Chapter 1

After Jennifer Jefferson was reborn, she found herself back at the age of 27.

She had a son and a daughter, and was married to the richest man in the world, Leonard Faron. He topped the "Number One Man Women Most Want to Marry" list in a well-known magazine, and was someone even foreign royalty wanted to marry.

Everyone said she was incredibly lucky, but the first thing she did after her rebirth was to take a divorce agreement to meet his first love.

She slid the papers across the table to Samantha Miller and said calmly, "I want a divorce. You can have Leonard and the kids."

Samantha stared at Jennifer with a stunned expression. She couldn't believe the woman who had held the title of Leonard's wife for six years was now willingly giving it up.

Jennifer merely added blandly, "Since they all prefer you, I'll step aside. Just get Leonard to sign it. I'll leave once the cooling-off period is over."

This time, she would not repeat the same mistakes. She would not be the invisible Mrs. Faron.

Samantha absentmindedly toyed with the rim of her cup with a frown. "Jennifer, what kind of game are you playing?"

Jennifer replied calmly, "I'm not playing games. I'm just done."

Samantha asked, "Do you know how many women out there would kill to be in your place?"

Jennifer met Samantha's gaze and said, "I do. That's why I'm giving it to you."

For the first time, a crack appeared in Samantha's expression.

She stared at the agreement for a long time before finally picking it up. "Fine. Since you're being so generous, I won't hold back. But remember, I never return what's already given to me."

Jennifer smiled. "Don't worry. I won't regret this."

After all, in her previous life, she had already tasted what it meant to live in loneliness.

Samantha stood up and moved to another table in the cafe, pulling out her phone and tapping on the screen a few times.

When the call connected, she said softly, "Leonard, I'm at the Blue Mountain Cafe. Can you come pick me up?"

Jennifer sat quietly nearby, and the corners of her lips lifted in a bitter smile.

Back then, whenever she called Leonard, nine times out of ten it would be his assistant, Victor Carlson, who answered.

But now, not even 20 minutes later, the man who was always "in a meeting" walked through the cafe doors.

Their six-year-old son, Yannick Faron, and their four-year-old daughter, Yvonne Faron, immediately ran toward Samantha, hugging and kissing her.

"Aunt Sam!" Yvonne called out sweetly, nuzzling into her embrace.

Leonard placed a cake box on the table and pushed it toward Samantha. "Your favourite cake. I asked the chef to use less sugar."

Samantha's eyes lit up. "You still remember."

In the corner, Jennifer clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

In six years of marriage, Leonard never bothered to learn her favorite flavors.

Once, when she was hospitalized and craved strawberry cake, he had Victor pick up one at random. It turned out to be mango flavored, which she was allergic to.

"What do you want for dinner?" Leonard asked.

Before answering, Samantha pulled out the divorce agreement from her purse. "Before that, I'd like you to look over this document."

She flipped over to the signature page. "I have my eye on a villa, but I'm short on liquid cash. Can you…"

Leonard took the pen and signed without even glancing at the contents. "There's no need to be so formal between us."

Yannick looked up and asked, "Is Aunt Sam getting a new house? Daddy, can you get one next to hers? Von and I want to move in with Aunt Sam. We don't want to stay with Mom anymore."

Leonard frowned slightly, but he relented at the hopeful expressions of the two children. "Alright, I'll buy one."

Samantha said in a hurry, "There's no need to trouble yourself. I'll just set aside three rooms at my place. One, for each of you. Then, you can stay with me whenever you want."

The kids cheered excitedly, and Leonard even kissed Samantha on the cheek. "Aunt Sam is the best! She's a thousand times better than Mom!"

Jennifer felt like her heart was being crushed by an invisible hand. The pain was so suffocating that she could barely breathe.

She saw the slight upward curve of Leonard's lips. It was a look that he had never shown her before.

Unable to bring herself to watch any longer, she grabbed her bag and left.

As she stepped outside, memories from her past life came flooding back.

