Lord and Lady Rivers' genuine concern for me caused bitterness to well up in me.

After my parents passed away, I was left an orphan. It was the marquis and his wife who took me in. They raised me like one of their own, giving me all their love and everything I could ever ask for.

I had always been obedient, but this time, I was about to go against their wishes.

Staring them straight in the eyes, I uttered solemnly, "Lord Rivers, Lady Rivers, I don't want to marry Felicia anymore. I plan on heading to Jacaston tomorrow, so I won't be able to take care of you two from now on. I hope that you'll take good care of yourselves."

Lady Rivers instantly panicked when she heard that. "Your parents sacrificed themselves for the country, leaving us to raise you from a young age. Your true home is here, at the marquis' manor. Where will you go?

"Did Felicia do something to you because of that Gardner boy, and that's why you don't wish to marry her anymore? Michael, please don't think like that. You must hold a place in Felicia's heart. Otherwise, why would she risk her life twice to save you?

"Not just that, but every time it was close to your birthday, she would start searching long before that day for all sorts of precious gifts for you.

"I know that you love her a lot as well. You didn't mind learning how to cook and give a good massage, all so you could massage her daily to alleviate her arm's pain. If you two were to marry, it would undoubtedly be a happy and blissful marriage!

"Besides, that Gardner boy is clearly a playboy! What would happen to her if she were to marry him? Please don't leave due to a momentary fit of anger!"

This was exactly how they had talked me out of leaving in my past life. I had listened to them, ultimately leading to me losing my wife, them losing their daughter, and everyone feeling regret for the rest of their lives.

I explained softly, "Lady Rivers, a forced relationship won't be a happy one. Since Felicia doesn't have feelings for me, I really shouldn't force her to marry me.

"I had a dream last night where I married her. However, she refused to see me and spent her days in a glum mood. This eventually harmed her health, yet she refused to let me take care of her or even eat anything I cooked for her. She then told me that I brought her more suffering than joy.

"In the end, she even died at the young age of 30 after saving my life."

At this point, my heart was aching so much it was hard to breathe.

Lady Rivers was briefly stunned before she said, "But… that's just a dream. Michael, Felicia wouldn't do that."

I sighed forlornly and forced my lips into a small smile.

"Lord Rivers, Lady Rivers, a dream can serve as a warning or a prediction of the future. I don't mind if she doesn't marry me—that we can't be husband and wife. However, I do want her to live till a ripe old age.

"Besides, though she's the marquis' daughter, she doesn't get a lot of say when it comes to most matters. For marriage, at least, I wish to let her have the choice to choose for herself."

I bowed toward them deeply, keeping that pose, before continuing, "I've already obtained the travel papers to leave this city. Please oblige my wish, Lord Rivers, Lady Rivers. I will never forget you for raising me and will certainly repay this huge debt one day."

Lord Rivers pursed his lips and tugged me so that I was standing straight again. As for Lady Rivers, she wiped the tears from her face before stuffing a pouch full of money into my hand.

"Since you've already made up your mind, we'll go along with your wishes. However, remember this. No matter what happens, the marquis' manor, this place, will always be your home."

A wave of bittersweet joy swept through me, and I gave them another bow. "Thank you so much, Lady Rivers."

As long as I cut off all ties with Felicia, the tragedy of my past life wouldn't happen again. She'd get to live a long life, and Lady Rivers and Lord Rivers wouldn't hate me out of grief for killing their daughter.

In this life, everyone would get to live happily.

With that, Felicia's second regret was laid to rest.

I had to fulfill all three of her dying wishes within 24 hours, but there was still one last regret to handle. Would I succeed?

…

That night, I went to Star Tower. All around me were married couples, there to pray for a long life together.

"Michael Sommerson."

A familiar voice suddenly reached my ears.

I turned around in delight, only to be greeted with a scowling Felicia. She seized my wrist without any warning, her eyes red-rimmed and blazing with fury.

"You clearly know that I most hate people who like to throw their weight around. I simply didn't return to the manor with you, yet you went tattling to my parents and instigating them into harshly humiliating Samuel. Now, he's decided he doesn't want to live anymore and has taken poison to end his life. Are you finally satisfied?"

