Chapter 1

My husband, Caleb Sterling, and I died in a horrific car crash.

When I opened my eyes again, we had both been reborn, back to the moment we first met.

In our past life, he tricked me into a child-free lifestyle while secretly making me lose several pregnancies, eventually leaving me sterile.

He then had the audacity to hold his mistress Sienna Reed's child, demanding a divorce.

This time, I chose to walk away and never look back.

Five years later, Caleb used his memories of the future to become a rising star in the investment world, and he was now celebrating his high-profile engagement to Sienna.

Seeing me covered in dirt at the event, he let out a cold sneer.

"Elara Vance, is this the pathetic life you've been living since you left me?"

Before he could finish, a toddler with chubby little legs came running out and threw his arms around me.

"Mommy!"

Caleb's face turned pale instantly.

"Whose little bastard is this? Elara, you really have no shame!"

At that moment, the doors to the banquet hall swung open, and a chilling, steady voice echoed through the room.

"I didn't realize the heir to the Blackwood fortune was considered a bastard in your eyes."

Caleb's face went from pale to ghostly white in a heartbeat!

1.

I walked into the venue, my mind still processing the gruesome images from the crime scene I had just left.

A high-pitched, mocking giggle snapped me back to reality.

"Oh my, isn't this Elara Vance?"

I glanced over to see Sienna Reed in a pale blue designer gown, towering over me in stilettos with a fake, tight smile.

She looked at the stains on my clothes and wrinkled her nose in staged horror.

"How did someone like you even get in? This is an elite alumni gala. A forensic doctor who plays with corpses shouldn't be here, right?"

I didn't bother replying. I stepped around her, wanting only to find my former mentor.

In my last life, Caleb called my profession bad luck and blamed my work for his failed investments, eventually forcing me to drop out.

My mentor had been so disappointed in me back then.

This time, I was going to stand before him with my head held high.

But Sienna wasn't done. She chased after me, her heels clicking loudly on the marble floor.

"Why are you quiet? Embarrassed to show your face?"

"It makes sense. Caleb is the new king of the investment world now. One move from him makes millions. A little morgue rat like you could never compare."

She smirked, her eyes full of pride.

"Stop trying to chase him. He loves me. Why humiliate yourself?"

I stopped in my tracks.

Love her?

Well, that tracked.

In our previous life, Caleb and I were married for ten years. He lied about wanting to be child-free, caused me to lose three pregnancies, and left me unable to ever conceive again.

Only when he was forcing the divorce did I find out that he already had a nine-year-old son with Sienna.

We died in that crash while he was dragging me to the courthouse.

In this life, I stayed far away from them, yet they still hadn't managed to get married.

I turned around and looked at Sienna, a mocking smile touching my lips.

"Then I wish you a very speedy wedding, Mrs. Sterling!"

Sienna's face stiffened, a flash of malice crossing her eyes.

"You―" She began to snap, but suddenly she caught sight of something. Her eyes welled up with tears instantly, shifting back into her damsel-in-distress act.

She whispered softly, "Caleb…"

I looked over and saw Caleb Sterling in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, standing a few feet away.

He walked over and naturally wrapped his arm around Sienna's waist, looking down at her. "What happened?"

Sienna sniffled, her eyes red. "Elara… she seems like she still hasn't moved on from you."

She bit her lip, looking like she didn't want him to misunderstand.

"But we're already… Caleb, don't be mad at her. I just feel bad. It's normal for her to still be hung up on a man like you."

The surrounding alumni began to whisper, their judgmental eyes landing on me.

Caleb looked down at me with a mix of mockery and amusement.

"Elara, is this the pathetic life you've been living since you left me?"

"I told you before, we're done. There's no chance for us."

"But for old times' sake, do you want me to recommend a few stocks so you can buy some decent clothes?"