My girlfriend called me frantically out of the blue, saying her mother's water had broken. She begged me to take them to the hospital.

But I lazily hung up the phone and turned away, buying myself an ice cream bar instead.

In my previous life, her mother had also gone into labor late in life. I had risked everything to rush her to the hospital, running twelve red lights, pushing my car to the limit until the fuel gauge nearly burst.

Yet, despite all that, her mother had lost the baby. Worse still, she turned around and accused me of killing the baby.

My girlfriend had hated me for it, blaming me for her mother's inability to have children again.

That very night, she and her shameless relatives took over my family's house, forcing my parents into such anger and despair that they ended up in the hospital. My company went bankrupt, and as if that weren't enough, I was beaten so severely that both my legs were broken.

In the end, I fell into a deep depression and took my own life.

But when I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn.

This time, I uncovered the secret her mother had been hiding.

"Matt, please, I'm begging you, save my mom! She's about to go into labor—she's on Archer Street right now!"

On the other end of the line, my girlfriend Lily Parker sounded frantic, her voice tinged with both panic and desperation.

I lazily agreed, barely disguising my disinterest, then turned around and bought myself an ice cream bar.

In the past, I would have been breaking out in a cold sweat by now, my words tumbling over themselves as I reassured her over and over, "Don't worry, I'll handle it."

But this time was different. This time, I had been reborn.

In my previous life, Lily had used the exact same words, telling me her mother, an older woman with a risky pregnancy, was about to give birth.

I had jumped into my Ferrari, pushing it to its limits, speeding down the street like a man possessed. Twelve red lights—each one I tore through without a second thought. Even the wailing sirens of the police behind me couldn't catch up with my determination.

All I wanted was to get her mother to the hospital, no matter the cost. Even when the blood from her labor stained the back seat of my precious car, I didn't care.

But when we arrived at the hospital, the doctor delivered the news: her mother had suffered a miscarriage.

And then, the nightmare began.

In the hospital room, she screamed at me, calling me a murderer. Lily, upon hearing the news, lashed out at me with all the fury she could muster.

That same night, she brought her entire extended family—every shameless relative from her village—and they took over my family's mansion. My parents were so enraged they ended up in the hospital. My company went under soon after.

And me? They beat me until my legs were shattered.

I instinctively glanced down at my legs now, running my hand over them as if to check.

They were fine. Not broken. Not yet.

I was alive again, and this time, things would not go the same way.

After finishing the ice cream, I got into my Ferrari and drove leisurely to Archer Street.

Up ahead, a small crowd had gathered.

I parked the car, got out, and jogged over to where Lily's mother stood, clutching her belly. Her face was pale, and she looked every bit like a woman about to give birth.

"Oh, Madeline, are you okay?" I asked, feigning concern as I crouched down beside her.

"Oh, Matt, why are you here? I'm sorry to trouble you like this," she groaned, holding her belly as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders.

"It's no trouble at all. Let's get you in the car and head to the hospital," I said with practiced ease, just as I had in my previous life.

I helped her into the car, the movements so familiar it felt like muscle memory. Her weight pressed down heavily on my arms, but I managed to get her settled in the back seat.

The onlookers murmured words of praise, calling me a "good son-in-law," and a "great guy."

Great guy, I thought bitterly. If great guys were rewarded, why did my last life end in utter ruin?

I swallowed my anger and started the engine.

Madeline reclined in the back seat, groaning as though in excruciating pain. "Ah! It hurts so much… Matt, thank you. Thank you so much."

I kept my expression neutral but forced a smile. "Madeline, what are you saying? I'm going to be your son-in-law soon. We're family."

"Oh, Matt, Lily is so lucky to have you!"

I chuckled lightly, responding in kind. But before long, a strange odor began to waft through the car.

It was pungent, a mix of foulness and decay that made my stomach churn.

The cramped space amplified the stench, its sour and acrid notes pressing in from all sides.

This didn't smell like amniotic fluid.

It smelled like… something else.

I shook my head, forcing away the unpleasant thoughts that began to creep into my mind.

The car continued at a steady pace, but in front of us, the green light had already turned red.

In my past life, I would have panicked, my mind turning to chaos at the sight of the red light, and I would have instinctively stopped the car.

But then, Madeline suddenly screamed in pain, and within seconds, blood began to pool in the car.

In the rush of the moment, she begged me to run the red light, saying she was dying.

I, foolish as I was, had obeyed her without thinking. I sped through twelve red lights, each one a blur, the police sirens blaring behind me. But I heard nothing, my foot pressing down harder on the gas.

Now, here I was again, in the same situation.

I stopped the car, waiting for Madeline to act.

"Ah! Matt, I think I'm bleeding! Hurry, please, drive faster! I'm going to die!"

I scoffed quietly.

The same words, the same actions, the same expression.

Blood poured from below her belly, staining the seat of my Ferrari.

"Madeline! Please hold on, it's a red light!"

Madeline clutched her belly, her voice rising in a sharp, piercing tone. "Matt, are you trying to kill me? You've got to run the red light! I can't take it anymore!"

