I was willing to throw myself from a building to escape my own wedding. Yet my fiance was the one I had secretly loved for years.
I had been reborn.
In my previous life, we were married for over twenty years. Everyone saw us as the perfect couple.
Then, on our anniversary, the illusion shattered.
She took her own life in a final, tragic pact with her “soulmate,” Ryan.
Standing before her grave, I whispered.
“Did you regret marrying me?”
Silence. So I answered for her.
“I regretted it.”
When I woke up again, I was back before our wedding.
I decided to run.
This time, we would be strangers.
But she found me anyway, her face pale and desperate. And what she said shattered everything.
“I never regretted marrying you, not in this life, not in the last. You were the only one I ever wanted.”
…
My eyes fluttered open. Someone patted my shoulder.
In a daze, I saw the grand doors swing open. Chloe, who had died ten years ago, stood on the stage in her wedding gown. Bathed in light, she looked ethereal, like an angel descended from heaven.
A collective gasp of awe rippled through the audience, a sound even the music couldn’t drown out. Everyone was praising the bride’s beauty.
But I was drenched in a cold sweat.
Someone nudged me, reminding me it was time to walk towards the bride. I had specifically requested this part of the ceremony myself.
But now, as my gaze met Chloe’s from across the hall, she curved her lips into a smile. My resolve, however, only hardened. I spun around and bolted for the exit.
“The wedding is off! I’m absolutely not marrying her!”
The venue erupted into instant chaos.
The hotel was huge, and in my panic, I couldn’t find the right way out.
Chloe’s relatives and friends started chasing me.
My future father-in-law’s face was stormy. He frowned, glaring at me with displeasure.
“Liam, the wedding has started. Don’t be foolish. Get back there and finish the ceremony.”
I shook my head, firm.
I never imagined I would be reborn, especially not right into my own wedding with Chloe.
But since fate had given me a second chance, there was no way I would marry Chloe in this life.
A relative tried to reason with me, their voice filled with concern:
“Whatever it is, talk about it after the wedding. Chloe is waiting for you.”
What? Chloe waiting for me!
Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a white figure actually chasing after me.
It felt like a death knell.
Without another moment of hesitation, I pushed open a nearby window. I jumped straight from the third floor. Luckily, there was an awning below that broke my fall.
Even so, when I stood up, I felt a biting pain.
But this slight ache was nothing compared to the heartbreak of the twenty years she’d fooled me in my past life.
Clutching my waist, I limped away, desperate to leave.
People from the hotel peered out the windows, their faces aghast.
“Liam, you’re insane! You actually ran away from your own wedding!”
Chloe was among them, her face etched with anxiety and unease.
“Liam, what are you doing…? If you leave, what about our wedding?”
The Liam of my past life would never have done such a thing.
But now.
“Chloe, marrying you was the biggest mistake I ever made. I’m correcting that mistake.”
“Remember this: I’m the one who doesn’t want you.”
I didn’t bother to look at Chloe’s reaction. I hailed a taxi and drove off, feeling a twisted sense of triumph.
I knew better than anyone that Chloe’s pristine white wedding dress wasn’t meant for me.
She never wanted to marry me at all.
Memories flooded my mind. I still remembered rushing to the police station.
The officer asked me:
“Do you have any information about the man, Ryan, who committed suicide with your wife, Chloe?”
How lost and helpless I had been then.
I spent over two decades in my last life failing to truly see that woman.
This life, I wouldn’t repeat the same mistake.
To escape the commotion, I conveniently used my injuries as an excuse to check into a hospital.
My phone was constantly ringing with calls-I knew they weren’t checking in on me; they were either looking for drama or ready to chew me out.
The messages proved it.
“Liam Thompson, how dare you treat Chloe like that! She cried herself unconscious! You need to get over here and apologize now!”
I couldn’t have cared less.
Chloe crying over me running away? Impossible. She was probably thrilled I was gone.
In this life, she and that Ryan finally had their chance to be together. They should be thanking me, honestly.
If you ask me, they owed me a massive thank you.
Just as I was lost in this fantasy, my hospital room door swung open.
My mom and dad stood there, both furious.
“Liam Thompson, you’ve really got some nerve! Running away from your wedding, jumping out of a window? Who are you trying to make a fool of?!”
I hadn’t expected them to track me down so quickly. I instantly felt like shrinking into the bed, quickly begging for mercy.
“Stop yelling, I’m in the hospital already.”
I pitifully revealed my bandaged arm, hoping to stir some parental love.
But they just scoffed.
“Your injuries are your own fault. Chloe is also in the hospital because of you. You need to take responsibility.”
Only then did I understand why they’d arrived so fast.
Wow, Chloe’s acting was truly next level. This way, no one would suspect she didn’t want the wedding either.
Then I heard my parents issue a direct order:
“As soon as you’re discharged, you’re having the wedding with Chloe again.”
“No way.”
My firm refusal left my parents momentarily bewildered.
After all, my marriage to Chloe had been largely my doing.
