A year after my husband's passing, I visited the chapel at the old Wilson manor to pay my respects, only to find his name missing. Infuriated, I stormed into the Wilson household.

Houston Wilson sighed with resignation, "Laurel, Jaiden asked me to have him and Reina laid to rest together." He continued, "He said that he and Reina missed their chance in this life and wanted to walk side by side in the afterlife."

Reina Gutierrez was Jaiden Wilson's first love...

When I blinked again, I found myself back on the day Jaiden brought Reina back from Europe. This time, I didn't hold on. Instead, I honored his wishes and ended our engagement, throwing myself into a confidential research project.

Immersing myself at a leading research institute, I helped place our work at the forefront of biomedical engineering worldwide.

---

Sunlight seeped through the curtains, bathing my face. I slowly opened my eyes, my head heavy and my throat burning, leaving me weak and exhausted. This pneumonia struck with a vengeance, sapping my strength with a constant fever and relentless cough; I had been recuperating at home for a week.

Upon hearing of my illness, Houston Wilson came with some health supplements, urging me to rest well. However, Jaiden, my fiancé, was back five days from successfully acquiring a multinational corporation, yet he hadn't visited me once.

That day, he unexpectedly showed up. Seeing my pale, disheveled appearance, his first instinct wasn’t concern, but a frown and a reprimand. "Laurel Meyer, as my supposed fiancée, can’t you at least maintain your appearance?"

His eyes were filled with disdain, completely indifferent to my health. Sadness welled up within me, and I tried to retort, only for a cough to interrupt me.

“Jaiden Wilson, if you’re here just to criticize, you can leave now,” I managed to say hoarsely, catching my breath.

Jaiden finally noticed his insensitivity. He paused, turned to the kitchen, and returned with a cup of hot tea, gently blowing on it before handing it to me. "Drink some tea to soothe your throat."

Startled by this unexpected gesture, so contrary to his usual indifference, I accepted the cup. Then he produced an elegant box from his suit pocket, presenting it with a conciliatory smile. “I picked this up during my trip. See if you like it.”

Opening the box, I gave the expensive diamond bracelet a cursory glance. In a past life, I had hesitantly asked for a birthday gift, only to be met with scorn and accusations of materialism.

Lifting my eyes to meet his, I retorted with irony, “Just tell me what you really want.”

Jaiden laughed awkwardly, taking a seat beside me. "Laurel, Reina's back. I’d like you to give up your research institute spot to her, as a favor."

That spot was one I had fought hard to secure. It represented countless sleepless nights of research, experiments, and competitive scholarly efforts. It was meant to be a pivotal step in my academic journey, the beginning of my future in research.

In my previous life, Jaiden had made the same request. I had relented for the sake of our marriage, only to be left with nothing but regret. In this life, I wouldn’t repeat the same mistake.

“Jaiden Wilson, why should I, on a mere whim of yours, hand over what I worked so hard to achieve?”

Unconcerned, Jaiden frowned, "You already have the position of Mrs. Wilson. Isn’t that enough? It’s my marriage to you that wronged Reina; it’s a debt we owe her."

"If you won’t give her the spot, then I’ll break off our engagement!"

With that threat, Jaiden slammed the door as he left. I watched him go, feeling nothing but disdain and resentment. I wouldn’t repeat history; in this life, I would never marry him.

After recovering, I decided it was time to have a conversation with Jaiden Wilson about ending our engagement. When I reached his villa on the edge of town, I rang the doorbell, but there was no answer. Just as I was about to leave, an unusual sound from inside caught my attention. My heart sank, my hand trembling as I pushed the door, which, to my surprise, opened easily.

Inside, the sounds became more distinct, coming from upstairs. Each step up the staircase felt like a heavy weight on me, my heartbeat echoing like thunder in the quiet space. When I reached the bedroom door, slightly ajar, the scene that met my eyes struck me like a bolt of lightning.

Clothes were scattered all over the floor, with intimate lingerie casually draped over the bedpost. There, entangled, were Jaiden and Reina Gutierrez. Her arms wrapped around his neck, her eyes dazed. Jaiden’s hand glided slowly over Reina’s bare back, his touch igniting long-hidden desires. Their breathing was rapid, intertwined, as Reina lifted her head, a soft, barely perceptible moan escaping her lips. Jaiden buried his face in her neck and shoulder, showering her with kisses that made her body shiver involuntarily.

I had always known that Jaiden had never truly gotten over Reina, but I had never witnessed their intimate moments firsthand. Confronted with this now, I found my heart torn open, bleeding anew despite believing it had grown numb.

With eyes burning red, I charged into the room without hesitation. “Jaiden Wilson, you shameless cheat!”

Jaiden jerked at the sudden intrusion, hurriedly grabbing the sheets to cover himself. But when he realized it was me, a hint of mockery and disdain crossed his face. “You're too late to ask for forgiveness now.”

“Look at you, acting like a madwoman. You deserve to be left.”

Jaiden showed no remorse, instead pulling Reina closer. Reina pretended to be vulnerable, snuggling further into his embrace, her eyes showing a hint of triumph. “Sister, clinging on like this only humiliates you more and makes Jaiden hate you even more. Why not spare yourself the embarrassment and leave?”

My hands clenched tightly at my sides, nails digging into my palms, yet I felt no pain. Moments later, I turned on my heel and stormed into the bathroom, filling a basin with ice-cold water before heading back to the bedroom.

Under their shocked gaze, I unhesitatingly dumped the entire basin over the entwined couple. “From this moment on, we're done!”

With that, I slammed the basin onto the floor and left with determined strides. Behind me, Jaiden shouted, “Laurel Meyer, how dare you humiliate me like this! You'll regret it!”

Reina’s shrill voice, laced with fake sobs, pierced the air. Ignoring it all, I walked out of the villa without looking back.