I replied, "No, thanks. I already ate out."

"How is that possible? Aren't you usually the one who never wants to spend a dime?" Jessica asked.

Her words stung, precisely because they were once true. I'd been frugal to a fault, saving every penny from my part-time job just to spend it on her and buy her stuff.

Now that I was going to college, there was so much to spend on, and every penny also had to be carefully budgeted.

I looked up at her and said calmly, "I remember giving you the money a few days ago to buy wedding supplies. It looks like you didn't buy anything with it, so just return it to me."

Jessica froze for a second, then offered an awkward explanation. "That money… I used it to buy dress shoes for Marcus."

I couldn't help pursing my lips. Seriously? It was the same nonsense as always.

"If there's nothing else, I'm closing the door and going to bed," I said.

"I'll pay you back tomorrow," Jessica said, with a hint of annoyance in her voice. "We're married. Do you really have to make such a big deal about this?"

I couldn't help but sneer at her words.

"So, I'm not even allowed to fuss over the fact that my hard-earned savings are being spent on someone else?" I retorted.

Even though Jessica knew she was wrong, she still muttered stubbornly, "You're being unreasonable."

I didn't bother arguing with her anymore and slammed the door shut.

Over the next few days, I sold off some of my worthless personal items—the sentimental keepsakes from my past life. Looking back now, they were nothing but cheap junk. I bundled everything up and sold it to a scrap collector for a small amount of money.

As I continued packing that afternoon, Jessica stood in front of me, holding the money. She said stiffly, "Here's your money."

I took it and nodded. "Thanks."

She looked at me with a complicated expression before her eyes fell on my packed luggage.

"I've decided that Marcus will join me at the duty station in Lisbeth first. There's no need for you to pack."

I nodded and continued packing.

Jessica seemed unsettled by my attitude, clearly not used to me being so indifferent. "What's wrong with you lately? It's like you've become a different person."

I turned away impatiently as I didn't want to complicate matters.

She didn't love me, but if she noticed Marcus' name on the marriage papers, she might still push to redo it with me for his sake. But I wanted nothing more to do with this scumbag couple.

"It's nothing. I just want to pack my things," I said. "Once you're in Lisbeth, I'll move back to the countryside."

Jessica looked relieved and explained, "It's not that I don't want you to come with me, but Marcus has never been to Lisbeth and wants to visit. In a few months, I'll arrange for you to join me."

I nodded absentmindedly.

In my past lives, she never arranged for me to join her for eight long years. It wasn't until Marcus married a prestigious military family's daughter that Jessica, in crushed acceptance, brought me to Lisbeth.

My silence was clearly unnerving her. When we were alone, I'd normally chatter nonstop. But now, my reticence made her restless.

"Didn't you always want to take wedding photos? Let's go to the studio tomorrow."

No way was that happening. I planned to buy supplies for college tomorrow.

Just as I was about to fabricate an excuse, Marcus walked in. He draped his arm affectionately around Jessica's shoulders. "What's this about a studio? I want to take pictures, too."

She laughed and patted his head. "Sure. We can all go together tomorrow."

"You guys go ahead. I have something to do tomorrow," I said.

Jessica frowned. "What could possibly be more important than taking our wedding photos?"

"Let's go take the photos first. I'll go with you to buy whatever you need afterward," Jessica said firmly, as if giving me no room for refusal.

Marcus chimed in, "Yeah, Zach. You're not refusing to go because of me, are you?"

At that point, I didn't feel like arguing and just nodded in agreement.

Early the following morning, I could hear Jessica fussing in Marcus' room, coaxing him out of bed.

The bright red numbers on the calendar reminded me that my freedom was just four days away.

Just as my patience was wearing thin, they finally dragged their feet out of the room.

Jessica diligently fetched hot water and personally washed Marcus' face. I must have been blind in my past life to naively think that once we were married, she'd treat me the same way.

I was lost in thought when Jessica shyly walked over to me, holding a ring. "Mrs. Wilson said couples these days wear wedding rings, so I got you one."

I didn't take it when I recalled there had been no rings in my past life.

As soon as Marcus saw it, he frowned. "That looks great. I want one, too."

I generously offered, "Then take it."

Jessica's face instantly darkened. "Stop messing around. This is our wedding ring."

Marcus snatched the ring, slipped it onto his own finger, and waved it at her. "Does it look good on me?"

She looked at him with undisguised affection and nodded with a smile. Then, she turned to me guiltily and whispered, "I'll… I'll buy you another one next time."

I nodded indifferently. I'd heard her make promises like that countless times and never seen her follow through.

