Chapter 1

In the seventh year of our marriage, a rainstorm triggered a landslide, trapping me and my husband’s childhood best friend, Chloe, in the mountains.

Nathan hoisted the unconscious Chloe onto his back and told me—the one who could still speak—to wait for search and rescue.

Nobody knew that my complaint about chest pain wasn’t me acting needy. A broken rib had already punctured my lung.

Before leaving, he kissed my forehead. “Don't be scared, Nora. I'll take her to the ER and come right back for you. You're strong. You can handle this.”

The mountain road collapsed again. By the time night fell, the rescue team had not arrived. And neither did he.

My college rival, Evelyn—the girl who had fought hardest against me to win Nathan’s heart—called my phone. Crying furiously, she cursed into the receiver:

“Nora, you ruined your whole damn life by being too accommodating! In the next life, I’m the one marrying Nathan!”

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at our college senior graduation dinner. Nathan was down on one knee in front of me, holding a massive bouquet of ninety-nine red roses.

He was confessing his feelings. The entire graduating class held their breath, waiting for my nod.

Looking at the smile on Nathan’s face, I turned and shoved the armful of roses straight into Evelyn’s hands.

“Haven’t you had a crush on him forever, Evelyn? Why don't you two give it a shot?”

“Who the hell wants your secondhand scrap metal used as a shield?”

Evelyn didn’t take the flowers.

She flipped the bouquet upside down with a single, sharp flick of her wrist. All ninety-nine roses plunged straight into the nearby trash can.

The cheers in the private dining room died instantly.

Nathan remained down on one knee, the easy smile frozen on his face.

Petals scattered across the hardwood floor. Evelyn turned her gaze toward me.

“Nora, if you don’t want this so-called blessing, don’t dump your trash on me.”

Her eyes were slightly bloodshot, but her voice was remarkably steady.

I stared at her, my fingers clenching into fists.

In my past life, as I lay dying in the mud, that final phone call had never disconnected.

Mountain winds and muddy water had poured into my ears. I couldn’t speak, but I could hear Evelyn sobbing and swearing at me through the speaker.

She had said that if there were a next life, she would steal Nathan away so I wouldn’t have to marry him again.

Yet now, the person who tossed his flowers without a second thought was also her.

“You’re back too?” I whispered.

She didn't answer. Instead, she reached out, grabbed my wrist, and gave my palm a hard, grounding squeeze.

Nathan finally pushed himself up from the floor.

“What is wrong with you two?”

With dozens of classmates staring, his jaw clenched tight.

Our class president tried to smooth things over. “Is Nora just overwhelmed? Nathan, maybe you should try—”

“No need,” I cut him off, reaching for my jacket draped over the chair.

Nathan stepped forward, blocking my path.

“Nora, the public proposal was a last-minute idea. I didn't think it through.”

“If you don’t like big crowds, we can do it somewhere private.”

His tone softened, slipping into the exact cadence he used every time I was upset.

Throughout our four years of college, Nathan rarely backed down to anyone.

Whenever he called me by my nickname, I always made excuses for him first.

I looked at him. I remembered when I was nineteen and came down with a burning fever, locked inside my dorm room.

He had stood outside in the freezing cold for two hours, talking the resident advisor into bringing me soup and meds.

When I asked him later if he was freezing, he smiled. “As long as you feel better, I’m warm.”

His care back then had been real.

That was why, every time he hurt me later, I chose to believe he was just bad at balancing priorities—not that he didn't love me.

“Do it somewhere private?” I met his gaze. “To say the exact same pitch where only I can hear it?”

Nathan’s expression eased slightly.

“As long as you’re willing to listen. After graduation, come home to meet my parents. They’ve always adored you. And Chloe will be there, too…”

The moment that name dropped, Evelyn let out a cold, sharp laugh.

Nathan frowned at me, ignoring her.

“Chloe didn't finish college, so finding a corporate job is tough for her.”

“Once we launch our startup, you can mentor her.”

He casually pulled out a chair for me.

“You have great patience and know how to look after people. Leaving her with you gives me peace of mind.”

I didn't sit.

“Did you ask me out because your parents like me?”

“Of course not,” Nathan replied without missing a beat.

“I have feelings for you. It’s just that if we’re together, everything becomes simpler.”

“She’s completely alone in this city. I can’t just abandon her. You’re sensible, Nora. You understand.”

Evelyn stepped between us, shielding me.

“Whether you owe her or love her, it’s not Nora’s debt to pay.”

“Evelyn.” Nathan’s tone dropped to freezing. “This is between Nora and me.”

“He shoved the flowers at me two seconds ago, and suddenly it’s strictly between you two?” Evelyn kicked the trash can. “Nathan, your parents look down on Chloe, but you refuse to cut the cord.”

“So you find a high-achieving, presentable girlfriend to serve as a shield for your family. And you call that love?”

Someone in the room gasped.

Nathan’s face darkened.

“Chloe and I are purely platonic. Her dad saved my father’s life. Looking out for her is my responsibility. Nora has never minded.”

Every pair of eyes shifted back onto me.

In my past life, I had backed him up on that excuse countless times.

The first time Chloe moved into our newlywed apartment, I told myself she was new to the city and insecure.

When she called Nathan away on my birthday, I told myself she had suddenly fallen ill, that she didn't mean to.

When the mudslide hit and he carried her away, I was the one who told him I was fine.

Yet the bone slicing into my lung hadn’t been an illusion. And the fact that nobody returned after the sun went down was the brutal truth.

I brushed Nathan’s hand away.

“I didn't mind before because I assumed basic boundaries existed.”

“There are boundaries,” he countered immediately.

“She won’t interfere with our private life. If you don’t want her living close by, we can rent her a separate studio.”

He offered housing, a job, and promises.

The only thing he never offered was a choice: did I actually want any of this?

Evelyn glanced at me but stayed silent, letting me speak.

I picked up my purse and walked toward the exit.

Nathan took two quick strides after me, losing his cool.

“Nora, I put myself out there in front of everyone, and you’re just walking away?”

I stopped at the doorway.

“The only reason you did it in front of everyone was because you banked on me being too polite to embarrass you.”

He froze. I shoved the door open.

Evelyn followed right on my heels. Behind us came the screech of a chair skidding across the floor.

Nathan marched through the scattered rose petals, his face livid.

“Nora! Evelyn! Have both of you lost your minds?”