After Rebirth, Our Love Ends Here

On the way home for the holidays, my wife, Sophie Hartman, and I were caught in a terrible accident.

When I opened my eyes again, we had both gone back in time to before we ever fell in love.

In our previous life, we'd been married for seven years. We were polite, respectful, and distant, almost like guests sharing the same house. And all those years, she never once agreed to have a child with me.

It wasn't until later that I learned the truth. Sophie had never let go of the man she once loved.

This time, I chose to set her free.

We quietly deleted each other's contacts, kept our distance, and walked separate paths in life.

…

Seven years later, she became one of the most successful traders. At a class reunion, she announced her relationship with Vincent Parker, the man she had never forgotten.

When she saw that I was still single, she couldn't resist teasing me. "Lucas, I know I've always been the one you love most, the one you're proudest of, but you don't have to spend your life waiting for me."

I didn't respond. I simply took my son's hand.

Sophie's face went pale. Her eyes reddened as she demanded, "You said you'd love me for life, that you'd only ever have children with me!"

Seven Years Later

Sophie and I met again seven years later, at our high school reunion.

I had just finished a few surgeries, exhausted and too lazy to clean up, so I walked straight into the banquet hall.

Sophie stood in the center of the crowd, holding Vincent's hand, basking in everyone's praise.

"Sophie, you're incredible. You've only been on Crescent Street in Astoria City for a few years, and you've already become one of the most promising traders! You're the pride of Aston High School!"

"Absolutely. I heard the big shots on Crescent Street even pay to have dinner with her just for her advice. They say her consulting fees alone are worth hundreds of thousands. That's more than most of us make in a year!"

"Sophie, I've been dabbling in the stock market myself lately. Think you could give me a few insider tips?"

Someone in the crowd spoke up curiously. "Sophie, are you and Vincent getting engaged?"

Sophie looked at Vincent with a soft smile. "Yes. We're getting engaged on December 20th."

A round of congratulations followed, cheerful and loud.

Then, someone asked, half-teasing, half-nostalgic, "Sophie, do you still keep in touch with Lucas? You two were so in love back then. And wasn't your first song written for him?"

At the mention of my name, Sophie's smile froze. Her eyes dimmed slightly.

Standing beside her, Vincent gave a polite smile and replied smoothly, "Come on now. Sophie and I are getting married soon. Childhood hobbies never last, and neither does young love. She's long since moved on from Lucas."

The crowd laughed again, showering the two of them with more compliments about how perfect