I made the decision to break up with Layla Freeman as I opened my eyes once more.

She wanted to take Charles Jones and his son home so she could take care of them, so I would logically leave.

I had a lot of arguments with Layla in my former life because of Charles and his son.

She paid for Charles’ son’s wedding using the money I had saved for my retirement.

Ultimately, the bitter cold killed me in the winter.

When Layla found out about that, she was not filled with sadness.

Rather, she accused me of dying on her godson’s wedding day.

I would leave her and not have anything to do with her in this life.

“The college has reserved a spot for you to study abroad. Discuss this with your family if you would like to go…”

“Yes, I would love to!” I anxiously flexed my fingers, and my palms started sweating. I agitatedly expressed my decision again.

Surprise gleamed in Alex Smith’s eyes. He was my lecturer.

“Will… Layla agree?”

In my former life, I gave up the chance to go abroad to be with Layla Freeman, my fiancee.

But after that, she wanted to further her studies and went to Northcall where Charles Jones and his son, Caleb Jones, were.

I could only stay in Liville because of my career. I transferred money to her every month for her studies. I also cared for her parents and her troublemaker of a younger brother.

At first, I thought that we could start a family after she graduated.

But she made an excuse about her career and did not come home after graduation.

She would only text me when she needed money.

Finally, I could meet her during the New Year. However, she came home with Charles and Caleb.

She expressed pity for the widower and his son, which made me speechless.

After that, they watched the New Year parade together and took pictures at Sky Square. They were close like a family, which made me express my jealousy.

I told her that her parents wanted grandchildren and that I wanted to have children with her. However, fury gripped her.

“Zayn MacQuoid, you can’t be this selfish! I’m working hard right now. I can’t have kids!”

I compromised to quell her anger.

I valued her career, but she resigned so that she could take care of Charles and Caleb better.

Besides, she used the money I had saved for retirement for Caleb’s wedding.

My leg hurt terribly during that winter, but I was too poor to see a doctor.

Moreover, the temperature at home was freezing. It made me shiver.

I tried calling Layla for money, but she hung up on me repeatedly.

I could not hold on since I was old. In the end, I froze to death.

I was found a month later.

A police officer informed Layla about it.

At first, I assumed that she would feel guilty when she saw me. But I was wrong.

She wore a resentful face as she complained that I had passed away on her godson’s wedding day.

“Look what have you done, Zayn MacQuoid! You didn’t even die on a less important day. Stop disgusting me!”

At that moment, I felt disappointment fill my very being.

Fortunately, God gave me another chance.

During this life, I would have nothing to do with her.

I looked firmly at Alex. “This is my affair. I don’t have to ask anyone else.”

After a brief pause, Alex nodded with gratification. He had not expected me to say such a thing given how madly I was in love with Layla.

“You’re all grown up.”

Certainly, I was much more mature since I had lived twice.

I bade him goodbye and went home.

Layla was not home yet. But luckily, I was used to it.

I made some pasta for myself. But there was some noise at the door while I was eating it.

Layla came home with Charles and Caleb.

Charles and Caleb smoothly took off their shoes and coats at the door. Besides, the three of them talked and laughed while praising the movie they had watched that day.

They were stunned briefly when they found me in the living room.

Charles was wearing a cashmere sweater and a pair of sweatpants. He was the first to break the stalemate.

“I’m sorry, Zayn. I just got back to Liville and didn’t get to clean my house up. So, I brought Caleb here for a meal. I’m sure you won’t mind.”

If I was not mistaken, he had been back for three months.

Charles pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses as he cracked an annoying smile. Caleb leaped and ran to me, pointing at my pasta and asking for some of it. He also insisted that I make it for him.

“You can’t be rude to Mr. MacQuoid.”

“But I want some pasta. I’m Ms. Freeman’s guest. It’s not a big deal to ask him to make some pasta for me!”

Charles feigned helplessness.

