On the day of my husband, Ruben Castille's funeral, a grief-stricken woman shows up at the venue.

After putting down the white lilies, she doesn't walk away. Instead, she chooses to approach me.

"Honestly speaking, I've been envious of you for 30 years."

I frown at her in confusion. Her lips just quirk into a small smile as her gaze falls onto Ruben's portrait. Soon, her eyes redden out of emotion.

"Over the past 30 years, he's given me everything, be it love, time, and money. On top of that, he's very generous, too."

The woman pauses for a moment. She then tilts her head to look at me, her voice now tinged with resentment.

"But his only condition is that I'm not allowed to cause any trouble in front of you."

My heart skips a beat. "What do you mean by that?"

The woman laughs in return. "You two were married for 30 years. Similarly, Ruben and I were together for 30 years. Ashlee Drayton, he had already betrayed you a long time ago."

After that, she turns on her heel and walks away, leaving me rooted to the spot while feeling my limbs going cold.

My eyes go wide, and I begin breathing heavily. The betrayal and lies that have lasted for 30 years trigger me instantly, causing me to collapse at the venue.

When I open my eyes again, I've returned to the day Ruben plans on proposing to me.

"Ashlee, will you marry me?"

I fall silent for a moment. Then, I accept the ring, only to throw it into a nearby drain without hesitation.

###CONTENT

####CHAPTER-NAME:

Ashlee's POV

The proposal venue, blanketed in blossoms, instantly fell deadly silent. Friends and family who had been ready to applaud all froze, their hands suspended in midair.

Ruben Castille looked up at me, his face filled with utter bewilderment.

"Ashlee?"

He didn't yell at me. Instead, he shot to his feet and grabbed my hand, worry written all over his face.

"What's wrong? Did I do something wrong?"

I looked at him quietly. He looked exactly the same as he did in my memories. This was exactly how he'd treated me for 30 years.

No one around us would ever say that Ruben didn't love me. In fact, they'd say that he loved me more than he loved himself.

On rainy days, he'd carry me on his back so my shoes and socks wouldn't get wet. When I had bad menstrual cramps, he'd stay up all night replacing my hot water bottle and gently massaging my stomach.

When we got into a car accident, his first instinct was to shield me. He didn't even care that he broke three ribs himself.

And yet, this very man who seemed to love me more than life itself had lied to me for 30 years.

I closed my eyes and forced down the suffocating wave of emotions surging inside me. Then, under his worried gaze, I pulled my hand back and said expressionlessly, "Let's break up."

His eyes widened, and his lips turned pale. "What?"

He hurriedly grabbed me, so anxious that he even started stammering. His eyes darted around, filled with unease.

"Is… Is it because y-you don't like such a public proposal? Did it put too much pressure on you? It's my fault. Please don't be mad."

I stayed silent, but that only made him more frantic.

My younger brother, Leeland Drayton, was just as dumbfounded. He set down the confetti popper and hurried over, frowning.

"Ash, what's going on? You and Ruben have been in love since high school! He loves you so much. What are you doing?"

An uncontrollable pang of agony pierced my heart at his words. He was right.

Ruben and I had been in love for so many years. But his deception had lasted even longer than our love.

I took a deep breath. I didn't answer Leeland and instead walked away under everyone's shocked stares.

…

I'd only just arrived home when Ruben came rushing in right behind me, looking slightly harried. He hugged me tightly from behind.

"Ashlee, tell me what I did wrong, please?" he asked, his voice shaking. "I'll change. Whatever it is, I'll change. Just don't leave me."

I broke free from him. The embrace that once felt so warm now felt only cold to me.

I turned to look at him.

"Okay. Then tell me this—are you hiding anything from me?"

His expression stiffened for a split second. If I hadn't known him for two lifetimes, I would never have noticed.

"No. I swear, absolutely not."

Watching him continue to lie to me, my heart sank lower. I didn't feel like saying anything more and just went to the bedroom.

…

In the middle of the night, a vibrating phone woke Ruben up.

He called my name twice. Finding me fast asleep, he took his car keys and left.

In the darkness, I opened my eyes and quietly followed him. I wanted to know just how many more secrets he was keeping from me.

An hour later, his Maybach pulled up outside a small townhouse in the southern area of Kingsford.

With a stony expression, Ruben got out and strode inside.

I opened the wiretapping app I'd installed on his phone while he was showering earlier and put on my headphones.

