Chapter 1

A year after my kidneys failed, my once faithless husband became a different man.

He blocked his childhood sweetheart, stopped staying out all night, and never left my side.

I thought it was just another cruel trick.

After all, he once left me alone at my parents' graves to comfort his sweetheart, even traded me to his boss for a shot at success. He always found new ways to hurt me.

But this time, he only repeated, "Cora… please believe me. I really came back from the past."

*****

I turned my head away, feeling irritated.

My husband, Matthew Huffman had been saying the same thing over and over lately.

Seeing I still wouldn't say anything, he got increasingly anxious.

He said, "Cora, tell me, what will it take for you to believe me? I'm really from the past, I swear. I woke up and somehow I was just… here."

As he spoke, his gaze turned softer, filled with longing.

But I didn't believe a word he said.

I first met Matthew when I was eighteen.

He came up to me while we were taking our high school graduation photos.

"I'm from the neighboring school. I've noticed you for a while now. Want to be friends?" he asked.

Back then I wasn't interested in relationships. Studying was all I cared about, so I responded pretty indifferently.

But Matthew was persistent. He even somehow managed to find out which university I applied to and applied to the same university.

He wooed me for four whole years, and in the end, even my parents were touched by his efforts.

My friends would always tell me Matthew was a good guy.

With everyone encouraging me, I finally let Matthew into my heart, and ended up marrying him.

After we got married, he continued treating me just as kindly as before.

My love for him grew deeper with each passing day.

I had thought we'd spend our lives together, just the two of us, happy and in love.

But then his childhood sweetheart Sienna Phelps showed up, and I could see the excitement practically glowing on Matthew's face.

When Sienna leaned into his arms, it was like I didn't even exist anymore.

He didn't care that I was the wife he'd chased for four years, didn't care about any promise he'd ever made to me.

Who said childhood sweethearts always lost to the newcomers?

I guess, in the end, Matthew just didn't love me that much.

Thinking back on everything, I rubbed my aching temples.

"Matthew, I'm already dying. I can't take any more of you and Sienna's drama. If you ever cared about our marriage, then please, just leave me alone in my final days," I said.

Hearing this, Matthew's eyes suddenly welled up with tears, his voice sounding as wronged as could be.

"Cora, I'm really not that jerk I used to be. I won't hurt you again, I swear. Can you just give me a chance and trust me?" he pleaded.

His voice broke, his words ending in a desperate, pleading tone.

For a second, I almost believed the guy in front of me was that eighteen-year-old boy Matthew used to be.

But Matthew didn't just torment me once or twice—he had all sorts of ways to mess with me, all just to put a smile on Sienna's face.

He'd go as far as playing ghost to scare me or even fake being sick or dead, just so he could sneak off and travel the world with Sienna.

Anything that made Sienna happy, he'd do it.

Years of being worn down, trapped between the two of them—the constant stress on my mind and body led to kidney failure at my young age.

It started out as a minor health issue, but now walking was a struggle.

I didn't want to deal with Matthew any longer. I rolled myself away in my wheelchair, putting as much space as I could between us.

"Believe you? And then what? Break down in your arms, only for you and Sienna to laugh at how pathetic I am?" I retorted.

It was like he couldn't hear the bite in my words. He just repeated, "Cora, what happened to you all these years? Why won't you trust me anymore…"

I was done with him. "Matthew, how many times are you going to cry wolf before you finally get tired of it?

"Fine, pretend you really did travel from the past—if you even care about me now, then do us both a favor and stay away. Haven't you hurt me enough?"

With that, I yanked my shirt off one shoulder, revealing a patchwork of scars—old and fresh, layered and terribly shocking.

Matthew was stunned.

"Most of these scars are from five years ago," I said. "That year, Sienna wanted to learn horseback archery, and you tricked me into being her live target for a whole day.

"You said if I agreed, you'd have a child with me. I was so stupid, thinking a baby could tie you to me. I agreed without a second thought."

Back then, my whole world revolved around Matthew. I just wanted to do what he asked, make him happy.

Even if he only did all that for Sienna, I accepted it.

But I never imagined Matthew and Sienna could be way more vicious than I ever thought possible.

The arrows had specially-made blunt tips, but fired at full speed, they still left welts and bruises all over me, even through my clothes.

By the end, my back was a mess, blood soaking right through my shirt.

I clenched my jaw, wanting to quit, but Sienna wasn't having it.

She held the bow high like my whole fate was in her hands. "Just stand there and be my target, Cora."

Matthew's eyes darkened for a split second as he watched me being mistreated.

But the moment Sienna burst out laughing, every bit of concern for me faded away.

"Cora, Sienna's just like a kid. Just go along with it for my sake today, okay? I promise I'll make it up to you when we get home," Matthew said.

He looked apologetic, but all his words were still about Sienna, never really about me.

In that moment, the ache in my chest was a thousand times sharper than the pain in my body.

As soon as I finished recounting that incident, Matthew jolted upright, his whole face in shock.

"No, Cora, that's impossible. I care about you so much. How could I ever do something so cruel to you for another woman?" Matthew blurted. "And Sienna? I swear, I cut her out of my life a long time ago.

"Are you just sick of me and trying to find excuses to push me away? You're making this stuff up, aren't you?"

Matthew shifted anxiously, desperate for me to say it wasn't true, repeating that he couldn't possibly have done anything like that.

But the truth was right here, undeniable.

I lowered my head, exhausted.

Matthew wrapped his arms around me from behind, his fingers tenderly tracing each scar on my skin.

Hot tears fell onto the back of my neck, sending a jolt through me.

All these years, he hadn't even cared to spare me a proper glance.

But now, he was actually crying.

Before I could even wrap my head around it, someone barged through the front door.

"Matthew, why haven't you come hang out with me these last few days? Did that bitch Cora say more nasty things about me again?" Sienna whined.

Her tone was all pitiful and complaining.

Matthew's arms around me stiffened.

Noticing his reaction, a wave of bitterness washed over me.

I should've stopped hoping for anything from him a long time ago.

I'd had enough. With all the strength I had left, I shoved him away and shot Sienna a mocking look.

"Sienna's here. So why are you still hanging around me?" I said to Matthew.

As soon as I finished, Matthew suddenly seemed to realize what was happening.

He shot a look at Sienna, his eyes blazing with fury, and stormed toward her.

"Who said you could come here?" he demanded.