you’re part of the Collins family. Shouldn’t I help manage your money? Besides, we need money right now. You can’t hoard Ethan’s pension all to yourself. Logan’s getting married – shouldn’t you help him out?” Seeing her reveal her true intentions, I stopped refusing. I wiped away my tears, putting on a meek appearance, and pulled an envelope from my pocket. “Layla, you’re right. This is the pension money for you and Colton. After the wedding tomorrow, I’ll give you the money I’ve saved up too.” Layla felt the thickness of the envelope and nodded with satisfaction. Then, she comforted me just like Ethan used to when he was manipulating me: “Aurora, don’t worry. Even though Ethan’s gone, you’ll always be my family, and Anthony will always be my grandson. The Collins family won’t let you suffer. “Oh, and tomorrow will be busy. Since you have time, go help in the kitchen with the cooking.” I lowered my head and agreed. My obedient manner pleased Layla greatly. Layla was eager to go back and count the money, not noticing that Anthony and I had already packed most of our belongings. The next day, before dawn broke, Ethan knocked on the door and woke me up. “Aurora, get up and start cooking. You need to prepare ten tables’ worth of food.” He was extremely excited, his voice carrying the joy of getting what he wanted. Looking at the yard full of balloons and flowers, I sneered coldly. When Ethan and I got married, he said Colton and Layla were getting old and didn’t like too much excitement, so we didn’t have a grand wedding. Now it seemed it wasn’t that Colton and Layla disliked festivities – it was just that I wasn’t the one they had in mind. Ethan noticed my distraction. After hesitating for a moment, seeing no one around, he pulled a small silver bracelet from his pocket. “I bought this while getting jewelry made for Violet. It’s for you.” He shoved the bracelet directly into my hand, then sighed and said, “Aurora, you’ve had a hard time these past few days. I know you can’t make it without a man. Don’t worry, after this is all over, I’ll discuss with Violet about taking care of both of you.” It was almost time, so Ethan turned to go pick up Violet. I stood there, disgusted, and threw the silver bracelet on the ground, then stomped on it twice. I thought to myself: “Disgusting! Absolutely disgusting!” After hearing Ethan’s words, I felt like I’d been smeared with dog shit. He was clearly my husband to begin with, yet now he was talking about taking care of me like it was some kind of charity. How could he shamelessly say such things? Fortunately, it was time – I had to leave too. As soon as Ethan left the Collins house with his friends, I picked up Anthony and grabbed our bundle. Taking one last look at this place where I’d lived for several years, I felt no attachment whatsoever and quickly walked away. At that moment, Ethan felt inexplicably nervous, thinking: “Is it because I’m finally marrying Violet that I’m so excited?” He couldn’t figure it out. After all, this wasn’t his first wedding. Ethan thought: “But Violet is different from Aurora. Violet is the one I truly love, while Aurora was just suitable as a wife.” He had thought he’d never have the chance to marry Violet, the woman he truly liked, but then Logan had his accident. Ethan only hesitated for a moment before deciding to take Logan’s identity and continue living. He thought: “Violet is so considerate, she should agree to let me take care of both of them. That way I won’t be letting Aurora down.” Thinking about living with both his beloved and his wife, Ethan felt rather pleased with himself. Then he picked up Violet and returned to the Collins house with her. But he saw Layla stumbling out, holding a letter in her hand. Layla shouted: “This is terrible! Aurora took Anthony and left, saying she’s going to remarry!”
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