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Once burned, twice shy—I had a business to build.
But some couldn’t resist embellishing their own egos.
Eever delusional, Margaret boasted to anyone who’d listen,“Grace is waiting for my son! Her little ‘study abroad’ stunt was just to impress him!"
Her face glowed with pride as Sycophants fed her ego.
“Your son’s lucky!His wife’s accomplished.He’ll elevate the family name.”
But her gloating was short-lived.
It happened Edward tried to strangle Sophia and was charged with attempted murder.
The Langleys claimed she’d been caught cheating and tried to kill herself in shame—the same lie they’d spread about me.
But this time Edward’s luck ran out. Their children witnessed his act and screamed,“Murder! Daddy’s killing Mommy!”
Their cries stalled him,giving Sophia seconds to escape.
His attempts finally failed.
I attended the trial as a spectator, watching his ashen face.
Edward’s eyes were dead, until they locked onto me.
"You knew," he hissed. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you!”
His calm shattered,and spittle flew as he pounded the table.
“I should’ve studied abroad!It should’ve been me!Why you?”
“You knew I’d go,so you ruined me!”
As he calmed down, I smiled. "Face it. Without me, you’re less than nothing."
His handcuffs rattled in the room as he yanked them.
“No!I was meant to be a scholar,a tycoon,rich and powerful!”
He muttered,eyes gleaming with malice.
But this was his life now—only downhill from here.
Margaret died soon after, broken by his disgrace.
Everything I’d endured had come back to haunt the Langleys.
Fate, it seemed, had a ledger.
That must be the reason I got this second life?
Then my textile empire thrived, capitalizing on my once lost opportunities and multiplying my wealth.
Days went by as critics whispered behind my back.
“"A divorced woman, running around unseemly! So improper.”
“She’s too old to bear sons.What’s the point of all that money if she can’t marry?”
Their words amused me.
When I glanced their way, they’d fawn, seeming to focus on their work.
These cockroaches only dared mutter in shadows, groveling when face-to-face.
One evening, after sealing a major deal, on my way home, a figure emerged under a streetlamp.
Edward stood there, gazing at me coldly.
“You knew everything,didn’t you?”
I squinted,realizing his aura was different—this was the Edward from my past life.
“After I died,I came here and found you’d taken my place abroad.”
He approached,desolate and confused.
“You loved me most. Just because I chose a better life after returning, you destroyed me in this life?”
“What are you talking about?I don’t understand.”
I feigned confusion, but my hatred surged inside.
“Grace,I made the choice anyone would.”
“If you love me,you should’ve paved my way with everything you had.”
He drew a knife,pressing it to my neck.
“Let’s reset everything!”
“I’ll be the celebrated scholar,and you’ll be nothing!”
The cold blade pricked my skin.
I shifted, disarming him with a twist, sending the knife clattering.
He lunged for it,but I kicked him away.
I knew what he meant,but police cars were already closing in.
I smirked.
“Edward,as a delusional man out of place in this world,you need stricter containment.”
The police seized him.He looked baffled.
The street fell silent,save for the wind.
Three days prior, I’d had him flagged after his bizarre ramblings about "wrong timelines." Now, a specialized facility awaited him.
His ramblings became evidence of his instability.
As he was dragged away, I laughed.
In my past life, he cruelly took my life.
In this one, I deliberately chose a research facility as his destiny.
His future would be pain and despair, enjoy being studied like a lab rat.
At home that night, my parents were waiting for me at the table laden with my favorite dishes.
Having lived healthily in this life, their faces now glowed with happiness.
Their joy fueled mine.
My mother reheated a dish, saying softly, “Grace, you must be tired. Take care of yourself—health is everything.”
I downed a glass of milk as my father reheated another dish,emerging from the kitchen.
“We don’t need luxury.We just want you happy.”
With them by my side, I made up my mind—I wanted them—and those I loved—to live well.
I nodded firmly, savoring the soup.
On the phone, Eleanor's message chimed in, saying, "Look at my new earrings! Gorgeous, right?"
I smiled, replying, “Absolutely stunning.”
For me, a life like this was enough—no more wasted years on unworthy men.
This life, for sure, I was the protagonist.