Layla did not say anything. Instead, she dragged me to the kitchen with a clear intention.

However, displeasure washed over her because I remained motionless.

“Stop being mad at a child! He likes your cooking because you cook well!”

At first, I thought she would mock me more. Unexpectedly, she stopped talking and started cooking some pasta attentively.

Caleb liked food with a richer taste. Hence, Layla added some peppers to the pasta.

When she served it, she told Caleb to be careful since the pasta was hot. On the other hand, my cold pasta was laid aside and was ignored.

I would have gotten jealous in my previous life. But I was not sad when I saw the three of them talking and laughing at the dining table.

All I could think of was getting out of there as early as possible.

Before I bade Alex goodbye, he told me that the tentative date for going abroad was set for the twentieth of the next month.

“You can use this period to handle your stuff.”

I shared Alex’s thoughts.

I had to cancel my engagement with Layla before I went abroad. Her parents had given their blessings to our marriage. Besides, we knew each other well since we grew up together. Thus, we got engaged after our college entrance examination.

This was common during the 1980s.

It was not a big deal to cancel the engagement. But I was indebted to Layla’s parents. I had to visit them and tell them about it. I wondered when would be the right time.

“Zayn, we’re leaving!” Charles’ voice disrupted my thoughts.

I looked up and scanned them.

Caleb hugged Layla and refused to let go.

“Ms. Freeman, I want to sleep with you and Daddy.”

Charles glanced at me before he loudly rebuked Caleb. “Nonsense!”

It sounded like he purposely said that for me.

“You’re not a baby. Stop pestering Ms. Freeman. It’s embarrassing!”

“Don’t say that about Caleb.” Layla never stopped smiling.

Charles rubbed his temples and pretentiously heaved a sigh.

“I’m worried that Zayn might overthink. After all, you guys are engaged to each other. He didn’t say anything when I came with Caleb and while Caleb was eating. I’m afraid he has a problem with me.” He smiled bitterly. “Caleb is insensible, but I can’t be rude.”

“He’s always had a poker face. Stop overthinking.”

Layla watched them off. I thought she would make an excuse and would not come home. Unexpectedly, she re-entered the house in two minutes.

“I didn’t come home in time to celebrate your birthday with you today. Are you mad?”

Birthday? Stunned, I recalled that it was my birthday. But I had never celebrated it since my parents had passed away.

In the past, I did mention it to her, but she did not take it to heart.

She took my silence as an approval and pursed her lips to explain herself.

“Didn’t I tell you? I took care of them due to my best friend’s dying wish. I promised her I would take good care of them. I can’t break my promise.” She softened her tone because of my silence. “I won’t bring them home again.”

I silently did the dishes.

Layla did not notice something wrong with me. She kept telling me that her parents sprained their ankles when they were doing farm work.

“I have a lot of classes these days…”

I calmly said, “I’ll visit them.”

I could grab that chance to make things clear to her parents.

Instantly, she smiled. She pounced on me to hug me, but I dodged her. She reeked of cigarettes.

Layla woke up early the next day to buy breakfast for me.

“Good morning! I won’t stay home and have breakfast with you since I’m heading out for my classes.”

I watched her leave in a hurry and was distracted. She seemed strange to me, as if she was different from herself in our former life. But that weird feeling soon disappeared.

I went to a shop to buy something for her parents but ran into her, the person who was supposed to be attending classes.

Smiling happily, she held Charles with one hand and Caleb with the other. During both lives, she would only smile like that with Charles around.

I did not disturb them. Instead, I quietly bought the things I wanted and left.

When I walked past a bookstore, I gave some sweets to the shop owner. He took great care of me when I was in school. Besides, he would ask about my intentions first when he needed a part-timer in his shop.

I bade him goodbye before leaving. “Thank you for taking care of me, Mr. Fowler.”

Greg Fowler dismissed it. “I did that out of selfishness. I noticed my business picking up since you started working in the store.”

