When I returned to Christmas 1975, the day my childhood sweetheart Cassius Sullivan proposed to me again, I deliberately tarnished my own reputation, claiming he was just the most unremarkable among my many boyfriends. In my previous life, I had accepted his proposal with joy and anticipation, only to be reported the very next day and lose my job at the dance troupe. My parents fell ill from grief and died, and I was thrown into a cattle shed where my legs were broken. During my darkest hour, Cassius rescued me from that nightmare. Back then, Cassius promised he would always protect me. Deeply moved, I washed his clothes, cooked his meals, bore his children, and watched him rise to become a leader. Meanwhile, I gradually forgot in the daily routine that I had once been the most dazzling star on stage. Until thirty years later, as I lay dying from terminal stomach cancer, writhing in agony on my hospital bed, Cassius and our children were tending to Wendy Ryder, who had merely sprained her ankle. “I truly am sorry that I reported her back then to secure your spot, then married her. I believe these thirty years have settled everything.” “Exactly, Ms. Ryder. You’re beautiful and an excellent dancer—only you deserve my father. My mother is just a crude housewife who can’t compare to you at all.” The happiness I thought I had was nothing but an elaborate deception they had orchestrated. I stormed in angrily to confront them, but my son and daughter stood before me, threatening suicide if I didn’t let Cassius marry Wendy. I died from overwhelming rage, never expecting fate would give me a second chance. ***** I jolted awake, clutching my chest and gasping for air, as if I had just escaped from a nightmare. Opening my eyes, the familiar hospital white walls and antiseptic smell had vanished, replaced by a row of low buildings. Standing before me was a much younger Cassius, still as composed as I remembered. Behind him stood a group of young men in military uniforms, nudging each other and cheering him on. Cassius’s wheat-colored face flushed slightly as he carefully pulled out a box from his uniform pocket. “Elise, will you marry me?” When this familiar scene replayed, I froze for a moment. Then I realized I had been reborn, returned to the moment when Cassius proposed in my previous life. Looking at this man I had known for twenty years and lived with for over thirty, intense hatred suddenly surged in my heart. It was this very proposal that had launched my journey of suffering in my past life. In my previous life, I had joyfully accepted the ring, only to be reported the next day simply for wearing a diamond ring. Everyone said I was vain and didn’t follow the rules. I lost my job, my home was destroyed. My parents even fell gravely ill from anger and eventually died in resentment. Afterward, my legs were broken, and I lay dying, curled up in a cattle shed, unable to see my parents one last time. Overnight, I had fallen from heaven to hell. That’s when Cassius appeared before me like a savior. His face full of guilt, he told me his thoughtlessness had implicated me. Despite others’ objections, he defended me, took me away from the cattle shed, and publicly declared I was his only wife. I regarded him as my redeemer. After marriage, I bore his children and managed the household. In the military family compound, everyone thought I was a virtuous woman. Over thirty years, I transformed from the lead dancer of the troupe into an unknown housewife. My fingers became rough, my face haggard, my figure bloated. When I occasionally encountered former colleagues, I would instinctively hide. However, watching Cassius continuously get promoted and our children get into prestigious schools, I suppressed all my resentment and told myself it was all worth it. But all this happiness I thought I had was fake. When I lay dying from terminal stomach cancer, writhing in agony on my hospital bed, Cassius and our children were caring for Wendy Ryder, who had merely sprained her ankle. “I truly am sorry that I reported her back then to secure your spot, then married her. I believe these thirty years have settled everything.” “Exactly, Ms. Ryder. You’re beautiful and an excellent dancer—only you deserve my father. My mother is just a crude housewife who can’t compare to you at all.” The happiness I thought I had was nothing but an elaborate deception they had orchestrated. I stormed in angrily to confront them, but my son and daughter stood before me, threatening suicide if I didn’t let Cassius marry Wendy. Cassius, the man I trusted most, was actually the mastermind who had kept me in the dark and plunged my entire life into misery. At this moment, he knelt on one knee, but he wasn’t looking at me—instead, his gaze fell on another woman beyond me. His eyes clearly held regret, unwillingness, and a love he could never express.
