On our wedding day, my husband’s childhood sweetheart threatened to jump from the roof.

He dared her to do it.

She hit the pavement. And my husband broke.

He dragged me to church, forcing me to my knees.

When I miscarried our child, he called it my penance.

When I begged to leave, he threatened my family to keep me by his side.

He said our suffering was a debt we owed her.

But I got a second chance.

I woke up in my wedding dress.

She’s on the roof again.

And my husband is about to condemn her to death.

This time, I’m going to save her.

And he’s the one who will be begging for salvation.

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1

“Tell Lorelei she can go ahead and die for all I care. I’m not running to her side!” Harrison Prescott's icy voice startled me awake.

I lifted my head and saw my reflection in the mirror, clad in a pristine white wedding gown.

I had been reborn.

I was back at my lavish wedding, held in one of New York City's most exclusive hotels.

Back to the day I once believed was the happiest of my life.

Behind me, Harrison’s expression was hard, his tone laced with impatience.

In my last life, I was pathetically grateful he had chosen me.

Now, all I could see was the frantic worry churning beneath his frustration.

He had fallen in love with Lorelei long ago but, for the sake of the Prescott family name, had chosen me—the "trophy wife" from a respectable family of academics.

It wasn't until after Lorelei's death that he went mad with a twisted sort of love, imprisoning me as his penance for losing his soulmate.

He prayed for her, but he wouldn't spare our child.

The world praised his devotion and condemned me as a shameless homewrecker.

They said I deserved it.

No one knew that it was Harrison who had relentlessly pursued me for four years.

He was the one who had approached me first.

In the end, I was the one who bore all the blame.

The injustice of it all burned.

Now that I have a second chance, I refuse to make the same mistake.

I gently tugged on Harrison's sleeve.

"Harrison, you should go see Lorelei."

He stared at me in disbelief.

After all, in the past, I would fly into a jealous rage whenever Lorelei’s name was mentioned.

My sudden change of heart caught him completely off guard.

Harrison’s brow furrowed at my serious expression. "You want me to leave you on our wedding day for another woman? Evelyn, are you trying to hand the tabloids a field day?"

I scoffed inwardly.

Gossip couldn't kill me. He could.

I put on a mask of elegant composure. "Harrison, what does it matter what people say, as long as your love is true?"

I even added, "We can postpone the wedding. You and Lorelei are so close. If something truly happened to her, you would regret it for the rest of your life, and I couldn't bear that. A life is on the line."

My words drew murmurs of approval from the guests.

Even Mr. and Mrs. Prescott, who had always looked down on me, softened their gazes.

Harrison pulled me into a tight embrace, kissing my forehead, his voice thick with emotion. "Evelyn, I knew I chose the right person. Wait for me. I’ll be right back. After I make sure Lorelei's okay, we’ll continue with the wedding."

I nodded and gently pushed him away.

"Go, quickly. Saving her is what matters most."

He turned without hesitation and bolted toward the rooftop.

I watched his retreating back, clutching my wedding dress, facing the media and guests alone on the stage.

I played the part of the understanding fiancée to perfection, waiting for him for a full hour.

In my last life, he resented me for my jealousy.

In this life, I would push him toward Lorelei with my own two hands.

Eventually, Harrison returned.

But he was not alone.

Walking beside him was Lorelei, also dressed in a wedding gown.

She clung to Harrison’s arm, a triumphant smile on her face, her eyes filled with provocation as she looked at me.

A buzz of shocked whispers erupted from the crowd.

Harrison turned to me, his expression conflicted, his voice hesitant. "Evelyn, Lorelei told me… she’s been in love with me for years, and she has only one wish—to have a wedding with me. She promised that if I agree, she’ll never bother us again, so… can you step aside, just for today, and let Lorelei have this ceremony?"

Harrison's absurd request sent a shockwave through the magnificent ballroom.

I played the part of the strong, wronged woman to perfection.

With tears welling in my eyes, I simply nodded.

An overwhelming wave of sympathy immediately flooded social media.

Even Mrs. Prescott was appalled by her son's behavior. "This is ridiculous! Harrison, marriage is not a game!"