Layla carried Caleb in his arms and walked past the store while I was chatting and laughing with Greg.

Greg nudged my shoulders and asked me softly who the child was.

“I saw your fiancee carrying him several times. A man was with her too during the first few times. He was wearing gold-rimmed glasses and didn’t look like a nice guy! Zayn, you must be careful and stop him from snatching your fiancee.”

Everyone knew that I was deeply in love with Layla. They often teased me about that.

“You don’t act like she’s your fiancee. You take great care of her as if she were your daughter.”

With me around, she did not have to worry about anything. When she first went there to study, she could not get along with her roommate. Hence, I rented a house for her outside.

She was too lazy to clean up and was reluctant to cook. Thus, I moved in to stay with her even though my room was used to store miscellaneous items.

In the past, I thought my sincerity would help me win her heart too. But I was wrong. Some people were just heartless.

In my former life, I led a miserable life. Of course, there was something wrong with me as well.

“Stop teasing me. Layla and I aren’t married.”

Greg was stunned. “Aren’t you guys engaged to each other?”

I looked down at the stuff I had bought for Layla’s parents and said indifferently, “It doesn’t mean that I’m going to marry her.”

When I got home, I started packing my stuff. I wanted to stay in my homeland when I visited Layla’s parents. I could also visit my parents.

Hence, I bought a ticket for that afternoon. Before leaving, Layla came home. She gave me some snacks to eat during the journey.

She even told me that she had wanted to go with me.

“But I’m busy here. So, you need to help me visit my parents.”

“Mm, it’s fine. Go ahead with your work.”

After half-heartedly talking to her, I took the ride to go back to Cliffwood.

When I arrived, I bought some other things for Layla’s parents before I went to them.

It was already dark when I reached their house.

They were surprised at the sight of me before they grinned.

“What are you doing back?” They looked past me. When they found me alone, they asked if I had argued with Layla.

I carried the stuff into their house and shook my head before I told them why I was there.

“You want to cancel the engagement?” David Freeman, Layla’s father, was surprised at first. Then, he was overcome with anger. But he was not mad at me.

“Did my daughter do anything that made you sad? Tell me! I’ll scold her!”

Madeline Freeman, Layla’s mother, yanked David and asked him to calm down.

I shook my head to deny it. “She’s good. But maybe… We aren’t suitable for each other.”

They stopped dissuading me, given my firm attitude. But David wanted to buy me a drink.

After a few glasses of beer, David got drunk. He told me that he knew I was trying to defend Layla.

“You’re always sensible and responsible. If she hadn’t done anything wrong, you wouldn’t cancel the marriage… What a pity that I lost a good son-in-law.”

I chuckled and shook my head before I got a cup of warm water for him.

“I’ll always remember you and Mrs. Freeman’s kindness even if I won’t marry Layla. Just see me as your son. I’ll be nice to you like Sam.”

At the mention of Sam Freeman, David’s son, David kept sighing.

“I wouldn’t have sprained my ankle if he were half as good as you.”

We chatted with each other until the middle of the night.

The next day, Madeline made me coffee to keep me sober.

She was worried that I might feel awkward about canceling the engagement. She kept talking to me so I would not take it to heart.

“You don’t have anything to do at college, do you? Just stay here for a few days. I got some new fabric. I can make you some clothes…”

Her nagging made my eyes turn red. They were so nice to me.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for me to go abroad. I went back two days in advance.

I was wondering if the money I saved was enough during the journey. As I dwelled on it, I felt that it was fine as long as I had some money.

I saved some money while I was working for Greg. Besides, I earned some money from translating books a while ago. It would be enough for my living costs for a short while.

I grinned and smiled foolishly at the thought of my future. I casually touched my bag and found some money that David and Madeline had secretly stuffed into my bag. There was quite a lot of money. But their money was hard-earned.

For a moment, I teared up. I muttered my gratitude.