When I died, I watched my husband kneel beside my hospital bed—not out of grief for me, but whispering another woman’s name. Only then did I understand: I was never the one he loved. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to my teenage years. This time, before I could say a word, he brushed past me with a cold glance and went straight to the girl he had always chosen. I let him go. I didn’t chase. From that moment on, our fates unraveled into two separate lines. Ten years later, we met again at a luxury charity auction in Ocean City. He arrived in a tailored suit, confidence radiating off him— and she stood by his side like a crown he had finally earned. When he saw me step into the hall by accident, he paused, then said quietly, almost impatiently: “Don’t cling to the past. Even if you wait another decade, I still won’t choose you.” I didn’t respond. I simply walked across the room and picked up my son, who was happily chewing on a macaron. The moment he saw the child’s face, his expression shattered. His hand shot out, gripping mine tremulously. “Why are you doing this?” he demanded, voice hoarse. “Didn’t you say you’d love me for a lifetime?”
I never imagined I would encounter Silas again in this lifetime. At the elite gathering in Ocean City, he stood among the crowd with Daphne, exuding charm and sophistication, showing no trace of his former youthful awkwardness. People around him were all smiles, speaking in flattering tones. “Young Master Silas is truly promising, securing a major project at such a young age!” “Is this your beloved? You both make such a striking couple.” Daphne gazed at Silas with deep affection and said softly. “We’re planning to get married by the end of the year. If you have the time, we’d love for you to join us.” There was another round of congratulations, and someone asked. “I heard you’ve been together for ten years. Why wait until now to get married?” This was something I was curious about too. In the previous life, Silas loved Daphne so much he was willing to die for her. After being given a second chance, he immediately broke up with me. I assumed they would marry right after graduation, but they haven’t even registered yet. Upon hearing this, Silas’s face momentarily stiffened, but he quickly masked it with a smile. “You need a career before family. I want to give Daphne the best life possible.” He looked at Daphne, his eyes filled with tenderness nearly overflowing. In the past, when we were together, I asked him many times when we could get married. It wasn’t until his family pressured him that Silas reluctantly agreed to be with me. It turns out, the difference between love and lack of it can be so obvious. I was about to turn and leave when I noticed a small figure and instinctively followed. “Oops!” Champagne spilled everywhere, and the waiter holding a tray looked at me with discontent. “Where did you come from? Are you blind?” His voice was loud, drawing attention from those around us. Seeing my face, Silas was stunned. “Serena, why are you here?” I lowered my head to apologize to the waiter and explained. “I’m here looking for someone.” Someone curiously asked Silas. “Do you know her, Young Master Silas?” Silas tightened his grip on his wine glass, his gaze darkening. “Yeah, just an ex-girlfriend.” Someone nearby blurted out, “You’ve been together for ten years; I thought you were each other’s first love.” The smile on Daphne’s face faded slightly as she held Silas’s hand and said nonchalantly. “We were young back then, separated for a bit during a fight. Who hasn’t taken a wrong turn in their youth?” Silas said nothing, his gaze brushing past me to the waiter. “Charge the damage to my account and let her go.” He stood there, expression calm, not sparing me an extra glance aside from the initial encounter. It seemed he was eager to draw a clear line between us in front of Daphne. The waiter quickly ushered me out. “Young Master Silas is being kind, cleaning up your mess, but there won’t be a next time.” He glanced disdainfully at my wrinkled pajamas. “This isn’t a place for you. Hurry up and leave.” I broke free from his grip and explained politely. “I’m here to find someone. Once I do, I’ll leave on my own.” The waiter sneered, rolling his eyes. “I’ve seen plenty like you trying to climb up. Do you even have the qualifications to be here? If you keep lingering, I’ll call security!” “Wait.” Silas’s voice came from behind him. He sighed as he looked at me, helplessly. “She’s here to find me. Let me talk to her.” Daphne, standing beside him, asserted her dominance by wrapping her arms around his shoulder. “Serena, Silas and I are about to get married. Anyone with a bit of self-respect wouldn’t come looking for an ex at this point.” Silas’s face darkened slightly, and he couldn’t help but advise me. “Stop holding onto the past. Even if you wait for me for another ten years, I won’t love you.” “When I was with you, it was a mistake. Now that I have the chance to correct it, I hope you can let go of the past soon.” Daphne looked me up and down, a mocking glint in her eyes. “I understand why you would seek out Silas. After all, he’s a renowned entrepreneur now, and there’s no shortage of people trying to cozy up to him.” Perhaps my wrinkled pajamas gave her confidence, Daphne added arrogantly. “You’re a prestigious university graduate, yet you’ve ended up like this? If I were you, I wouldn’t even show my face!” Silas frowned, pulling out his phone, his tone growing impatient. “If you feel like you were wronged by our breakup, I can compensate you now.” “Is five hundred thousand enough?” His fingers moved over the screen, then suddenly froze. “You deleted me from your contacts?”