I turned around and sure enough, Wendy was standing right behind me. Wendy was the sister of Cassius’s fallen comrade and a member of the military band in Cassius’s unit. Her brother had died in the line of duty. In my past life, Cassius always took special care of her because of his comrade’s dying wish. Back then, I was too foolish and never suspected anything between them. I naively believed Cassius only had eyes for me, and I even considered Wendy a close friend. It wasn’t until I witnessed the truth at the hospital that I realized how ridiculous I’d been. Cassius had fallen in love with Wendy, and my two children, whom I’d raised with such devotion, loved her too. Wendy watched coldly as I was played for a fool, enjoying it all without a care in the world, using me as her stepping stone. If I agreed to Cassius’s proposal right now and put on that ill-fitting ring, a report against me would appear on my supervisor’s desk tomorrow. And the dance company spot I’d worked so hard for years to earn would instantly go to Wendy. Wendy would take the opportunity that should have been mine, tour with the company, and eventually become one of the country’s top dancers. Meanwhile, I’d be trapped in the Sullivan family, struggling through the rest of my life. I refused to accept this fate, and I certainly wouldn’t marry this man who had ruined my life again. At that moment, the crowd around us was still cheering, urging Cassius to put the ring on my finger. He opened the velvet box and took out the expensive diamond ring. However, someone noticed his trembling fingers. “Cassius, why are you so nervous? You’re about to marry the woman you love most—don’t get cold feet now!” This seemingly playful comment only made Cassius’s expression grow darker. I sneered inwardly. His comrade’s words were like salt in his wounds. Marry the woman he loved most? He was being forced to marry someone he didn’t love for the sake of the woman he actually loved! “Elise, I’ll put the ring on you.” Knowing he couldn’t hesitate much longer, Cassius seemed to steel himself and immediately grabbed my hand. The diamond ring, which was a full size too big for my ring finger, slipped on easily. He looked dazed for a moment, but he also seemed relieved. “Don’t worry, I’ll treat you better from now on.” I couldn’t tell if he was trying to deceive me or comfort himself with those words. I suddenly pulled my hand away, and the ring that had cost him half a year’s salary clattered to the ground. “Cassius, this ring doesn’t fit my finger, which means we’re not right for each other either. Let’s call off our engagement. I don’t want to marry you.” My words stunned everyone present. The soldiers who had been cheering fell silent, and Cassius’s face turned ashen—he clearly hadn’t expected me to reject him publicly. After all, in my previous life, I had cared so much about him and followed him around every day. Of course, no one could have imagined I would suddenly make such a decision. Wendy immediately panicked. She stepped forward, pretending to be concerned as she tried to persuade me: “Elise, marriage isn’t a game. You and Major Sullivan have always loved each other deeply, so why don’t you want to marry him all of a sudden?” Wendy completely ignored the issue of the ring size, making it seem like I was being unreasonable. The shock on Cassius’s face gradually turned to anger, and he grabbed my wrist tightly. “Elise, stop making a scene! Everyone’s laughing at us! Come home with me first!” Cassius couldn’t stand his comrades’ strange looks, and he was even more furious that my words in front of Wendy had embarrassed him. In fact, he had already promised Wendy that he would definitely get her into the dance company. My wrist ached from his grip, but he didn’t care at all. “Let go, Cassius! If you don’t release me right now, I’m calling the police and reporting you for assault!” Cassius stopped in his tracks, staring at me in disbelief. “Elise, you’re going to call the police?”
