Chapter 1Reborn: I Set My Husband Free

On the way to finalize our divorce, Liam and I were hit by a truck.

Just before I lost consciousness, I heard him whisper, "If I could do it all over, I would've said yes when Ashley confessed her love."

"To live a life full of passion with her... that's the life I've always wanted."

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of our engagement party.

Just like last time, Ashley stood there, holding a bouquet, asking Liam if he would choose her.

Without a single glance at me, Liam took the ring and knelt before Ashley. "Ashley, I love you. Will you marry me?"

I knew then that he had been reborn, too.

So, I let them have their moment.

He got his wish, a life of freedom and passion with Ashley.

But later, he came crawling back, kneeling before me, begging through tears for me to marry him again.

* * *

Ashley was stunned by the sudden turn of events. When Liam asked again, tears of joy streamed down her face.

"Yes, I will!"

They embraced tightly, completely oblivious to the icy tension that had gripped the room. All eyes were on me. I took off my veil, tossed it aside, and watched the deeply in love couple with a cold, detached gaze.

Liam led Ashley onto the stage and took the microphone.

"Today was supposed to be my engagement party," he announced. "But standing up here, I've realized that the person I truly love is Ashley."

"I've let her slip through my fingers too many times. This time, I won't make the same mistake. I want to spend the rest of my life with her!"

No one in the room applauded their whirlwind romance.

Liam finally looked at me, his voice devoid of all emotion.

"I wasn't thinking clearly before. If you want compensation, I can give you five hundred thousand. I hope you'll stay out of my life from now on."

His eyes were cold and numb, a reflection of the twenty years of marriage that had worn him down in our past life. But when he looked at Ashley, his eyes burned with the same passion he'd had in his twenties.

We had dated for three years before deciding to get engaged. The moment I said yes, he had announced it to everyone we knew. We were showered with blessings from all sides, with one exception: Ashley.

She was his junior in college and had fallen for him at first sight. She orchestrated "chance" encounters all over campus, and after graduation, she found ways to stay close to him. Whenever she saw me, she'd flash a bright, provocative smile.

"You're not married yet," she'd say. "I'm not giving up. I'll make him see that life has more than one path!"

I was always unsettled by her presence, but Liam would just pull me into his arms and coldly reject her. In our past life, to prove his unwavering commitment to me, he had rushed to hold the engagement party right after proposing.

Ashley had shown up at that party, too, wearing a stunning wedding gown. She looked beautiful yet fragile, her gaze fixed stubbornly on Liam.

"Liam," she had declared, "this is the last time I'll confess my feelings to you. If you reject me again, I will disappear from your world forever!"

In that life, Liam had taken my hand, knelt, and placed the ring on my finger, his actions a silent, final rejection of Ashley.

But this time, he took Ashley's hand and confessed his love to her in front of everyone.

As the room remained frozen in a stunned silence, I simply took a step back and let them steal my spotlight.

Only after their passionate declarations were over did I speak, my voice calm and even.

"I wish you both the best. Liam, I hope we never see each other again."