In her previous life, her marriage to Leonard had been a business decision. They had a son and a daughter, and even at the age of 62, she remained unhappy.

That was because Leonard's heart had always belonged to his first love, Samantha.

After their breakup, Samantha went abroad, and Leonard drank himself into a stupor for a few days. But his pride kept him from chasing after her to win her back. Instead, she agreed to a marriage alliance his family proposed.

Leonard was someone she had dreamed of marrying when she was a teenager. His status put him firmly at the top of society. Every young lady in the city dreamed of marrying the heir of the Faron family.

So when she learned of their engagement, she was ecstatic.

But even though she gave it her all in the marriage, she was only greeted with Leonard's cold and indifferent attitude.

Then Samantha came back.

He never mentioned divorce, but his attention was always focused on Samantha.

Worse was the fact that the children also grew closer to Samantha and started distancing themselves from her.

In her old age, Jennifer was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Under the guise of giving her space to "rest", Leonard abandoned her in their old home.

On her birthday, she shakily dialed her husband and children's numbers, only to find out they were vacationing with Samantha overseas.

She tried to cook herself a simple birthday meal, but in her confused state, she forgot to turn off the stove.

As the fire engulfed her, her last memory was Leonard's cold gaze as he placed the wedding ring on her finger.

She closed her eyes in agony. At that moment, all she could think of was that, if there were a next life, she would never give herself to him again.

It was already late in the night when Jennifer returned to the villa. But instead of resting, she started packing up.

She tossed Leonard's suits, the children's toys, family photos, and the like all into boxes.

"What are you doing?" Leonard suddenly spoke out from behind her.

Jennifer turned around to see Leonard standing at the door with the kids. He had a frown on his face.

"Why is Mom throwing our stuff away?" Yvonne ran over, and she was furious when she saw her stuffed bear in the box.

Yannick glared at her angrily. "We just went to have some fun with Aunt Sam. Do you have to be so mad?"

As always, Leonard looked at her coldly. "The kids like being with Samantha. Do you really need to make a fuss over something so trivial?"

"I'm not angry," Jennifer said calmly.

Yvonne shrieked, "Liar! You're just jealous of Aunt Sam! That's why you threw away my teddy bear! You're a bad Mom!"

Yannick pulled his sister close and said, "I'm going to move in with Aunt Sam when I grow up. We'll never come back to see you!"

Leonard didn't stop them from shouting. He merely frowned slightly and looked at Jennifer as if she were a stranger making a scene.

"That's enough," he said. He adjusted his cufflinks coldly and continued, "I've got a board meeting. Throw out whatever you want, just don't make a mess."

The door clicked shut behind him, and finally, Jennifer's tears began to fall.

Her heart felt like it had been torn to shreds.

She wiped her face, looked at the wreckage around her, and suddenly laughed.

There was nothing to worry about; she wouldn't disturb him.

Not for the rest of her life.

Chapter 2

Jennifer stopped managing the household after the divorce agreement was signed.

She no longer woke up at five in the morning to make nutritious breakfasts for the kids, nor stayed up late to tend to Leonard's drunken self after his business dinners.

All the chores she once took for granted as her duty were now handed over to the household staff.

No one noticed anything unusual at first. Then, Yannick was late for school and scolded by his teacher, Yvonne couldn't find her homework notebook, and Leonard's pocket watch stopped ticking.

The household staff scrambled to fix things, but no one could meet the standard Jennifer had upheld.

Dirty dishes piled up in the kitchen, toys were scattered across the living room, and ironed shirts were never crisp enough.

The household, which had once been impeccably organized, was now slipping into chaos.

When Leonard pushed open the bedroom door, Jennifer was leaning by the window, reading a book.

Sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, casting shadows over her figure.

"How long are you planning to keep this up?" Leonard asked from the doorway in a low tone.

Jennifer closed her book and looked up. "I'm not doing anything."

"Then why are you ignoring everything at home?" Leonard stepped closer, and the faint whiff of cologne could be smelled. "Are you still mad about what happened last time?"

