Chapter 1

My fiancée and I went abroad on vacation, only to be struck down in a tragic plane crash.

When I opened my eyes, I had been reborn—back to when we had just met.

In my previous life, I had dated her for three years and spoiled her endlessly, but she always cited severe germophobia as an excuse never to let me get close.

An accident later revealed the truth: she had always been in love with her childhood sweetheart.

Given a clean slate, I decided to step aside gracefully and cut all ties with her.

Five years passed. She was now an award-winning movie star. Clinging to the arm of her childhood sweetheart, Ethan, she was personally handing out wedding invitations to a line of adoring fans.

Noticing me standing alone at the very back of the line, sheer contempt filled her face.

"Sean, no matter how amazing I am, and no matter how much you crave me, isn't it a bit pathetic to stalk me across two lifetimes?"

I didn't even bother looking at her. Instead, I bent down and scooped up my little daughter.

Vivian’s face drained of all color in an instant. Her voice cracked into a frantic, piercing scream:

"Didn't you promise you'd only ever marry me? That you only ever wanted me to be the mother of your children?!"

Five years later, I ran into Vivian again at an exclusive private club.

I had just finished planning and setting up three lavish weddings back-to-back. Dressed in scuffed work clothes, looking disheveled and worn out, I sat in a dim corner of the lobby, sipping water and catching my breath.

Across the hall, Vivian and Ethan were busy handing out wedding invitations to eager fans, soaking in every drop of their breathless praise.

"Vivian, you're an absolute powerhouse in the industry! It only took you three years to snatch Best Actress! And now, you're marrying your childhood sweetheart! You really are the ultimate winner at life!"

"Seriously! Top casting directors from New York to London are literally begging to work with her. She's got wealth, status, and Ethan just made millions on Wall Street. Honestly, the two of you make everyone so jealous!"

"Vivian, if there are ever any background roles in your upcoming films, bring us along! Let us grab a little piece of the spotlight and make some real cash with you!"

Vivian smiled gracefully and motioned toward Ethan. "Once the wedding is over, I'll make sure Ethan sorts out some sweet gigs for all of you."

Out of nowhere, an older woman among the fans piped up with a juicy question. "Hey, Vivian, that Sean guy hasn't been bothering you lately, has he?"

"Back then, he followed you around like a lost puppy, acting like you two were something special. Word on Twitter was that the very first drama series you ever invested in was practically based on your story with him."

I froze with my water cup half-raised and looked over at Vivian.

Her brows knotted in pure distaste.

Ethan, ever the chivalrous gentleman, stepped in with a smooth grin. "Come on, guys, that's just silly gossip. If Vivian and Sean ever actually had something going on, why would I be standing here passing out our wedding invitations?"

The younger fans nodded vigorously in agreement, immediately scolding the older woman for stirring up inappropriate drama.

Sitting quietly in my corner, a bitter smirk tugged at my lips.

Once upon a time, Vivian had looked me in the eye and promised that if she ever became a famous actress, she would show the whole world the beauty of how we met, so everyone would envy the purity of our love.

In our past life, both of us had grown up in single-parent households.

A mutual roommate had introduced us, and we gradually clicked.

Perhaps sharing such similar, difficult childhoods made it so we never ran out of things to talk about.

One night after a few drinks, Vivian had gathered the liquid courage to confess her feelings to me.

Blushing furiously, she had murmured, "Sean, you've lived in my heart for so long. I want to be with you forever."

Young and head-over-heels, I had said yes without a second thought.

Back then, I truly believed I had found my soulmate. But reality soon slapped me with one humiliating blow after another.

My foot accidentally nudged my water cup. It tipped over, crashing loudly onto the floor and echoing across the marble lobby.

Every single head snapped in my direction.

"Well, well, well! Isn't that Sean? He's still stalking Vivian?"

"Look at that faded blue jumpsuit. Did he really stoop so low as to work security here?"

"We're Vivian's top-tier fans—every one of us is successful and respectable. Sneaking in uninvited just to loiter near us... don't let the paparazzi catch you and make a fool out of our girl!"

"Why don't we all chip in a hundred bucks to cover his lost wages and tell him to get the hell out? Spare us the embarrassment!"

A chorus of snide laughter erupted throughout the room, everyone glaring down their noses at me.

I picked up the cup, calmly wiped it clean, and completely ignored them.

Vivian stared at me with complicated, stormy eyes, though her voice dripped with raw condescension.

"Sean, take a good look at yourself. Have you no shame?"

Ethan pulled her into a tender embrace, soothing her softly.

"Vivian, come on. We all go back a ways. The guy is down on his luck working as a doorman. It's on us to show a little charity and give him a hand."