…

At the photography studio, Marcus went first and even took several photos with Jessica. When it was my turn with her, the photographer raised his camera but awkwardly lowered it again.

"Oops. Sorry, but I'm all out of film."

I secretly cheered, but kept a straight face, saying calmly, "Oh. Forget it, then."

As we left the studio, Jessica pulled a train ticket from her pocket and handed it to me. It was a standing-room-only ticket to Lisbeth, departing in four days.

"I don't mean to leave you behind. I'll get settled first and wait for you there," she said.

The trip would take three days and nights. I had no idea how she thought I could stand for that long during the journey.

Besides, there was only one spot for family accompaniment, so where was I supposed to live once I got there? But asking now wouldn't get me a satisfactory answer.

Seeing me accepting the ticket, Jessica was visibly relieved. "Don't worry. Even if you don't stay in the military housing, you're still my one and only husband. I'll treat you well from now on. By the way, I only treat Marcus as my younger brother."

At that moment, because she had never spoken to me so tenderly before, I felt my guard slip a little.

Suddenly, a truck came speeding around the corner straight toward us. Jessica grabbed Marcus' hand and pulled him to safety.

In the chaos, I felt someone shove me. As the car barreled toward me, I froze in terror. The vehicle swerved sharply and hit me, dragging me along the ground. The pain was so intense that I blacked out, and cold sweat streamed down my face.

The driver hurriedly jumped out of the car and asked incoherently, "Young man, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

A crowd began to gather, pointing and murmuring.

My gaze cut through the onlookers, fixing squarely on Jessica. She was comforting Marcus and was completely unaware of what had just happened to me. Or perhaps she noticed and simply didn't care.

I smiled bitterly, and the last shred of hesitation in my heart vanished completely. So, this was what Jessica meant by treating me well from now on.

The driver soon took me to the hospital. After a thorough examination, it turned out I only had some cuts and minor internal displacement. My whole body ached as I lay in the hospital bed, but my mind was surprisingly calm.

Late that night, Jessica walked in with exhaustion written all over her face. Seeing I was awake, a flicker of panic crossed her features. "Are you alright? Do you feel any better?

I looked at her coldly and said nothing.

She wrung her hands nervously as she explained, "Marcus was traumatized by the accident. I've been staying with him this whole time, so…"

Under my unwavering gaze, her words faltered, and she trailed off awkwardly.

"Listen. It all happened so fast, and Marcus was closer to me. I just reacted on instinct…" Jessica paused, seemingly searching for the right words. "I didn't know you would get hit."

I interrupted her, "When are you planning to leave for Lisbeth?"

She replied hesitantly, "Tomorrow."

"Got it. I need to rest now. You should go," I said, closing my eyes and dismissing her.

Jessica seemed to want to say more, but in the end, she took the hint and left.

…

The next day, Margaret came to visit me in the hospital. She carried a thermal lunchbox, her face wreathed in smiles. "Zachary, Jessica asked me to look after you. Are you feeling better?"

"I'm feeling much better. Thank you, Mom," I said.

As she poured me some soup, she rambled on. "Jess is so clumsy. I don't know if she'll be able to take good care of Marcus…"

Halfway through, she seemed to realize her slip and paused awkwardly.

"Mom, the one marrying Jessica is Marcus."

Margaret was stunned. It took her a long moment to process what I'd said.

"What… What did you say?"

"The marriage application I submitted was for Marcus," I replied.

Her face went from shock to pure delight.

"You really did the right thing. I knew you were the sensible one," she said, gripping my hand excitedly. "Thank you, Zachary. Thank you for making this possible for them."

I smiled faintly and said nothing.

Making it possible for them? I was really just making it possible for myself.

Jessica's heart had always belonged to Marcus. Even if I had devoted myself to her in my past life, she still left all her inheritance to him in her old age.

"Mom, let's not tell them about this yet."

Margaret smiled from ear to ear. "Okay. I understand. So… What are your plans for the future?"

"I'll be leaving in a few days, too," I said, but didn't reveal where I was going.

She wanted to continue asking, but her mind was occupied with Jessica and Marcus' wedding.

Seeing that, I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep.

I didn't notify anyone on the day I was discharged. Before leaving, I wrote a letter to Jessica.

"Jessica, by the time you read this, I'll already be on a train heading south. I know you've always loved Marcus, so I'm stepping aside for the two of you. Our fate together has run its course, and I wish you both happiness."

I slipped the letter, along with the train ticket to Lisbeth and the marriage certificate, into an envelope and mailed it to their address.

After that, I dragged my suitcase and headed straight for the train station.