Jennifer placed the book aside and replied, "I'm not mad. I just don't want to bother anymore."

Leonard narrowed his eyes and tapped his finger on the table. "Why?"

Jennifer said calmly, "I'm tired. We have staff at home, so there's no reason I need to do all of this."

She recalled how she would get up before dawn every day in her past life.

Leonard's coffee had to be precisely 185 degrees Fahrenheit, and his sandwiches had to be toasted to a golden, crisp perfection. The children's clothes had to be hand-washed, and their socks were always ironed perfectly smooth.

And what did she get in return? Leonard was only gentle toward Samantha, and the children got closer and closer to Aunt Sam. And on her 62nd birthday, she died alone.

Leonard said coldly, "Jennifer, if you're upset, just say it. Don't act like a child."

Jennifer had a wry smile on her face. "I'm not upset. I just want to rest."

Before she even finished speaking, the door was flung open.

Yannick and Yvonne burst in angrily.

Yvonne shouted, "Mom's too lazy! We want Aunt Sam to take care of us!"

"She's gentler, works harder, and is a million times better than you!" Yannick chimed in.

Leonard's gaze stayed fixed on Jennifer's face, as if he were waiting for her to yield. But she simply took a deep breath and said softly, "If you all think she's better, then bring her here. I don't mind."

The place went completely silent.

Leonard's expression darkened completely. "Are you sure?"

Jennifer took another deep breath. "I'm very sure."

Yvonne eagerly tugged at Leonard's sleeve. "Let's go, Dad! I want Aunt Sam to come right now!"

Yannick made a face at her. "We don't need you anymore if she's coming! Just leave! Get out of this house!"

Leonard looked at Jennifer one last time. When he saw the indifferent look on her face, he turned and left with the children.

Jennifer stood where she was, listening to the sound of the car engine fade into the distance before she slowly closed her eyes.

Very soon, she would give them what they wanted.

She would leave them all and leave this household behind.

Chapter 3

On the first day Samantha moved in, she immediately began directing the staff to redecorate the living room.

"The couch is too dull," she said softly. Her slender fingers brushed across the leather cushions as she turned and smiled at Leonard. "Leonard, how about we change them to something in off-white?"

Leonard didn't even blink. He simply turned to the butler, Neil Watts, and said, "Do as Ms. Miller says."

Standing at the stairway landing, Jennifer watched as workers carried out the couch she had carefully chosen just six months ago.

Yannick and Yvonne followed behind Samantha like two excited puppies, pointing and chattering. "Aunt Sam, change this pillow, too! Mom bought it, and it's so ugly!"

Samantha gently patted their heads. "Alright, we'll change them all."

Jennifer curled her fingers up slightly, but she quickly let go.

Those pillows had been sewn by her when she was pregnant. She'd stuffed them with hypoallergenic cotton because children had sensitive skin when they were young.

Now, the pillows were thrown into the trash without a second thought.

Over the following days, the house grew increasingly unfamiliar.

At the dining table, Samantha would sit where Jennifer used to sit, tenderly serving the children their food.

Every now and then, Leonard would pour her a cup of coffee and push it toward her. His eyes would be filled with a gentleness that Jennifer never received.

At night, the living room lights would dim, and the four of them would cuddle on the couch to watch movies.

Yvonne curled up into Samantha's arms, while Yannick leaned against Leonard's shoulder. Laughter would echo from the room.

When Jennifer walked by, no one would even spare her a second glance. She had become invisible in her own home.

What made it even more absurd was that, once upon a time, the three Farons had been outrageously picky about their lifestyle.

But what about now?

Jennifer watched as Samantha casually tossed a ten-million-dollar Patek Philippe watch face down on the coffee table, but Leonard still wore it lovingly.

She watched the children happily head to school in uniforms Samantha had just casually tossed into the washing machine, still stained from yesterday's sauce.

Then, she watched as Samantha poured takeout onto plates and pretended she'd cooked it herself, yet no one exposed her.

