Chapter 1

"Rita, you've filed 99 marriage applications. Now you finally got what you wanted?" Andrew's voice was still as cold as ever.

I jerked my head up, only to realize I'd been returned on the very day we got our marriage license.

Andrew, my childhood sweetheart for fifteen years, was shoving the marriage license into my tote bag.

In the previous timeline, I stormed into the regiment and caused a scene because Andrew had fallen for Maisy, the rich heiress sent for reeducation. I didn't care about anything else and filed 99 marriage applications.

Under all that pressure, he finally gave in.

But Andrew actually faked a marriage license just to keep himself pure for Maisy. I held onto that fake certificate, thinking he'd finally changed his mind about me.

I had his kids and even gave up my chance to study abroad.

It wasn't until his last recorded wish, right before he died, that I found out he wanted to be buried next to Maisy, who'd already been gone for half a year.

Even the kids I'd struggled to bring into this world were moved by Andrew's devotion to Maisy. They forced me to kneel and bow in front of Andrew and Maisy's graves, making me apologize for ruining the life they should've had together.

That video got posted online, and I was torn apart by the internet for a whole year.

In the end, I just couldn't take it anymore and jumped off the rooftop.

Now, I found myself back on the day I got that fake marriage certificate.

Andrew, this time, I would let your affection be fulfilled.

Being Mrs. Patton? Not interested. I would live my own life.

*****

Andrew saw I wasn't the least bit happy, and his brows knitted together.

"We're married now. Just stop making things hard for Maisy," he said.

Before I could respond, he turned and got into his official military vehicle, leaving me standing on the street.

Watching his tall, upright back, a tear finally slipped from my eye.

Before Maisy showed up, Andrew and I were the most well-known couple on the base.

Both our parents were old army buddies, and our birthdays were only eight months apart.

Andrew was the one who secretly gave me my first candy back in kindergarten.

When I got cornered by some punks in high school, Andrew came to my rescue.

As an adult, he became the youngest commander in the whole base, and every family wanted him as their future son-in-law.

Back then, Andrew shot down every other girl. He got down on one knee, took my hand, and swore I was the only one he'd ever marry.

But then, one day, he was assigned to escort Maisy, the rich heiress, to the countryside for reeducation.

Maisy fell for him at first sight and went all out to win him over.

The first time, she barged into our compound and confessed her love to him in front of everyone. Andrew made her stand at attention for three hours as punishment.

The second time, she tore up the handkerchief Andrew had given me, and he made her work in the fields for three days.

The third time, she showed up at the New Year's party wearing a flashy short skirt and sang a cheesy love song.

I saw Andrew's expression turn stormy. He just grabbed Maisy by the arm and marched her right out of the room.

With our wedding coming up soon, I didn't want Andrew's reputation to suffer because of how he disciplined her.

As soon as I caught up, I heard Andrew barking at her.

"Who let you walk in here looking like that?" he snapped.

The next moment, Andrew shrugged off his uniform jacket and draped it over Maisy's legs, then pulled her close and locked lips with her, completely lost in the moment.

Andrew's voice was low and rough. "The way other men look at you drives me crazy with jealousy."

I stood behind the two of them, watching them wrapped up in each other, and my head was spinning.

Their tangled, breathless moans slithered into my ears like poisonous snakes. I couldn't take it anymore. Rage boiling over, I stormed out and shouted at Andrew.

Andrew's face twisted with guilt as he stepped protectively in front of Maisy, blocking me from getting to her.

Andrew said, "It's not her fault. I just couldn't control my feelings. Rita, we've been together for so long, so long that we feel more like family than lovers. Maybe... what we had wasn't even love at all."

Maisy dropped to her knees, her skin scraped raw by the dirt. "Rita, please, let us be together. I really love Andrew," she pleaded.

I was so hung up on him, I just couldn't handle Andrew betraying me.

But I never thought that holding on so tight would destroy my whole life.

I wiped away my tears, got my act together, and headed out to get two things done.

First, I went back to campus to reclaim my acceptance letter for studying abroad.

Second, I took the two hundred dollars Andrew had given me as an engagement gift and mailed it off to that guy, no name attached.

In the previous timeline, after I jumped, the passersby just looked at my body with nothing but contempt. Some even spat on me.

Only that man bothered to claim my body and give me a proper burial.

If I remember right, he should be struggling right about now.

I considered these two hundred dollars my way of repaying the kindness he showed me last time around.

Once I'd taken care of everything, I finally headed back to the military compound. As soon as I pushed open the door, I saw Andrew sitting in the living room, his face stormy as he stared at me.

"You were gone all day. Where did you run off to? I already did what you wanted. Are you still going to keep throwing a fit?" Andrew said, his tone sharp.