Chapter 2

Susan would even go as far as jumping into the river to smear my name, right in front of Isaac.

I could still remember the look of annoyance in Isaac's eyes. "Matilda, I already said I'd marry you. Do you really have to keep going after Susan?"

Just thinking about the past made me irritated. I said coolly, "I've seen plenty of shameless people, but you? I've met my share of hypocrites, but you? You're in a league of your own."

Susan's face flushed and paled by turns. She looked at Isaac, her voice full of grievance. "Isaac... Matilda still doesn't like me. Maybe you shouldn't throw me a birthday party tomorrow. I... I'm scared she might hit me."

Isaac frowned and tried to comfort her. "She won't. Just go ahead, I'll talk to her."

Susan looked at him with a look of longing, but in the end, she obediently left.

Before leaving, she shot me a glance, her lips curling into a provocative smirk, her eyes full of challenge.

I just watched her quietly, not reacting at all.

As soon as the door closed, Isaac walked over, slipped his arms around my waist, and gave me a soft kiss on the forehead, his eyes full of tenderness.

"Susan's pretty timid, never really suffered much. Don't go giving her that look and scaring her, alright?" he said gently.

I pulled away from his arms and said coolly, "You talk so sweet. Anyone listening would think you're worried about your sister. If they didn't know better, they'd think you're worried about your little sweetheart."

Isaac just smiled and tapped my nose.

"Look at you, jealous for no reason again. How'd your hospital check-up go today?" he asked.

"The results come out tomorrow. Will you go with me?" I asked.

He kept his gentle tone. "Tomorrow's Susan's birthday. Why don't you go by yourself, or I can come with you after her party?"

I looked up at Isaac, and when our eyes met, his gaze was so gentle and doting, with a warm smile in his eyes. Even a stray dog would think he was its owner.

In my last life, I used to fall for that look too.

Whenever Susan wasn't in the picture, he'd do anything for me.

If I had a stomachache, no matter how far away he was, he'd catch a flight overnight just to look after me and make sure I was okay.

If someone bullied me, he'd drop whatever big deal he was working on and rush over to have my back.

He once stroked my cheek and said seriously, "Matilda, you don't have to keep your guard up all the time. As long as I'm here, I won't let anyone hurt you."

For someone like me, with parents who never cared and always feeling like I didn't belong, meeting someone who loved me so steadfastly. How could I not get completely lost in it?

Even though I knew he favored Susan, I still married him without hesitation.

I didn't need a whole lot of love.

As long as he could spare me a little bit of his love, as long as he'd protect me when I had no one else, that was enough for me.

But when Susan died, it effortlessly destroyed the little corner of happiness I'd fought so hard to carve out for myself.

For countless nights, Isaac would have his hands around my neck, demanding, "Matilda, why wasn't it you instead?"

Those words haunted me for twenty years, and even after being reborn, that pain never really went away.

I looked at him and said quietly, "I know you have feelings for Susan. I'm willing to divorce you.

"We can go right now. Get divorced today, and tomorrow, you two can get married."

The tenderness in Isaac's eyes disappeared, replaced by annoyance. "Why are you saying this kind of nonsense again?"

"Susan and I grew up together. Am I just supposed to never talk to her again?"

"Besides, we're already married. If there was really something between us, why would I have married you? Stop letting your imagination run wild. If people saw this, they'd think I'm bullying you."

I pushed down the bitter self-mockery in my eyes, purposely showing off the scar on my hand as I reached out and grabbed his.

"Okay, I'll drop it. I just care about you, so don't get upset," I said quietly.

This scar was from when I ran into a fire to save Isaac. A chunk of burning debris hit me and took a layer of skin right off.

Back then, Isaac would gently trace my scar, tears glistening at the corners of his eyes. "Matilda, I remember every good thing you've done for me. I swear, I'll never let you get hurt again."

When Isaac saw my scar, his frown deepened, a flash of guilt crossing his face, but he smoothed it over in an instant.

"Yeah, I know. I've got stuff to handle at work, so I gotta go," he said.

As I watched his back disappear, I couldn't help but think of all those times he turned his back on me.

He said, "Susan's got a stomachache, and she's allergic to most meds. I need to go look after her.

"Susan's had too much to drink. I won't be able to relax until I get her home safe."