The most ridiculous part was how they spoiled Samantha like she was royalty.

Leonard gently held Samantha's wrist and said, "Samantha, don't touch these heavy dishes. Your hands were made to play piano."

"Aunt Sam, let me carry your bag!" Yannick eagerly took her limited edition handbag, smiling so strangely that Jennifer could barely recognize her son.

Neil said, "Ms. Miller, just rest. Leave everything to us."

Jennifer had worked like a servant in this house for years, but no one had batted an eye.

Yet, the moment Samantha arrived, she became a princess at the center of everyone's world.

Behind the scenes, the staff whispered amongst themselves.

"Mr. Faron treats Ms. Miller so well. He was never like that with Mrs. Faron."

"The children stick to Ms. Miller all day, too. I think the mistress of this household is about to change."

Jennifer's heart had long gone cold. She stopped caring about it and quietly packed her belongings.

One afternoon, Jennifer's phone suddenly buzzed nonstop.

"Mrs. Faron! The children both had allergic reactions at school! The ambulance just took them to the hospital!"

By the time Jennifer arrived, the children had already been rushed into the emergency room.

Leonard stood in the corridor with his suit jacket draped over his arm and his tie hanging loosely around his neck. His eyes burned with cold fury.

"Jennifer," he said in a low voice, barely containing the anger that was simmering beneath his words. "What the hell are you doing?"

Jennifer froze. "What?"

"Don't you know they're allergic to mangoes?" Leonard stepped closer and looked down at her. "Why did you let them drink mango juice?"

Jennifer met his gaze. "It wasn't me! I've never bought mangoes for this household."

Ever since the children had been hospitalized after their first exposure to mangoes, she had been incredibly cautious. She would constantly remind everyone not to let the kids near mangoes, and she would even carefully check the school menu every week. There was no way this could have been her mistake.

"It wasn't you?" Leonard sneered. "Then who was it? The staff? Or did they just decide to harm themselves?"

Jennifer opened her mouth, about to respond, when the nurse emerged from the emergency room. "The children are awake."

Inside the hospital room, Yannick and Yvonne lay on their beds, looking weak and pale. When they saw the adults enter, there was a flicker in their eyes.

"What happened?" Leonard asked in a deep voice.

The two children exchanged a glance before pointing at Jennifer simultaneously. "It was Mom! She gave us pastries with mangoes in them!"

Jennifer froze in place, staring at them in disbelief. "What did you say?"

Chapter 4

Yvonne cried and choked out, "It was Mom! She knows we're allergic, but she still gave it to us on purpose!"

Yannick nodded fiercely. "She's so mean!"

Jennifer's fingers clutched the doorframe so tightly that her knuckles turned white. "Yannick, Yvonne, do you even understand what you're saying? You better tell the truth right now!"

"That's enough!" Leonard suddenly stood up and grabbed her wrist with almost enough force to crush bone. "Jennifer, is this how you act as a mother? Not only do you harm them, you force them to lie?"

"I didn't…" Jennifer's voice trembled slightly.

Leonard sneered. "So you're accusing them of lying now? They're just kids, how could they be lying about something like this? Can you even call yourself their mother?"

The two children suddenly began to cry loudly, their faces turning red.

Yvonne sobbed, "Dad, we feel so awful…"

"What would make you feel better?" Leonard asked softly, wiping her tears with gentle fingers.

Yvonne turned and looked at Jennifer. "She's allergic to mangoes too. Make her drink mango juice so that she feels awful too!"

A chill swept through Jennifer's heart.

She looked at Leonard, and the iciness in his eyes made her go cold.

"Alright." He straightened up and snapped his finger, and two bodyguards immediately entered the room. "Hold her down."

Before Jennifer could react, she was forced into a chair.

One of the bodyguards gripped her jaw, forcing her mouth open.

Two full pints of mango juice were poured down her throat. The sickly sweet liquid flooded her airways, causing her to choke violently as her throat began to burn.

Red welts rapidly appeared across her skin. Her face started to swell, and her breathing grew even more labored by the second.

