Chapter 1The Butterfly Effect of Loving Myself

As the New Year's Eve countdown began, my husband suddenly said, "She waited for me for nine years. In the tenth year, I don't want to disappoint her anymore..."

I swallowed the sweet candy in my mouth. "She? You mean Chloe?"

He didn't answer.

But he didn't know I had already seen the diamond ring he hid.

I picked up the phone and dialed. "Professor, I volunteer for the Time Regression Experiment. Send me back ten years."

The man on the other end was silent for a moment.

"If it fails, you won't survive."

If I don't go, I won't survive anyway...

* * *

Two days.

Professor Chen said the preparation would take two days.

Once the experiment started, I might cease to exist in this world.

"If you need to, say goodbye to your loved ones," he said.

But it was New Year's Eve. A day for family reunions.

My phone was silent. Not even a generic "Happy New Year" mass text.

I... ran out of loved ones a long time ago.

In the dark, I let the phone ring for a long time.

Finally, the other side picked up, complaining immediately: "It's New Year's Eve, why are you calling now?"

My mom's background noise was chaotic. Someone shouted, "Sis! Come quick, your daughter is here!"

My mom answered cheerfully. She sounded so happy, but her tone dropped when she spoke to me.

"Your sister is sensitive about you, you know that. You don't need to call for New Year's. If it's nothing important, don't call."

Click.

My phone screen lit up. The call ended.

Right. I forgot.

After my mom remarried, she never wanted to hear from me again.

In the living room, I heard the rustle of clothes.

Julian put on his leather shoes and pushed open the bedroom door.

He hesitated, then said, "I'm leaving."

I looked up. "Going to be with her?"

Julian pressed his lips together. His gaze softened slightly, lowering his voice to persuade me.

"Chloe stayed in the city just for me. I can't let her spend New Year's alone."

I didn't know how to react. I just sat there, dazed.

My eyes stung, but no tears came.

Julian walked into the bedroom, reaching out as if to pat my head, but stopped halfway.

He didn't touch me.

He said, "Stay home. I'll... be back as soon as I can..."

He turned and left.

Slam. The door closed.

The brightly lit apartment suddenly felt empty. Only his fresh footprints remained on the floor.