I stepped back several paces, deliberately putting distance between Cassius and myself. “I’ve already told you—I don’t want to marry you, and I don’t want anything to do with you. Since you’re forcing me to leave with you, why can’t I call the police?” Wendy jumped in again, frowning as she said, “Elise, you and Cassius have always been close. He was just putting a ring on your finger. You can throw a tantrum, but there’s no need to accuse him like this. Aren’t you trying to ruin his reputation?” I hadn’t expected Wendy to be so quick-witted, immediately shifting the focus of the conflict. I had clearly refused to get entangled with Cassius, yet she kept saying I was being unreasonable and deliberately trying to destroy his reputation. The soldiers who had been watching the drama all turned to look at me, their expressions no longer as friendly as before. They were all Cassius’s comrades, naturally taking his side. “Miss Lopez, everyone in the military housing community knows you and Major Sullivan are engaged. He was just holding your hand—why are you calling him a creep?” “Yeah, even if the ring doesn’t fit right, you can get it resized. Don’t be so difficult and hurt Major Sullivan’s career.” “What are you all talking about? You better take a good look!” Hearing these words, I let out a cold laugh, picked up the ill-fitting diamond ring, and grabbed Wendy’s hand. “Elise, what are you doing?” Wendy tried to struggle, but I forcibly slipped the ring onto her ring finger. The ring fit her finger perfectly. I had known all along that this ring, which was too loose for me, was prepared by Cassius for the woman he truly loved. Everyone present fell silent instantly, looking at Cassius and Wendy with suspicious eyes. A flash of panic crossed Cassius’s face, but he quickly composed himself. “I see. Elise, you’ve misunderstood. I don’t know how to pick out rings, so I specifically asked Wendy to help me choose one. I originally wanted her to help try it on for size, but I didn’t realize you two have different finger sizes. It’s my fault—please don’t overthink this. Nothing happened between Wendy and me!” Seeing him desperately trying to distance himself from her, Wendy blinked and quickly explained, “He’s right. Elise, this is just a coincidence. Don’t let me ruin your relationship with Major Sullivan, or I really wouldn’t know what to do.” The two kept making excuses, trying to turn this into a misunderstanding. But I remained unmoved, saying mockingly, “There are so many people in this military community, and many of the men are already married. Why did you specifically ask the unmarried Wendy to help you pick out a ring? What a coincidence.” Hearing my words, the soldiers who had initially believed them suddenly came to their senses. They thought: “Yeah, why did he have to pick out a ring with an unmarried woman? There are plenty of married guys among us!” I seized the opportunity to expose the truth directly. “Cassius, do you think I don’t know? Your monthly salary is twenty-five hundred dollars. You keep five hundred for yourself and give the remaining two thousand to Wendy. Why are you so insistent on proposing to me? Do you want to leave me with nothing to depend on?” In my previous life, this was exactly what Cassius had done. On the surface, he appeared successful—a rising military officer. But in reality, whenever we earned money, he always found excuses to give it to Wendy. When our son had a high fever as a child, I had to borrow money from my parents to pay for his treatment. Unfortunately, he grew up to be an ungrateful child. Cassius stammered, “I’m taking care of her on behalf of her brother! Wendy is just a girl—it’s not easy for her to live alone. Elise, can’t you be more understanding?” I couldn’t be bothered to waste more words on him and just stared at him with a cold smile. The expressions of those around us also turned mocking. Clearly, they believed what I had said. Wendy was furious, but she pretended to look extremely wronged. “So, Elise, you still suspect that Major Sullivan and I are involved? How could you think that of me? If I really were the kind of woman who seduces other people’s fiancés, I might as well just kill myself!” While crying and shouting, she quickly rushed toward the nearby wall. If Cassius hadn’t grabbed her in time, she really would have crashed into it. Even so, her forehead was injured and bleeding as she collapsed weakly into Cassius’s arms. “Sob… Cassius, why did you save me? My brother is dead, and now I’m being slandered like this. What’s the point of living?” “Miss Lopez, please rest assured—even though I’m just a helpless young woman, I absolutely won’t allow you to slander Major Sullivan and me! If I die, please stop fighting with Major Sullivan.” Seeing that I had driven the woman he loved to the point of wanting to prove her innocence through death, Cassius flew into a rage. “Enough! I told you nothing happened between Wendy and me! Since I’m engaged to you, I will definitely marry you. Why do you insist on slandering other women? Elise, you’ve really