She clawed desperately at her neck, and as her vision blurred, she locked eyes with Leonard.

He just stood there, watching without a flicker of emotion in his eyes, showing no intention of stopping.

The two children had stopped crying. Instead, they clapped gleefully. "Serves her right! Let her suffer too!"

As darkness rushed in, the last thing Jennifer saw was Leonard's cold, merciless gaze.

She had no idea how much time had passed when she woke up in a hospital bed.

Her throat burned, and there were still rashes on her face.

Outside the room, she heard some familiar voices.

Samantha said, "Leonard, I really didn't know they were allergic. I just wanted to give them some juice…"

Leonard replied in a tender tone, "It's not your fault. You didn't know."

"If only I had come forward sooner to clarify, then you wouldn't have misunderstood Ms. Jefferson," she said regretfully.

Then, she chided, "Yan, Von, you two as well. This is all my fault. How could you shift all the blame onto your mom just to protect me?"

The children's pitiful voices came through loud and clear.

Yvonne whimpered. "Aunt Sam, we know what we did was wrong. We just don't like Mom…"

Yannick added, "That's right. She always nags us and never lets us eat snacks. She makes us go to bed on time, too. We just want her gone…"

Jennifer's fingers clenched the bedsheet so tightly her knuckles turned white.

These were the children she had carried in her womb for months, nearly dying on the operating table to bring them into the world.

She remembered the day she gave birth to Yannick. There wasn't a single soul waiting outside the delivery room.

The nurse told her that Leonard was tied up in an important meeting and couldn't get away.

The pain had been unbearable, but she gritted her teeth and endured it all alone.

It was even worse with Yvonne. Jennifer suffered a dangerous hemorrhage during labor, and the doctors even said she was in critical condition.

Meanwhile, Leonard had flown abroad for an international acquisition deal.

Yet now, those two children she had risked her life to give birth to were the ones who hurt her the most.

Chapter 5

Pain ripped through Jennifer's chest. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face, and it took a long time for her to calm herself.

Just then, her phone rang. It was the airline confirming her ticket. "Ms. Jefferson, your one-way ticket to Nimbus City has been issued. Would you like to select your seat?"

"Just get me a window seat, please." Jennifer quickly wiped her tears as she spoke in an almost inaudible voice.

The call had barely ended when the door opened.

Leonard stepped in with his usual composed demeanor, wearing a pristine, tailored suit.

"Who were you on the phone with?" he asked calmly.

Jennifer set the phone aside. "A friend."

Leonard didn't press further. Standing by the bed, he looked down at her and said flatly, "About last time, it turns out it was Samantha who gave them mango juice."

He spoke in an incredibly casual tone, "But she didn't know. Let's just move on from this."

Jennifer's heart ached so much that she could barely breathe from the pain. When he believed she was to blame, he was ready to tear her world apart. But the moment it turned out to be Samantha's fault, he dismissed it with a careless excuse.

She opened her mouth, wanting to question him, to scream, and to pour out every ounce of suffering and humiliation she had swallowed.

But when the words reached her lips, all that came out was a whisper. "Okay."

It was like every last bit of strength had been drained from her. She was too exhausted to even argue.

All the nights she had tossed and turned with resentment, all that silent anger that had festered for years… they had all melted into a bitter, self-mocking smile.

So this was the difference between love and indifference. It was just that simple.

Leonard seemed a little surprised by her lack of reaction. After a pause, he added, "The kids are going to summer camp next week. Samantha and I will accompany them. Make your own way home."

He waited for Jennifer to cry and plead to him like she used to, but Jennifer only nodded calmly. "Got it."

He frowned, noticing something was off. But his phone rang at that moment. Glancing at the caller ID, he said, "Work's calling, I need to leave now."

Once the door closed, Jennifer finally unclenched her fists, revealing the bloody gouges left behind by her nails.

In the following days, her phone buzzed nonstop.

Every message was from Samantha.