All the color drained from my face.

In my previous life, after Samuel learned that Felicia was marrying me, he couldn't accept it and poisoned himself one month later to end his life. Felicia failed to find a matching blood donor for him to cure the poison and could do nothing but watch as he died.

That was the incident that fully pushed her dislike into hatred, and even till her dying breath, she absolutely hated me.

This time around, however, I wasn't marrying Felicia, so why had Samuel attempted to end his life again?

Here I was, wondering how I was supposed to fulfill her third wish, and the opportunity had come knocking on my door.

I looked at Felicia. "So, you're here to take my blood to cure his poison, right?"

Upon hearing that, Felicia was visibly surprised, as though she hadn't expected me to say that. Then, she answered darkly, "Do you think I wouldn't dare? You're the reason Samuel was humiliated and pushed to the point of imbibing poison. It's only right that you repent for your sins."

With that, she took me straight to Samuel's residence.

Samuel lay on the bed, barely clinging on to life. The doctor took out a dagger that he used to slice my arm open, the pain causing me to grunt.

A moment later, the doctor exclaimed joyfully, "There's a reaction! This gentleman's blood is indeed a match. However, to save the patient, this gentleman's heart's blood is required, and I'm not sure if his body can handle the strain."

"No!" Felicia's expression instantly changed at the doctor's words, her brows furrowing deeply. "Taking his heart's blood is going to leave him half-dead! He can't handle that. Is there no other blood that will work?"

A conflicted look crossed the doctor's face. "Other bloods won't work as well, if they even work. If you're unwilling to take this gentleman's heart's blood, then you need to mentally prepare for the worst. Taking his heart's blood won't kill him, but the poisoned gentleman will definitely die without it."

Felicia pressed her lips into a thin line, her gaze locked on Samuel.

I could tell how much it hurt her to see him like this, so I turned to the doctor and said, "I'm willing to save his life. Go ahead and take my blood."

The doctor glanced at Felicia. "But this will greatly harm your body."

Nonetheless, I simply replied with a smile, "It's alright. I just need to rest and recuperate. Saving another person's life is more important."

For a moment, Felicia just stared at me. Eventually, she frowned and cut off a corner of her white dress, using the strip of cloth to cover my eyes.

"I'll count this as me owing you a debt. Rest assured that I'll make it up to you."

After she left, the doctor began taking my heart's blood. The scalpel dug into the skin of my chest, the pain growing stronger and clearer the further in the blade cut.

My mind suddenly filled with memories of my past with Felicia.

My parents died when I was eight years old, leaving me to the mercy of the other family heirs, who picked on me and jeered at me for having no parents to back me up.

It was Felicia who had beat them up and sent them packing, after which she tightly gripped my hand.

"Don't be scared. I'll protect you."

She had kept her promise, protecting me even when that led to her dying right there in my arms.

Hence, I couldn't not love her.

Still, I knew that with this second chance at life, I had to give up everything if it meant I could cut off all ties with her.

As my heart's blood was drained, warm blood seeped continuously from the corner of my mouth. The agony sent me crashing to the ground, and right before I lost consciousness, I dazedly recalled the very last words she said to me in my last life.

"Michael Sommerson, how wonderful my life would've been if I hadn't met you…"

Tears slipped from my eyes as I smiled weakly. "Felicia, this time, I won't cling to you anymore."

…

When I regained consciousness, I realized that I had been left alone in the room next door.

A wave of agony crashed through me, originating from my chest and leaving me completely sapped of strength. I couldn't even find the energy to move.

From my position, I could see the sun outside the window. Judging from how high it hung in the sky, I guessed that it was getting close to the time for me to leave.

Just then, the loud chattering of a few female attendants drifted in from the open window.

"Did you all see the once-in-a-century shooting star event last night?"

"I did! It was breathtaking! Supposedly, lovers who watch it together will grow old together!"

I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret when I heard the satisfaction and delight in their voices. It was truly a pity that I had missed out on such an amazing sight again.

Not long after that, Felicia entered the room with a tray of food. It was filled with all my favorite breakfast foods.

The sight of those dishes left me momentarily stunned, as I hadn't expected her to still remember.