I was puzzled, not understanding why he reacted so strongly. Isn’t it normal to delete an ex’s contact after a breakup? Besides, I have someone at home who’s particularly jealous. If he knew I still had my ex’s contact, he’d probably make a fuss. “Didn’t you say you hoped I wouldn’t come looking for you after our breakup?” Silas’s face turned cold, as if he wanted to say something but held back. I spoke calmly, adding. “I don’t need the breakup compensation.” After facing setback after setback, Silas’s face darkened further, and he spoke coldly. “What are you pretending for? If it weren’t for your current misfortune, I wouldn’t even bother talking to you.” Daphne quickly soothed him with a gentle voice. “Well, she is a prestigious university graduate. Given her current miserable state, let’s just consider helping her.” “Oh Daphne, you’re still so kind. Why bother with a woman like her? Look at her pathetic state, just get lost.” His tone was disdainful, as if forgetting that ten years ago, he was in a worse state than I was. In the previous life, Silas’s family didn’t agree with their son being with Daphne because she was a dubious woman who liked shortcuts. The first time I saw Silas in college, he had just picked Daphne up from a club, forced by his family to break up. During Silas’s most depressed times, I stayed by his side, helping him through. He loved photography, so I used the money I planned to start a business to buy him expensive equipment. Through freezing winters and scorching summers, I, with my frail frame, carried dozens of pounds of gear following him, just hoping to see him smile sincerely. Who would’ve thought it was Silas who confessed to me first? I knew about his past with Daphne and had seen him occasionally stare at their photos in a daze. So when Silas confessed, I seriously asked him. Have you truly moved on from Daphne? At that time, he held me tightly, his tone firm. “Actually, I never loved her. I just saw her as a good friend. It’s you I love, Serena; let’s be together.” We dated for seven years, even his friends were surprised. “He liked Daphne so much, I thought you two wouldn’t last.” But no one knew, Silas repeatedly refused to answer my prompts about marriage. “Serena, I’m against marriage. Can’t we just be like this forever?” Until later, when Silas’s parents pressured him about marriage, he agreed to marry. During our honeymoon, after hearing about Daphne’s car accident, he jumped off the cruise ship, leaving only a note. The moment I slipped into critical condition, he rushed into the hospital room— not because of me, but because he had just heard that she was gone. Standing at my bedside, he didn’t even look at my pale face. His trembling hand clutched the edge of my blanket as he whispered, “Daphne… Daphne… why did you leave me…” Not my name. Not once. His voice broke, overflowing with grief that had nothing to do with me. And as I lay there, fading in and out of consciousness, the last of my love for him quietly burned out, turning to ash in my chest. So, after being given a second chance, when Silas wanted to break up, I didn’t stop him. Because I knew, I couldn’t stop it. Watching them get back together, I deleted all of Silas’s contact information, thinking there’d be no chance to meet again in this life. But I didn’t expect to encounter them here. I wanted to leave, but Daphne wouldn’t let it go, insisting on humiliating me in front of everyone. “Do you even deserve to speak to me? Look at how you’re dressed, it’s embarrassing!” “Here’s the deal, I’ll introduce you to work as a waiter here. If you learn to serve people, you can earn a five-figure salary a month.” Someone trying to curry favor with her added with a grin. “This is a hotel in the prime location of Ocean City. Working here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you. You should thank Miss Daphne.” Surrounded by people, I couldn’t leave, so I replied helplessly. “Thank you, but I already have a job.” “As a photographer.” I wanted to leave, but Daphne was relentless, determined to humiliate me in front of everyone. “Do you think you’re even worthy of talking to me? Look at what you’re wearing—it’s such an embarrassment!” “Here’s an idea: I can get you a job here as a waiter. If you learn to serve people, you could earn a five-figure salary.” Someone nearby, eager to curry favor with her, chimed in with a smile. “This hotel is in a prime Ocean City location. Working here is a rare opportunity for you. You should thank Miss Daphne.” Surrounded and unable to move, I reluctantly replied, “Thank you, but I already have a job.” “Photography.” As soon as I mentioned photography, Silas glanced at me with a complex expression, his lips twitching slightly. He averted his gaze, his tone indifferent. “How much can you really earn from photography? Hobbies don’t pay the bills. Since we’re all acquaintances, I can set you up with a job.” I was taken aback, then realized he misunderstood me.
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