The sound of arguing immediately came through.

"Didn't I tell you not to contact me unless I contacted you first?"

There was a darkness in Ruben's voice that I had never heard before.

The woman was sobbing hysterically.

"Why? I know you proposed to her today! She's your woman, but what about me? Aren't I your woman too?"

Ruben's tone was cold and indifferent. "I love her. And who do you think you are? I'm warning you, Mareya Burruss, stay away from Ashlee. Do you understand me?"

After a moment, Mareya whimpered in agreement.

"Be good," he continued, his tone softening. "I've already arranged for you to start working as an executive secretary at Castille Group. Other than marriage, I can give you anything you want—even a child. But don't cross my bottom line."

Outside, I leaned against the car seat, gripping my phone tightly. Tears fell without warning, one after another, reflecting my pale face.

The argument had already stopped by then. All that came through the headphones now were whispers of affection between the two of them.

I took a deep breath. Then, I promptly accepted the admission offer to study abroad in Norland.

I'd given up the chance to go abroad for Ruben in my past life. But this time, he was no longer worth it.

####CHAPTER-NAME:

Ashlee's POV

Mareya Burruss… I remembered now.

She had indeed worked as an executive secretary for a period of time in my past life. No wonder she had looked so familiar at the funeral.

A mocking smile tugged at my lips. So, she had already been appearing right under my nose this early on.

I went home. Not long after, Ruben returned as well.

He got back into bed and pulled me into his arms. Before long, his breathing settled into a steady rhythm.

…

The next morning, he got up to prepare breakfast for me like usual.

"I made your favorite omelette today."

The way he acted as though he hadn't snuck out the night before made me feel sick.

I started wondering how many mornings—both in my past life and this one—that I'd mistaken for happiness were actually just a facade after he'd come back from seeing another woman.

I ignored the hand he extended toward me, let alone touch the breakfast he made me.

"I told you we're breaking up. Do you not understand that?"

His expression stiffened. A flash of panic flickered in his eyes as he lowered them. "Ashlee, I won't break up."

I sneered.

"Because you don't want to give up this house? Fine. I'll move out then. Right now."

"No, that's not it!" he denied hurriedly.

Seeing the blank expression on my face, his shoulders visibly slumped.

"I'll leave. You don't have to go. But we're not breaking up. You just take some time to calm down."

With that, he untied his apron and walked out of the house looking defeated.

…

That afternoon, while preparing documents for my move abroad, I noticed Ruben's phone location was at that townhouse again.

I decided to just show up there and expose all his lies, ending everything once and for all. But just as I arrived, I saw his black Maybach speeding away.

I followed him all the way, finally stopping outside the OB-GYN department at the hospital.

My heart plummeted.

I saw him carry Mareya in his arms and enter an examination room. Standing quietly outside, I peered through the crack of the door.

The doctor handed over the ultrasound report. "Congratulations, you're pregnant. You're five weeks along, and the baby is developing very well."

Mareya's face lit up with pure joy, while Ruben pressed his lips tightly together, his expression hard to read.

"Ruben, we're having a baby! You're going to be a father!" she exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

He chuckled softly as he stroked her face. "Yeah."

…

After leaving the hospital, the two of them got back into their car, while I followed at a comfortable distance.

Soon, the sound of their arguing came through the headphones once again.

"What are you saying? You want me to let Ashlee raise my baby?" she cried out. "Have you lost your mind? That's my baby!"

"Ashlee was injured when she was young. She can't have children," he said flatly. "So, after you give birth, I'll arrange for the baby to be adopted and raised by her."

My eyes widened. I slammed on the brakes, but even the screeching of the tires couldn't drown out the frantic beating in my chest.

That child… Everything suddenly clicked into place.

In my past life, about a year after the proposal, Ruben had used my infertility as a reason to convince me to adopt a child.

At that time, I had indeed felt guilty about being unable to conceive, and I believed we needed a child, too. Thus, I agreed.

I burst out laughing. I laughed so hard that tears streamed down my face.

So, that child—the child I had raised my whole life, the child into whom I had poured everything I had—was his and Mareya's.

I gripped the steering wheel tightly. The overwhelming sense of absurdity and grief made my entire body shake uncontrollably.

I started dry heaving, and my eyes turned bloodshot.

