Chapter 4

The next morning, my fever broke.

Despite the nurse's objections, I checked myself out of the hospital and returned to the home Liam and I shared.

I stood up, ready to clear out Liam's belongings and start my new life.

While tidying the study, I found a locked metal box.

In my last life, I had curiously asked Liam what was inside, and he just smiled gently, saying it contained some of his little secrets.

I never thought to open it.

But now...

I found some tools and pried open the small lock.

The moment the box opened, my breath hitched.

Inside were a thick stack of photos and a journal.

All the photos were of Liam and Chloe.

There were pictures of them together at the beach when I didn't know; pictures of them at an amusement park wearing matching couple headbands; and there was even one... of Chloe in my pajamas, kissing Liam's cheek, in Liam's and my own bedroom.

The earliest one was from the second year of our marriage.

My hands began to tremble uncontrollably. I opened the journal.

The first page of the journal read: "To my one true light, my Chloe."

It documented all the little moments of his and Chloe's "love."

[April 7th, Sunny. Today, Anya got upset with me again because of work. I'm a bit annoyed. Only when I'm with Chloe can I truly feel relaxed and happy. She's like the sun, capable of illuminating all my shadows.]

[August 15th, Rainy. Chloe said she liked that limited edition bag, so I secretly bought it and gave it to her. Seeing her surprised smile, I felt it was all worth it. Anya never gets happy over these small things; she's too boring.]

[December 1st, Cloudy. I argued with Anya again today. She doesn't understand how hard I work. I ran away from home, and Chloe found me. She stayed with me all night in the cold wind, even taking off her own jacket for me. At that moment, I truly wanted to abandon everything and elope with her.]

So it wasn't a case of love blossoming at work; they had been secretly involved for ages!

Nauseating. Absolutely sickening!

I had to burn all memories of Liam. I grabbed a bucket and a lighter, then lit and tossed all the photos and gifts I had gathered into the bucket.

Burn! Burn it all! Burn away this disgusting past!

I stood over the pile of ashes, feeling something within me slowly peel away.

Just then, my phone buzzed incessantly. It was a message from my sister, Chloe.

She and Liam were walking side-by-side on a bustling foreign shopping street, Liam patiently choosing an expensive scarf for her.

They were dining in a high-end restaurant, she held up a wine glass, smiling brightly, and Liam looked at her with doting affection.

The latest message showed a foreign businessman enthusiastically clapping Liam's shoulder, saying in broken English: "Mr. Miller, your wife is truly young and beautiful, you two are such a perfect match!"

Chloe shyly lowered her head and linked her arm through Liam's, and Liam, too, just smiled, silently confirming everything.

I finished watching with a blank expression, then tossed my phone aside.

No anger, no sadness.

After all, that despicable pair was about to embark on their "bright" future together.

The next morning, just as dawn broke, my phone suddenly rang.

The name "Liam" flashed on the screen.

My heart clenched. Was he calling to announce a death?

I took a deep breath and pressed the answer button.

"Anya, darling, are you awake?" Liam's voice was as gentle as ever.

I froze, unable to speak for a moment.

How could this be? In my last life, wasn't Chloe tortured to death on the third day?

Had the torture lasted longer for both of them this time?

"Good news! The project is a success! They loved our proposal and signed the contract first thing this morning!" Liam's voice was filled with joy: "I've bought tickets for tomorrow. I'll be home soon!"

Boom!