Chapter 2

"Larissa, Cassian told me you two are divorced? What happened?" Isobel asked.

In my previous life, Isobel always sided with Cassian, thinking I should understand his reasons and play along with the whole fake divorce act. But now, I was not the same Larissa who let people push her around.

"Yes, we're divorced. But don't worry, I won't bring shame to the Blaze family. I'll move out of the military compound tomorrow," I replied.

Isobel's expression darkened in an instant. "Larissa, what kind of nonsense is this? Didn't Cassian already explain it to you? This is just to help out a woman in need. It's only for a little while."

"Only for a little while?" I interrupted her. "Isobel, do you really think divorce is something that can be temporary? The divorce papers are signed and officially registered. How is any of that temporary?"

Isobel was stunned into silence by my response.

"Besides," I went on, "do you even know who Talia really is? Is it worth making me leave the Blaze family just for some stranger with a mysterious background?"

"What are you trying to say about Talia?" Isobel demanded.

I let out a cold laugh. "You'll find out soon enough. But by then, we'll be nothing but strangers, so you won't need to concern yourself with me anymore."

Without another word, I shut the door in her face, leaving Isobel frozen in place outside.

Early the next morning, I started my move.

There wasn't much to take, just a single wicker box held everything I owned. Back then, most women didn't have much to call their own, so I guess I was luckier than most.

As I walked out of Building 3 with my box, everyone in the military compound was talking about it.

"Is Larissa really leaving?"

"No way, she actually divorced Mr. Blaze?"

"Does she even know how lucky she was? Men like Mr. Blaze are one in a million."

"Seriously, making such a big deal over a so-called temporary divorce? Talk about being narrow-minded."

Listening to their chatter, I felt nothing. In my previous life, I cared too much about their opinions and let their judgment trap me, which only led to misery in the end.

I was done living for anyone but myself this time around.

Just as I was about to step out the gate, a military jeep raced up and screeched to a halt. The door slammed open, and Cassian jumped out, his expression stormy.

"Larissa, stop right there," Cassian barked.

I paused, turned back, and met his gaze. "Mr. Blaze, what do you want now?"

"You're really going through with this?" Cassian marched right up to me, his eyes wide with disbelief. "All this drama over a so-called fake divorce?"

"Fake divorce?" I scoffed. "Cassian, look at this certificate. Aren't both our real names on it? Didn't we both sign it with our own hands? And isn't it officially filed at the civil affairs bureau?"

Cassian was completely stumped by my words.

"If everything's legit, what's fake about it?" My tone stayed steady, but every word was sharp as a blade. "Mr. Blaze, since you've picked Talia, then you better treat her right. I might not come from a fancy family, but I'm not someone nobody wants."

"Larissa, please, just hear me out," Cassian called after me, desperation in his voice.

"I don't want to hear anything you have to say," I cut him off coldly. "Cassian, from this moment on, we're just strangers. Who you want to protect, who you want to help. It's got nothing to do with me anymore."

With that, I hauled my box and walked straight out of the military compound, never once looking back.

Cassian's furious shout chased after me. "Larissa, get back here."

But I didn't turn around.

That moment felt absolutely liberating. All the pent-up frustration, humiliation, and bitterness from my old life finally burst free. I was done holding it all in.

Instead of heading straight to my parents' place, I went to the post office downtown.

"Hey there, I need to send a telegram." I told the clerk.

"Where to?" the clerk asked.

"Mebland, to Draven Aviir," I replied.

I wrote just a few words on the telegram: Divorced. Come pick me up.

Draven was my cousin. He was the only one I could really rely on in this world. Last time, I missed out on so much because I was too naive. But this time, I wouldn't let that happen again.

After sending the telegram, I found a place to stay and started planning my next steps.

Being reborn, my biggest edge was knowing what the next thirty years had in store. 1975 was a game-changer. Next year, SAT would be first introduced.

If I grabbed these chances, I could completely change my fate.

As for Cassian and Talia, they could go ahead and put on their little sob story for all I cared.

While I was figuring out my next move at the inn, a knock sounded at the door.

"Larissa, someone's asking for you," an attendant said.

I opened the door to find the staff peeking at me nervously.

"Who's looking for me?" I asked.

"It's... someone from the military compound," the attendant stammered.

I frowned and followed the attendant to the lobby.

There was Horace, Cassian's guard, standing there with a package in his hand.

"Larissa, Mr. Blaze asked me to bring this to you," Horace said, sounding a little nervous.

I glanced at the package but didn't reach for it. "What is it?" I asked coolly.