I twirled my finger absentmindedly on the steering wheel.

"Madeline, running the red light is illegal and I'll get a fine. We should be good citizens, right?"

In my previous life, even though I drove as fast as I could, Madeline still miscarried.

I had blamed myself, convinced that if I had driven faster, I would have arrived at the hospital sooner and saved her.

I locked myself in a prison of guilt for days. The police, wary of my influence, could have released me, but I stayed, unwilling to leave.

And that night, Lily and her overbearing relatives stormed into my family's mansion.

The memory struck me then, but I quickly pushed it aside.

I thought about it for a moment before deciding to run the red light, then switched on the camera and the dashcam.

"Madeline! I'm running the red light now, please hold on!"

Madeline was so moved. "Matt, you're my savior!"

I smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

I ran twelve red lights, but this time, I slowed down.

In my previous life, I had been reckless, putting my own life at risk, all in the hope that Madeline would survive.

The police cars trailed behind me, just as they had before. But upon seeing my face, they stopped.

I was now the newly crowned richest man, barely out of my twenties, in control of every industry in Salem City.

With a nod, entire industries came to me for partnerships.

With a furrow of my brow, whole industries could collapse overnight.

If Lily married me, I believed her life would be filled with happiness.

But in my past life, her mother had ruined it all, slandering me and tearing apart her daughter's marriage.

I still couldn't understand why she'd done that.

When the police finally dispersed, I arrived at the hospital.

An emergency bed had been prepared, along with a team of nurses and doctors standing by.

In my past life, I had no experience. I only knew to carry Madeline to the operating room, her blood staining my custom suit.

This time, I was well-prepared, having arranged everything in advance, ensuring nothing would go wrong.

Madeline looked at the team of doctors, a flash of surprise crossing her face.

She forced a smile and said to me, "Matt, could you carry me over?"

I widened my eyes and quickly refused. "Madeline, giving birth isn't a small matter. I'm afraid I might accidentally cause a miscarriage."

Her eyes flickered hesitantly before she reluctantly climbed onto the emergency bed. Even as she lay there, Madeline clung tightly to my sleeve, pleading with me not to leave her side.

I followed as the medical staff wheeled her toward the elevator. Then, out of nowhere, she cried out, "Matt, I don't like them being in the elevator with us. Can you have them wait upstairs for us?"

I narrowed my eyes, uncertain. "Madeline, that doesn't seem appropriate."

She quickly added, her voice tinged with desperation, "Matt, I'm a middle-aged woman about to give birth. It's embarrassing... Please, just this once, I'm begging you."

Her words made me frown, but I reluctantly agreed.

Once the elevator doors opened, I pushed the bed inside. Five seconds later, we arrived on the upper floor, where the waiting doctors immediately took over. They briskly wheeled the emergency bed toward the operating room, leaving me standing at the threshold.

This time, everything should go smoothly, I told myself. She wouldn't have a reason to accuse me. I hadn't even touched her—how could she fabricate anything this time? Still, unease gnawed at my thoughts.

Soon after, Lily arrived, her strikingly beautiful face marred by anxiety. "Matt, is my mom okay?" she asked breathlessly.

I studied her for two seconds, then shook my head slightly. "She should be fine."

Two hours passed before the surgeon emerged from the operating room. His expression was grim as he shook his head and sighed. "The baby couldn't be saved. The patient's age was a critical factor, and I'm afraid she won't be able to conceive again."

Lily's face lit up with disbelief. She took two hurried steps toward me, her delicate features hardening. Before I could react, her hand shot out, slapping me hard across the right cheek.

"Matt!" she shouted, her voice trembling with fury. "Didn't you say my mom would be fine? How could she lose the baby?"

I touched my stinging cheek, my confusion and anger intertwining, leaving me restless and agitated. How could I have known she'd lose the baby again? I had made every preparation, ensured everything was flawless. How could this happen?

Moments later, her mother was wheeled out of the operating room, a pallor on her face, her hand tethered to IV lines. Her gaze found me, and in an instant, her eyes widened with rage. She pointed a trembling finger at me, her voice trembling with hatred.

"It was him! He's the one who killed my baby!"

That familiar accusation. The same actions, the same venomous glare.

The scene dragged me violently back to my past life, where I had stood in the same hospital, stunned and disbelieving. Back then, I couldn't fathom why my future mother-in-law, who had always favored me, would suddenly turn against me like this. Nor could I understand why Lily, the woman I loved, would believe her over me.

Chaos swirled in my mind as a familiar panic bubbled up inside me. Where had I gone wrong this time?

Lily's bloodshot eyes bore into me as she hurled furious accusations. "Say something! What did you do to cause my mom to miscarry? Did you push her?"

I frowned, my head throbbing from the pressure. "Lily, calm down."

But my words fell on deaf ears. Her hand flew again, slapping me hard across the other cheek. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she choked out, "My mom treated you so well, and this is how you repay her? Why would you push her into losing the baby?"