Chapter 1

After being reborn, I stood just outside the ICU where my husband was feigning death. I signed the consent to cease resuscitation, then turned and called the police.

Last life, I was just a sweet, clueless pushover. This time, I was the mastermind.

*****

"The patient's pupils are dilated. Get ready for the worst," the doctor said.

I stood at the ICU entrance, watching him inside the emergency room, his body covered in tubes.

Xavier Luther, my husband and a rising star in the business world, lay on the narrow hospital bed with an oxygen mask strapped to his face.

The ventilator worked steadily, and the ECG monitor showed a stable line, but the doctor had already delivered his verdict.

Only I knew he wasn't really going to die.

In my past life, I clung to his "corpse" and cried until I lost consciousness. I gave up the company I had built from scratch, cared for his parents, took on all the debts, and became the tragic, devoted widow everyone pitied.

I stayed in that empty house, still unable to let go of him.

Three years later, he showed up alive.

I watched the press conference video countless times. He was in a tailored suit, arm around another woman, smiling with that refined charm at the camera. "Thank you to my real love, for enduring with me these three years."

After the press conference ended, I was driving to confront him when a runaway truck slammed into me on the overpass.

Just before I died, my phone lit up with a text from his number.

[Thanks for playing along these three years. Next time, try not to be such an idiot.]

Now, I was standing outside the ICU again.

"Would you like to see him one last time?" the doctor asked.

He took off his mask and looked at me, his eyes devoid of emotion. They go through this routine so often, they're numb to it by now.

I looked up at the doctor, my voice so calm it surprised even me.

I replied, "No need.

"I'll sign the consent to stop the resuscitation efforts."

The doctor froze. He probably thought I'd misheard, or maybe I was just out of it from grief. The nurse next to him was stunned too, her chart hovering in midair.

Just then, a group of people came rushing down the hallway.

Susie Luther, Xavier's mother was in the lead, followed by his sister, Helen Luther, and a few relatives I barely knew. They all wore the same anxious expressions.

Susie rushed up. "How's my son?"

Before the doctor could answer, she spotted the consent form in my hand.

"What is this?" She snatched the paper from my hand, and when she read it, her face went pale. "Are you out of your mind? How could you sign this?"

"The doctor said it's hopeless," I replied.

"How can it be hopeless? He has to be saved. I won't let you!" Susie shrieked. "Are you just waiting for him to die? Got someone else on the side, huh? You heartless witch!"

"Shirley, you're so cruel." Helen chimed in. "My brother isn't even gone yet, and you're already giving up on him. What will people say if they find out?"

I looked at the mother and daughter and couldn't help but laugh.

In my last life, I never heard any of this. Back then, I was crying like my world had ended, and they were right there with me, pretending to be the perfect, united family. I only learned later that they'd known about Xavier's fake death plan all along.

They were in on it.

"Susie." I said to his mother, keeping my voice steady as I looked her in the eye, "He's not even dead yet, and you're already slapping me and yelling. When he really goes, are you planning to stab me next?"

Susie was stunned into silence.

Helen opened her mouth to protest, but I turned away, handing the signed consent form to the doctor. "Just do what you can. Thanks."

The doctor nodded and went inside.

Ten minutes later, the ICU doors swung open and the doctor stepped out, his face heavy. "I'm sorry. We did everything we could."

Susie started wailing, throwing herself onto the bed. Helen followed suit, crying loudly while sneaking glances at me out of the corner of her eye.

I just stood there, watching their little performance.

On the bed, Xavier lay with his eyes closed, face pale, not moving a muscle. He was really pulling off a convincing act.

"Xavier!" Susie sobbed, barely able to catch her breath. "How could you leave us like this? What are we supposed to do now, just the two of us left all alone?"

I walked over to the bed and looked at his familiar face.

His eyelashes quivered ever so slightly.

Most people wouldn't have noticed, but I did. In my last life, I spent hours crying right beside him.

He was just waiting for someone to take him to the morgue so he could stage his 'miraculous comeback.'

I bent down and whispered, making sure only Xavier could hear me.

"Don't worry, babe. Just go. I'll take care of everything for you."

His eyelashes quivered again.