My husband Caleb Cole’s first love, Grace, died in a car accident. After that, he set the house on fire and locked us both inside. “The biggest regret of my life is marrying you! If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been with Grace! She wouldn’t have died so young!” In the end, I burned to death. When I woke up, we had both been reborn back to our college days. This time, I decided to let each other go. We stopped contacting each other and became strangers from then on. Seven years later, he became a rising star in the business world and dramatically announced his engagement to Grace at a yacht party. When I rushed in wearing nothing but my pajamas, all I got was his mocking laugh: “Molly, I know I’m pretty charming. You’ve been hung up on me for two lifetimes, but you don’t have to cling to the past like this.” But when he saw me take another man’s hand, his eyes turned red and he demanded: “Didn’t you say you’d love only me forever?” Seven years later, a grand party was being held on the “Starlight” yacht. I was frantically searching the cabins for my five-year-old son — half an hour ago, he said he wanted to see the seagulls on the deck, and then he disappeared the moment I turned around. I’d thrown on only a robe and run out with no makeup, looking completely undone. I searched until I reached the ballroom. In the center of the crowd, Caleb Cole and Grace were holding hands, basking in everyone’s flattery. “Caleb, you’re amazing. In just a few years, you’ve become a rising young entrepreneur everyone’s watching. This yacht is yours too, right? You’re a legend in Coastal City!” “Of course! I heard the ‘Starlight’ cost over a hundred million dollars to build and only serves high-end clients. We’re all here thanks to Caleb today!” “Caleb, I’ve got a project. For old times’ sake, could we talk about a partnership?” Someone teased, “Caleb, looking at you and Grace, is there good news on the horizon?” Grace blushed slightly and looked up at him tenderly. Caleb squeezed her hand, his smile confident. “That’s right. Tonight isn’t just a party — it’s also our engagement celebration.” Everyone raised their glasses to congratulate them. An old acquaintance joked, “Caleb, you and Molly were so crazy in love back then. Do you still keep in touch? I remember you even used a megaphone to confess your love to her during halftime at the college football game!” Hearing my name, Caleb’s smile froze for a moment, and his lips pressed together. But Grace held his arm even tighter, her voice gentle and gracious. “Caleb and I are about to get married. Don’t you think he’s moved on? A young, naive crush can’t compare to a deep, lasting adult love.” Everyone laughed and continued chatting around them. But I couldn’t care less. I anxiously scanned the room, searching for my child. Someone with sharp eyes spotted me. “Molly? What are you doing here… Oh my god, what are you wearing…” “This is a yacht party. Why are you in pajamas? Your hair isn’t even brushed. Did you just roll out of bed?” “Where are you working now? Our Mr. Cole is so successful now. Pour him a drink nicely, and maybe he’ll help an old classmate out.” Several guests murmured under their breath when they saw my casual clothes and bare face. From the moment I appeared, Caleb’s eyes had been on me. I gave him a simple nod, a quick greeting, and kept searching. He froze for a second, his gaze unreadable. “Molly, after all these years, you still don’t know how to dress for the occasion. You can’t even put on a proper outfit.” Grace swept a cold glance over me and deliberately tightened her hold on Caleb’s arm, as if staking her claim. “Caleb, don’t say that. Even though she’s dressed a little plainly, we shouldn’t keep talking about her. After all, we’re all old acquaintances.” Her tone was gentle, and she looked me over again, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on her lips. “But speaking of which, why did you come to a party like this dressed like that? Wearing appropriate clothes to a formal event is a basic sign of respect for others. If you need something, I have a spare gown in my cabin. I could lend it to you.” The moment the words left her mouth, a few people snickered.
At that moment, the contrast between Grace and me was stark. She wore a Tiffany diamond necklace, a custom-made gown, and an elegant hairstyle, every gesture graceful. I had just gotten out of bed, wearing a loose robe, my hair a little messy, no makeup on my face — completely different from her. I didn’t have time to care. I kept looking around. My son was missing, and I was beside myself with worry. Caleb suddenly walked over and handed me a check for twenty thousand dollars. “This money is for you, for old times’ sake. You don’t have to pay it back. Go buy some decent clothes, find a respectable job, and take better care of yourself.” “Molly, let the past stay in the past. Don’t keep yourself trapped in it.” “If back then… forget it. There’s no point talking about it now.” “What matters is, don’t let yourself go just because of my choice, okay? It makes things really awkward for me when you’re like this.” What was he talking about? I looked up at him, confused. Suddenly, I really wanted to know what I had done in my last life to make him leave so decisively after our rebirth. In our previous life, we went from college sweethearts to marriage. He had a dream of starting his own business, and I was passionate about jewelry design. We were both busy. Because I loved him, I gave up my chance to study in Europe, started working early to support the household, and backed his dreams. When he hit wall after wall and got depressed, I was the one covering all the family expenses, patiently comforting and encouraging him. After years of marriage, whenever I brought up the topic of having children, he would push me away irritably, his eyes full of disgust. “I’ve told you long ago, I don’t want kids. I never plan to have any. The thought of having a child with someone like you makes me sick!” That sentence completely broke my heart. Then came the day the news arrived that his first love, Grace, had died in a car crash. He completely lost his mind. He dragged me into the house, locked the door, and set the place on fire. As the flames raged, he choked me by the neck, his face twisted with rage: “The biggest regret of my life is marrying you! If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been with Grace! She wouldn’t have died so young!” In the end, I burned to death. Now we’ve both been reborn, and we mutually chose to become strangers. There’s no past affection to cling to. I pushed the check back and said flatly, “That’s not necessary. I don’t need help from a stranger. Thank you.”
