Chapter 3

I woke up in the living room the next morning.

I didn't want to share a room with Bryan last night, so I ended up sleeping on the couch.

A thin blanket was draped over me, and a glass of honey water that had gone cold sat on the coffee table.

Bryan had already left for work.

I didn't spend every day making different kinds of loving lunchboxes for him and delivering them to his team as I did in my previous life.

I signed up for a flower arrangement class and reconnected with my college mentor, planning to pursue a master's degree in psychology.

In my previous life, I gave up the chance to go to grad school to take care of Bryan. I ended up with a cushy administrative job, spending my days revolving around him.

He always said, "Abigail, you don't have to work so hard. I'll take care of you."

And I believed him.

But in the end, while he was taking care of me, his heart was with Aria, the girl he couldn't let go of.

This time, I wouldn't depend on anyone. I was only relying on myself now.

*****

That afternoon, as I was coming back from my flower arrangement class, I spotted a familiar figure right at the entrance of our apartment complex.

Aria was standing by the building entrance in a pristine white dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, and a delicate touch of makeup on her face. She was peeking around.

When she saw me, her eyes lit up, and she hurried over, wearing an innocent and friendly smile. "Abigail, I've been waiting for you forever."

I stopped in my tracks, staring at her with a blank expression and my voice icy cold. "Is there something you need?"

Aria's smile faltered for a moment, clearly caught off guard by my attitude.

In my previous life, even though I didn't like her, I treated her politely for Bryan's sake.

She bit her lip, looking pitiful. "Well, I need to talk to Bryan about something, but he's not picking up his phone, and I can't get into the training base.

"I heard he said you were off today, so I thought I'd come by and see if I might run into you."

"If you need to talk to him, wait until he's off work. Why are you ambushing me downstairs?" I retorted sharply.

Aria's face instantly went pale, and her eyes turned red as she fought back tears. "Abigail, how could you say that? I didn't mean anything by it."

Her tears fell in big drops, sliding down her pretty face. "I had a light bulb go out at home and wanted Bryan to help. I live alone, and it freaks me out a little."

What a classic, cheap excuse.

In my previous life, she pulled this exact stunt, getting Bryan to her place at eleven at night.

I waited at home like an idiot until two in the morning. When he finally showed up, he reeked of a perfume that wasn't mine.

When I confronted Bryan, he got annoyed and snapped, "Aria lives alone, and she's scared. What's wrong with helping her out? Abigail, can't you stop being so jealous?"

I really should've stuffed that light bulb down his throat.

"Freaks you out?" I scoffed coldly. "Ms. Nelson, your place is less than 1,500 feet from the police station.

"If your light bulb's out, call the property manager or an electrician. If you're scared, call the cops. But asking my husband to come over and help? Don't you think that's crossing a line?"

Aria was left speechless, her face going pale, tears falling even faster.

"I-I trust Bryan so much. I see him as my most trusted friend. Abigail, are you misunderstanding something? Bryan and I are nothing more than friends," Aria sobbed.

"Nothing more than friends? You know exactly what's going on," I replied.

I couldn't be bothered to argue with her anymore, so I brushed past her.

"Abigail," She suddenly grabbed my wrist, crying harder. "Please, don't be like this. I know you've never liked me. But Bryan and I have known each other way longer than you.

"We were childhood friends. If he hadn't gone off to the police academy, maybe we..."

"So what?" I yanked my hand away from her so hard that she stumbled.

I fixed her with an icy glare. "What are you trying to say? That I'm the one interfering here? Let me make this clear, Aria. I'm Bryan's legal wife.

"You keep pestering Bryan and begging him to come over in the dead of night just to fix a light bulb. What exactly are you to him? His friend? What kind of friend oversteps her bounds like that?

"Listen up. Stop messing with me, and stop using the excuse of being his friend to harass my husband. Next time, I won't be so reasonable."

My glare must've been scary. Aria actually stepped back twice, staring at me like I was someone she'd never met before.

She probably never thought that Abigail, always so sweet and soft, could say something this savage.

I ignored her and headed straight into the building.

Right before the elevator doors closed, I caught a glimpse of her still standing there, tears on her cheeks, but her eyes burning with resentment and defiance.

I knew we'd completely broken things off for good. But honestly, I couldn't care less.

In my previous life, I worried way too much, and that was how I ended up as a total joke.

This time, anyone who tried to make my life hell, I would make theirs even worse.