disappointed me! I’m taking Wendy to the medical office now. Think about what you’ve done!” With that, Cassius picked up the pretending-to-be-unconscious Wendy and walked away. The comrades who had come with him exchanged glances and left awkwardly. No one could have imagined that what was supposed to be a beautiful proposal would end up like this. I didn’t go straight home. Instead, I took a detour to the Sullivan family’s villa. When Cassius’s parents saw me, their faces immediately lit up with joy. “Elise is here! Too bad Cassius isn’t home—what terrible timing.” Hearing his mother’s words, I felt deeply disappointed. Cassius’s parents had always treated me well. In my previous life, after I married Cassius and had children, they often helped me. Even before they passed away, they repeatedly urged Cassius to treat me well. Unfortunately, our marriage had been a mistake from the very beginning. After chatting with them briefly, I excused myself to go to Cassius’s room. Ironically, after knowing him for so many years, I knew every little habit of his by heart. He always loved hiding important items under his pillow—a habit that had never changed. Sure enough, this time was no different. I found the accusation letter he had prepared under his pillow. Looking at the familiar handwriting, I noticed the thin paper trembling slightly in my hands. I hastily stuffed the letter into my pocket and took one last look around the room. Everything was neat and orderly—typical of Cassius’s style. At that moment, the cloth doll I had once sewn by hand lay forlornly on the floor like discarded trash. I vaguely remembered how I had unreasonably demanded that he display that doll in the most prominent spot in his room. But now, that spot was occupied by an exquisite figurine. I knew exactly who had given it to him. Even though I had long given up on Cassius, I still couldn’t help feeling deeply saddened. I felt sad for our childhood friendship and sorry for the girl who had once truly loved him. Since he didn’t cherish any of it, there was no need to keep what I had given him. I picked up the cloth doll and casually tossed it into the trash can before heading home as if nothing had happened. Seeing my parents sitting safely on the living room sofa, I immediately burst into tears. More than thirty years had passed, and I never thought I’d see them again. They had lived modest and frugal lives. If I hadn’t been deceived and framed by Cassius in my previous life, they could have enjoyed their golden years in peace. Instead, they had died in anger and resentment just before dawn, worried sick about me. Seeing my tears, they immediately asked with concern what had happened, their worried expressions making me feel even more guilty. I nervously brought up Cassius’s marriage proposal. In my memory, my parents seemed to think highly of Cassius. I wasn’t sure if they would agree to me breaking off the engagement. However, after hearing my account, my father Brad Lopez unexpectedly slammed the table in fury. “How dare that bastard bully my daughter for another woman?” My mother held my hand, her eyes full of concern. “Elise, this isn’t your fault. Tell me, do you still love Cassius?” No wonder she asked. Over all these years, they had seen how much I loved Cassius. But I simply shook my head gently. “Dad, Mom, he’s fallen in love with another woman. I don’t want to marry him anymore.” After hearing my words, my mother looked even more heartbroken. “That’s okay! Elise, you’re so wonderful—he’s just too blind to see it clearly. You’re about to join the dance company, and you’ll have many more opportunities in the future.” Just then, there was a knock at the door. When Brad opened it and saw Cassius, his expression immediately turned cold. “What are you doing here?” Cassius responded with obvious displeasure: “Mr. Lopez, I’m here to discuss something with Elise.” “Then say it right here!” Cassius looked even more furious. Constrained by Brad’s presence, Cassius suppressed his anger and said: “I just took Wendy to the infirmary. She injured her forehead and might be left with a scar. “Elise, you went too far. You made her nearly disfigured out of jealousy. I want you to give your spot in the dance company to Wendy as compensation.” I laughed coldly in anger: “Cassius, are you insane? How can you ask me to give up my spot in the dance company? “Do you know how long I’ve been secretly practicing to get into that company?” Cassius ignored my fury completely. “You nearly disfigured Wendy. Is one spot really that important? This is what you owe Wendy!” I rolled my eyes. “Give me a break. If she had gone to the