Chapter 1

"Let's get a divorce," Niamh Weaver muttered as she curled up weakly on the bed. Sweat dampened her delicate face, and her hair stuck to her skin. Her eyes looked empty and sorrowful.

She had loved this man for ten years, but now there was nothing left to hold onto.

Castiel Jamison's dark gaze turned cold. "Divorce?"

"Yes," Niamh said with a firm voice.

She rose from the bed and felt her way through the darkness toward the bathroom. Castiel glared at her, but finally couldn't help but step forward and reach out to steady her by the waist.

"Let me help you," he said as he extended his hand.

Smack!

Niamh slapped his hand away with all her strength. When she got out of bed, her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto her knees with a thud.

"Get away from me. I don't want your help. You disgust me."

Just being under the same roof as him made her feel sick.

Castiel's expression darkened, and his outstretched hand froze mid-air.

She found him… disgusting?

Niamh braced herself on the floor and struggled to her feet before feeling her way into the bathroom. She turned on the hot water and scrubbed her hand over and over, desperate to wash away any trace of him.

Oh, how she wanted to peel the very skin off her hands!

When Niamh emerged, she made her way slowly toward the closet. She hadn't been blind for long, and she was still adjusting to the darkness. She gradually felt her way forward while relying on vague memories.

Then, she pulled on some clothes, grabbed her marriage certificate, and gripped it tightly. "Let's go. Now. To the courthouse."

Castiel's knuckles cracked loudly as he clenched his fists. He abruptly stood up and stormed over to Niamh, grabbing her collar.

"Niamh! How much longer are you going to keep this up? Look at you now. If we divorce, how are you going to survive?"

She had nothing. As a blind woman alone in this city, she wouldn't be able to make it.

Niamh pushed his hands away, her eyes vacant as she shook her head. With resolve, she answered, "Anything would be better than staying with you."

She suddenly let out a soft chuckle and murmured, "Ten years…"

"What?"

"I've known you for ten years. Seven years dating, three years married, and you took my corneas to save another woman. Was that price not enough for me to finally see your true colors?"

Her marriage was twisted beyond belief. She had endured enough of Castiel's cold-heartedness. Death felt like a better option than staying with him. She only wanted to escape this prison of despair.

Castiel's irritation spiked once again, and he growled, "You call that a price? If you didn't want to, why did you sign the surgical consent form?"

"You think my signature makes it right?" Niamh laughed bitterly, feeling too weary to even ask if he ever saw her as his wife.

"This conversation is over. I'll pretend you never said anything."

Niamh's laugh grew louder at that.

He sounded as if he were bestowing a favor. How ridiculous.

"No. I'm going through with the divorce."

"Niamh!" Castiel bellowed through clenched teeth. "You have no right to demand a divorce!"

In the end, Castiel stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind him. The sound of his hurried footsteps was akin to someone fleeing for their life.

Niamh's legs gave out beneath her, and she crumpled to the floor, feeling as though every last bit of her strength drained out. At that moment, her facade was torn apart.

Chapter 2

The sound of high heels mixed with the acrid scent of perfume drew closer.

It was Macy Duncan, the woman who had taken Castiel, as well as Niamh's corneas.

Niamh's face twisted in disgust. Just as she was about to get up to close the door, Macy barged in.

"Don't bother struggling. You're blind. You're no match for me." Macy's voice was calm, but her smugness dripped from every word.

"What are you doing here?" Niamh snapped.

What else could Macy possibly want from her?

Macy smirked and said chirpily, "I came to share some good news and some bad news. You're pregnant."

Pregnant?

Niamh's face turned deathly pale.

Macy's smile widened, and satisfaction gleamed in her eyes. She continued, "Of course, Cas doesn't plan to keep the baby, because I'm pregnant too."

Niamh's eyes widened in shock, and her composure was shattered.

Castiel… how could he?

All color drained from Niamh's face, and her body trembled violently. She clenched her fists tightly as she tried to hold onto the last shred of her dignity.

She took a shuddering breath and said with forced composure, "So what? Take a good look at me now. One day, he'll do the same to you. Just like he took my corneas, he'll take yours for the next woman."

Macy giggled and said with the arrogance of a victor, "Hah, what makes you think you can compare to me? Cas never loved you. If he did, why would he give me your corneas?"

Her laugh cut deep, and it shattered Niamh's mask of strength.

There was no doubt Macy's words had landed a brutal blow. She was right. If Castiel had ever truly loved her, Niamh wouldn't have ended up in such a wretched state.

Their ten-year relationship had ended so brutally.

At some point, Macy left. Niamh sat there for what felt like an eternity.

Thick smoke began to fill the room, wrapping around her and making her eyes water. Panic and fear flashed across her face as she realized what was happening.

