Chapter 2

But I never expected that, to Arthur, my venting was just another nuisance.

But it didn't bother me anymore.

I was already thinking about calling off the wedding, and I didn't even want a husband or a son anymore. So what was the point of getting mad?

I wasn't mad, but Leonel obviously agreed with Arthur. He addressed me with forced patience.

He said, "Anabella, I've already explained why I brought the kid back. If you're still upset, is it because I ditched the wedding today to help Scarlett?

"I only went because she barely knows anyone in this city. If I hadn't gone, there really wouldn't have been anyone to help her.

"Besides, you agreed to it at the time, didn't you? Scarlett and I are just friends, so don't read too much into it."

I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh in my heart as I heard him talk.

Here we went again with those noble-sounding excuses.

He used the exact same lines in my previous life, too.

Right after the wedding, when he heard Scarlett had been in a car accident and was in the hospital, he just left me behind and rushed over.

From that day on, Scarlett became a lingering shadow over our marriage.

They were always in touch, claiming it was just friendship.

Whenever Scarlett texted him, he'd reply instantly.

If she called, he'd drop everything and show up right away.

I argued with him about it so many times, but every single time, he'd just hit me with the same line. "Scarlett's got nobody else in this city but me."

He always made it sound like I was just being unreasonable.

And once Arthur was old enough, he started backing his dad up, saying I was too narrow-minded to accept Dad's friends.

Eventually, Leonel couldn't take it anymore and moved into his office, just to escape the mess at home.

Right before he left, Arthur looked me in the eye and said, "Dad, don't bother with her. If you two split up, I'm definitely sticking with you."

What a joke.

I raised Arthur all by myself, from a weak little baby to now. I handled everything—feeding him, clothing him, taking care of him—never letting anyone else step in. Leonel, meanwhile, barely even picked him up.

But in Arthur's eyes, Leonel was his favorite dad, and I was just an irrelevant stranger of a mom.

Just thinking about how I perished in the blaze in my previous life made my breathing involuntarily grow heavier.

"I'm not mad," I said.

I glanced coldly at Leonel and Arthur, my tone steady and detached. "Leonel, let's call off the wedding."

Leonel paused, as if he hadn't heard me clearly. "Anabella, what did you just say?"

I repeated myself.

He stared at me for a while, then suddenly let out a soft sigh. "You still say you're not mad."

He said, "Anabella, there's really nothing between Scarlett and me. Like I told you when I left today, our wedding is just rescheduled for another day, not canceled.

"If you're upset about what Arthur said at the wedding, there's really no need. The future isn't set in stone. I promise you, I'll never have a child with Scarlett. The mother of my children will always be you."

As he spoke, Leonel kept his voice low, as if he was trying to calm me down, or maybe he just didn't want Arthur to catch what he was saying.

He tried to take my hand, but I instinctively pulled away.

I believed he was sincere right then.

But sincerity could shift in an instant.

Back when Leonel and I first got together, he was just a broke guy—no car, no house, living in some tiny, shabby rental.

My parents were totally against us, even threatening to cut me off. But I never backed down. I was ready to give up the bright future they'd mapped out for me, just to stick with Leonel.

His face was full of emotion as he held my hands and made a promise,

He said, "Anabella, believe me. One day, I'll be rich. I'll buy you the biggest mansion, the best diamond ring money can buy, and I'll love you forever."

I believed him, and stayed by his side through every step of his startup journey.

When things were roughest, the two of us huddled together in a damp basement, tearing apart a single piece of bread just to fill our stomachs.

After his business finally succeeded, we moved into a spacious apartment, and then into a mansion.

He always treated me so well that I truly believed he would love me forever.

But after Scarlett came into the picture, our marriage was left in shambles.

Only then did I realize that true feelings were the most unreliable thing in the world.

Seeing that I wouldn't budge, Leonel rubbed his temples in frustration, then took Arthur's hand. "Since that's how it is, Anabella, why don't you take some time to cool off? I'll take Arthur out for dinner."

I didn't say a word. I just watched them walk away, then pulled out my phone and called my parents.

"Mom, Dad, I've made up my mind. I'm calling off the wedding with Leonel. You were right all along. I should've listened to you and taken the job at the Frenel branch," I said.

In my previous life, I was so blinded by Leonel's affection that I gave up everything just to be his devoted wife.

But in the end, I became nothing more than the resentful wife everyone pitied.

This time, there was no way I was letting history repeat itself.