Chapter 1

Tags: Lucid Male Lead, Rebirth & Revenge, Instant Karma, Toxic Ex, Satisfying Reversal, Pianist

In the third year of our marriage, my wife still refused to let me touch her.

She claimed she had severe germaphobia and hated physical contact.

That was until I caught her at a motel with her first love, and the two of them beat me to death to keep it a secret.

Reborn to the day of our college graduation, I stepped aside and let them have each other, wanting nothing more to do with either of them.

Five years later, she had become a world-renowned pianist, attending an elite business gala with her boss—that very same first love.

Catching sight of me, Nicole crossed her arms and sneered in disgust.

"Ugh, talk about bad luck. Look at this pathetic dog, still daydreaming about getting my attention!"

I smiled, wrapping my left arm around the heiress of the Crawford family while holding our daughter's hand with my right.

Later on, Nicole showed up at my hotel room in barely-there lingerie, banging frantically on my door.

"Didn't you promise you'd only ever love me? Lucas, please! I'll do anything—let's have a baby together!"

"Oh, Nicole, you look absolutely breathtaking tonight! Such elegance... truly the definition of a master pianist!"

A middle-aged socialite walked over with a glowing smile, eyes full of envy.

"Standing next to Mr. Reed, you two look like a match made in heaven. A true power couple!"

Nicole tilted her chin up slightly, a smug smirk spreading across her face.

Marcus Reed stood beside her, beaming with pride as he mingled effortlessly with the surrounding elites.

"Exactly! Having you two together is the ultimate fusion of big business and high art!"

Basking in the endless wave of compliments, Nicole held her head even higher.

She tossed her hair over her shoulder, completely intoxicated by her own vanity.

"You're all too kind. I merely dedicated myself to the piano, and Marcus has been so wonderfully supportive," Nicole said with mock modesty, though her voice dripped with arrogance.

"Nicole? Marcus? Wow, what a coincidence running into you guys here!"

A man in a sharp suit hurried over, his face plastered with an obsequious grin.

It was our old college classmate, Greg Carter.

Nicole raised an eyebrow, a flicker of disdain crossing her features before she smoothed it over with a polite smile.

"Oh, Greg. What a surprise."

Greg's gaze flicked between Nicole and Marcus, and he gave an exaggerated thumbs-up.

"Nicole, look at you now—a world-class artist! And standing next to someone like Mr. Reed? An absolute dream team!

I knew I had an eye for greatness back then. Unlike some people who were totally out of their league, trying to bag a swan when they were nothing but toads. I bet that guy is still a complete nobody."

Leaning closer to Nicole, Greg practically purred with flattery:

"I always said Lucas Vance wasn't worthy of you. It's a blessing you ended up with Mr. Reed—this is real destiny.

By the way, Mr. Reed, do you think you could put in a good word with my boss? About that... promotion..."

Marcus cast him a dismissive glance and gave a faint nod.

Across the room, I finished briefing my assistant on the summit's itinerary. Seeing an elderly janitor drop her cleaning supplies, I walked over, picked them up, and handed them back to her.

Greg, having sharp eyes, spotted me instantly. A wide, mocking grin split his face, and he pointed straight at me.

"Well, well, look who it is! Speak of the devil—Lucas Vance!

Look at you, reduced to cleaning up trash for the janitor! How pathetic can you get?"

Nicole looked over in the direction he was pointing. Her expression turned entirely to contempt, and she let out a cold sneer.

"And here I thought he might have made something of himself. Turns out he's just an errand boy. Absolutely hilarious."

She lifted her chin, eyes full of scorn.

Marcus crossed his arms, the corners of his lips curling into a derisive smirk.

"Don't be so harsh, Nicole. The man's just trying to earn an honest living. Somebody has to do the dirty work at the bottom of the food chain, right?"

Laughter erupted from the surrounding crowd. The janitor grew visibly nervous and whispered to me,

"Sir, you don't need to help me. I don't want them talking about you like that."

I smiled and shook my head, calmly tossing the rest of the debris into the bin.

Seeing no reaction from me, Greg grew bolder. He strutted over and deliberately shoved my shoulder, knocking some trash back onto the floor.

He put on a face of fake innocence.

"Oops! My bad, didn't see you there. Then again, you're pretty clumsy at your job, aren't you?"

Marcus chuckled.

He reached into his breast pocket, slid out a sleek black business card, and flicked it casually toward me.