Chapter 1

My husband blamed me for standing in the way of his big future. He wanted a divorce. But on our way to the courthouse to finalize it, we got into a car crash.

When I opened my eyes again, we were both back in time, to the year his childhood sweetheart invited him to start a business abroad.

This time, he didn’t hesitate. He went overseas with her. I didn’t try to stop him. I just kept my job packing packages.

Seven years later, he was a new business mogul, swimming in fame and fortune.

And I was still packing packages.

When we met again, he had his arm wrapped around his childhood sweetheart’s waist, mocking me, covered in dust and scrapes.

“Seven years, and you’re still a pathetic mess, like you’ve been living on the streets!”

I just walked past him, ignoring his words.

It was at the business finance center's speaking event.

Marcus was back in the country.

After seven years, he’d transformed into the CEO of a listed company, a man of fame and fortune, absolutely dominating the scene.

As I walked into the conference center, all sorts of big-shot CEOs were swarming around him, eager to shake his hand.

Many of them were our old classmates from the university entrepreneurship base.

“Marcus, you sly dog, you’re the biggest success story in our class!”

“Yeah, seriously! Just a few years, and you’re a CEO! Back in college, I always knew you were destined for greatness, and look at you now! Your grades were stellar, and you were always so driven. I knew you were something special from the start!”

“I even heard you invested five million into our old university. That’s insane! I should’ve gone into business with you!”

“Marcus isn't just capable, he’s also dashingly handsome. And I heard your current girlfriend is a gorgeous heiress, spill the beans! How did you two get together? Give us some tips!”

Marcus lowered his head and gave a slight smile.

“It was just fate.”

Then I heard them mention me.

“How did things end with you and Scarlett? I remember you two were inseparable in college, so in love.”

Marcus’s expression stiffened for a second, then he chuckled lightly.

“Our values just didn’t align.”

Seeing he didn’t want to talk about it, they didn’t push him. Their attention shifted to his gorgeous heiress.

“Are we finally going to meet your stunning girlfriend today?”

A shallow smile played on Marcus’s lips.

“She’s here too, just went to the restroom. Should be out soon.”

Just then, his gorgeous heiress, Celeste, strutted over in her stilettos and settled in beside him.

A few classmates gasped like they’d never seen a gorgeous woman before.

After a quick cleanup of the mud and scrapes on my arms, I straightened up and walked in with my head held high.

One classmate recognized me first.

“Holy crap, Scarlett! Speak of the devil!”

“Scarlett, our class queen, came to the business lecture too!”

“Come on, class queen, come chat with us!”

“What happened to you? You’re covered in dirt, and your arms are all messed up. Did you fall somewhere?”

I politely gave a few generic replies.

Then I turned and met Marcus’s eyes.

He frowned, sizing me up from head to toe, his eyes practically screaming ‘disgust’.

He was wearing a custom-tailored black suit, his hair styled perfectly—it looked freshly done—like a refined prince.

Celeste, sitting next to him, was draped in an expensive mink fur coat, clinging to his arm, nestling into his shoulder, like a delicate, sleeping beauty.

They looked like a picture-perfect power couple.

Then there was me.

My white dress was stained dark with mud, and my arms were covered in bruises.

But I didn't care.

I nodded a greeting to them and found a random seat.

The lecture still had a little while before it started.

I quickly texted my assistant to bring me a change of clothes.

Then I buried my head in my phone, listening to their gossip.

“I’ve been waiting for this business lecture for ages!”

“Tell me about it! This is Liam and his powerhouse wife’s exclusive business secrets! Who wouldn’t want to hear that?!”

“I heard Liam and his wife only started their business after they got married. They built their empire from scratch, and in less than three years, they’d amassed a fortune worth hundreds of millions.”

“And I also heard Liam loves his wife so much, he even handed over the chairman position to her!”

“That’s right. Liam doesn’t let anyone mention his wife online; he keeps her fiercely protected. And his wife is super low-key; she rarely appears in public. No one has even seen her until now! Today, we’re lucky enough to witness this business elite goddess.”

“I’m so jealous! They truly are a legendary couple in business! I want to marry a man like Liam!”

“And I want to marry an elite goddess like his wife!”

My assistant brought the clothes.

As I was about to head to the restroom to change, I ran into Marcus on the way.

He was leaning against the doorframe, by the entrance.

It seemed like he was deliberately waiting for me.

But I had no desire to interact with him, so I just ignored him and walked past.

To my surprise, he spoke first, calling out to me.

“You’re not still packing packages, are you? Seven years, and you’re still a pathetic mess, like you’ve been living on the streets. You haven’t even bought a car, still taking taxis!”

“You’re a grown woman, stumbling like a clumsy fool on the street. Aren’t you embarrassed?!”

I turned around and, facing that familiar yet strange face, replied firmly:

“That’s my business, and it has nothing to do with you.”

Marcus clicked his tongue, his face flushing with irritation.

“Scarlett, your mouth is still as stubborn as ever! No ambition!”

“I know, you must be absolutely kicking yourself now!”

I said, “Regret? What do I have to regret?”

Hearing my counter-question, he scoffed, a sneer on his face:

“Still playing tough, huh? I knew it, you’re nothing without me!”

“But I’m not some heartless brute. Given our seven years of marriage, if you just swallow your pride a little, maybe I can offer you a prestigious, high-flying job.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I don’t need it.”

With that, I turned and walked away.

He was still yelling behind me, his voice echoing.

“Scarlett, don’t be ungrateful! When that day comes, and you regret it, don’t come crawling to me!”

“You want to act all high and mighty? Let’s see how long you can keep that up!”