I transferred to Chloe’s school in senior year, fell for her at first sight, and spent five years secretly crushing on her.
It wasn’t until her family’s company faced a crisis that the Millers approached my parents, proposing an alliance between our families.
At the time, I was overjoyed by the news and worked hard to convince my parents to agree.
Now, though, I was a completely different person.
They couldn’t accept it.
“Why?”
The question came from a female voice.
My parents quickly stepped aside, revealing Chloe. She had changed out of her wedding dress and into a hospital gown.
Her figure was already slender, but now she looked especially frail, as if a gust of wind could carry her away. She swayed, a fleeting pang of tenderness and sadness piercing my heart for a split second.
Her eyes were fixed on me as she asked again:
“Why won’t you marry me?”
I frowned, my heart still hard.
“Because I don’t love you anymore.”
At my words, Chloe’s body seemed to lose all support. She collapsed weakly, passing out cold.
My parents shot me a fierce glare, then rushed to help the nurse get Chloe back to her room.
For a moment, I considered following them, but I resisted.
Still, I couldn’t shake the thought: when did Chloe become so fragile?
Was she acting?
For the next few days, my parents were furious with me and didn’t visit again.
My friend came to see me, giving me a thumbs-up.
“You’re something else, Liam. You really pissed Chloe off. I thought you were crazy about her, chased her forever. Why give up now, right before the wedding?”
I waved him off.
“Too easy. Lost interest.”
“Then, it’s my turn to chase you now.”
I looked up. Chloe, just discharged, stood smiling at my doorway.
“I don’t want to see you.”
I didn’t hold back, practically kicking her out.
She didn’t seem offended. She walked in, carrying a thermos, and started pouring soup for me.
“I made you some bone broth. Drink it while it’s hot.”
My friend, sensing the awkward atmosphere, quickly made his escape.
Leaving me alone with Chloe.
I kept a stony face.
Chloe brought the bowl closer to me, coaxing me like a child:
“Smell it. It’s delicious.”
A familiar aroma wafted into my nostrils.
In my previous life, Chloe and I had been married for over twenty years, the ‘model couple’ in everyone’s eyes.
Even I thought so.
She was meticulous in everything she did, though she often missed holidays and anniversaries due to work. But she’d always apologize and prepare gifts-without fail, things I liked or had mentioned offhand.
Chloe, a pampered girl who had never lifted a finger in the kitchen, had even learned to cook. When she was home, she’d make the meals herself. She said she worried about my sensitive stomach, so she’d specifically learned to make all kinds of soups.
This bone broth was my favorite.
I once believed this was a sign of her love for me, but later, I learned the truth.
The thought made the soup lose its appeal.
I turned my head away.
“I don’t want it, and I don’t want to see you. Just leave.”
Chloe bit her lip, trembling slightly. After a long moment, she managed a faint, strained smile.
“You don’t have an appetite now. I’ll put it aside. Remember to drink it when you’re hungry.”
I didn’t want to hear her speak, so I pulled the blanket over my head.
Chloe didn’t leave for a while; I heard her tidying up outside.
Only when the door clicked shut did I peek out.
The room had been cleaned by Chloe. She’d even placed a bouquet of fresh flowers where I could see them the moment I looked up.
I scoffed.
“What an actress.”
For the next few days, Chloe reported punctually every morning, noon, and night, bringing carefully prepared meals.
I never touched them, though.
I ignored her.
She would tidy up the hospital room, making it feel cozy and home-like, even subtly mirroring how our room used to be in my past life.
This only made me feel more uncomfortable.
As soon as Chloe left, I checked myself out of the hospital.
Time to go home!
But I was too optimistic.
I had barely stepped through my front door when Chloe showed up at my house.
She doted on my parents, eagerly offering them shoulder rubs.
“Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, if your shoulders are sore, I can always come over and massage them for you.”
My parents glanced at me as I came downstairs, then called out:
“Liam, you just got out of the hospital. Why don’t you let her give you a massage first?”
Chloe immediately looked at me, her eyes seemingly filled with anticipation.
There was no mistaking it. My parents had completely sided with her.
I could understand why my parents were suddenly so fond of Chloe. Before I knew her true face, I, too, was fooled by her gentle thoughtfulness.
But what exactly was Chloe after?
I slapped my forehead in annoyance as it suddenly clicked: the Miller family’s company was facing a funding crisis, which was why they sought a marriage alliance. Chloe was probably afraid my family wouldn’t help.
She worried for nothing. In my past life, after the Millers overcame their crisis, their company indeed flourished.
It was a completely sound investment.
With that understanding, my gaze toward Chloe softened considerably, becoming more like an evaluation of an investment target.
My parents, seeing my attitude had relaxed, quickly nudged Chloe towards me.
Chloe lost her balance, stumbling towards me like a feather.
I instinctively caught her, only to realize how alarmingly thin she was beneath her clothes. She felt weightless, like she was nothing but bones, as if she might break if I squeezed too hard.
My brow furrowed.
Her eyes met mine, her face flushed with embarrassment, filled with what looked like pure joy.
