Chapter 1

When the shipwreck happened, Sophie and her husband, Jeremiah, both plunged into the freezing water.

Jeremiah was completely submerged, yet he used every ounce of strength to push Sophie above the surface.

As she watched his lips turn purple and his face go deathly pale, Sophie realized his life was draining away fast.

She sobbed. "Let me go. I'll die with you."

Jeremiah kept holding her up and said, "Sophie, just hold on a little longer. Help is coming. I need you to live."

Sophie wept uncontrollably. "If you die, what's the point of me living alone?"

Jeremiah said weakly, "Sophie, the rescue team will be here soon. After you're saved, please, I'm begging you, take care of Alice and the baby. The child is mine."

Sophie felt like she had been struck by lightning.

Alice was her best friend. Alice's husband was a researcher working on classified government projects, so Sophie had never met him.

For years, Sophie had looked after Alice and her son, even dragging Jeremiah along to help.

But she never imagined that the father of Alice's child was actually Jeremiah.

*****

When Sophie Curtis opened her eyes again, she had gone back to two weeks earlier.

Alice George was heavily pregnant. Sophie and her husband, Jeremiah Wilson, accompanied her to a prenatal checkup.

A nurse asked, "Who's Alice George's family member? Come sign here."

Jeremiah immediately stood up and said, "I'm coming."

Back then, Sophie thought nothing of it. Alice's husband was serving the country, and since Alice was her best friend, of course, Sophie had to take care of her.

But now, watching Jeremiah get up willingly to sign, she understood everything.

The nurse asked, "Are you Alice George's husband?"

Jeremiah didn't hesitate. "Yes."

The nurse said, "Sign here. Congratulations, you're going to be a father. The baby is healthy, so don't worry."

Jeremiah smiled with joy. "Thank you."

At the time Sophie had been thrilled for Alice and said, "Did you hear that? The nurse said the baby's healthy.

"Congratulations! I wonder if your husband will go crazy with joy when he hears the news."

Alice snuck a glance at Jeremiah, quickly looked away, and seemed a bit shy. "Probably."

Sophie sighed regretfully. "But your husband is like a ghost, always coming and going without a trace. I wouldn't even know where to find him to share the good news."

Alice said vaguely, "He'll find out somehow."

Sophie frowned. "I thought you said he's in classified work and you're not allowed to contact him privately. How will you tell him?"

Alice smiled and winked at her. "You wouldn't understand. We have a telepathic connection."

Now, as the scene replayed, Sophie finally grasped the truth.

Of course, the father would know, because he was Sophie's husband, Jeremiah Wilson.

Jeremiah came back after signing and explained, "Sophie, Alice's situation is unique.

"We didn't want to overcomplicate things with the nurse, so I volunteered to say I'm her family member. Don't read too much into it."

Before Sophie could respond, Alice grabbed her arm and leaned her whole body against Sophie's shoulder, acting exceptionally close.

Alice lifted her chin smugly and said to Jeremiah, "Did you really need to say that? Sophie and I have been tight for over twenty years.

"She knew me long before she ever met you. Let me tell you, if we both fell into the water, she would save me first for sure."

Jeremiah smiled warmly. "So my showing up disrupted your little lovefest, is that it?"

"Obviously," Alice said with mock anger, striking a protective pose. She pointed at Jeremiah and warned, "So you'd better treat Sophie right, or I'll be the first to come for you."

Jeremiah raised his hands in surrender, a grin on his lips. "Alright, alright. You've got me..."

Alice relented. "That's more like it."

Then Alice turned to Sophie and said, "Sophie, if he ever treats you wrong, you come straight to me. I will straighten him out thoroughly."

Staring at those two faces, Sophie realized how incredibly naive she had been in her previous life.

She had actually believed Alice was defending her, even picking fights with Jeremiah on her behalf.

She had believed Jeremiah's heart belonged only to her, which was why he never minded Alice's repeated provocations and remarks.

Turns out it was just their way of flirting all along.