She scrambled toward the door, but every step was met with crashing furniture. After falling several times, she lost her sense of direction completely.

Niamh sat on the floor, wide-eyed and gasping for air, and her throat burning from the smoke. Her empty, sightless eyes were filled with terror.

Meanwhile, the voices from outside the room were particularly jarring.

"How could Mr. Jamison burn his wife alive? Someone call the fire department!"

"Shut up! We'll pretend we didn't see anything."

Their words seemed to freeze Niamh's blood.

Castiel wanted her dead?

The despair she felt was overwhelming, and she no longer had the will to fight.

Death seemed like a release at this point.

Soon, the smoke grew thicker and started choking her breath.

Niamh hadn't cried when she found out Castiel was cheating on her with his secretary, nor when she woke up in the hospital, blind and terrified beyond belief.

But now, knowing that Macy was pregnant and Castiel was willing to burn her and their unborn child alive, she broke into tears at last.

The scorching heat swept toward her and burned her skin inch by inch. Her desperate wail, like the cry of a vengeful ghost, echoed throughout the entire villa.

As the flames consumed her, Niamh had only one wish. If only time could turn back, she would erase Castiel from her world forever.

Chapter 3

"Ah!" Niamh screamed. Her eyes flew open, and she sprang up from the bed, drenched in cold sweat. It felt as though her body was still burning from the fire.

A hand covered hers, gripping her fingers firmly. Patiently, Castiel coaxed her, "Shh, go back to sleep."

Niamh flinched and instinctively pulled her hand away. She turned to see Castiel's handsome, refined profile and gasped.

She could see? How was that possible?

She closed her eyes, then opened them again. The brightness of the room greeted her, while sunlight filtered through her lashes and warmed her heart with its tenderness.

Niamh checked her phone. The date on the screen confirmed it was several months ago.

She had… been reborn?

Disturbed by her movements, Castiel woke up groggily. "What are you doing up so early?"

Niamh clutched her phone tightly. The timing was exact—it was the day before Macy's kidnapping.

Wrapping her arms around herself for comfort, she whispered under her breath, "Niamh, the heavens have spared you… you weren't meant to die."

Then, she inhaled deeply and looked at Castiel. "Castiel, let's get a divorce."

Castiel's eyes snapped open. "What did you just say?"

"I'll have Billie prepare the divorce agreement. If you're worried about your rights, you can have your company's lawyer draft it."

"What are you on about?" Castiel grew irritated. It was too early for this kind of upheaval, and now she was throwing a bombshell at him.

Niamh, seemingly unaffected by his anger, casually asked, "When did you two start seeing each other?"

"Niamh!" Castiel's voice was laced with restrained fury.

"I'm tired of being your wife. If you want to give that woman the title, fine. But let me tell you, the seven years we spent dating were a damn waste of my youth.

"But don't think you can deny me any of my rights. The joint assets will be split 50-50. If you try to play games, I'll make sure that woman's reputation goes down the drain along with yours."

The veins on Castiel's forehead bulged. His gaze was fiery as if he wanted to swallow Niamh whole.

He couldn't grasp what had happened to Niamh. Just last night, they had been intimate and now, she was demanding a divorce out of nowhere.

Niamh stood up, put on her clothes, and briskly walked toward the door.

Behind her, Castiel's voice seethed with anger. "You know we've been together for ten years?"

Niamh didn't answer and went downstairs without looking back.

…

Niamh dialed her friend's number, and as soon as it connected, she said, "Help me draft a divorce agreement. I need it now."

The air went still.

After a brief pause, Billie Shea's voice erupted with surprise. "Have you finally made up your mind? I'll get up right away and draft it. Give me half an hour."

"Okay."

Niamh closed her eyes. Over the past year, news of Castiel's infidelity had reached her repeatedly. Even her friends knew and urged her to get a divorce, but she had always believed in him.

The following day would be the day Macy was kidnapped, marking the start of the breakdown in Niamh's relationship with Castiel.

This time, Niamh would not be passive like in her previous life by allowing Macy to flaunt having her corneas and carrying her husband's child.

Chapter 4

The divorce agreement arrived quickly.

Niamh signed it without hesitation and went straight to find Castiel. When she couldn't find him, she asked the housekeeper, who said he had left while Niamh was downstairs.

Niamh's heart sank. She had to finalize the divorce with Castiel right away. Every moment counted.

She faxed the agreement to his office. When the secretary saw it, she stuttered over the phone, "M-Mrs. Jamison, Mr. Jamison hasn't arrived at the office yet."

"Once he gets there, have him sign it immediately and bring it to the courthouse to meet me."

"Y-Yes!"

Even through the phone, Niamh could sense the secretary's nervousness.

