I was reborn, and so was Blake. In our last life, we were the perfect couple in everyone’s eyes. I was a master of investment, my wealth limitless. He was an artist, his works endless. I often made time and spent money to help him host art exhibitions, and he never refused to accompany me to social and business gatherings. Until I became a business mogul and he a top artist, our lives were harmonious, filled with mutual respect. Then, during an outdoor sketching trip, heavy rain triggered a mudslide. We were swallowed whole, perishing together. Reborn again, he shamelessly declared in front of everyone, “Vivian is all about money, crude and shallow. We artists pursue real thought and artistic expression, something vulgar people just wouldn’t get.” Watching Blake tenderly hold Daisy’s hand while they painted, I finally understood. He wanted a different life. Well, I’d give him exactly that. “Blake, you and Vivian have been together for three years. When are you getting married?” “She values money too much; it makes me sick. Vivian and I aren’t from the same world. Dating is one thing, but for marriage, I need someone more suitable.” Blake casually lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and nonchalantly uttered these words to the guys in front of him. “Yeah, right. Our Blake is going to be an artist. Vivian, on the other hand, spends all day mingling with men at business dinners. She calls it networking for money, but who knows what her actual relationship with those men is?” “Alright, enough. She’s not like that. Just try to keep your distance from her from now on.” Blake simply stomped out his cigarette, his face completely devoid of anger. My whole body trembled with rage, my chest tight as if I couldn’t breathe, my mind a blank. The first thing I did after being reborn was rush here from a business dinner. Because on this very day in our last life, it was Blake and my third-anniversary. He had organized an art exhibition especially for me at the gallery, proposing to me in front of everyone and speaking of his deep love for me over the past three years. Remembering all that, I’d chugged half a bottle of vodka to leave the dinner, my stomach churning and aching relentlessly. But the thought of seeing Blake soon had momentarily suppressed the pain, filling me with excitement and joy. The reality was, I stood backstage at the gallery, listening to Blake and his friends ridicule and insult me. “Brother Blake, your paintings are so beautiful! Can you teach me?” A female voice reached my ears. A girl in a white dress, holding a drawing board, walked towards Blake, her smile blooming like a flower. Blake’s usually sharp eyes suddenly softened, his voice mellowing. He stepped forward, taking her hand holding the paintbrush, and guiding it across the canvas. “Daisy, this exhibition is specifically for you. You can learn anything you want, I’ll teach you.” “Daisy is so hardworking and talented. She’ll definitely be a renowned artist someday.” His large, strong hand gently enveloped her small, delicate one. Daisy was almost cradled in Blake’s arm, both of them smiling happily. The scene before me stung my eyes. I shifted my gaze, only then realizing that all the paintings around me were of that girl in the white dress; none had anything to do with me. In that instant, I knew. Blake had been reborn too. He wanted a new life. After we got married in the previous life, I had once seen a photo in Blake’s drawer. It was of him and this girl in the white dress. They sat under a blossoming tree, heads together, gazes locked. They looked like a couple straight out of a romance movie, perfectly in sync. Back then, Blake told me she was just a junior student, that they often collaborated, and their relationship was slightly more intimate than casual acquaintances. Now I knew. This girl, Daisy, was his new choice after rebirth.
In my last life, I felt like I was always looking up to Blake, spending my whole life chasing his shadow. In high school, he excelled at painting, sweeping almost every art award. His voice always echoed from the school radio station, deep and clear. His figure was always on the school awards stage, tall and upright, his youthful back always straight and strong. I just looked up at him and his paintings, harboring a single thought: to earn tons and tons of money, to host countless exhibitions for him so his brilliant art could be seen by the world. Later, he went to a top art university to hone his painting skills, and I chose finance. To earn money, to forge more connections, I attended eight business dinners a day, holding my breath and chugging down cheap bottled liquor, only to spend hours in the restroom, throwing up until I was dizzy and disoriented. I did all this to make myself excellent enough, to be capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Blake. I spared no expense, investing heavily in Blake’s exhibitions, securing better resources for him, and introducing him to influential people in the art world. Looking back now, my last life felt like I lived entirely for Blake. I was like a pathetic dog begging for scraps; all he had to do was crook a finger, and I’d eagerly rush to him. It was time for me to be myself again, to start a new life. I turned and walked away, heading home to put on exquisite makeup and a stunning dress, ready for the evening’s cocktail party. Just as I opened the door, about to head downstairs to hail a cab, I saw Blake standing at the entrance. He wore a white suit, sleek gold-rimmed glasses, his hair meticulously combed back. Refined and incredibly handsome, this image had made my heart flutter countless times. But seeing him again, my heart was calm as still water, without a ripple. Seeing my lack of reaction, Blake spoke first, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. “I promised to take you to the business dinner tonight. Let’s go.” He subtly glanced at my high heels, then extended his hand towards me. “Be careful on the stairs with those heels. Don’t fall.” I once thought these small gestures, hidden within his actions, were signs of his care, his love and protection for me. Only after years of being together did I realize that his meticulousness, his adherence to promises, his good manners, and so on, were simply because that’s who he was. He inherently possessed these qualities; he didn’t become this way *because of* me. Blake opened the car door for me, shielding my head as I slipped into the back seat. A female voice drifted from the front, clear and delicate. “Hello, ma’am, I’m Blake’s junior, Daisy. I’d love to learn more about the world. Could you take me along to see what a business party is like?” Daisy looked at me with crescent-shaped eyes, but there was no real smile in them, only a hint of challenge. Having spent so many years in the finance world, I’d seen all kinds of people. For a girl like her, I wasn’t going to stoop to her level. To my surprise, before I could even speak, Blake interjected, trying to smooth things over for her. “You know, your heavy makeup really does make you look older. Just bring her along. Your business dinners aren’t exactly high society, are they?” I scoffed, then closed my eyes to rest, ignoring both of them.