Caleb frowned deeply, his expression darkening. “Molly, what do you mean? You’re calling me a stranger?” I nodded slightly. “We have nothing to do with each other anymore.” I was in a hurry to keep looking for my child and didn’t have time to argue with him. Grace walked quickly to his side, saw the check, and seemed to understand something. A flicker of displeasure crossed her eyes, but she still kept her tone gentle. “Molly, if you don’t want direct help, we can recommend a job for you.” “A friend of mine owns a boutique and they’re hiring a retail associate. It’s twenty-five dollars an hour. The starting pay might not be high, but once you learn the ropes, there’s room to grow. It’s definitely more stable than unstable freelance work.” “I can give you the store manager’s number. You can contact them directly. What do you think?” My expression didn’t change. I kept searching for my son. “Thank you, but I’m very happy with my current job. I have no plans to switch industries.” Someone in the crowd spoke up: “Molly, don’t be so stubborn. They’re being nice and trying to help you. Why won’t you accept it?” “Exactly. Look at you, coming to a yacht party in your pajamas to look for a kid. Isn’t that just a way to get an opportunity? Now that an opportunity’s here, you’re acting all high and mighty. Who are you putting on a show for?” Grace kept an elegant smile on her face. “Everyone, don’t say that. Maybe Molly really does love her current job.” She turned to me, her tone soft but with a subtle hint of condescension. “Molly, we’re trying to help you because of our history. Don’t just hold out for the sake of pride. Also, your child is lost. You must be really anxious right now, right?” I was baffled. Why were they still mocking me at a time like this? If I really wanted to compare, the total assets of everyone here combined probably wouldn’t even match the value of my jewelry designs. “I really don’t need it, thank you,” I replied coldly and turned to go to another area. Grace’s smile remained, but her eyes chilled a little. Caleb clenched the check in his hand, his voice dripping with sarcasm: “You’re hopeless. You’re given a chance and you don’t even know how to take it. You deserve to stay mediocre!” His words made more people look over. A heavyset male guest came up to me with a wine glass and tried to make me drink: “Molly, seeing how down-to-earth you are now, tell you what — you drink one glass, and I’ll give you a thousand dollars.” “If you think that’s too little, I can add more.” The man’s eyes unashamedly swept over my body. People around us laughed under their breath. No one stepped in to stop it. I was just about to call a server when Caleb suddenly grabbed the man’s wrist. The air pressure around him dropped instantly, and his face was terrifyingly dark. “What do you think my yacht is? If you want to throw your weight around, go somewhere else. She’s not someone you can harass!”
The man grimaced from Caleb’s grip, but didn’t dare make a sound. Grace grabbed Caleb’s arm. “Caleb, what are you doing!” Caleb’s eyes were icy, his expression fierce. “Can’t you see she’s looking for her child? Sir, if you try that again, I’ll have you removed from this yacht immediately.” He threw the heavyset man’s hand aside. The man didn’t dare cross him and could only glare at me viciously. I was a little surprised and couldn’t help glancing at Caleb. I hadn’t expected him to step in. The gentle smile on Grace’s face barely held up as she abruptly changed the subject. “I heard the CEO of Easton Group is also on the yacht tonight. Maybe we’ll be lucky enough to meet him.” The guests got excited at her words. “The CEO of Easton Group is the richest man in Coastal City, young and successful. He’s only in his early thirties this year. I heard he’s extremely protective of his family. The media has never managed to dig up his wife’s identity.” “Then what does his wife do?” “Rumor is she’s an internationally renowned jewelry designer. Her ‘Starry Night’ collection sold for an astronomical price at the Paris auction last year! But she’s incredibly low-key and rarely appears in public.” “That’s amazing. Maybe we’ll get to see this mysterious designer in person today!” The words had barely been spoken when a little boy about five years old slipped into the ballroom through a side door, looking around curiously, and immediately drew a lot of attention. “Whose child is this? He’s adorable, absolutely gorgeous.” Someone in the crowd suddenly lowered their voice in surprise: “Wait a second… that kid, I feel like I’ve seen his picture in a financial magazine. Isn’t he the youngest son of Brandon Fu from Easton Group?” The moment this was said, several people’s eyes instantly turned eager. Grace reacted the fastest. She plastered a gentle, gracious smile on her face, quickly walked over to the little boy, crouched down, and said softly, “Hey there, little guy. Are you alone? What kind of snack would you like? Let me help you get some?” As she spoke, she reached out to pat the child’s head. Unexpectedly, the little boy frowned, nimbly dodged to the side, and ignored her completely. At the same time, a tall, stern-faced man appeared hurriedly through the other main door of the ballroom. His sharp eyes swept the room, and when he saw the child, he visibly relaxed. He strode over. “Ryan, what are you doing running off by yourself?” The man’s voice was deep, with a hint of reproach, but more worry than anything. Seeing the man, the boy immediately broke into a relieved smile and called out clearly, “Daddy! I came to see the big boat!” Then he turned his head, saw me, and his eyes lit up like stars. Without hesitation, he dodged around the still-crouching Grace and ran toward me with open arms: “Mommy! I finally found you!”
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