Chapter 1

Camdyn Finch and I were Goldburg's famous "perfect couple."

We spent fifty years together, a golden anniversary, children and grandchildren, growing old side by side.

Yet on his deathbed, the name on his lips was not mine.

"Sherlyn... I've been fair to you and the children all my life. The only one I failed... was her. That year, Dahlia met the wrong man and got pregnant. If I had married her, she wouldn't have been cast out by her family, she wouldn't have jumped to her death.

"If there is another life," he whispered, "will you let me marry Dahlia first?"

Tears blurred my vision. I nodded. "All right."

Then I opened my eyes again. This time, I gave him what he wanted. I let him choose his real love.

And this time, I decided to live a different life too.

"Camdyn, what should I do?" Dahlia's familiar sobs rang in my ears, her voice clinging to me with that old, intimate warmth.

*****

I had traveled through time, back to the very day Dahlia Hansen came to ask for help.

She stood across from me in a flowing white dress, looking as gentle and fragile as ever, the woman Camdyn Finch had always kept in his heart, his eternal love.

There were two pregnancy reports lying on the table.

Yep, Dahlia and I were both expecting at the same time.

Back in my previous life, after a tough battle with his own feelings, Camdyn ended up choosing me.

But that turned out to be the one choice he regretted most in the end.

Before I could even process what was happening, Camdyn jumped up from beside me and wrapped Dahlia in a protective embrace, his face etched with worry and tenderness.

"Dahlia, don't cry. I'll marry you," Camdyn promised, his words gentle but firm.

Then he looked over at me, his eyes full of regret. "I'm sorry, Sherlyn."

The instant our eyes locked, I just knew. He'd come back to life too.

This time around, he was set on rescuing the girl he could never forget from heartbreak.

I'd make it happen for him.

"Alright," I said, grabbing my own pregnancy report and ripping it up right in front of him, not hesitating for a second.

"Camdyn, our engagement is over," I said. "I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together."

Camdyn frowned, his voice sharp. "Sherlyn, what are you even saying?"

"Marrying Dahlia is just a stopgap. As soon as she has the baby, I'll divorce her and marry you," he said, his tone firm but tinged with desperation. "It's just a few months. Can't you wait?"

I stared at the self-righteous man in front of me, feeling my hands clench involuntarily.

"Camdyn, don't go too far," I said, my voice cold. "I've already stepped aside for you and Dahlia. What gives you the right to keep me trapped?"

"You're worried Dahlia's reputation will be ruined, that people will look down on her. What about me? Don't you think I care about my own name?"

"I don't want to be the one everyone whispers about, stuck as a single mom with a kid whose dad's a mystery," I said.

Camdyn shot me a furious glare. "You've got some nerve. This is all on you. You owe Dahlia for everything."

He leaned in close, lowering his voice. "Here's the truth. I've come back from the dead.

"Last time around, you trapped me into marrying you with that baby. Because of you, Dahlia got kicked out by her family and ended up jumping. She took the baby with her."

"You and your kid lived in luxury your whole lives. Don't you feel even a shred of guilt?" Camdyn sneered, his words laced with bitterness.

I was so angry, my hands wouldn't stop shaking.

Dahlia was the one who got herself into trouble and ended up pregnant, and Camdyn was the one who made his own choices.

But in the end, he still blamed me for Dahlia's death in our last life.

When I didn't say anything, Camdyn's voice softened.

"Just trust me, okay? Let me do right by Dahlia first," he said, trying to sound gentle. Once she's had the baby, I won't owe her anything anymore.Then we can get back to living our lives together."

I just couldn't hold it in anymore. I smacked him right across the face.

A red mark bloomed on Camdyn's pale cheek.

He clutched his face, staring at me in utter disbelief.

"Sherlyn, you actually hit me?" he blurted out, his voice full of shock.

Crying, Dahlia reached out and gently touched Camdyn's cheek. "Camdyn, does it hurt?"

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have upset you, Sherlyn," she said, her voice shaky with guilt.

"I'll leave now. Even if my dad beats me to death, I won't force you to marry me again," Dahlia choked out.

With that, she wiped her tears and turned to leave, but Camdyn wrapped his arms around her waist, stopping her from walking away.

"Dahlia, don't go," Camdyn pleaded.

"You didn't force me into anything. I'm marrying you because I want to," he said.

"Trust me, I'll make sure you and the baby are safe," Camdyn whispered.

Dahlia buried her face in Camdyn's chest, crying her heart out, completely overwhelmed by his words.

I couldn't stand watching them get all mushy anymore, so I interrupted.

"If you two want to cry, take it outside. Don't bring your drama and bad vibes into my wedding room," I said coldly.

Camdyn shot me a look, clearly annoyed.

"Sherlyn, shouldn't you be the one packing up and leaving?" he sneered. "Dahlia and I are about to get married. This is our room now."