But I felt only irritation and pushed her away, somewhat roughly.
Chloe swayed for a moment before steadying herself, but she still looked delighted.
Even my parents gave me knowing looks, as if my resistance was just a childish display of defiance.
I couldn’t stay in this house.
“I have plans. I won’t be home tonight.”
I grabbed my phone and walked straight out.
Chloe, ever persistent, jogged after me.
Everywhere I went, she followed.
When I headed to my car, she even tried to open the passenger door.
I snapped, losing my patience:
“Stop it! Can you just leave me alone?”
My voice was sharper than I intended.
Chloe seemed startled, freezing in place, her shoulders involuntarily trembling.
Seeing her so fragile only agitated me more:
“I know you want my family’s money. Don’t worry. Even without marriage, I’ll invest. Are you satisfied? If so, just leave.”
Seeing no reaction from her, I slammed the accelerator and drove off.
Inside the bar’s VIP room, acquaintances-some not even close friends-were all discussing my exploits.
“Liam, you’re a legend! Dumped the school queen you chased forever, just ran from the wedding!”
“I knew it, our Liam isn’t some desperate lovesick puppy. It was all an act to reel Chloe in. She totally lost face this time.”
“Serves her right, honestly. All high-and-mighty before, looking down on us party-goers. Now she’s the one being played.”
Listening to their snide remarks, I realized my runaway wedding had made Chloe the laughingstock of our social circle.
Her former ‘school queen’ glamour was shattered, and now she was fair game for anyone to mock.
But I didn’t want to engage in their gossip. I just kept drinking.
I stumbled home in the morning, my head still hazy.
My parents sat on the sofa, waiting for me, their faces grim.
“You’re getting worse, staying out drinking all night. Chloe is such a good girl, and you just tossed her aside. You were the one who insisted on marrying her!”
“You are going to give me a reason today, or else.”
At my parents’ words, my drunken haze began to clear.
They were right. I had been the one to push for it.
It took living a lifetime of pain to understand that a forced relationship never ends well.
…
My memory flashed back to the day I heard about Chloe’s death.
It was our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. The day before, I had, for once, stood my ground with Chloe.
Not for anything else, but to make her come home and spend our anniversary with me. Because that day also marked thirty years since I first fell in love with her.
“If you don’t come back, we should just get a divorce.”
That’s what I said then.
But such a threat must have seemed laughable in Chloe’s eyes.
That evening, I waited for her at the restaurant, full of anticipation, only to receive the news of Chloe’s death.
I hung up the phone and rushed to the police station like a madman.
“Are you Chloe Miller’s husband?”
The officer confirmed my identity, his eyes filled with sympathy.
They told me Chloe had committed suicide, and that she had done so with another man named Ryan, suspected to be a tragic lovers’ pact.
“Do you have any information about Ryan?”
It was the first time I had ever heard that unfamiliar name.
I shook my head, bewildered.
I found out who Ryan was at Chloe’s funeral.
Her best friend cried inconsolably over her coffin.
“If I had known you loved Ryan, I would have stopped you from marrying Liam, even if it killed me.”
That’s when I learned Ryan was Chloe’s university senior.
All those years, they had never truly broken off contact. All the holidays and annivers Chloe missed? She had spent them with Ryan.
Eventually, only I remained at the funeral. I stood before Chloe’s tombstone, murmuring to myself.
“Chloe, did you regret marrying me?”
The tombstone wouldn’t answer, but I knew the truth.
“I regretted marrying you too. If I had another chance, I would never have gotten involved with you again.”
With that thought, my eyes cleared, and I looked at my parents with newfound resolve.
“I just can’t go through with this marriage. I can’t tell you why. But I will help the Miller family.”
My mom finally sighed.
“You’ll regret this. Fine, we won’t interfere anymore. Do whatever you want.”
I went back to bed and slept for what felt like an eternity. Once my mind finally felt clear, I texted Chloe to meet me at my office.
Chloe arrived quickly, dressed with care.
Her hair was styled in soft waves, and she wore a white dress, as if heading to a date.
“Liam, you haven’t asked me out in ages.”
Her face held the shy, delicate charm of a young girl in love, her lips pursed in a demure smile.
I tossed a contract onto the table and spoke in a purely business-like tone.
“I know the Miller family needs sixty million in funding. Sign this contract, and I’ll give you what you want. But after this, you must never come looking for me again.”
Chloe stared down, no reaction.
I urged her. “Hurry up. I’m giving you what you want, don’t get greedy.”
At my words, Chloe looked up, her eyes brimming with tears.
She bit her lip, throwing the contract back at me. Then she rushed to my side, grabbing my shirt, demanding I look deeply into her eyes.
“Liam Thompson, I’m not asking for an investment at all. I’ve only ever wanted you. Haven’t I made that obvious enough?”
Large tears streamed down her face. She pounded my chest with her fists, but it didn’t hurt at all.
“We were married for over twenty years. Now you’ve been reborn, and you’re treating your wife like this? You weren’t like this in the last life…”
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