Chapter 2

Outside, delicate snowflakes were falling.

A faint red glow flickered at my fingertips.

As smoke curled around me, a snowflake floated before my eyes, and I suddenly remembered the day Charles proposed to me: the same gentle snow was falling then.

Charles and I met back in middle school, became a couple in our senior year of high school, and did long-distance for all four years of college.

The winter we graduated, he got down on one knee. "Summer Woods, will you marry me?"

I remember his lips pressed into a thin line, and the hand holding the ring was slightly trembling.

I just looked down and asked him, "Will you love me forever?"

He swore solemnly, making a vow, "Forever."

"Will you love only me?"

"I'll only ever love you, for the rest of my life."

He put the ring on my finger and hugged me tight. Right then, I was so happy I felt like I could fly.

But the human heart is the most fickle.

Three years after we got married, he cheated on me with a fresh intern straight out of college.

He got down on his knees, crying and begging me to forgive him.

Once is never enough.

Honestly, by the end of my previous life, I lost count of how many times it happened.

It wasn't until I was diagnosed with breast cancer. There wasn't much fear left in my hollow heart. Instead, it was filled with a strange, bittersweet sense of relief.

Charles truly regretted it then, and broke it off with every one of his lovers.

He stayed by my side day and night in the hospital, as if he was genuinely terrified I might die.

But no matter how hard he tried, it was already too late.

As I lay dying, he held my hand, asking me again and again to look at him one last time.

I didn't even have the strength to open my eyes. All I could think was, this life wasn't worth it.

With my last bit of strength, I pulled my hand away, silently thinking to myself, may we never meet again in the next life.

Who would've thought I'd regress again?

I was back in a healthy body, with all the time in the world to make things right.

All those grudges and tangled feelings were nothing but empty dreams.

None of it mattered more than being alive.

The cigarette burned down to my fingertips, and the sharp pain made my whole body shudder.

In that instant, I jolted awake.

I slipped off my simple band and, without a moment's hesitation, threw it straight into the trash.

I lost track of time until my phone rang. It was Charles.

"I'm not coming home tonight," he said.

"Okay," I replied.

"Anna's got a fever. I'm taking her to the hospital," he added.

I remembered this. Anna had gone to the hospital and found out she was pregnant.

Charles was coaxing her into having an abortion.

He had lovers everywhere, but in my previous life, Anna was the only one who ever made a scene in front of me.

And Anna, emboldened by his affection, genuinely thought she could take my place.

"Charles, do you remember what day it is today?" I asked.

"What?" he replied.

He thought I was being dramatic because I busted him tonight, and there was a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"It's my birthday," I said.

There was a long silence on the other end. When he finally spoke again, his tone was much softer, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have forgotten."

We both fell silent.

Back when we were in different cities for school, Charles would always take a full day's train ride, showing up early with gifts just to spend my birthday with me.

He did it every single year.

Fireworks, amusement parks, cozy cabins in the mountains...

During my senior year, by the beach, he held me close.

"Is it really that big of a deal?" I asked.

"Of course it is. I'm thankful to the heavens to bring you to this world for this day," he replied.

This year, for the first time ever, he totally forgot.

Charles cleared his throat, his voice low and flat.

"I'll make it up to you tomorrow," he said.

"No need. I already got a birthday gift from your secretary, Ms. Lewis," I said, my tone a little cold.

The latest limited-edition designer bag showed up exactly when it was supposed to.

Ms. Lewis kept him updated on his schedule every day, but even then, Charles managed to forget.

Without saying anything more, I hung up on him.