Chapter 1

My husband Adrian and I were on an outdoor expedition when tragedy struck: his first love, Bella, died in an accident.

That same day, Adrian left behind a suicide note and threw himself off a cliff.

Only then did I realize he had never loved me.

When I was reborn and returned to my college days, Adrian didn't hesitate to abandon me and choose Bella.

We met again eight years later at a banquet hosted by the wealthiest family in the city.

By then, he was a rising CEO in finance.

Seeing me drinking alone in a corner, he couldn't help but frown.

"Vanessa. Eight years, and you're still chasing after me?"

I glanced at him and walked straight toward my daughter, who was drinking juice nearby.

But he panicked, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Have you lost your mind? You married some nobody and had a child... just to spite me? You're pathetic!"

When I spotted that familiar figure in the crowd, I froze.

I never imagined that Adrian Hayes and I would meet again at Hudson's homecoming banquet.

There he was, his arm draped possessively around Bella's shoulders, working the room with practiced charm. The aloof boy I once knew was gone, polished into a stranger.

"Mr. Hayes! Congratulations. To become the youngest CEO in the city's financial sector...your future is boundless."

"Is this your wife? You two look perfect together."

Amid the flattery, Adrian offered a polite smile.

"Bella is my fiancée. We'll be holding our wedding in July, and you're all invited."

"Absolutely," everyone chimed in.

Just then, one of Adrian's former classmates spoke up.

"Mr. Hayes, you and Bella were the famous golden couple back in college. Why did it take eight years of dating before you decided to get married?"

At those words, I set down my wine glass and looked at Adrian.

Actually, I wanted to know too.

After all, Adrian was crazy about Bella.

In my past life, when he learned of Bella's death, he didn't hesitate to jump off a cliff and end his own life.

When I was reborn back to my college days, Adrian didn't hesitate to dump me and chase after Bella.

Who would have thought they still hadn't gotten married after all this time?

It was really strange.

In the crowd, Adrian's smile faltered for a moment, and a flash of embarrassment crossed his eyes.

"Bella is my first love and the woman I love most. So all these years I've been working hard to give her the most spectacular wedding in the world."

As he spoke, the affection in Adrian's eyes seemed ready to overflow.

Hearing this, Bella smiled sweetly. "I'm looking forward to it, Adrian."

Watching them, I felt deeply moved.

So when Adrian truly loved someone, he actually thought about them this much.

It was worlds apart from how he treated me in my past life.

In my past life, no matter how much I gave, he refused to marry me.

In the end, it was only because I got pregnant by accident and his grandfather put pressure on him that he was forced to marry me.

I didn't want to waste any more time at this boring banquet, so I got up to leave.

Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a little girl with two pigtails hiding under a nearby table, drinking one glass of juice after another.

I shook my head helplessly and walked in that direction.

Without paying attention, I knocked a wine glass off the table.

Crash!

The glass shattered into pieces, fragments everywhere.

"Who are you?"

"Who let you in here?"

"Do you have any idea how much that glass cost!"

A nearby server blocked my path, looking at me with utter contempt.

Everyone's attention immediately shifted to our direction.

Seeing me, Adrian froze in place, shock flashing through his eyes.

"Vanessa?"

"You actually crashed the Hayes family banquet just to see me?"

The people around him looked confused.

"Mr. Hayes, from your tone, she's not a guest invited by the Hayes family?"

At this, Adrian frowned slightly, looking a bit uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry everyone, I didn't mean to ruin your evening. She's my ex."