Chapter 3
For the next few days, my life was unusually peaceful.
Adrian never stayed for the night again.
Whenever we happened to meet at family gatherings, he would just cast a cold glance at me before doting on Vivian with his undivided attention.
Vivian still kept up that pure but delicate act—all innocence and pitiful charm. But when her eyes met mine, there was smugness, feigned concern, along with a barely noticeable trace of hidden malice.
I couldn't be bothered with them.
In my past nine lives, I would be devastated by Adrian's neglect and infuriated by Vivian's provocations.
Now, all I saw were two clowns making a ridiculous spectacle of themselves just to catch my attention.
Meanwhile, my focus was already on something else.
That "something" was Evan Blackwood, the Blackwood family's eldest son and Adrian's half-brother.
In my previous nine lives, I hardly had any impression of him.
All I knew was that he had frail health, lived year-round in a sanatorium, was reclusive by nature, and rarely made public appearances.
And in every lifetime, he met an early end.
His cause of death remained a mystery.
At least, that was what the Blackwood Family officially declared—"died of illness."
But just before I died in my ninth life, I happened to overhear Adrian and Vivian's conversation. When they mentioned "Evan," there was a hint of wariness and relief in their voices.
This made me realize that Evan's death might not be as simple as it seemed.
Chances were, he knew some secrets that I was completely unaware of.
This time, I must find him before his 'illness' could claim him.
It wasn't hard to track down Evan's whereabouts.
Using my status, I tapped into a few connections. In no time, I found the address of the private sanatorium where he was staying.
One weekend afternoon, after making sure no one saw me, I slipped away and drove there alone.
The private sanatorium was nestled in the secluded mountains on the city outskirts, its tranquil setting sharply contrasted by fortress-like security.
Only after I identified myself as Mrs. Blackwood was I allowed in.
After passing through the meticulously manicured gardens, I came to a stop before a detached white villa.
Two stone-faced bodyguards in black suits stood guard at the entrance.
One of the bodyguards blocked my way and said, "Mrs. Blackwood, Mr. Evan Blackwood isn't feeling well today and is unavailable for visitors."
"Unavailable?" I arched an eyebrow. "I'm his sister-in-law. What's so inconvenient about me coming to see him?"
"Mr. Blackwood's orders," the bodyguard stated firmly.
Mr. Blackwood?
Adrian? Or the patriarch of the Blackwood family?
So that was it. Evan wasn't just here to recover; he was under house arrest.
I didn't force my way in.
Instead, I turned and left.
But I knew I'd be back.
On my way back, my phone suddenly rang.
The call was from an unknown number.
I hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Lila Sheridan?" A deep, raspy male voice came through the line. It was frail with the weakness of long illness, yet uncannily penetrating, as if it could cut right through me.
My heart lurched.
"Who is it?" I demanded.
"This is Evan Blackwood."
My grip on the steering wheel tightened abruptly.
How did he get my number? And why was he calling me?
"How can I... help you?" I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady.
Evan fell silent briefly.
Then he let out a soft chuckle—a sound laced with weariness and a knowing comprehension.
"You just came to see me," Evan stated flatly.
My heart sank.
So the guards here were his men after all. Or rather, they were all loyal to him.
"You're well-informed, Mr. Blackwood," I said, my tone laced with sarcasm.
"After all, there aren't many 'sisters-in-law' as special as you," Adrian sounded amused. "I doubt they also possess the ability of coming back from the dead."
My blood ran cold almost immediately.
H-He knew?
How could it be?
No one else could possibly know about my rebirth.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, forcing myself to sound calm, but a tremor still slipped into my voice.
A heavy silence stretched on the line once more.
It lingered so long that I thought he was about to hang up.
"Lila," Evan spoke again, his voice low and deliberate, almost hypnotic. "Have you ever wondered why you keep dying, only to return again and again?"
My mind went completely blank.
In fact, I had asked myself that question more times than I could count.
Yet, I had never found an answer.
Could it be... Evan actually knew the truth?
I took a deep breath, my fingers tightening around the phone. "Evan," I said, my voice barely steady, "what exactly are you trying to say?"
"What I'm trying to say is..." He paused deliberately, his voice laced with a subtle allure. "Perhaps we could make a deal.
"If you help me get out of here, I'll tell you everything you want to know.
"That means, you'll know why you keep dying and how you can finally break the cycle and live on."