It was photo after photo, video after video of the summer camp moments that were filled with laughter and joy.

In one video, Yannick and Yvonne proudly introduced her to their classmates. "This is our mom!"

There were many gasps of admiration from their classmates.

"Your mom's so pretty!"

"Your dad's handsome and your mom's beautiful. You're so lucky!"

"Then who's the one who usually picks you up from school?" someone asked curiously.

The camera showed the two kids freezing for a second. "That's… our nanny."

Jennifer's hand trembled, and the glass she was holding slipped and shattered on the floor.

She knelt down slowly, staring at the broken pieces, before she suddenly laughed.

So, all these years, she had just been a free nanny.

But that was okay. She wouldn't be one much longer. From now on, they could have their beloved "mom" take care of them.

A week later, Neil dropped Yvonne and Yannick back at the villa.

The moment they entered, they rushed into the kitchen with smug, delighted looks on their faces.

Yvonne shouted in a shrill voice, "Mom! Did you know? Aunt Sam twisted her ankle during the parent-child sports day! Dad was so worried!"

Yannick cut in excitedly, "Dad rented out the entire hospital for her and even canceled all his meetings to stay with her!"

Jennifer stood in front of the oven, silently listening to the children brag as she slipped on her oven mittens.

Yvonne stomped her foot. "Mom, are you even listening? Dad treats Aunt Sam so well compared to…"

The oven dinged, cutting her off mid-sentence.

The sweet aroma of cake instantly filled the kitchen, and the kids' eyes lit up as they rushed over.

Yannick stood on his tiptoes. "Cake! I want some!"

Jennifer pulled out the tray and noticed that the edges were slightly burnt.

She frowned and dumped the whole cake into the trash.

Yvonne shrieked. "Why did you throw it away?"

"It's burned, so it can't be eaten," Jennifer replied calmly.

Yannick kicked the trash can in a huff. "You're lying! You did it on purpose! You're still mad about what happened last time, so you won't let us eat it! You're a bad mom!"

Yvonne's face turned bright red. "We don't want a mom like you!"

Jennifer removed her oven mittens. It felt like her heart was being crushed. She looked at the two children she had nearly died giving birth to. At that moment, they felt like utter strangers.

She said softly, "Perfect, because I don't want children like you either. From now on, you should go to Samantha instead."

After that, she turned and walked toward the stairs.

Behind her, the children screamed hysterically, "We hate you! We'll hate you forever!"

Jennifer paused for a moment, but didn't look back.

Just as she stepped onto the third step of the stairs, a violent shove slammed into her back.

"Just die!"

Chapter 6

As the world spun around her, Jennifer crashed down the stairs with a sickening thud.

Pain exploded through every inch of her body. Warm blood trickled down her forehead, blurring her vision.

At the top of the staircase stood her two children, who were grinning with malicious glee.

"Serves you right!" Yvonne clapped her hands.

"That's what you get for not letting us eat cake!" Yannick made a face.

Jennifer struggled to lift herself up. Blood was dripping from her chin, splattering onto the floor.

She looked at those two little devils before her, and no matter how hard she tried, she could no longer connect them with the fragile babies she had once fought so hard to bring to the world.

Suddenly, the front door swung open.

"What happened here?" Leonard said with his deep voice as he walked in with Samantha behind him. The three of them were stunned when Leonard walked in.

"Dad!" The children immediately ran to him in tears. "Mom threw away the cake and wouldn't let us eat it. She said she doesn't want us anymore!"

Leonard's eyes fell on the cake in the trash, and then he looked over to Jennifer, who was covered in blood. He frowned and said coldly, "Jennifer, why must you always be at odds with your own children? To say things like that to your own children. Do you even deserve to be their mother?"

Jennifer propped herself up against the wall, looking at Leonard and letting out a laugh. She said hoarsely, "Have I ever deserved anything? Haven't you always just treated me like a tool to bear your children?"

Leonard narrowed his eyes.

