Chapter 2
I ended up sleeping all the way until three in the afternoon.
By the time I woke up, Jonathan was already gone.
On the dining table, there was a bowl of soup, with a note tucked underneath.
[Mom's birthday dinner tonight. Don't be late.]
It was Jonathan's handwriting.
In my previous life, I spent two whole days preparing for this birthday dinner.
I bought groceries, ordered the cake, picked out gifts, and even got the party favors ready for Mrs. Reed to hand out to the relatives.
But at the party, Mrs. Reed made a point to say in front of everyone.
"Jonathan took care of everything. Even when he's swamped with work, he still thinks of me. Not like certain people who lounge around at home all day, completely useless."
I was so embarrassed I wished the ground would just swallow me up.
This time, I crumpled up the note and tossed it straight into the trash.
I didn't even touch the soup.
I changed my clothes, grabbed my bag, and walked out the door.
I met up with Sophie Lane at a little bar.
When she arrived, I was just finishing off a plate of pasta.
"Grace, are you possessed or something?" Sophie joked.
She tossed her bag onto a chair and reached out to check my forehead.
"Didn't you say you'd never eat street food because it's dirty?"
I swallowed the last bite of pasta.
"I used to be stubborn, but now I'm just trying to survive," I said.
Sophie stared at me for a few seconds.
"Did Jonathan give you a hard time again?" she said.
I slid my phone over to her.
The transfer record was still on the screen.
Sophie froze for a second when she saw the amount, then smacked the table.
"250,000 dollars? Did he finally realize he's a total scumbag?"
I let out a small laugh.
"Compensation money," I said.
"Compensation for what?" Sophie asked.
"He didn't come home last night," I replied.
Sophie's expression darkened instantly.
"He cheated on you?" she asked.
I didn't say a word.
Sophie grabbed her glass and took a big gulp.
Then she said, "I've been telling you since day one, he's no good. Right after you got married, his mom made you quit your job and stay home to have a baby, and he didn't even bother to defend you.
"You left the hotel kitchen for him, and your hands lost their edge, you couldn't even hold a knife anymore. Meanwhile, he's out there playing the devoted boss for everyone to see."
I paused with my fork halfway to my mouth.
Way after I died in my last life, I finally heard from others that Jonathan's first restaurant only survived because of my recipes, it had nothing to do with his so-called talent for business.
It was all thanks to the recipes I painstakingly created and left behind.
The broth ratios, the way to marinate the meat, even the signature sauce, I worked out every detail myself, bit by bit.
He took what I made to open his restaurant, cashing in on my sacrifices to make a name for himself.
And in the end, he had the nerve to say I just wasn't meant for a good life.
Sophie was getting more and more worked up.
"Don't tell me you're still planning to put up with this," she said.
"Yeah," I replied.
I picked up the last strand of pasta.
"Of course," I said.
Sophie nearly crushed her glass in her hand.
"Grace, are you out of your mind?" she asked.
"I'm not just going to put up with him, I'm gonna smile right in his face," I said.
"Seriously, what's your angle?" Sophie pressed.
I shoved the empty plate aside.
"The money," I replied.
Sophie just stared at me for a long moment, saying nothing.
After a while, she asked quietly, "Are you really sure about this?"
"Yeah," I replied.
"You're really going to divorce him?" she asked.
"Yeah," I replied.
"When?" Sophie asked.
I glanced out the window.
Across the street, a huge leasing poster was plastered on the side of the mall.
Jonathan had spent half a year working nonstop just to get into that mall.
In my last life, that was the move that let him make his big comeback.
"I'll wait until he's riding high," I said.
Sophie followed my gaze and lowered her voice.
"Do you know something I don't?"
I picked up my phone and sent Jonathan a message.
I typed: [I haven't bought Mom's birthday present yet. Send me some cash.]
A few seconds later, he replied with a question mark.
I fired off another message.
[I'm in a bad mood today. I don't want to spend my own money.]
Sophie glanced at the screen and muttered a curse.
"Damn, that's savage," she said.
Two minutes later, Jonathan sent me 70,000 dollars.
Sophie burst out laughing.
"He's just trying to buy your silence," she said.
I accepted the money.
"If that's what it takes, I'll take it," I replied.
No sooner had the words left my mouth than my phone lit up again.
It was a message from Jonathan.
[Don't say anything stupid tonight.]
I fired back: [Let's see if you're willing to pay up.]
This time, he didn't reply.
Sophie looked at me like she barely recognized me.
"Grace, you've really changed," she said.
"Anyone would change after dying once," I replied.
Sophie didn't catch what I said.
"What did you say?" she asked.
"Nothing," I replied.
I stood up.
"Come with me to pick out a gift," I said.
"For Mrs. Reed?" Sophie asked.
"Yeah," I replied.
"You're really going to buy her a gift?" Sophie asked.
"Of course," I replied.
I grabbed my bag and smiled.
"Isn't she all about saving face? I'll give her the biggest face of all," I said.