Chapter 2

At that moment, the contrast between Grace and me was stark.

She wore a Tiffany diamond necklace, a custom-made gown, and an elegant hairstyle, every gesture graceful.

I had just gotten out of bed, wearing a loose robe, my hair a little messy, no makeup on my face — completely different from her.

I didn’t have time to care. I kept looking around.

My son was missing, and I was beside myself with worry.

Caleb suddenly walked over and handed me a check for twenty thousand dollars.

“This money is for you, for old times’ sake. You don’t have to pay it back. Go buy some decent clothes, find a respectable job, and take better care of yourself.”

“Molly, let the past stay in the past. Don’t keep yourself trapped in it.”

“If back then… forget it. There’s no point talking about it now.”

“What matters is, don’t let yourself go just because of my choice, okay? It makes things really awkward for me when you’re like this.”

What was he talking about?

I looked up at him, confused. Suddenly, I really wanted to know what I had done in my last life to make him leave so decisively after our rebirth.

In our previous life, we went from college sweethearts to marriage.

He had a dream of starting his own business, and I was passionate about jewelry design. We were both busy.

Because I loved him, I gave up my chance to study in Europe, started working early to support the household, and backed his dreams.

When he hit wall after wall and got depressed, I was the one covering all the family expenses, patiently comforting and encouraging him.

After years of marriage, whenever I brought up the topic of having children, he would push me away irritably, his eyes full of disgust.

“I’ve told you long ago, I don’t want kids. I never plan to have any. The thought of having a child with someone like you makes me sick!”

That sentence completely broke my heart.

Then came the day the news arrived that his first love, Grace, had died in a car crash.

He completely lost his mind. He dragged me into the house, locked the door, and set the place on fire.

As the flames raged, he choked me by the neck, his face twisted with rage:

“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.

Now we’ve both been reborn, and we mutually chose to become strangers. There’s no past affection to cling to.

I pushed the check back and said flatly, “That’s not necessary. I don’t need help from a stranger. Thank you.”