Chapter 1

Chapter 1

On our fifth wedding anniversary, my husband ditched me for his precious damsel in distress once again.

"Wendy is all alone with a sick toddler," Calvin snapped, glaring at me. "You're a woman too, Corinne. Can't you show a little basic sympathy?"

Not only was I willing to understand her, but I was also ready to step aside completely. That way, the two of them could play happy family together without me in the picture.

I packed my bags and applied for an elite overseas fellowship in architectural design.

Yet when the time came, he fell to his knees in tears, begging me to stay.

***

Calvin was heading out the door toward Wendy's place when I caught him by the sleeve.

"Do you really have to go tonight?" I asked coldly. "It's our fifth anniversary."

"Corinne, grow up," he sighed, swatting my hand away in irritation. "Wendy can barely lift that boy. His fever is spiking, and he needs a hospital right now."

I sneered. Her kid always seemed to fall sick at the most convenient times.

"That child isn't yours," I retorted. "Why is it that whenever she needs a man, you're the only one on speed dial?"

"Calvin, if you walk out that door tonight, we are getting a divorce tomorrow."

In our traditional company compound, divorce was a scandalous word that brought nothing but shame. But my voice didn't waver for a second.

Calvin's temper flared. "Do whatever you want! Don't you dare threaten me with divorce! A cold-hearted woman like you would be lucky if anyone else ever took you in!"

Rage flared in my chest. As soon as he reached for the doorknob, I kicked the table over. The anniversary dinner I had prepared shattered across the floor in a mess of broken porcelain and red sauce.

Calvin froze in his tracks. "Have you lost your mind?! How did I marry such a crazy shrew?!"

I stormed straight out into the hallway and raised my voice. "Yes, I've lost my mind! Because normal married men don't spend every waking hour at another woman's apartment!"

I marched directly up to Wendy's front door and banged on it with both fists.

"Wendy Marsh, open up! If you have the guts to steal another woman's husband, have the guts to face me!"

Doors cracked open along the corridor as neighbors leaned out to watch. Calvin's face instantly flushed crimson.

Wendy opened the door a crack, keeping her head low and trembling like a frightened rabbit.

"Corinne, please don't misunderstand," she whimpered softly. "My baby is burning up, and I couldn't carry him alone. Calvin was the only person we could turn to."

I grabbed her arm and yanked her out into the hallway.

"Your kid sure has impeccable timing, doesn't he? Last month, he got sick on the only Saturday Calvin promised to take me to the movies."

"Last week, he caught a cold on my birthday!"

"And tonight, he's dying right on our anniversary!"

"Every single time Calvin and I have a minute alone, your son suddenly needs a father!"

"Why don't we just move Calvin into your bedroom so you can keep him on a leash full-time?!"

I shoved past the stunned, speechless Calvin and headed back to our door. "Well? What are you waiting for? Isn't the baby dying? Go on!"

I slammed the door shut, leaving Calvin and Wendy staring at each other under the judgmental glares of our neighbors.

Whispers broke out down the hall, full of disgust for the shameless pair.

Calvin banged on our front door, begging me to let him in. I ignored him, walking straight into the bedroom and slamming that door shut too. Outside, I heard him punch the wall in frustration before stomping off.

I clicked on my bedside lamp and calmly picked up an architectural journal.

The reason I dared to cause such a scene was simple: I had been reborn.

In my previous life, while Calvin was playing savior at Wendy's place, our building caught fire. The front door had jammed from the outside, and I was burned alive in my own home.

In this life, I was done babysitting a cheating coward.

They wanted each other? Fine. I would give them what they wanted, but not before dragging their dirty laundry into the broad daylight.

Calvin didn't come home that night, and I didn't care where he slept.

The next morning, as I stepped out, I ran into Wendy carrying a kettle down the hall. She looked exhausted, glaring at me with raw hatred.

I walked right past her, locked up, and headed straight to the main office.

Inside Director Holloway's office, I placed my application on his desk.

Director Holloway looked up in shock. "Corinne? Are you certain? You're by far our most talented architect for this overseas fellowship, but last month you said your marriage tied you down."

"I've made up my mind, Director," I said firmly. "I want to put my career and our country's engineering future first."

"We need advanced knowledge from abroad to build our modern skyline. That is far more important than playing housewife."

Director Holloway stubbed out his cigarette and grabbed his fountain pen. "Get your affairs in order and say your goodbyes. The flight leaves in one week."

I bowed deeply. "Thank you, Director Holloway."

Back home, I pulled my dusty suitcase from the top of the closet.

Years ago, I had defied my parents' warnings to marry Calvin because I thought he had a kind heart.

Back then, I thought his gentle nature made him a dependable partner.

I just hadn't realized that his tenderness was reserved entirely for his childhood sweetheart.