Jennifer wiped away the blood on her face. "If the wife you wanted was Samantha, and the children only want her as their mother, then fine. I'll step aside and bless your perfect little family of four."

The place went deathly silent, and Leonard's expression darkened greatly. He stared at Jennifer, as if it was the first time he had gotten a clear look at her.

He said coldly, "Don't forget, our marriage was a business alliance between the Faron and the Jefferson families. There was never any love between us."

He scoffed. "What do you want from me? Love? Sorry, I can't give you any."

Jennifer laughed again. And as she laughed, tears began to fall.

Of course, he was right.

She had been stupid for daring to even think she could be a wife to someone like Leonard.

There was only one person Leonard would ever spare a glance at, and it wasn't her.

Jennifer should have known that.

Samantha gently tugged at his sleeve at just the right moment. "Leonard, that's enough. The kids are frightened. Let's take them upstairs."

Jennifer watched their backs as they disappeared from view. The blood never stopped dripping from her body.

At that moment, she felt nothing but regret.

She regretted marrying Leonard and regretted giving birth to those children.

This time, she would not make the same mistake again.

From this moment on, she would live only for herself.

…

It was Yannick's birthday three days later.

The party was held in the most luxurious hotel in the city.

Crystal chandeliers cast dazzling reflections across the ballroom, and a tower of champagne glittered in the middle of the hall. As always, Leonard had rented out the entire floor, throwing a lavish celebration for his son.

Jennifer stood quietly in a corner, watching as Yannick and Yvonne clung to Samantha's arms. The two children stuck with Samantha throughout the event, ignoring their own mother.

Leonard stood not far away, holding a glass of champagne. His eyes kept drifting toward Samantha, and they were filled with a gentle warmth that Jennifer had never once seen directed at her.

"Mr. Faron really is devoted. In all these years, his heart still only belongs to Ms. Millier."

"Isn't it obvious? Even the kids take after him. They only have eyes for Samantha."

Chapter 7

The murmurs of the guests reached Jennifer's ears loud and clear.

A sharply dressed man lowered his voice. "I went to college with Mr. Faron and Ms. Miller. Back then, the way he spoiled her was pretty intense. He nearly proposed to her before they even graduated."

Someone beside him exclaimed in realization. "No wonder! A first love will always be a first love. Even without being his wife, she'll always be the most important one."

Another guest cast a disdainful glance at Jennifer. So what if someone schemed their way into marriage? Even if she gave birth to his kids, she still couldn't win his heart. She's destined to live a lonely life."

Jennifer listened quietly. Her heart felt like it was wrapped in layers of ice. It was heavy, but she could no longer feel the pain.

She took a deep breath and turned toward the elevator.

Just as the doors were about to close, a hand suddenly reached in to stop them.

Samantha stepped in on her heels, and she smiled faintly at Jennifer.

She locked eyes with Jennifer and said, "The divorce cooling-off period ends in three days. You'll stick to our agreement and leave, right?"

Jennifer pressed the button for the first floor. "Of course. No one wants to leave more than I do."

Samantha finally smiled with satisfaction. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of this family for you. Leonard and the kids don't like you anyway. They'll slowly forget you."

Jennifer said nothing as the elevator descended slowly.

Suddenly, there was a deafening noise, and the elevator jolted violently before plunging into complete darkness.

Samantha shrieked and fumbled for her phone. "Leonard! Help! The elevator's malfunctioning!"

Jennifer slammed hard into the wall. Pain tore through her head and warm liquid trickled down her cheek.

After some amount of time, frantic footsteps could be heard outside.

"Is everyone okay in there?" A rescuer's voice came through the elevator doors.

Samantha banged on the door. "Help us, quick! My leg's trapped!"

The shrill screech of metal being pried open pierced the air, and a blinding beam of light spilled in.

A rescuer peeked inside with a grim expression. "Mr. Faron, both women's legs are pinned by the collapsed door. But time is tight, and we can only save one. Who do you want us to help?"

Through her blurred vision, Jennifer saw Leonard standing just behind the rescue team with the two children beside him.

