Chapter 1
Edward Grant and I were reborn together.
In our previous life, we met through a blind date and fell for each other at first sight.
We got married, had kids, and grew old together.
On our deathbed, we made a pact.
He'd go after his first love, and I'd live my own life.
When we opened our eyes again, we were back on the day he proposed to me.
He asked, "Do you remember our pact?"
"I do," I replied.
"Good," he said.
With that, Edward turned around, got down on one knee in front of the love of his life, Victoria White, and held out the diamond ring.
"Vicky, will you marry me?" he asked.
*****
Watching Edward get down on one knee, I felt a wave of heartache wash over me.
Victoria White and the other guests instinctively turned to look at me, their expressions stunned and bewildered.
"Wait, wasn't Edward supposed to propose to Julia?" someone said.
"Yeah, I could've sworn he said it was for Julia," another person added.
Someone asked, "Edward, are you sure you didn't mess this up?"
"No, Julia and I planned this ages ago. It was supposed to be a surprise for Vicky," Edward replied.
The person still looked skeptical and glanced at me to double-check.
"Yeah, that's right, we planned it," I said.
"Edward, you're so not cool. You kept something this big from your friends," someone teased.
Edward laughed, shook his head, then lifted his gaze to Victoria.
He waited, but when Victoria didn't respond, he repeated his question. "Vicky, will you marry me?"
"Say yes, marry him!"
"Come on, say yes!"
The crowd's teasing made Victoria's face turn red, making her look even more cute and bashful.
"Edward's liked you forever, but he never dared to confess."
"Yeah, he's been single all these years, just waiting for you to come back."
In our previous life, at this exact moment, Edward was proposing to me.
The place was filled with cheers and congratulations.
When I said yes, he was so happy he picked me up and spun me around.
He said we were a match made in heaven.
Right then, I felt like I was wrapped up in pure happiness, practically bursting with joy.
But now, it was like a weight crushing my heart, leaving me feeling suffocated and unable to catch my breath.
After that, Edward and I got married without a hitch.
Work and business went smoothly for both of us.
Life was ordinary, but full of warmth.
Edward would even stand up to his parents for me.
One day, I overheard his mom asking Edward why we still didn't have kids after being married for so long.
"Is there something wrong with Julie?" she asked.
"Mom, don't worry about it. We're DINKs. We never planned on having kids," Edward replied.
"I don't care about any of that. If there's nothing wrong, then give me a grandson!" his mom insisted.
My heart tightened, afraid he might let his mom talk him into it.
But to my shock, Edward ended up shouting at his mom and just told her straight up he'd already had a vasectomy.
His mom was so furious she kicked him out and wouldn't even let him come home for the holidays.
Seeing Edward looking so defeated, I teased, "Are you nuts?"
"No way I'm giving in. Today she wants a grandson, tomorrow who knows. Maybe she'll try to break us up," he said.
"You don't get my mom. The moment you give her an inch, she'll push for a mile," he added.
He looked at me, his eyes serious. "I promised you, and I won't ever go back on my word."
Edward truly kept his word.
From our youthful days to our twilight years, we supported each other every step of the way.
Because of that, I always thought Victoria was just a regular guest at our engagement party. I never suspected a thing.
It wasn't until Edward was on his deathbed that he finally confessed.
Only then did I realize Victoria was his one true love, the one he could never forget.
"What about you? Is there someone you can't forget?" he asked.
I looked at him, and for a moment, it was like I was staring at a stranger.
But I still said, "Yes."
Someone popped into my head.
The person who was always right behind me whenever I turned around.
"James Foster?" Edward asked.
I didn't say anything, but my silence said it all.
Edward let out a soft laugh. "If there's a next life, let's not get married. We'll just go our separate ways."
"You really can't let go of your first love, huh?" I asked.
"Yeah, not for a single moment," he replied.
Edward gazed out the window, a faint smile tugging at his lips, lost in thought.
I swallowed the bitterness in my heart and said, "Okay."
After we died, we woke up right back on the day he proposed to me.
The room exploded with cheers.
Victoria said yes.
Edward was so happy he picked her up and spun her around.
Just like in our last life.
My eyes stung with tears, and I just couldn't take it anymore. I quietly slipped away to the bathroom, hoping no one would notice.
After taking a while to pull myself together, I finally stepped out, only to run right into someone as I rounded the corner.
"Sorry," I said.
"Julia?" a voice called out.