Felicia stared at me and said in a rare gentle tone, "Does your chest still hurt? Should I get the doctor to take a look? Thanks to you, Samuel is no longer at risk of dying."

I nodded. "Okay."

The furrow between Felicia's eyes didn't ease up, seemingly because of how pale I looked. "I was a little too harsh with my words yesterday, so don't take it to heart. It's just that Samuel is innocent in all this, and you shouldn't have gotten him involved in our matters. Don't go tattling to my parents about him again, got it?"

My heart cracked a little at her words, but instead of pitifully trying to explain like I had in my previous life, I simply smiled.

"Got it. There won't be a next time."

Felicia tucked the blanket in around me tighter.

"I wasn't able to go watch the shooting star with you last night, so how about I visit your hometown with you? I remember you liked Jacaston, right? Let's go to Jacaston together after visiting your parents' graves."

I was briefly stunned, but then I smiled faintly and replied, "No need. You don't have to pay me back for what I did last night. I saved Mr. Gardner of my own volition."

Felicia was silent for a moment, a storm of emotions raging in her eyes. Then, she said, "I've already arranged for a carriage to take us out of the city in five days. Once you've recovered, we'll depart."

I didn't bother speaking again, merely quietly watched her.

She picked up a bowl of oatmeal, her right hand trembling badly. That was the arm that had been hurt when she saved me from the bandits back then. The tendons had been injured, so every time the weather was rainy or damp, her hand would hurt. Not just that, but even simple daily motions like picking up a fork took effort.

My nose tingled at the sight, and my heart ached for her. I asked, "Do you regret saving me? You became like this only because of me."

Her tone was calm as she replied, "There's nothing to regret. If it had been anyone else, I would've stepped in to rescue them too."

At that, my eyes darkened, but I continued with another question, my voice softer than before. "Then, what about the time you climbed that steep cliff to find me that herb to cure my illness? Would you have done the same for anyone else?"

"Yes."

As I expected, I wasn't anyone special to her.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I still forced my lips to curve into a smile.

"Felicia, thank you for saving me again and again. I lost my parents when I was still very young, so I've always desperately wanted a family. That's why I forced you to marry me. However, my impulsive and rash behavior must have caused you so much frustration and suffering, huh?"

From today on, though, that would change.

She would no longer need to abandon the man she loved and be forced to marry me. We wouldn't spend the next ten years torturing each other, and, more importantly, she wouldn't die at the young age of 30 for my sake. In this life, she would get to live a happy and long life.

I thought I saw a hint of panic flash across her face, and she opened her mouth as though to say something.

However, she was interrupted by an attendant, who urgently reported, "Lady Felicia, Mr. Gardner has awoken and is anxiously searching for you. He absolutely refuses to eat anything! Please hurry over to him!"

Immediately, a smile lit up Felicia's pretty face. Before leaving, she threw me one last glance, saying, "Wait for me to return."

"Felicia," I called out with a gentle smile, "I'm sorry, and also, I wish you a long, trouble-free life."

My choice of words confused Felicia, even as an inexplicable sense of unease spread through her. "Why are you saying such things out of the blue? I'm just going to check on Samuel and will be back very soon. Eat something first while you wait for me to return. I have something to say to you."

With that, she turned and left.

I was scheduled to leave the city at ten o'clock, which was creeping ever closer, so I got out of bed.

When the doctor came to examine me, he also prescribed me some medicine.

I shot him a grateful smile and said, "I'll be sure to take the medicine on time. Thank you so much, doctor. Also, could you help me pass on a message to Lady Felicia? Tell her that I've gone to Jacaston and that I hope she'll take good care of herself. Besides that, tell her that she shouldn't miss me."

…

After Felicia finished checking up on Samuel, she rushed back toward the room I had been in, only to find it empty.

Hailing an attendant, she asked, "He still hasn't fully recovered yet, so where has he gone?"

Before the attendant could reply, a guard dashed over anxiously.

"Lady Felicia, bad news! Bandits overtook the road leading away from the city and assaulted anyone who passed by. All the citizens involved are injured but alive, all except Mr. Sommerson, who died from too much blood loss, especially after having his heart's blood drained away just recently."