His eyes went straight to Samantha, and he said without the slightest hint of hesitation, "Save Samantha."

"Save Aunt Sam first!" Yvonne and Yannick sobbed as they clutched the rescuers' sleeves. "Please hurry!"

The rescuer frowned. "Mr. Faron, the other lady's injuries are more severe. We recommend saving her first."

"I said, save Samantha!" Leonard's tone was as cold as ice.

The rescuer sighed and reluctantly reached for Samantha.

Jennifer watched them carefully pull Samantha out. Meanwhile, the elevator door, which was now missing half its support, gave off a terrifying creak.

The twisted metal slammed down onto Jennifer's leg, and agonizing pain ripped through her like a wildfire.

The last thing she saw was Leonard walking away, carrying Samantha in his arms. The two children skipped along behind him, cheering.

Then, darkness swallowed her consciousness.

Chapter 8

When Jennifer opened her eyes again, the blinding white light made her squint.

The sharp scent of antiseptic filled her nose, and the steady beeping of a heart monitor could be heard.

"You're awake?" The doctor came over to check her pupils. "You've fractured three ribs. Fortunately, you were brought here in time. Any later, and you wouldn't have made it."

Jennifer stared blankly at the ceiling, and the final image before she lost consciousness replayed in her mind.

Leonard had chosen to save Samantha without any hesitation, and he hadn't even looked back when the warped elevator door came crashing down on her.

She tried to move, but pain instantly radiated from her chest to her entire body.

Surprisingly, she didn't even shed a tear. She guessed that she had suffered through so much pain that even her heart had gone numb.

Three days later, Leonard came to discharge Jennifer.

He stood at the doorway of the hospital room, dressed in an impeccable suit as usual. His gaze lingered on the bandages wrapped around her chest before he finally said, "Samantha is a dancer. I can't let anything happen to her legs."

Jennifer slowly looked up at him.

Leonard continued calmly, "So, I was forced to have you make a small sacrifice. You're a housewife. Even if your mobility is affected, it won't matter much."

Jennifer said nothing. For the first time, she saw this man she had loved for half her life with complete clarity.

His features were still as handsome as ever, but he had never had room for her in his eyes.

She said hoarsely, "Leonard, if I had died that day, would you have cared?"

Leonard's frown deepened, but he did not answer.

Instead, he pulled out a black credit card from the inner pocket of his suit and placed it on her bedside table. "Don't ask meaningless questions. This is compensation. As long as you behave and raise the kids well, you'll always be Mrs. Faron."

Jennifer suddenly laughed.

In her last life, she had died while still carrying that title, but so what?

She was the one who died alone, forgotten as she was consumed by the flames.

So, in this life, she no longer cared about being his life.

Jennifer would live a better, brighter life. She would find someone who truly loved her.

She couldn't hold it any longer. She wanted to tell him that she didn't want him anymore. "Leonard, I…"

Leonard's phone rang, cutting her off.

Leonard answered it, and Samantha's sweet voice came through the receiver. "Leonard, the kids and I are waiting for you at the restaurant. We've got a surprise!"

His expression instantly softened. "I'll be right there."

After ending the call, he glanced at his watch and said coolly, "I have something to do. The driver's waiting downstairs."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Jennifer's fingertips dug unconsciously into her palm, but she didn't say anything in the end.

Forget it, he would soon find out from Samantha that the divorce agreement had already taken effect. She didn't want him anymore, and she didn't want the two children who now treated her like a stranger.

She pressed the call button. "Mrs. Potts, please send my luggage to the airport."

An hour later, she deleted all of Leonard's contact information and left the credit card in the hospital drawer.

As the plane took off, the clouds outside the window were dyed a brilliant golden red by the setting sun.

Jennifer gazed at the dazzling sky and closed her eyes with a smile.

In this life, she would never compromise herself for anyone.

The days she had spent humbling herself for love would vanish forever into the skies with this flight.

What lay ahead was a brand new future. It would be one that belonged to her, and her alone.