My husband Adrian and I were on an outdoor expedition when tragedy struck: his first love, Bella, died in an accident. That same day, Adrian left behind a suicide note and threw himself off a cliff. Only then did I realize he had never loved me. When I was reborn and returned to my college days, Adrian didn’t hesitate to abandon me and choose Bella. We met again eight years later at a banquet hosted by the wealthiest family in the city. By then, he was a rising CEO in finance. Seeing me drinking alone in a corner, he couldn’t help but frown. “Vanessa. Eight years, and you’re still chasing after me?” I glanced at him and walked straight toward my daughter, who was drinking juice nearby. But he panicked, veins bulging on his forehead. “Have you lost your mind? You married some nobody and had a child… just to spite me? You’re pathetic!” When I spotted that familiar figure in the crowd, I froze. I never imagined that Adrian Hayes and I would meet again at Hudson’s homecoming banquet. There he was, his arm draped possessively around Bella’s shoulders, working the room with practiced charm. The aloof boy I once knew was gone, polished into a stranger. “Mr. Hayes! Congratulations. To become the youngest CEO in the city’s financial sector…your future is boundless.” “Is this your wife? You two look perfect together.” Amid the flattery, Adrian offered a polite smile. “Bella is my fiancée. We’ll be holding our wedding in July, and you’re all invited.” “Absolutely,” everyone chimed in. Just then, one of Adrian’s former classmates spoke up. “Mr. Hayes, you and Bella were the famous golden couple back in college. Why did it take eight years of dating before you decided to get married?” At those words, I set down my wine glass and looked at Adrian. Actually, I wanted to know too. After all, Adrian was crazy about Bella. In my past life, when he learned of Bella’s death, he didn’t hesitate to jump off a cliff and end his own life. When I was reborn back to my college days, Adrian didn’t hesitate to dump me and chase after Bella. Who would have thought they still hadn’t gotten married after all this time? It was really strange. In the crowd, Adrian’s smile faltered for a moment, and a flash of embarrassment crossed his eyes. “Bella is my first love and the woman I love most. So all these years I’ve been working hard to give her the most spectacular wedding in the world.” As he spoke, the affection in Adrian’s eyes seemed ready to overflow. Hearing this, Bella smiled sweetly. “I’m looking forward to it, Adrian.” Watching them, I felt deeply moved. So when Adrian truly loved someone, he actually thought about them this much. It was worlds apart from how he treated me in my past life. In my past life, no matter how much I gave, he refused to marry me. In the end, it was only because I got pregnant by accident and his grandfather put pressure on him that he was forced to marry me. I didn’t want to waste any more time at this boring banquet, so I got up to leave. Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a little girl with two pigtails hiding under a nearby table, drinking one glass of juice after another. I shook my head helplessly and walked in that direction. Without paying attention, I knocked a wine glass off the table. Crash! The glass shattered into pieces, fragments everywhere. “Who are you?” “Who let you in here?” “Do you have any idea how much that glass cost!” A nearby server blocked my path, looking at me with utter contempt. Everyone’s attention immediately shifted to our direction. Seeing me, Adrian froze in place, shock flashing through his eyes. “Vanessa?” “You actually crashed the Hayes family banquet just to see me?” The people around him looked confused. “Mr. Hayes, from your tone, she’s not a guest invited by the Hayes family?” At this, Adrian frowned slightly, looking a bit uncomfortable. “I’m sorry everyone, I didn’t mean to ruin your evening. She’s my ex.”
