Chapter 2
My marriage to Henry was a childhood betrothal arranged by our grandfathers back in the day.
With Henry's grandpa, Lorin, now critically ill, our wedding plans were suddenly pushed ahead.
After Frank and Morgan left, my mom tried to comfort me. "It's okay, Lily. You're such an amazing girl. Someone out there will truly love you."
Suddenly, a memory flashed through my mind. My mom had said the exact same thing to me in my previous life.
Back then, Henry and I were already married.
A few months after our wedding, Lorin passed away.
Those days were pure agony for me.
Henry had completely shut me out, ever since Claire lost the baby.
The endless silent treatment drove me into a serious depression. When my mom found out I was taking antidepressants, she just started crying.
She said, "Lily, just get a divorce.
"If this marriage isn't making you happy and is just bringing you pain, then there's no point in staying.
"You're such an amazing girl, Lily. Someone out there will truly love you."
With my mom's encouragement, I started thinking about divorce. But then, Henry suddenly acted like a completely different person.
He became incredibly attentive, always asking how I was, caring for me, like all his coldness and harsh words before had just been something I'd imagined.
Those days were so sweet that I forgot all about Claire. I thought Henry truly loved me.
But later, I realized the truth.
It was just poison wrapped in honey, luring me in with all that sweetness, only to hit me with the final, deadly blow.
I saw Claire again at the bridal shop.
The salesperson told me my wedding dress had arrived.
The words "I don't need it anymore" almost came out, but I bit them back.
In my previous life, Henry blamed me for Claire's miscarriage, and we were barely talking all the way up to the wedding.
I was so miserable that I never even wore the beautiful wedding dress I'd ordered.
We just went straight to the city hall and got our marriage license.
That was Lorin's last wish for us, and we made it happen before he passed away.
This time, I wanted to wear a beautiful wedding dress. Not for any man, but just for myself.
When I stepped into the bridal shop, a familiar female voice caught my ear.
"Henry, this dress is gorgeous. I want to try it on," Claire said.
I glanced up and saw Claire pointing at the white lace gown on display.
It was the very one I'd reserved.
I smirked to myself. Claire always had to compete with me for everything.
Henry's deep voice rang out. "Take that dress down and let my wife try it on, please."
Before the salesperson could answer, I was already standing next to the mannequin.
I said, "This dress is custom-made. I'm afraid it won't fit your wife."
As I finished, I deliberately glanced at Claire's baby bump.
Claire and Henry were totally caught off guard by my sudden appearance.
Claire froze for a moment, and then her eyes welled up with tears.
She said, "Lily, don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to steal it from you.
"I've just never worn a wedding dress before, so I asked Henry to help me with this little dream. Don't worry, we're not throwing a wedding."
In my previous life, Claire never wore a wedding dress either.
After she lost the baby, she left Riverside City and ended up with some alcoholic loser.
Word was, she didn't last long. That guy beat her to death not long after they got married.
Her dreams were none of my business. As long as she kept her hands off my dress, I didn't care.
Without hesitation, I told the salesperson to take the dress down so I could try it on.
Suddenly, a strong hand gripped my wrist.
Henry looked at me, his eyes dark and unreadable.
"What's the point of trying on a wedding dress? It's not like you're getting married," he said.
His scrutinizing gaze was almost laughable to me.
I yanked my wrist free. "Who says I'm not getting married?"
Henry's face was clouded with anger, his jaw set as he dragged me out of the bridal shop.
"Let go of me, Henry," I demanded.
He gripped my wrist so tightly that it sent a jolt of pain shooting up my arm.
Even outside, he refused to release me. His fingers dug in so hard that a red mark was already forming around my wrist.
"Lily, can you just stop with the drama?" Henry said, sounding exasperated.
His brows were drawn together in a deep frown.
He said, "How many times do I have to tell you? Once Claire has the baby and gets it registered, I'll divorce her, and we'll get married.
"You can't even wait a few months? First, you made Claire lose the baby, and now you're trying to snatch her wedding dress?"
He looked at me, disappointment written all over his face.
He said, "Lily, I never knew you could be this jealous."
Pain stabbed through my chest, sharp and relentless.
In every lifetime, to Henry, I was nothing but a jealous, spiteful woman. Not once did he ever care about me. All he ever felt was disgust and hatred.
But when we were kids, whenever someone bullied me, he'd stand protectively in front of me, shielding me from harm, his voice gentle as he said, "Lily, don't be scared. I'll protect you forever."
The Henry who once promised to look after me, who used to be my protector, was someone I could never get back.