The two followed me into the private room. The eyes of everyone in the room immediately focused on the three of us. Many of my business partners were there; they naturally knew my relationship with Blake. But now, Blake stood behind me, and Daisy shyly looped her arm through his. Blake’s eyes held a hint of indulgence, and he gently comforted her, telling her not to be afraid. I chuckled inwardly. In my previous life, no matter how much I tried to please Blake, he always remained aloof and indifferent. It turns out he preferred this ‘innocent damsel’ act. “Vivian, this is…” Someone in the room asked. I smoothed my slightly tousled curls and replied casually, “Daisy. My boyfriend’s new girlfriend.” Everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief. Blake’s face stiffened, turning an uncomfortable shade of purple. To ease the awkwardness, he stepped forward, pulled out a chair for me, and politely smiled at everyone, saying, “Vivian loves to joke. Please don’t take her seriously.” “Yeah, it’s just a joke.” I gave them both a meaningful look, then decided not to embarrass them further. Once seated, I busied myself chatting with partners about new investment projects, maintaining professional appearances. Blake and Daisy, meanwhile, were openly intimate, laughing and talking. When the food and drinks arrived, Daisy picked up her forks and began eating without a care. Blake watched her tenderly, even reaching out to pat her back, urging her to eat slowly so she wouldn wouldn’t choke. My heart ached. I remembered his art exhibition’s appreciation dinner in our last life. I hadn’t eaten all day and was dizzy from low blood sugar. I just wanted to grab some food from the table to feel better. But he had slapped the forks right out of my hand, his voice stern. “With so many people here, eating before everyone else is incredibly rude. What will people think of you? What will they say about me behind my back?” I used to think that as an artist, he was just incredibly particular about table etiquette. Now I knew, his strict demands were only for me. “Looks like our little sister is hungry! We don’t have so many rules here. Let’s all have a drink and eat!” someone in the crowd noticed Daisy’s actions and spoke up to ease the atmosphere. “Daisy, you’re still young. Don’t drink alcohol. I’ll pour you some juice.” Blake downed the wine that was originally in Daisy’s glass and then filled it with juice, placing it in front of her. Everyone raised their glasses, waiting for Daisy’s move. Daisy picked up her juice-filled glass, suddenly stood up, and her hand holding the glass tilted in my direction. Instantly, the liquid splashed out, drenching my face. Sticky liquid ran down my cheeks. Daisy rushed over with a wet wipe, vigorously scrubbing my makeup off while apologizing. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I wasn’t stable, I was so clumsy! Let me help you wipe the juice. I’m so, so sorry!” Daisy’s smug smile vanished in an instant; all her actions were clearly intentional. I didn’t want to stoop to her level, but that didn’t mean I would always back down. I grabbed her wrist, picked up my own drink, and splashed it all over her face. She might have choked. I snatched the wet wipe she’d used to smear my makeup and shoved it into her mouth. “Are you choking, little sister? Let me help you wipe.” “Vivian, you’re going too far!” Daisy burst into tears. Blake stepped forward and forcefully pushed my shoulder, pulling Daisy into his embrace. “Daisy didn’t mean to do it. Do you have to be so petty? Someone as narrow-minded as you can only make friends with these uncultured, crude people who just drink and brag all day!” Having been with him for years, I knew Blake’s emotional intelligence was usually high; he wouldn’t easily offend anyone. But now, for Daisy, he had just insulted every finance professional in the room. “Mr. Blake, what do you mean by ‘uncultured, crude people’? Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?” Someone, offended by his words, questioned him. “What’s inappropriate about it? What kind of depth do you people have? You just stumble into some money through luck. Compared to us artists, you’re absolutely nowhere!” Blake’s face turned red with anger, speaking recklessly. His words infuriated everyone present. My face was grim. I didn’t hesitate, raising my hand and delivering a sharp slap directly across his face. Blake froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. “No one invited you to this party. You both shamelessly elbowed your way in.”
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296755”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic
Leave a Reply