Chapter 1

After my application for Medics Sans Frontières was approved, I stepped down as the Director of the City General Hospital. I handed the position over to Jocelyn.

My best friend was furious for me. "Going there is basically severing your future with Caleb!" she hissed.

I only gave a faint, calm smile. "I'm just returning him to the person he's always truly wanted."

In my past life, Caleb and I were the most infamous couple in our social circle. We were a disaster.

He resented me because I refused to go to the war zone in Jocelyn's place. He blamed me for her infection and eventual death.

I resented him for being a hypocrite. If he loved Jocelyn so much, why did he promise my parents he would take care of me forever?

In our seven years of marriage, the only blessing we ever exchanged was wishing the other would "die a miserable death."

But on a battlefield raining with bullets, Caleb used his final breath to shield me after a round hit his chest.

"I've arranged for someone to meet you," he gasped, blood bubbling at his lips. "Once the fire stops, run. You have to live..."

As his consciousness faded, he whispered a final plea.

"I protected you in this life. In the next one... let's be total strangers."

"Jojo, I'm coming to be with you now."

Before I could even process his words, a bomb dropped from the sky. It didn't give me a chance to escape. It blew us both to pieces.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back. I was back at the eve of our wedding.

Caleb, in this life, I'm going to set you free.

1

"You're giving up on Caleb?" my mentor asked, his voice thick with disbelief.

I gave him a bitter, tired nod.

My mentor knew better than anyone how deep my feelings for Caleb ran. He was also the one who warned us we'd never work.

Before our wedding in my last life, his words echoed in my ears.

"I hate to see a marriage fail, but I can't watch my two best students torture each other for the rest of their lives."

"Elara, dear, you can't force a heart to love you back."

Back then, I was stubborn and arrogant. I had told him that even if the fruit was bitter, I'd still pick it.

The memory of that bitterness woke me up. I looked at my mentor and changed the subject. "Professor, I've applied for Medics Sans Frontières."

"I leave in three days. I came here today specifically to say goodbye."

My mentor saw the redness in my eyes and wanted to comfort me. He hesitated, then stayed silent.

"Going abroad might be good for you," he finally said. "It's dangerous, but it's an incredible opportunity."

When I returned to the Vance estate after saying goodbye, I didn't expect to see Caleb.

This was the first time I had faced him since my rebirth.

He had thick bandages wrapped across his back and thighs. Spots of blood were already seeping through the gauze.

My father had used the family cane on him because Caleb had dared to protest our wedding.

Perhaps because he was the one trying to call off the marriage, he avoided my gaze.

I brought over the first-aid kit. I silently disinfected his wounds and replaced the bandages.

The entire time, we didn't say a word to each other.

It felt strange.

Counting my previous life, it had been seven years since we sat together this peacefully.

Our meetings were usually explosive. We were experts at hurling insults and cutting each other down.

I noticed the beads of sweat on his forehead from the pain. I decided to test the waters.

"Jocelyn used my computer to accept the mission from the Medics organization without my permission."

"The hospital had to send someone. Is it not perfectly logical that I sent her?"

Caleb remained silent for a long time. Finally, he spoke with great difficulty.

"Jojo said it was an accident. She knows she made a mistake."

"There's no need to make her pay such a high price for a slip of the finger."

I looked down and let out a self-deprecating laugh.

She did it on purpose. She thought using my ID would sign me up automatically.

She didn't realize the system requires a retinal scan for confirmation.

She did all of that just to force me away from Caleb. She wanted to claim his love without a guilty conscience.

I didn't bother explaining. I knew Caleb wouldn't listen to a word I said anyway.

Caleb's voice drifted from behind me.

"Jojo has never had a hard day in her life. Putting her in such an extreme environment... it'll kill her, Elara."

"You're independent. Your medical skills are superior. Could you... could you go in her place?"

A wave of sourness rose in my chest, and I couldn't push it down.

I wondered when exactly it happened. When did Jocelyn become the permanent scar on our relationship?

She was originally the fiancée of Caleb's brother-in-arms, Brooks. Brooks died abroad while protecting Caleb.

With his dying breath, Brooks begged Caleb to take care of Jocelyn.

So, Caleb pulled strings to get her into our hospital. He even moved her into his private apartment.

Slowly, Jocelyn replaced me. She became the most special person in Caleb's life.

I let out a cold laugh.

"She made the mistake. Why should I be the one to carry the burden?"

Caleb grabbed my hand, his eyes overflowing with guilt.

"Elara, if it weren't for Brooks, I wouldn't be standing here today."

"Just do this for me. Help me settle this debt of honor, please?"

"Go for just one year. When you come back, I'll send her abroad. Then, we can go back to how we were when we were kids, okay?"

Looking into Caleb's sincere eyes, I felt a moment of daze.

He sounded so earnest, yet not a single word was for my benefit.

If Jocelyn was in danger, did he think I was invincible?

I sneered and yanked my hand away. "No thanks."

"If you're so worried about her safety, apply to go with her. I believe there's still one spot left for an escort guard."

Caleb looked stunned for a moment.

His shock passed quickly. He regained his composure and handed me a leather-bound book.

"This is a copy of the medical text you were looking for. I spent the last two days transcribing it for you while I was recovering."

I snatched the book from him. I was terrified that if I stayed a second longer, my restraint would shatter.

Back in my room, I traced the bold, powerful handwriting on the pages.

The only original copy of this book was held by a private collector. Getting a loan was nearly impossible, and it had to be returned within twenty-four hours.

Caleb must have stayed up all night copying this by hand.

His kindness was always so misleading. It gave people false hope.

But now, I didn't need it anymore.