Chapter 1
My husband Caleb Cole’s first love, Grace, died in a car accident. After that, he set the house on fire and locked us both inside.
“The biggest regret of my life is marrying you! If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been with Grace! She wouldn’t have died so young!”
In the end, I burned to death.
When I woke up, we had both been reborn back to our college days.
This time, I decided to let each other go.
We stopped contacting each other and became strangers from then on.
Seven years later, he became a rising star in the business world and dramatically announced his engagement to Grace at a yacht party.
When I rushed in wearing nothing but my pajamas, all I got was his mocking laugh:
“Molly, I know I’m pretty charming. You’ve been hung up on me for two lifetimes, but you don’t have to cling to the past like this.”
But when he saw me take another man’s hand, his eyes turned red and he demanded:
“Didn’t you say you’d love only me forever?”
Seven years later, a grand party was being held on the “Starlight” yacht.
I was frantically searching the cabins for my five-year-old son — half an hour ago, he said he wanted to see the seagulls on the deck, and then he disappeared the moment I turned around.
I’d thrown on only a robe and run out with no makeup, looking completely undone.
I searched until I reached the ballroom. In the center of the crowd, Caleb Cole and Grace were holding hands, basking in everyone’s flattery.
“Caleb, you’re amazing. In just a few years, you’ve become a rising young entrepreneur everyone’s watching. This yacht is yours too, right? You’re a legend in Coastal City!”
“Of course! I heard the ‘Starlight’ cost over a hundred million dollars to build and only serves high-end clients. We’re all here thanks to Caleb today!”
“Caleb, I’ve got a project. For old times’ sake, could we talk about a partnership?”
Someone teased, “Caleb, looking at you and Grace, is there good news on the horizon?”
Grace blushed slightly and looked up at him tenderly.
Caleb squeezed her hand, his smile confident. “That’s right. Tonight isn’t just a party — it’s also our engagement celebration.”
Everyone raised their glasses to congratulate them.
An old acquaintance joked, “Caleb, you and Molly were so crazy in love back then. Do you still keep in touch? I remember you even used a megaphone to confess your love to her during halftime at the college football game!”
Hearing my name, Caleb’s smile froze for a moment, and his lips pressed together.
But Grace held his arm even tighter, her voice gentle and gracious. “Caleb and I are about to get married. Don’t you think he’s moved on? A young, naive crush can’t compare to a deep, lasting adult love.”
Everyone laughed and continued chatting around them.
But I couldn’t care less. I anxiously scanned the room, searching for my child.
Someone with sharp eyes spotted me.
“Molly? What are you doing here… Oh my god, what are you wearing…”
“This is a yacht party. Why are you in pajamas? Your hair isn’t even brushed. Did you just roll out of bed?”
“Where are you working now? Our Mr. Cole is so successful now. Pour him a drink nicely, and maybe he’ll help an old classmate out.”
Several guests murmured under their breath when they saw my casual clothes and bare face.
From the moment I appeared, Caleb’s eyes had been on me.
I gave him a simple nod, a quick greeting, and kept searching.
He froze for a second, his gaze unreadable.
“Molly, after all these years, you still don’t know how to dress for the occasion. You can’t even put on a proper outfit.”
Grace swept a cold glance over me and deliberately tightened her hold on Caleb’s arm, as if staking her claim.
“Caleb, don’t say that. Even though she’s dressed a little plainly, we shouldn’t keep talking about her. After all, we’re all old acquaintances.”
Her tone was gentle, and she looked me over again, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on her lips.
“But speaking of which, why did you come to a party like this dressed like that? Wearing appropriate clothes to a formal event is a basic sign of respect for others. If you need something, I have a spare gown in my cabin. I could lend it to you.”
The moment the words left her mouth, a few people snickered.