hospital any later, her wound probably would have healed already. “Besides, did I force her to run into that wall? Even if she really was disfigured, what does that have to do with me?” Cassius looked at me with disappointment and said: “Elise, when did you become so vicious? If you hadn’t made wild accusations, why would Wendy have run into the wall?” He clenched his fists, looking like he was shouldering a heavy burden. “Elise, listen. I’m doing this entirely to protect your reputation. “As long as you’re willing to give your spot to Wendy, we can treat this whole thing as a misunderstanding. In three days, we can discuss our wedding.” Cassius threatened and tempted me at the same time, thinking he’d given me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Even though I’d shown such resistance before, he still didn’t believe I was genuinely rejecting him—he just thought I was throwing a tantrum. I felt absolutely disgusted and grabbed a broom, swinging it at him hard. “Get out! Get out!” Cassius couldn’t dodge in time and got hit several times, stumbling backward. Brad quickly shut the door, keeping him outside. Only after Cassius completely disappeared did I gradually calm down and stop feeling so sick. Mom brought me a glass of water, looking at me with worry. “Elise, are you okay?” I blinked, forcing back the tears. “Dad, Mom, I’ve decided to join the dance company’s project. I’m leaving for New York in three days. I’m never coming back. Once I become famous, I’ll bring you both to live with me in New York!” Staring at the closed door, Cassius felt an uneasy stirring, as if something was slipping beyond his control. After returning home, Cassius heard from his parents that I had come looking for him, which gave him some relief. Sure enough, he thought I was just throwing a tantrum. He wondered, “If she doesn’t marry me, who else would she marry?” Cassius knew exactly how much I loved him. Since childhood, I’d followed him around like his shadow. Though he felt nothing for me, when he heard others talk about how such a beautiful girl was so infatuated with him, he couldn’t help but feel secretly pleased. Besides, if I gave up the spot, Cassius did feel guilty. Cassius had originally planned to secretly report my ring, but since I wasn’t wearing it, he had to use Wendy’s injury to threaten me instead. He certainly knew Wendy’s wall collision had nothing to do with me, but since he’d promised Wendy he’d get her the spot, he couldn’t go back on his word. Cassius planned to treat me better in the future to make up for everything he’d done to me. Before I knew it, the third day arrived, and Cassius got up early. Seeing him so happy, his comrades teased him: “Major Sullivan, you look so cheerful—what’s the good news?” Cassius couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but he felt incredibly relaxed. He thought, “Marrying Elise counts as good news, right?” Cassius remembered how during childhood games of house, I always insisted on being his wife. Now my wish seemed about to come true. As long as I gave up the dance company spot, even if Cassius couldn’t marry the woman he loved most, he figured living with me wouldn’t be too bad. At this thought, his smile grew even brighter. “Of course. I’m getting married today.” His comrades quickly congratulated him. “Congratulations, Cassius! Don’t forget to invite us to the wedding reception. Your bride is Elise, right?” “Who else would it be?” Cassius smiled as he pushed open his superior’s office door. As soon as he entered, he told his superior about getting married. His superior just looked at him with a strange expression. “You came alone? Where’s your girlfriend?” Cassius froze. He thought, “Right, where’s Elise? Didn’t I tell her to meet me in three days? Why isn’t she here?” Cassius suddenly panicked. He hurriedly excused himself and rushed to my house. My parents answered the door. Cassius felt I must have told them something, because they no longer looked at him with the same friendliness as before. He thought I was being unreasonable. He wondered, “We’re about to be family—why won’t she put in a good word for me?” He asked urgently, “Mr. Brad Lopez, Mrs. Karen Lopez, where’s Elise? Did she forget today was the day we were supposed to discuss marriage?” Brad’s cold laugh was his only response. Cassius immediately felt devastated. That ominous feeling reached its peak. Brad hesitated for a moment, then said something that shocked Cassius to his core. “What are you talking about? Elise told us long ago she wouldn’t marry you. She’s already left, so stop daydreaming!”
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