Chapter 1
For fifty years, Laurel devoted her whole life to Jerry.
When Jerry got injured and disabled during a mission, Laurel gave up her stable, high-profile job as a host just to stay by his side, massaging his legs every single day.
He said he never wanted kids, but she went through ten miscarriages, leaving her unable to have children ever again. And not once did she complain.
Everyone said Jerry must've saved the world in a past life to have a wife like Laurel.
But it wasn't until Jerry passed away that Laurel, who had spent her whole life taking care of him, finally realized something. In his eyes, she was never a blessing. She was just a burden keeping him from being with his real wife and son.
"That can't be right! I'm Jerry's wife! Why can't I get his death certificate?" Laurel asked, her voice trembling with disbelief.
At the community service center, Laurel stood clutching Jerry's ashes, her white hair framing her confused face as she questioned the staff.
"Ma'am, only direct relatives can apply for a death certificate. According to our database, you're still registered as single," the staff member replied.
Laurel fumbled with her reading glasses, her hands trembling as she squinted at the computer screen, checking it over and over.
The staff wasn't lying. After fifty years with Jerry, the records still said she was single. It was unbelievable.
Before Laurel could even wrap her head around this shock, the staff member explained, "We found out that Jerry Schneider got married fifty years ago. His wife's name was Monica Cohen, and they had a son named Randall Schneider.
"Even though Monica Cohen has already passed away, you can still reach out to Randall Schneider to handle Jerry's death certificate."
As soon as Laurel heard Monica and Randall's names, her ears started ringing.
'Wait, weren't Monica and Randall supposed to be Jerry's sister-in-law and nephew? How did they suddenly become his wife and son?' Laurel's thoughts spun out of control.
'So what does that make me?' she wondered, feeling completely lost.
All these years, she'd been running herself ragged, taking care of Jerry and the sick Monica. 'After everything I've done, what am I to them? Just their maid?'
Laurel stumbled out of the community service center, numb and lost.
On the way, her phone buzzed. It was Randall.
"Aunt Laurel, Uncle Jerry left all his assets to me. You don't have a problem with that, right?" Randall's voice was almost indifferent.
He continued, "After all, I'm the only Schneider left. But don't worry, he did leave you a spot in the family cemetery. One day, you can be buried next to him.
"Consider it a thank you for all those years you spent looking after him and my mom."
Laurel let out a hollow, bitter laugh she couldn't hold back.
'Fifty years of sacrifice, and all I get is a spot in his grave? What a joke,' she thought.
Even as he was dying, Jerry only cared about his precious "son." Laurel fumed. 'Did he ever once think about me? No job, no pension. How am I supposed to get by now?'
Whatever hope Laurel still had for Jerry was gone for good.
Fifty years of lies, and now all she felt was pure hatred.
Laurel glared at the urn she'd rubbed countless times, her anger boiling over. She almost hurled it to the ground right then and there.
But even the universe wouldn't let her vent her rage. Out of nowhere, a truck careened straight at her.
With a loud bang, all Laurel saw was a blinding red.
People gathered around, gossiping and pointing at her.
"I know this old lady. Her husband just died, and she never had any kids. That's just her fate."
"Yeah, she's all alone in the world. Maybe it's better this way, following her husband. Who knows, maybe they'll find each other again in the next life."
'No, no!' Laurel's soul shook its head frantically.
If there truly were a next life, she would never again have anything to do with Jerry.
*****
"Laurel, have you really thought this through?" Maria Harris, the station director, asked.
She continued, "Are you really going to give up the hosting job you worked so hard for, just to take care of your husband? Are you sure you want to put your whole future on hold for this?
"You're the star of our station, and you know there's an overseas training slot at the main network. It leaves in seven days."
Maria added, "This kind of chance is once in a lifetime. I was already planning to nominate you. Please, think it over."
Laurel stared at Maria, who looked absolutely devastated, and it took her a while to really register what was going on.
'Wait a minute, Jerry got injured, and I quit my job... wasn't that all the way back in 1977? Did I... just come back to life?' Laurel thought.