Chapter 2

Lillian froze, then her face turned even redder.

"We haven't even started anything yet, how can you already be talking about having children?"

I was almost crying tears of joy.

Joy that the rebirth was real.

Tears that this time, I could rewrite my own fate with my own hands.

I gripped Lillian's hand even tighter:

"What do you mean we haven't started? If this works out in the end, having kids is just a matter of time, right?"

Lillian looked uneasy.

"But... I can understand remarrying at my age, but getting pregnant again... won't people laugh at me?"

I immediately objected:

"Lillian, you're only in your forties. You're completely capable of having children."

Lillian could hardly believe it.

"Valerie, you really support me having another baby?"

I lowered my eyes as memories from my past life flooded back.

After Ethan Collins faked his death, Lillian had wanted to have another child.

But at that time, my father-in-law was bedridden and paralyzed, and her health wasn't great either.

Later, after my father-in-law died, she was barely fifty and had thoughts of remarrying again.

But the man pursuing her at that time already had a son and daughter.

I analyzed the pros and cons for her, saying remarriage was fine but having kids was off the table.

In the end, after much consideration, plus seeing her best friend's unhappy remarriage, she gave up on the idea.

But this time, I nodded vigorously.

"Of course! You lost your son and then your husband in middle age. Pursuing your own happiness is your right. I have no reason to object."

"But you need to find someone with good character who won't take advantage of you."

Lillian hesitated: "He's a good man, just has a slight defect..."

My heart sank. Could he not have children after all?

The next second, I heard Lillian say:

"He has a slight limp. You know him actually—it's Charles from downstairs..."

My heart leapt with joy.

"Charles is great! Sure, his leg isn't perfect, but he has no children and he's a few years younger than you, right?"

"You two could have your own child together."

Though I had selfish motives, I'd gotten along well with Lillian in my past life.

Even if remarriage served my purposes, I hoped she'd find a good man.

Besides, when I was at my most desperate in my past life, Charles was the only one who extended a helping hand to me.

More importantly, I'd heard he used to be well-connected in both legitimate and underground circles.

That way, even if Ethan came back later to make trouble, he wouldn't be able to cause much of a stir.

Lillian's eyes welled up with tears:

"Valerie, I was so afraid you wouldn't agree at first... I'm so glad you understand..."

I held her hand as warmth flooded through my heart.

As for Ethan...

He liked playing dead to avoid responsibility, wanting to swoop in at the end and reap all the benefits?

I'd like to see his reaction when Lillian remarried and had a second child.

When he came back from his fake death, he'd find:

No home, no house, his mom remarried, and all the family assets belonged to his stepfather and half-brother!

He and his illegitimate child wouldn't get a single penny!