Through the earphones, I heard Ruben say in a tone that allowed no argument, "This isn't up for discussion. I promise that you can keep and raise the next child yourself."

Though she was still crying, she gave in to his demand.

I burst out laughing again. I laughed at how the happy life I believed I had in my past life was merely layer upon layer of deception and betrayal.

The two of them returned to the townhouse. Half an hour later, I arrived as well.

I stepped out of my car, walked up to the front door, and rang the doorbell.

####CHAPTER-NAME:

Ashlee's POV

"Who is it?" Mareya asked in confusion before opening the door.

The moment her eyes landed on me, her expression froze, and her breathing turned uneven.

"A-Ash.. Ashlee?"

I pushed past her without a word, walked inside, and just so happened to lock eyes with Ruben, who was just coming out of the bathroom.

With a soft thud, the towel he was using to dry himself slipped from his hand and hit the floor. A look of utter disbelief flashed across his eyes.

I scanned the room. Only then did I notice that Ruben's personal belongings were scattered everywhere throughout the house, and even the counter was lined with framed photos of him and Mareya together.

We stared at each other from across the living room. A bitter smile tugged at my lips as I forced down the storm inside me. My hands and feet felt ice-cold.

"Didn't you say you weren't hiding anything from me? Then what exactly is all this?"

Ruben snapped back to his senses. His face instantly turned pale, and he rushed forward to grab my shoulders.

"Ash, I can explain. It's not what you think."

At such close range, the scent of Mareya's perfume was especially obvious, repeatedly triggering my near-shattered nerves.

"Let go of me!"

I wrenched myself free, and a sharp, stinging slap echoed through the room. Ruben's head snapped to the side, his cheek swelling instantly.

Mareya shrieked and lunged forward, shoving me hard. "Have you lost your mind? How can you hit him?"

Her shove sent me staggering backward.

Realizing what had happened, Ruben immediately shielded me and roared at Mareya. "Go upstairs! You have no right to touch her!"

After a moment of sheer bewilderment, she let out a bitter laugh.

"She's already found out. Do you really think the two of you can go back to how things were? I'm the only one here who truly loves you, Ruben Castille!"

His face darkened. "Get upstairs!"

But Mareya didn't move. It was as if she had been waiting for this day—the day I would find out about everything.

"Ashlee, I'm pregnant."

Ruben's eyes bulged wide. "Shut up, Mareya!" he warned harshly.

I looked at him, my gaze filled with mockery.

"What are you scared of? Let her talk. I'd love to hear just how much I don't know!"

"Ashlee…" Mareya started.

She let out a cold laugh that was laced with smugness, but her voice trembled with tears.

"The night you two graduated, he told you he was going to Blackwell City to work on a project with his advisor. But he was actually with me."

"Mareya Burruss!" Ruben bellowed.

But she ignored him and continued talking.

"The proposal the other day? All of it was my idea. Even the words he said were written by me, too. He just memorized them and recited them to you.

"And the baby? This isn't even the first one. There were two before this, but he just didn't want them."

The more she spoke, the more color drained from my face. The truth was far crueler than I could have ever imagined.

I began gasping for air, my breathing turning shallow and rapid, until I collapsed straight onto the floor.

I had a heart condition. I'd had surgery as a child, but it hadn't flared up in years.

Knowing this, Ruben threw caution to the wind. He scooped me up in his arms and rushed me to the hospital in an utter panic.

…

When I woke up again, the night had already fallen.

Ruben was sitting beside the bed, his head buried in his hands, looking completely exhausted and defeated.

Seeing me open my eyes, he practically lunged forward, his face flooded with concern.

"You're awake? Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?"

I looked at him coldly without saying a word. After a moment of silence, he dropped to one knee.

"Ash, I did all of this for you. You can't have children, so rather than adopting one with absolutely no blood relation to us, why not raise one of mine? You can understand my good intentions, right?"

My eyes widened. I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

So, all my pain—the agony of being made a fool of for half my life—was completely insignificant to him. He even believed that it was all for my own benefit.

I closed my eyes, my entire body trembling.

"Get out. Get out!"

He pressed his lips together tightly, then stepped forward to tuck my blanket in.

"I'll come see you tomorrow. You take some time to calm down. Don't get worked up again."

The second he stepped out, the hospital room door opened again, and Mareya walked in looking as if she were out for revenge.

"Oh, by the way, there's something else you should know."

####CHAPTER-NAME: