Chapter 3

I kept my head down and didn't say a word. I didn't want to argue with Edward.

My engagement to Michael still hadn't been made public because of that sudden project, and I didn't want to waste any more time on Edward.

But he spotted the box in my hand and grabbed it. "This is a brooch for me, right? Looks pretty good, but don't forget where we stand. If Emily sees it, she'll feel jealous.

"Don't play these little games anymore. Stay home and keep quiet. If you're bored, maybe think about making some soup for Emily to help her out."

I let him finish talking. He probably thought it was boring, so he tossed the box back to me and left.

As I turned around, I found myself caught in Michael's sincere gaze.

For some reason, a wave of nervousness washed over me.

I didn't want him to misunderstand my relationship with Edward.

"Don't get the wrong idea. I'd never betray you!" I blurted out.

He looked a little disappointed and murmured, "So, did you choose me to get back at him?"

I shook my head desperately, trying to explain myself. "I swear, I have zero feelings for him. I kept quiet because I didn't want any trouble.

"With someone as arrogant as him, there's no point explaining. He'll only believe what he wants to believe."

Seeing that he was still a bit down, I gently asked, "Michael, do you believe in reincarnation?"

I thought he'd laugh at me for saying something weird, but instead, he asked, "If that's real, did you have a good life last time?"

Was it a good life?

In my previous life, I married into the Frost family and became Edward's wife.

Every day, I exhausted myself juggling endless social obligations, with a mountain of household chores piling up for me at home.

If I failed to handle even the smallest thing, Edward would question me with that icy tone. "Why can't you even handle the simplest things? It's not like you have to earn a living, and you still can't manage the household properly? If only I..."

He didn't finish, but I knew exactly what he meant. He wished he'd married Emily instead.

But it was his own hesitation. He was worried Emily was too frail to have children.

He never noticed how much I did, keeping up all those connections with the other ladies, bringing him so many benefits.

After Emily passed away, he kept searching for women who looked like her, one after another.

His phone was filled with nothing but photos of Emily.

I was heartbroken, but as time went on, the pain dulled.

When our son was old enough to marry, Edward insisted on arranging a marriage alliance with the Grant family, even though the Grant family had long since fallen from grace.

On the night of the wedding, he clutched Emily's photo, whispering to it.

"Let's say they fulfilled our dream for us. If there's ever another chance, I promise I'll be braver," he murmured.

That was the longest night I ever lived through.

After that, I stopped hoping for anything from him.

I lived out my days, and to everyone else, I was the picture of a perfect life.

But deep down, there was always a voice whispering to me.

The voice told me that I shouldn't have spent my life this way.

My thoughts drifted back, and under Michael's gaze, I managed a weak, forced smile.

"I guess," I said.

But it was not like it was good, either.

The day after the Hart family's project launched, Michael came to my house with a generous wedding gift.

He stood out among the crowd in the living room, his black suit making him look even more handsome.

He seemed to sense my presence and looked in my direction, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

My heart skipped a beat.

While the elders were busy chatting, I snuck out to the balcony for some fresh air.

When I turned around, Michael was standing right behind me.

I smiled at him and said, "Hey. I haven't congratulated you yet on landing the Sunrise Corporation project."

He fixed his eyes on me, his gaze full of passion. "That's true, but today feels like the happiest and luckiest day ever."

I felt a wave of nervousness rise up inside me. Maybe it was because the scars left by love, wearing me down again and again, were still there.

Even though those scars had long since healed, their presence always reminded me how painful things could get when I gave my heart away.

I looked away, dodging his gaze.

Michael didn't push the topic any further. Instead, he said quietly, "I want you to be happy, too."

Before I could respond, Edward barged in, his face thunderous with rage.

"Grace, how could you get engaged to someone else?" he demanded.