Chapter 9
597words
Watching orders flood in daily, I was living my best life.
Until Blake showed up.
Blake burst in, seized my wrist, and demanded to know why Jane's dress wasn't called "To Love."
Why? Because love is dead, obviously!
Wait—how did he know this design was originally called "To Love"?
Could it be... Blake was also reborn?
No, impossible. In my previous life, he was living his best life after I died.
"Blake... you're not reborn too, are you?"
At my words, Blake froze, his expression cycling through shock, relief, and confusion.
One second he was grinning like a madman, the next he looked haunted.
I waved my free hand in front of his face, snapping him back to reality.
Then Blake told me his version of events.
The assistant who'd given me the check was his grandfather's spy. The old man had impossibly high standards and would never allow someone "common" like me to marry into the Hayes dynasty.
His grandfather wanted to control every aspect of Blake's life, especially his marriage.
Blake had planned to secure his position in the company before confronting his grandfather about us.
But my media leak had thrown his careful plans into chaos.
His grandfather had ordered a hit on me, forcing Blake to propose publicly to protect me.
After our wedding, his grandfather had threatened my family to force our divorce. Blake had to pretend to despise me to keep us both safe.
When we still didn't divorce, his grandfather had drugged my food, causing hallucinations and depression.
Blake had finally realized divorce was the only way to protect me while he dealt with his grandfather.
But he hadn't expected me to endure such public humiliation rather than let him go.
The office scene with Jane and her visit to our home were staged to push me toward divorce.
After my suicide, Blake had rushed home but crashed his car. When he woke up, he was back at our first meeting, determined to treat me better this time.
I couldn't process this alternate reality Blake was describing.
"Emma, I love you. I've always loved you."
"That's why I wanted to do better this time."
"This time, I planned everything. The company's secure, grandfather's powerless, and I have nothing to do with Jane."
"Marry me, Emma."
Looking at Blake's earnest face, I pulled away: "Good to me? I haven't felt it. What have you actually done for me? Your grandfather story sounds convenient. I haven't felt any real love from you."
At my words, Blake looked down and said quietly:
"The red string wasn't from a temple. It was my mother's protection charm—the only thing I have left of her."
"And you cut it in half without a second thought."
As he spoke, his eyes turned red with unshed tears.
I turned away, unable to face him: "Blake, we both need space to think."
"In my previous life, I lived for you. This time, I'm living for myself. I have dreams and ambitions beyond being a trophy wife in a golden cage."
"As you said, your grandfather saw me as trash unworthy of the Hayes name. Even with you in power, that stigma doesn't disappear."
"You should leave."
With that, I walked away. Whether Blake's story was true or not, I'd found genuine fulfillment in my work and designs.
Seeing brides in my designs, starting their lives with people they loved—this satisfaction was something I never experienced in my previous life, not even when I married Blake.
