Chapter 2Reborn: I Set My Husband Free

Liam flinched, clearly surprised by how easily I had let go.

Ashley, on the other hand, let out a squeal of delight, planting several kisses on his lips before finally turning to me.

"Sarah, I told you he would choose me!"

I gave her a half-hearted nod and turned to leave. As I stepped off the stage, I stumbled. A cool hand steadied me.

"Miss Paltrow," a smooth voice said, "perhaps it's time you started looking at other people."

I looked up at the man holding my arm—Adrian Stanton. A small smile touched my lips. I recognized his face from countless financial news segments in my past life. I just never expected to see him at my own disastrous engagement party.

"Like who?" I asked.

A smile spread across Adrian's face, his dark eyes reflecting only me. He pressed a slip of paper into my palm. "My number. Call me when you have a moment."

I glanced at him, then gathered my skirt and headed for the dressing room.

My parents and Liam's parents followed me, their faces grim. Liam's parents offered a forced, apologetic smile. "Sarah, our son has been so foolish. But what's done is done. We want to compensate you. Just tell us what you need, and we'll make it happen."

My mother rolled her eyes. "Who cares about your..."

I quickly grabbed her hand, cutting her off. Then, with a bright smile, I said, "Auntie, in that case, how about you give me that plot of land in the North District?"

Right now, that piece of land was practically worthless. But in a few years, its value would skyrocket. It was that very plot that had saved Liam's family from bankruptcy in our past life.

His parents drew up a contract on the spot. I beamed.

After they left, my mother smacked my arm. "How can you be smiling after being publicly humiliated like that?"

I pointed to the contract. "With this? How could I not be?"

I truly was happy.

In our past life, a series of bad decisions by Liam's family had dragged my family's business down with them into bankruptcy. The Stanton family was only saved by that single plot of land. I, on the other hand, had to pour every ounce of my energy into work just to salvage my family's company.

He had thrown tantrums more than once, complaining about how dull and boring our life was. Why couldn't I just put work aside so we could see the world, have some fun?

That's when Ashley had reappeared.

She had become a famous travel blogger, her location tag bouncing from one country to another. Liam was mesmerized by her videos. He started using "business trips" as an excuse to fly to Africa to watch the wildebeest migration with her.

One was wild and free, the other yearned for that same freedom. It was inevitable that they would be drawn to each other.

His "business trips" became more and more frequent. When I finally grew suspicious, I booked a seat on the same flight and discovered the truth. When I confronted him, the coldness in his eyes stopped me in my tracks.

He said that being with me was like being trapped in stagnant water, utterly lifeless. Only with Ashley did he feel alive.

Eventually, he hit rock bottom. "Let's get a divorce," he'd said. "You can have three-quarters of everything. You can have the kids. I just want my freedom."

"A person like you," he'd sneered, "all you care about is money and profit. You'll never understand the joy of a life without constraints."

He sounded like his eighteen-year-old self again, arrogant and reckless. But all I felt was a sense of ridicule.

A life of passion and freedom was certainly appealing, but without a material foundation, it would ultimately lead to an empty void after the initial thrill wore off. Once he had had his fill of adventure, he would realize he had nothing to show for his life.

For a long time after that, I heard nothing from Liam. I'd only catch glimpses of him when Ashley's account popped up on my social media feed. It seemed he was truly living the life he'd always wanted.

But I didn't dwell on it. Because I, too, had found a new life and a new love, one who truly shared my ambitions.