Hearing Adrian’s words, everyone’s faces showed knowing smiles. “Mr. Hayes, you’re quite the lucky man! Both your ex and current girlfriend are beautiful!” “Wait, that’s not right. Didn’t Mr. Hayes say Miss Bella was his first love?” “Then what’s this about an ex?” Hearing everyone’s questions, Adrian’s face became somewhat stiff. Bella, nestled in his arms, looked at me with even more disgust and resentment. “Everyone’s got it wrong.” “She’s not really an ex.” “Just someone I used as a distraction when Bella and I were fighting.” After his explanation, Adrian turned to look at the server nearby. “I’ll pay for the glass.” “Have her leave.” The entire time, Adrian didn’t give me a single glance, as if I were something filthy he couldn’t bear to look at. I was speechless. But this was fine. In this life, I didn’t want any connection with him whatsoever. “Alright, hurry up and leave.” The server impatiently pushed me. “Look at yourself. Thinking you could be with a CEO like Mr. Hayes.” As the server spoke, he glanced disdainfully at my somewhat dusty athletic wear. Seeing this, I couldn’t help but frown. “Wait a moment. I need to find someone, then I’ll leave immediately.” Hearing this, the server snapped irritably. “Find someone?” “Do you think I’m an idiot?” “I’ve seen plenty of women like you. Don’t think you can keep prowling for men at this banquet.” With that, the server grabbed my arm and started dragging me toward the door. Just then, Bella suddenly called out. “Wait.” Bella walked over arm-in-arm with Adrian, her face full of smugness. “Vanessa, Adrian never loved you. Stop pestering him.” “Besides, we’re about to have our wedding. What you’re doing is no different from being a homewrecker.” “That’s right.” Adrian frowned, looking at me with complete impatience. “I never loved you. Stop harboring any delusions.” “Let alone eight years-even if you wait eighty years, I’ll never be with you.” “How about this.” Adrian pursed his lips and continued. “I’ll transfer a million dollars to you. From now on, don’t appear in front of me again.” With that, Adrian had Bella pull his phone from her purse. When he opened his messaging app, Adrian froze. “Vanessa? You actually blocked me?” Adrian’s voice suddenly rose, disbelief written all over his face. “What else was I supposed to do?” A flash of helplessness crossed my eyes. We had already cut ties. Why would I keep his contact information? Besides, that big shot at home was famous for being jealous. If he found out I still had my ex’s contact info, he’d throw a complete fit. Hearing my retort, Adrian’s face turned extremely ugly. Seeing this, Bella quickly spoke up. “Vanessa, stop using these low tactics!” “Don’t think my Adrian will soften his heart because of this!” “Stop dreaming!” As she spoke, Bella rubbed her chest against Adrian’s arm and said coquettishly. “Adrian, don’t pay attention to her anymore.” “I bet she knows you’re a CEO now, so she’s latching on!” “This type of woman just loves social climbing!” “Mm.” Adrian nodded, looking at me with a flash of disgust. Bella even looked me up and down several times with her eyes, saying disdainfully. “You graduated from a prestigious university. Instead of using this energy to chase men, why not work on your own career?” “Look at you-you’re more pathetic than a beggar on the street!” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh. Bella really had gotten full of herself, forgetting how terrible her own past was.
Bella’s family had been poor farmers for generations, all living in the mountains. Not only that, she was extremely devoted to her younger brother. After getting together with Adrian, she sold all the gifts he gave her and sent the money to her brother. The first time I met Adrian was when he was hospitalized after getting injured working to buy gifts for Bella’s brother. He had broken his leg back then, and under pressure from the Hayes family, he and Bella broke up. That was the darkest, most difficult period of his life. I was the one who stayed by his side, gradually bringing light back into his world. Adrian loved painting, so I went everywhere buying expensive tickets to art exhibitions at premium prices. I acted as both his driver and caretaker, taking him to see art exhibitions around the world. I bought him the world’s finest paper and paints. Not only that, I took care of all his food, clothing, and living expenses. All he had to do was be happy. Even Adrian’s friends said I was the epitome of a devoted girlfriend. Everyone thought I was madly in love with him, but actually, it was Adrian who first asked to be together. I didn’t expect him to confess. Because he would often log into his alternate social media account to spy on Bella’s life. So I thought he still hadn’t gotten over her. However, Adrian looked at me affectionately and said. “Vanessa, you’re my salvation. If it weren’t for you, I probably wouldn’t be in this world anymore.” “I’ve already fallen in love with you. I want to be with you every day.” I was so moved that I agreed to be with Adrian. We were together for eight whole years. Even Adrian’s parents never imagined that someone as willful as him could be so stable with me. Unfortunately, no one knew. During those eight years, I had countless times suggested wanting to have a home with Adrian, and he rejected me with various excuses every time. If I hadn’t gotten pregnant by accident and Adrian’s parents found out, Adrian wouldn’t have even wanted the