Chapter 1

My wife kissed another man in front of me during our anniversary party.

She wiped her lips and told me she had never loved me. Guests filmed everything while she walked out with him.

When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn to the week before that humiliation.

This time, I did not wait for her betrayal. I walked away first and erased myself from her life.

Ten years later, she chased me into a crowded ballroom. She grabbed my arm and told everyone we were finally getting back together.

I smiled.

“I have a child now. Why would I go back to her?”

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I never imagined I'd cross paths with Ava Sullivan again in this lifetime.

At a high-society gala in Bay City, she stood arm-in-arm with Derek Graham amidst the crowd, her smile elegant and refined, no trace of the girl she once was.

The people surrounding them wore ingratiating smiles, their tones flattering.

"Miss Sullivan, you're truly as capable as any man! To secure a provincial-level project at such a young age, your future is limitless!"

"And this must be your partner? What a handsome couple you make, enough to make anyone envious!"

Derek gazed at Ava lovingly and said softly, "We're planning to get married at the end of the year. Everyone's welcome to attend the wedding if you're free."

Another round of congratulations followed, and someone asked, "I heard you've been together for ten years. Why are you only getting married now?"

I was curious about this too.

In my previous life, Ava loved Derek so much she was willing to die with him.

After my rebirth, she immediately broke up with me.

I thought they would get married right after graduation, but I didn't expect them to still be unmarried now.

Hearing this question, Ava's face momentarily stiffened, almost imperceptibly. She quickly covered it with a smile.

"We wanted to establish our careers first, then start a family. I want to give Derek the best life possible."

She looked at Derek, her eyes overflowing with tender affection.

In my previous life, when she was with me, I proposed several times.

It wasn't until her family pressured her that Ava reluctantly agreed to be with me.

Apparently, the difference between love and indifference can be this obvious.

I was about to turn and leave when I caught sight of a small figure from the corner of my eye. My body instinctively followed.

"Crash!"

Champagne spilled all over the floor, and the waiter holding the tray looked at me with displeasure.

"Where did you come from? Are you blind?"

His voice was loud enough to attract the attention of those around us.

Seeing my face, Ava was startled.

"Ethan Thompson, what are you doing here?"

I apologized to the waiter and explained, "I'm here to find someone."

Someone curiously asked Ava, "Miss Sullivan, do you know him?"

Ava's hand tightened on her champagne glass, her gaze becoming heavy.

"Yes, an ex-boyfriend."

Someone nearby blurted out, "You've been together for ten years, I thought you were each other's first love."

Derek's smile faded slightly. He took Ava's hand and said casually, "We were young then, had a little fight and separated briefly. Who hasn't taken a wrong turn when they were young?"

Ava remained silent, her gaze passing over me to the waiter.

"Put the damages on my tab. Let him go."

She stood there, her expression calm. Apart from the initial moment of recognition, she didn't spare me a single extra glance.

It seemed she wanted to draw a clear line between us in front of Derek, distancing herself from this 'wrong turn' in her past.

The waiter hurriedly pushed me towards the exit.

"Miss Sullivan is being kind, cleaning up your mess. But there won't be a next time."

He glanced at my wrinkled pajamas with disdain.

"This isn't a place for you. Get out quickly."

I shook off his hand and explained politely, "I'm here to find someone. Once I do, I'll leave on my own."

The waiter scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"I've seen plenty of people like you trying to rub shoulders with the elite. Do you even have the right to be at a gala like this? If you don't leave now, I'm calling security!"

"Wait," Ava's voice came from behind him.

She picked up her dress, looked at me, and sighed resignedly.

"He's here to see me. Let me talk to him."

Derek stood beside her, putting his arm around her shoulder possessively.

"Ethan, Ava and I are about to get married. I think anyone with a shred of shame wouldn't come looking for an ex at a time like this."

Ava's face darkened slightly, and she couldn't help but advise me.

"Why do you have to be so obsessed with me? Even if you waited for me for ten years, I still wouldn't fall in love with you."

"My relationship with you was just a mistake. Now that I have a chance to correct that mistake, I hope you can let go of the past soon."

Derek looked me up and down, his eyes filled with mockery.

"I can understand why you came to find Ava. After all, times have changed. She's now a well-known entrepreneur, and there's no shortage of people trying to curry favor with her."

Perhaps my wrinkled pajamas gave him confidence. Derek spoke arrogantly.

"You graduated from a good university, how did you end up like this? If I were you, I wouldn't have the face to go out in public!"

Ava frowned, took out her phone, her tone tinged with impatience.

"If you feel I wronged you when we broke up, I can give you some breakup money now."

"Is fifty thousand dollars enough?"

Her fingers moved on the screen for a moment, then suddenly froze.

"You deleted me from your friends list?"

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