Harrison looked at me, guilt-ridden. "Evelyn, this is my fault. I will make it up to you."

The guests whispered among themselves, some with pity, others with scorn.

I remained composed, a mask of quiet strength on my face.

Lorelei immediately retorted, "It was Harrison who saved me, not you. If he hadn't agreed to marry me today, I would have jumped."

Her words sent the guilt-ridden Harrison into a rage. "Lorelei! If it weren't for the friendship between our families, I wouldn't have even bothered with you!"

He scolded, "Evelyn has suffered enough because of you. Shut your mouth!"

Lorelei’s eyes reddened with hurt.

She lowered her head and softened her tone. "I'm sorry, Harrison. I just love you so much! Since… since Evelyn is willing, let's just get started."

When Harrison hesitated and glanced at me, I offered a pained smile and walked off the stage.

I hadn't even reached the dressing room before the wedding march began.

Lorelei’s passionate vows echoed through the hall.

After I changed into my regular clothes, a hotel staff member rushed in, saying there was a commotion backstage.

When I arrived, I found Harrison manhandling my nephew, Tim.

Lorelei stood to the side, her dress stained with fruit juice, screaming, "Beat that ill-mannered brat to death!"

I rushed forward in a fury, trying to pull Harrison away.

"Harrison, let him go!"

Tim saw me and cried out tearfully, "Auntie!"

He was my sister’s only child, a sweet, good boy with a talent for art.

In my previous life, Harrison used him as a pawn to control me, ruining his life before he leaped from a skyscraper to his death.

Seeing him alive and well in front of me, I couldn't hold back my tears.

Harrison ignored my protests.

He flung his arm out, shoving me hard.

A sharp pain shot through my lower back, followed by a cramping agony in my abdomen as a chill washed over me.

I had crashed into a large marble column at the edge of the stage.

And then I remembered—at this very moment in my past life, I was already two weeks pregnant.

"Evelyn, your nephew spilled juice all over Lorelei!" Lorelei's mother stormed over, furious.

Clenching my teeth against the pain, I turned to her and said coldly, "Mrs. Hartwell, half an hour ago your daughter was on the roof. I convinced Harrison to go to her. In a way, I saved her life."

I paused, my gaze sharp.

"And let's not forget the debt your family has owed mine since I saved your father’s life twenty years ago. When do you plan on settling that?"

The color drained from Lorelei’s mother’s face.

She wanted to argue, but the stares of the guests left her speechless.

I turned to Tim, the pain in my abdomen intensifying.

"Tim, call an ambulance."

Tim immediately pulled out his phone.

Harrison was clearly startled. "What's wrong? I barely pushed you."

"She's just faking it for attention," Lorelei sneered.

Harrison’s frown deepened. "Is that true, Evelyn? I don't appreciate these sympathy plays."

Just then, Lorelei suddenly clutched her chest and let out a pained groan.

"My heart… it hurts so much…"

She crumpled to the floor.

Harrison instantly abandoned me, rushing over to scoop her up, yelling, "Doctor! Get a doctor!"

He carried Lorelei through the crowd, his face etched with worry.

The ambulance arrived quickly.

Before I could say a word, Lorelei's mother shrieked and ran toward the paramedics. "Doctor, save my daughter!"

Then, someone roughly pushed me aside.

I looked up angrily and saw Harrison holding Lorelei.

Without a trace of remorse, he said matter-of-factly, "Evelyn, you just fell. Lorelei has a heart condition. It’s not the same."

"Let her get on the ambulance first. I'll have my driver take you."

The pain in my abdomen was getting worse. I shook my head. "No! I need to go to the hospital!"

Lorelei's mother rushed in front of me and slapped me hard across the face.

"You bitch! How dare you compete with my daughter for an ambulance!"

Harrison avoided my gaze and said, "Mrs. Hartwell is just worried. Evelyn, be mature about this."

And just like that, he walked past me with Lorelei in his arms and boarded the ambulance.

As the sirens disappeared into the distance, I collapsed to the ground in agony.

The next moment, someone pointed at my legs and screamed in horror, "Oh my God! She’s bleeding! There’s so much blood!"