Chapter 2
"Listen to me: come work at my company. I'll set you up with a job."
I stared blankly at Lewis. We'd both traveled back in time and agreed to call off the engagement—why was he still meddling in my life?
In my previous life, we'd gone from campus romance to walking down the aisle. I truly believed it was real love.
Our research areas were different, and every time he stumbled, I'd cheer him on relentlessly.
But all I got back was his furious outburst. "Who do you think you are? You just got lucky with a better topic.
"You should ditch your own work and help me out. You have no clue how incompetent my lab mates are!"
He even pushed me to abandon my career entirely to boost his.
Until, in a fit of humiliated rage, he slapped me hard across the face. "Rebecca is so much better than you. If it were her, she'd be here helping me in a heartbeat!
"Let's divorce. Being with you is nothing but torture."
But when I finally committed to walking away, he clung to me, full of regrets.
I got swept up in his smooth talk, right until that final moment when he held me, trembling. "You wanted a baby, right? Let's have a kid."
It was the first time he'd suggested it himself, without the annoyance he always showed when I'd brought it up before.
I thought he'd turned a corner, but it was just the start of a cruel farce.
Our child was conceived through IVF, and Lewis was twisted enough to switch my eggs with Rebecca's.
All his dirty secrets surfaced in the time machine.
"Glenna, I get that you're still sulking, but don't throw away this chance to get back on track!" I eyed the utterly shameless Lewis and sighed.
Then he abruptly grabbed my hand—rough and wrinkled from endless hours in the lab.
The look of pity in his eyes made me nauseous.
"Glenna, without me by your side, you're letting yourself fall apart like this—it must be your way of trying to win me back!"
I coolly withdrew my hand.
"No, really, save your concern, Mr. Esparza."
I didn't have time to puzzle out why he was so convinced I couldn't survive without him.
After all, just outside the banquet room, a jealous man was waiting for me to go placate him.
Rebecca felt the awkwardness too—why was her fiancé suddenly doting on his ex?
She was about to speak up when her gaze drifted to the door.
"Lewis, is that Mr. Tran standing out there?" The ignored Rebecca pointed eagerly at the man outside.
Several classmates overheard and turned to stare.
The guy who usually only appeared in business headlines was now right there in person.
Plus, Jerrold Tran was the ultimate angel investor in the research community. Any project he funded didn't just succeed—it delivered massive returns.
"Great timing—Mr. Tran's at the door. Let's invite him in for a drink and have him share some insights with us old classmates." Rebecca gracefully lifted her glass.
Assuming Lewis was still connected to Jerrold, everyone cast envious glances his way, and I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Glenna, what's so funny? Have those experiments driven you crazy?" Lewis noticed my reaction and stopped in his tracks.
But his eyes held this odd blend of worry and compassion, as if he genuinely thought losing him had turned me into a numb, work-obsessed shell.
"I'm heading home now. You guys have fun chatting." Lewis was going on and on, and the man waiting outside was probably getting antsy.
As I picked up my bag to leave, Rebecca grabbed my arm.
"What's the hurry, Glenna? At least stay for three drinks to show some respect—otherwise, it's like you're snubbing all us old classmates."
"Yeah, give Mr. Esparza some face. He's the one footing the bill, after all."
"Down it! Down it!"
Lewis had always known about my stomach problems and that alcohol didn't agree with me, but he just stood there, letting Rebecca pull her little stunt.
"Glenna, finish these three drinks, and you're free to go."
I was about to wave it off when my legs buckled beneath me.
My blood sugar crashed hard and fast—even the few bites of pastry from earlier couldn't stave off the drop.
Right as Lewis lunged forward to catch me, Jerrold burst in from the doorway, sweeping me up in his arms first.
Lewis shot me a furious, red-eyed glare. "Glenna, I can't believe you'd stoop this low to trick me—roping in Mr. Tran for your charade."
"She's my wife. Why would I need to put on an act?" Jerrold carried me out to the car without so much as a glance back, leaving the shocked group in our wake.