After ending the call, she changed into a fresh outfit and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She was beautiful, but beauty wouldn't keep a man faithful.

A man could admire the flowers at home but still be tempted by the wild blooms outside.

Checking the time, Niamh drove to the courthouse and waited for a full two hours. As the office neared closing time, Castiel still hadn't arrived.

She video-called Castiel. After a few rings, he finally answered. Upon seeing the conference room in the background, Niamh knew he was in a meeting.

Niamh got straight to the point and said, "I've been waiting at the courthouse for two hours. Is there an issue with the divorce settlement?"

The air in the conference room froze instantly. All eyes turned to the stern-faced Castiel, who was clearly furious. The news of the divorce and asset division was shocking to them.

When Castiel's expression turned sullen, everyone quickly looked away and pretended not to have heard anything. Nevertheless, the scandal left a significant mark in their minds.

"Take a 30-minute break."

Castiel rose from his seat, yanking at his tie in frustration as he stormed out.

Meanwhile, Niamh was growing impatient and demanded, "When will you arrive?"

"Niamh!" Castiel barked.

Niamh stood her ground, unafraid. "Or should I bring the courthouse staff to your office?"

As long as he wasn't afraid of the embarrassment.

Castiel sneered. "Ten minutes."

"Good. I brought the household registration document too."

Castiel fell silent.

Niamh ended the call, satisfied.

On the other hand, Castiel stared at the black screen on his phone, and the next moment, he hurled it violently against the wall. His face was filled with unrestrained anger.

He had never expected Niamh to demand a divorce. He had assumed she was merely half asleep that morning and blabbered nonsense, yet she was still adamant about it.

She had quite the nerve.

…

Niamh held the documents firmly, determined to proceed with the divorce.

When Castiel arrived, he saw her holding the glaringly obvious household registration document, and his anger flared even more. His usually sharp features twisted with agitation.

He had been enraged all morning, and the sight of her now only intensified his fury.

As he approached, Niamh spotted him and felt as if she was facing a stranger. But instead of entering the office for the divorce, Castiel unexpectedly lifted her and slung her over his shoulder.

"Hey—"

Before she knew it, she was roughly shoved into the car.

"Castiel, you're shameless!"

Niamh tried to get out of the car, but the door was locked tight. Castiel grabbed her by the ankle and pushed her down onto the back seat.

Niamh struggled and yelled, "Let me go, you— Ow, that hurts!"

The pressure on her jaw made it hard for her to breathe.

Chapter 5

Wracked with pain, Niamh slapped Castiel across the face. The confined space seemed to close in around them, amplifying the tension.

His hand moved from her jaw to grip at her neck. "You've been off all day. Explain yourself."

At that moment, Castiel finally realized Niamh was not to be trifled with.

She was usually composed and measured. If she had simply been angry, she wouldn't have chased him down like this after he ignored her earlier.

Niamh looked at him and gripped his wrist. "The courthouse closes in 20 minutes. We need to get this done."

"Niamh!" Castiel's breathing became labored with anger.

She yanked his hand away and pushed him. However, Castiel was unyielding, and she glared at him in exasperation.

In the end, Castiel lost his patience and took her back home. The ride was tense and erratic, reflecting the driver's frayed nerves.

Once home, Niamh sat on the couch, and Castiel took a seat across from her. "Can we talk now?"

"I have nothing to say."

What was there to talk about anyway? The entire city knew about his affair with Macy, and yet he had never offered her an explanation.

Castiel's gaze was sharp and unrelenting. Niamh looked away and refused to meet his eyes. Her indifference only made his gaze more menacing.

"Niamh, men from my family don't divorce. They're only widowed."

Niamh shivered slightly. She looked at Castiel and saw his eyes holding a complex mix of emotions—anger, and something darker. Was that the reason he had burned her alive in her past life?

"Fine. Either you kill me now or it's your death."

Castiel was speechless. He stood up and loomed over her. His presence was imposing and oppressive.

Niamh met his gaze unflinchingly. The tension was palpable, and Castiel, unable to tolerate her defiant stance any longer, turned on his heel and stormed off.

He feared he would lose control and strangle her right then.

Niamh watched his back. Even his mere silhouette had once given her a sense of security. But now, she called out, "Wait, you can't leave the house today."

Castiel paused but didn't turn around. "Take some time to calm down. Don't call me until you figure out how to talk to me properly."

Recalling the reactions in the conference room, he couldn't help but wonder what was going on inside Niamh's head. He had never expected her to bring up divorce.

For the past six months, while rumors about his affair were swirling, she hadn't asked a single question. And now, divorce just slipped out of her mouth so easily.

As he tried to leave again, Niamh spoke up.

"If you step out that door, I'll bring Billie to find that woman. Macy, was it?"