During the Christmas holiday, on a snowy road home, my ex-husband, Nolan Vance, and I were in a severe car accident.

When I opened my eyes again, we had both been reborn to the eve of our college graduation, a time that would decide our futures.

In my previous life, our marriage was a seven-year charade of politeness and distance, leaving us more like roommates than husband and wife. He was still hung up on his childhood sweetheart, Blair Kensington, and flat-out refused to have a child with me.

This time, I decided to let go.

I blocked all his social media accounts, changed my phone number, and accepted an offer for advanced studies at Johns Hopkins University.

…

Seven years later, at our ten-year high school reunion, a successful Nolan announced his engagement to Blair.

When he spotted me, he couldn't resist a taunt. "Ava, I know you always carried a torch for me, but you don't have to throw your life away for me."

I didn't respond. I just took the hand of my six-year-old son.

Nolan's face went white, his eyes turning red as he stammered, "Ava, what is this? That boy… he can't be… Whose son is he?"

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1

Seven years apart, Nolan Vance and I met again at our high school reunion, held in a hotel in Manhattan.

I had just come off a twelve-hour coronary artery bypass surgery and was utterly exhausted. I slipped into the banquet hall still in the casual clothes I'd thrown on over my scrubs, without a stitch of makeup on my face.

Nolan was the center of attention, Blair Kensington on his arm, basking in the crowd's adoration.

"Nolan, you're incredible. Just a few years on Wall Street and you're already one of the top traders! You're the pride of our high school!"

"No kidding. I heard major investors are lining up to buy him dinner just for a stock tip. What he makes from one of those meals is more than most of us make in a year!"

"Nolan, I've been dabbling in stocks lately, got any advice?"

Someone in the crowd asked curiously, "Nolan, are you and Blair getting engaged?"

Nolan glanced at Blair, a tender smile touching his lips. "Yes, we're getting engaged on December 20th."

A chorus of congratulations erupted from the crowd.

Then, with a mix of nostalgia and jest, someone called out, "Nolan, are you still in touch with Ava Sterling? You two were inseparable back then. Do you still remember your secret hideout, that abandoned observatory?"

At the mention of my name, Nolan's smile faltered, and a shadow passed over his eyes.

Standing beside him, Blair smiled politely and replied smoothly, "Don't be silly. Nolan and I are getting married. High school games are just that—childish. You can't take puppy love seriously. He's long since forgotten about Ava."

The crowd laughed again, calling them a match made in heaven.

But I knew that in that observatory, Nolan had told me he loved me for the first time.

In our past life, we had been together since high school, marrying right after graduation.

I still remembered the way he’d looked into my eyes, his gaze so open and sincere as he said, "Ava, look at me. I love you. The eyes can't lie."

And I believed him.

But he had lied.

I stepped into the banquet hall, my expression calm despite the bone-deep weariness from work. A few sharp-eyed classmates spotted me immediately.

"Ava! You finally made it. What took you so long?"

"Look at you, dressed so casually! It's a reunion, you could've at least put on a little makeup."

"Did you just get off a shift? Ava, what do you even do for a living now? There are some big shots here tonight. Maybe one of them can hook you up with an easier job!"

A few people snickered, their words a thin veil of concern over a core of mockery.

I paid them no mind, just offering a faint, composed smile.

From the moment I entered, Nolan's gaze was fixed on me.

I greeted him politely, "Long time no see."

He hesitated, his expression unreadable. Then he let out a low, mocking laugh. "Ava. After all these years, you haven't changed at all. Still the same old Ava."

Blair shot me a look brimming with hostility.

She possessively tightened her arm around Nolan's and said sweetly to the crowd, "Alright, Nolan, don't say that. It's been hard enough for her. No need to rub salt in the wound."

She looked me up and down, her smile dripping with condescension. "But seriously, Ava, what's with the outfit? No makeup, you look so frumpy. Once a woman hits thirty, if she doesn't invest in herself, she just lets herself go."

I had just come from the operating room and hadn't slept in nearly twenty-four hours. I knew I looked drained and exhausted.

I was wearing my most comfortable sweats, a simple set of casual clothes. Compared to her designer dress and flawless makeup, I might as well have been from another planet.

"No, thank you. I'm fine," I replied simply, finding a seat and starting to eat. I was famished after the high-intensity surgery.

As I was quietly eating, Nolan suddenly approached. He placed a black card on the table in front of me.

"For old times' sake," he said gently. "Use it. Buy yourself something decent. Find a better job, get some new clothes. Learn to love yourself again. Ava, let the past go. Don't get stuck in it. If it weren't for you…"

He trailed off. "Never mind. It doesn't matter now. Just… don't let yourself fall apart because of me. Promise me you won't give up on yourself, okay?"

I looked up at Nolan, bewildered.

His unfinished sentence echoed in my mind. What on earth had I done in our past life that made him avoid me like the plague this time around?

In our past life, we fell in love in high school and married after graduation.

He had his Wall Street dream; I wanted to study medicine. Both paths required a huge commitment, and one of us had to make a sacrifice.

Because I loved him, I gave up my spot for advanced studies at Johns Hopkins. I entered the workforce early, supporting us both on my salary.

He failed in his investments, time and time again. With each failure, he grew more dejected, more defeated.

I was his constant source of support. No matter how exhausted I was when I came home from work, I always found the energy to comfort him patiently.

I thought he saw my love.

But after he missed out on an investment opportunity with a startup hedge fund, he finally broke.

"You know what?" he yelled. "If I had listened to Blair and accepted her father's funding, I wouldn't be in this mess! I regret being with you, Ava. I really, truly regret it."

After that, he stopped talking about his dreams.

Because he said he regretted being with me, I cried myself to sleep most nights.

Despite it all, I made one last effort. I pulled him close and whispered, "Nolan, let's have a baby, okay?"

He shoved me away so hard I nearly fell, his eyes filled with disgust. "With our finances? Are you serious? Is now really the time to have a kid? Besides, I've told you—I hate kids! And I don't want one with you!"

Those words shattered the last fragment of hope in my heart.

That Christmas Eve, an out-of-control truck crashed into our car, ending both our lives.

In that final moment, I felt no fear, only release.

Since we had both been reborn and had chosen to stay away from each other, there was no reason to cling to the past.

I pushed the black card back toward him. "That's not necessary. I don't accept gifts from strangers."

He frowned, looking both confused and offended. "Ava, what are you talking about? You think I'm a stranger?"

I met his gaze. "I can afford my own clothes. And my job is perfectly respectable. I haven't given up on myself, Nolan. Save your money for someone who actually needs it."

He stood there, clutching the card, his lips pressed into a thin, silent line.

Then, Blair sauntered over. Her eyes scanned the black card in his hand, and a look of understanding dawned.

Rage flashed in her eyes, but she forced a smile, feigning a calm, gentle demeanor.

"Ava, are you really refusing our offer?" Blair said with a faint smile. "Well then, let's offer you something more practical. A friend of mine opened a gallery in SoHo, and you could work there as a receptionist. The pay isn't great, but it's an easy job. How about it? It's definitely more respectable than whatever you're doing now."

I continued eating calmly, unfazed by her tone, and refused again.

"Thank you, but I'm quite satisfied with my job. I have no plans to change it."

A few nearby classmates called out, their tone a mix of jest and scolding.

"Ava, what is wrong with you? Nolan and Blair are trying to be nice! Just take it!"

"Seriously, Ava? Just look at the state of you. I'm surprised you even showed up looking so down on your luck. Isn't this kind of thing all about networking? Drop the high-and-mighty act."