The car keys Alan chucked at me not only split my forehead open but also delivered a crystal-clear message.

'What, you thought the kid was yours?'

Maybe it was just my imagination, but when those keys thudded against my skull, I could have sworn I saw something flicker in Alan's eyes.

His voice, though, was as icy as ever. "What are you waiting for? Drive! Get Jessica to the hospital!"

In a fog, I followed his orders, slammed the pedal, and raced to the hospital.

It was not until I was fetching Alan's lab results that a nurse caught sight of my head and gasped, "You're bleeding!"

I touched my temple and felt the dried blood where my skin had split open.

I patched myself up quickly and headed back to Alan's room with the test results. As I reached the door, I caught the tail end of the doctor's warning.

"Mr. Yates, Ms. Foster and the baby were lucky this time. You'll have to be more careful in the future. The pregnancy is already high-risk due to IVF and unstable implantation."

IVF? Why would they need that?

Confusion washed over me.

Alan and Jessica were not exactly discreet about their affair. Why resort to IVF?

Lost in thought, I did not notice Alan until he stumbled right into me.

I locked eyes with him and asked, "What's this about IVF?"

He froze, his eyes flickering away, and his words came out jumbled. "IVF? No... There's no IVF!"

He looked like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. My expression darkened.

Could it be that the child...

A sudden dread gripped me.

I glared at him, my voice rising as I exclaimed, "Alan! What's going on with the IVF?"

Alan's shoulders shook under my stare, his breath quickening as if he was on the verge of spilling the truth.

"Alan, is the baby okay?"

Jessica's voice cut through, full of concern. The man jerked away from me, pushing me aside as he snapped.

"Stay out of it! Ruby, you won't hurt my and Jessica's child!"

His words hit me like a splash of cold water. I had been holding on to hope, but it vanished in an instant.

After all, it was their child, their choice.

I forced a laugh and handed the car keys back to Alan. "Sorry for meddling. If there's nothing else for me here, I'll head out and let her get her rest."

Turning to leave, I was stopped by the sound of Jessica's applause.

"Ruby, your fake innocent game is chef’s kiss—I need lessons!" she teased.

"I should've known. You took forever with that lab report because you were busy putting on a show.

"Wrapping up such a tiny scratch… You're just fishing for Alan's sympathy, aren't you?"

That was when Alan finally noticed the bandage on my forehead, his eyes briefly betraying his concern.

He reached out, as if to check on my wound, but then he abruptly pulled me in close.

"Jessica can't drive, and I need to look after her. You'll have to take us home. While you're at it, whip up some dinner and bake a cake. We've got to celebrate Jessica's birthday tonight."

It finally hit me that it was Jessica's birthday. It was also mine too. Despite being five years older, we shared the same birth date.

In my previous life with Elliot Carter, my birthdays went uncelebrated. Only Alan had cared.

However, in my new life, Alan had forgotten me entirely.

I met his gaze, my voice steady and firm. "I won't do it."

For the first time, I stood up to Alan.

In my previous life, he had avenged my death and had wanted to be laid to rest beside me. Since my fresh start, I had vowed to give him all my love.

However, I was just exhausted.

Jessica gave Alan's sleeve a gentle tug. "If Ruby's not up for it, let's not fuss. We can still have a birthday, cake or no cake."

"That's enough! You don't get to say no!" Alan snapped.

Before I could protest, he ushered Jessica and I into the car.

Back at the villa, as I methodically set about making the cake, Alan finally stepped out of the kitchen looking content.

I could still recall the first time I baked Alan a cake. His eyes sparkled with delight as he watched my every move, not taking his eyes off me for a second.

However, as time went on, even the sweetest things turned stale.

With a soft sigh, I opened the oven to retrieve the perfectly baked cake base.

"Isn't it done yet? I'm so hungry," whined Jessica from behind me.

I ignored her, but suddenly, a shove from behind sent me lurching forward.

My hand, in a frantic attempt to steady myself, landed on the searing oven rack.

"Ouch!"

The searing pain raced up from my palm as I jerked my hand back, peeling away skin that hissed against the hot metal.

Jessica quickly tapped the oven, then crumpled to the floor, clutching her hand.

"Ruby! My bad!"

"What's going on?" Alan burst into the kitchen, his voice laced with concern.

I held my wrist, my hand shaking, convinced Alan would rush to Jessica's side first.

However, to my surprise, he came straight to me, grasping my injured wrist.

His eyes filled with sympathy as he took in the sight of my blistered hand.

"What did you do to yourself..."

He looked up, his eyes meeting mine, filled with a sudden unease.

"Ruby, I know you're mad about making the cake, and I appreciate you trying to get it for me, but you didn't have to go this far..."

Jessica's tearful voice floated over, and Alan quickly released me to help her up, shooting me a harsh glare, though his voice betrayed a hint of awkwardness.

"Ruby, was that really necessary? You went way overboard, hurting yourself just as much as you tried to hurt Jessica. There was no need to be so extreme just to make a point…"

I could not help but let out a bitter laugh as I locked eyes with Alan.

"The kitchen was under the watchful eye of a camera. Just take a look for yourself..."

"There's no need for that," Alan interrupted me sharply, standing his ground.

"Jessica would never lie."

His words stabbed me, each heartbeat amplifying the pain in my chest.

Clearly, Alan was no longer concerned about me.

However, in the next moment, he unexpectedly set a first aid kit before me.

"Patch yourself up. Once the cake's done, just leave. Hospital or wherever, your choice."

With that, he turned away, taking Jessica to the living room to gently tend to her wounds.

I fought through the pain in my hand, finishing the cake, which was probably the last thing I would ever do for Alan.

That was what I told myself.

I cleaned up the kitchen, set the cake just right, and walked out the door.

He did not look at me, not even once, before I shut the door behind me.

The night air was cool, but I felt an unexpected lightness.

On my way to the hospital, a figure ran toward me. It was Elliot.

Out of breath, he seized my wrist, examining my injury, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Ruby, you're hurt so badly. Did he do this to you?

"He had you in this life, why didn't he treasure you? Just wait, I'll end him!"

I shook off his hand, icy as the night. "Stay out of it."

However, he just stood there, tears falling from his bloodshot eyes, his look sincere. I was frozen.

The man who had wounded me deeply in a previous life was suddenly shedding tears for me.

The one who had loved me deeply back then had become the cause of all my pain.

Elliot, hands shaking, pulled out a share transfer agreement and laid it before me.

"In my previous life, I wronged you in countless ways. This gift... It's for your birthday, but it's also my way of saying I'm sorry.

"I owe you more than I can ever repay... Can you ever forgive me?"

I tried to keep my distance from Elliot ever since my rebirth, but he clung to me relentlessly.

He showered me with gifts, from trinkets to lavish homes and cars, driving his family's empire into ruin.

With a heavy heart, I told him, "I can't forgive you. I won't take these things. Your parents worked hard to build what they had. Don't let it crumble because of you."

Elliot's tears flowed freely as he clutched my hand, his voice breaking, "Without you, all this means nothing to me..."

His plea was lost in the wail of an ambulance siren.

A stretcher was hurriedly wheeled from the ambulance towards the hospital doors.

"Move aside! Move aside!"

"Ruby! What did I ever do to you? Why would you poison me?"

It was not until I heard her voice that I realized Jessica was the one on the stretcher.

In the next instant, I felt a slap across my face. As I turned around, I saw Alan, his eyes blazing, standing beside me.

He ripped Elliot's hand from mine and shouted, "Ruby, you've gone too far this time!"

Before I could reply, Alan was already dragging Elliot away, following Jessica into the hospital.

I touched my tingling cheek and managed a wry smile. Then, I turned and walked away, leaving Alan with that final image of me.

'Maybe leaving him with this impression in the end wasn't so bad,' I thought.

I booked a flight to Euroland for the next day on my phone.

I planned to spend the night in a hotel and, after picking up the divorce papers in the morning, head straight to the airport.

However, as I walked, my phone rang. It was Alan.

My hand shook, and before I knew it, I had picked up the call.

His voice was frantic. "Ruby! Jessica's heart condition flared up because of what you did! Get to the hospital now for a compatibility test!"

Panic alarms blared in my head, and the agony of past memories flooded my thoughts.

Fear crept into my voice as I stammered, "No, I'm not coming."

Alan, on the other end, exploded like a cat with its tail stepped on.

"Ruby, don't bite the hand that feeds you! Just cooperate when I'm asking nicely! Don't make me drag you here myself."

My heart turned to ice, my mind a whirlwind of confusion. I ended the call in a flash and shut off my phone.

I ducked into a dingy motel on the street and got a room without giving my ID. Alan would not find me there.

I spent the night wide awake, my mind a chaotic replay of my past life's final moments.

One thing was clear. I had to keep away from him.

As dawn's light began to seep through, I splashed water on my face and made my way to the nearby County Clerk's Office.

I pushed through the door as they opened, handed over my divorce papers with Alan.

The clerk glanced at the documents and stamped them without a word. I was out in less than five minutes.

I left the office and caught a cab to the airport, the terror barely subsiding. As soon as I settled into the seat, exhaustion hit me, and I passed out.

...

When I came to, I was tied up, lying on a hospital operating table.

I tried to move, but a searing pain shot through my palm. That was no nightmare.

Alan stood there, icy and aloof, gazing down at me.

"I told you, you can't run from me. I'll always find you."

His voice was icy, emotionless. "You're a perfect heart match for Jessica. There's an organ donation form here. Sign it."

I stared at the form, terror gripping me. Memories of a previous life, signing a similar form and then being struck by a truck, flooded my mind. The agony of shattered bones seemed to echo in my body.

I shook uncontrollably, teeth gritted, forcing out the words, "No way. Not happening!"

Alan's expression darkened as he saw my defiance.

He seized my arm, his eyes boring into mine as he bellowed. "Why not? Won't you do it even for me? Won't you sign it?"

However, I saw disappointment thick in his eyes.

Was it because I would not help him save Jessica? What reason did I have to save her, anyway?

I stood my ground, chin up. "Forget it. I'm not signing it, so save your breath. If you're so set on saving Jessica, why not just take my heart right here and now?"

Alan smirked. "Alright, your wish is my command."

He snatched up a scalpel and plunged it toward my chest.

I turned away, tears trailing down my face.

Pain lanced through me, and I felt my consciousness slipping away.

Through the haze, I saw Alan, frantic and desperate, lunging toward me. "Why didn't you move..."

I tried to show him my bound hands and feet, but the ropes were gone.

It did not matter anymore. Maybe it was better to die like that. That's what I thought.

As I closed my eyes, giving in to the weakness, Alan's cries faded into the distance.

...

A sharp pain jolted me awake, and I gasped for breath, only to find myself in a hospital bed.

Alan's eyes were ringed with the kind of dark circles that spoke of sleepless nights. When he noticed I was awake, he quickly masked his concern and stood up with a stubbornness that said he was not ready to give up.

"One last time, for me, won't you reconsider signing the organ donation form?"

I turned away, letting my silence speak for me.

Alan let out a heavy sigh. "I've booked you a flight to Austalica to heal up. I'll wrap things up here and then I'll come be with you. We'll have a real heart-to-heart then."

At the airport, it suddenly hit me that the flight to Euroland I had booked before was delayed until then. It was leaving at the same time as the flight to Austalica that Alan had arranged.

It felt like fate was handing me the perfect chance to slip away from Alan for good.

"I'll go through security by myself. I'll text you when I land."

I kept my voice even as I spoke to him, and Alan nodded in response. "I'll get someone to meet you on the other side. I'll come find you as soon as I can."

"Sure."

I gave him a quick reply and walked through security, my steps feeling like they barely touched the ground.

I glanced back once before boarding the plane to Euroland.

Alan had barely stepped through his front door when his phone rang with the news from one of his guys.

"Mr. Yates... Miss Ruby's flight... There was a terrible crash. No survivors..."