Chapter 1

My father-in-law was on his deathbed. I called my wife, Cora, begging her to come home to see him one last time.

She screamed at me, accusing me of cursing her father. Without a second thought, she left for a business trip with her male colleague.

I didn't try to block her car this time. Instead, I packed my bags and decided to go on a trip of my own.

In my past life, I had forced her to come home for the funeral. Because of that, her colleague, Harrison, died in a fatal car accident on his way.

On the night of the one-week anniversary of Harrison's death, Cora drugged me with alcohol. She framed me for a hit-and-run while driving under the influence.

I cried and begged her to tell the truth and prove my innocence.

She just stared at me with cold, hateful eyes. She said, "You deserve to feel every bit of the agony Harrison felt before he died!"

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my father-in-law was about to pass away.

1

"I'm going to Chicago today with Harrison for a business trip. This ten-million-dollar deal is huge. If we close it, he'll be promoted to manager."

"Zane Reed, I'm talking to you! Are you even listening?"

Cora Miller shoved me hard. I lost my balance and my head slammed against the wall with a loud thud.

The phantom pain of being burned alive from my past life still felt like thousands of needles piercing my skin. I couldn't help but groan.

Cora rolled her eyes at me immediately. "For God's sake, Zane. You're a grown man. I barely touched you. Stop being such a drama queen."

Looking at her face, twisted with annoyance, I confirmed that I had truly been reborn.

In my previous life, her father, Arthur Miller, was my mentor at the factory. He treated me like his own son and even introduced me to Cora.

On our wedding day, Cora had planned to run away with her ex, Harrison. Her father caught her and forced her to stay.

After we married, they were always together. People whispered about them constantly. To repay Arthur's kindness, I pretended to be blind and deaf to the rumors.

She didn't even consult me when she took the thirty thousand dollars we saved for a baby. She used it to pull strings for Harrison.

She got Harrison and herself into the same company. When Arthur found out, he was so angry he suffered a stroke and ended up in the hospital.

That day, I had physically dragged Cora to the hospital while she was leaving with Harrison. She saw Arthur one last time.

But Harrison died in a car crash on that same trip.

I thought she would scream at me. Instead, Cora became a different person―gentle and attentive.

I thought the sun was finally shining on my marriage.

But under her "loving" care one night, I drank too much. A DUI accident happened.

I pushed her out of the car to keep her safe and told her to get help.

She just stood there, watching me struggle in the wreckage as the flames rose.

"Zane, do you know what today is? It's the one-week anniversary of Harrison's death! You need to taste the pain he felt!"

"He had a bright future. We had a beautiful love. You ruined everything. You deserve to rot in hell!"

In that fire, the worst part wasn't the skin being scorched. It was the cold, bone-deep despair of being left to die by the woman I loved.

Since heaven gave me a second chance, I won't be that pathetic loser again.

"Your dad's condition is unstable. He could go at any moment. You should stay home," I said, ignoring her rant.

Cora's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Zane Reed, I never thought you'd stoop this low. Just to stop me from going with Harrison, you're making up such sick lies?"

"I just talked to my mom. She said he's eating and sleeping fine. He's in great spirits. You're full of it!"

"My dad was so good to you. You wouldn't even have a job without him. And now you're cursing him to die? You're a soulless beast!"

I said urgently, "I'm not lying to you…"

She slapped me across the face, cutting me off.

"I wasn't asking for your permission! I'm just telling you! Even if God Himself came down, I'm going on this trip!"

"And another thing," she pointed at my nose threateningly. "If you ever use such a pathetic excuse to trap me again, we're getting a divorce!"

She slammed the door and walked away without looking back.