child. Under strong pressure from the Hayes family, he reluctantly married me. After marriage, when he was accompanying me on an outdoor adventure, he accidentally learned about Bella’s death. He locked himself in his room for three days and nights. On the fourth day, when I forced the door open, I only found a suicide note. “Bella is my one true love in this life. If she’s not here, what meaning does my life have?” “I hope in the next life, I can give her the most spectacular wedding.” Only then did I realize that Adrian had jumped off a cliff the night before to follow Bella. My heart died in that instant. Therefore, when I was reborn back to my college days, I didn’t try to stop Adrian from going to find his first love. I only felt incredibly grateful that I could break up with him and have a fresh new future. I prepared to leave. But Bella stepped in front of me with one stride, saying arrogantly. “Vanessa, look at your athletic wear-a style that wasn’t even popular ten years ago!” “You’ve really hit rock bottom, haven’t you!” “How about I beg Adrian to arrange a server position for you here?” “Miss Bella is truly kind.” A man trying to curry favor with Adrian suddenly spoke up. He looked at me and sneered contemptuously. “This is the most luxurious banquet hall in the entire city. Working as a server here, the tips alone are two to three hundred thousand a month!” “A woman like you has probably never seen that much money in your life!” “Why don’t you kowtow and thank her!” Seeing this, a flash of impatience crossed my eyes. “I have a job. No need to trouble yourself.” However, Bella wouldn’t let it go. “You’re not lying, are you?” “What kind of work?” “Painting.” Hearing my words, Adrian, who had been silent, suddenly looked at me, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
“Painting?” Adrian murmured softly. After a moment of silence, he looked at me, his expression full of meaning. “When I said I liked painting back then, I was just making conversation. I can’t believe you took it seriously.” “Whatever. For old times’ sake, I can give you a respectable job.” Hearing this, I froze. The next second, I realized Adrian must have misunderstood. He definitely thought I chose painting because of him. But that wasn’t the case at all. When I was reborn, I discovered that all my savings had already been spent on exhibition tickets and painting supplies. To avoid wasting them, I could only look at the exhibitions and paint myself. As I painted more and more, I fell in love with this art form. Over these years, my paintings had gained some recognition in the country. Even abroad, I was occasionally invited to bring my works to exhibitions. Therefore, my current income was much higher than Adrian’s CEO salary. However, I didn’t plan to tell him this. After all, Adrian had never chosen to believe in me. And besides… I looked down at myself. This athletic wear I was wearing did look rather dirty. But there was nothing I could do-I had come straight to this banquet hall right after getting off my flight. I hadn’t had time to change out of the clothes I’d worn while gathering inspiration in the mountains abroad. But what did it matter? I looked at Adrian with complete detachment. “I really love my work. I’ll keep painting. No need to concern yourself.” Hearing this, Adrian’s face instantly darkened. “Vanessa, must you be so ungrateful?” “Forget it, Adrian. It’s not worth getting angry at this kind of woman. Let’s just ignore her.” Bella tried to persuade him. Just then, the server from earlier suddenly changed expression, pointing at me furiously. “You thief!” “Did you steal this athletic wear from another guest?” “Impossible. I bought it myself.” I frowned slightly. “You’re lying. I recognize this brand. They only do custom orders!” “A pauper like you probably can’t even afford one of their buttons!” Hearing this, Adrian looked at me with even more disgust. “Vanessa, how did you end up like this!” “Exactly. Just now she said she had a job and didn’t need help. Turns out her job is being a thief!” Bella’s eyes were full of disdain. “You have hands and feet. How can you do such sneaky things!” Feeling everyone’s pointing and whispering around me, my expression turned cold! These people really would say anything to curry favor with Adrian. I instantly lost all patience. “I told you, these are my clothes!” “If you don’t believe me, feel free to call the police!” “Otherwise, I’ll sue you for slander!” Hearing this, the server’s eyes flashed with guilt. “Why are you getting so worked up!” “If not for worrying about disturbing Mr. Hudson’s homecoming banquet because of a lowlife like you, I definitely wouldn’t let you off!” “Speaking of which, it’s strange. Why hasn’t Mr. Hudson shown up yet?” Someone in the crowd raised the question. “A big shot like Mr. Hudson should appear at the most important moment of the banquet.” Adrian said confidently. “I heard Mr. Hudson came back with his wife and child this time!” “Really? Which lucky girl ended up with Mr. Hudson?” “A man like Hudson moves in a completely different circle. We can only dream.” Amid the chatter, Bella’s face lit up with an excited smile. “Adrian, can you invite Mr. Hudson to our wedding? Wouldn’t that be incredible?” “I’ll try my best!” Adrian smiled confidently. No sooner had he spoken than the banquet coordinator approached, his expression grave, a dozen black-suited bodyguards flanking him.
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