The Strength to Start Over

My wife's childhood friend, a gambling addict she had known since childhood, returned to Dryana. To help him pay off his debts, she stole and sold my medical patent.

Before it happened, I confronted her. I tried to stop her. I even threatened to call the police.

Amanda Carroll looked at me as if I had disappointed her beyond repair. "Enough, Cedric Lunsford. You're a grown man. Can you stop nitpicking over every little thing?

"Don isn't like you. He's in trouble right now. You make that much money. What's wrong with giving him a little? I'm already your wife. Are you seriously going to tell me where my heart is allowed to be?"

I gathered the evidence and headed to the police station. Halfway there, my brakes failed. The car slammed into the guardrail. Metal crumpled and glass shattered. I was pinned in the driver's seat, drenched in blood, forcing out my last breath as I called for help.

Amanda's voice on the line was flat, almost bored. "Stop yelling. Don can't stand bloody scenes. Don't make him sick. Your insurance payout is enough for him to start over. Consider it the last duty you perform as a husband."

At that moment, I understood. Even at the end, she chose his gambling debt. She chose murder and an insurance payout.

The vehicle exploded. Nothing remained of me.

Then I opened my eyes again. I was back on the day her "childhood sweetheart" returned.

This time, I did not stop her from going to the airport. I picked up my phone and called my senior overseas.

"I'll sell you the patent. And the position you mentioned, I'm in. See you in three days."

Noise came from the entryway.

Amanda Carroll walked in with Donovan White.

He had thrown on an expensive silk shirt, the kind Amanda wore when she went out. The first three buttons hung open, exposing the hard line of his chest.

I sat on the sofa and watched him notice me.

He did not even pretend to tidy himself up. He leaned against the foyer wall as if he owned the place with a lazy smile.

"Cedric," he said. "My luggage got lost at the airport. Manda was worried I'd catch a chill, so she let me wear one of her shirts. You're a man. You're not going to mind, right?"

He spoke as he walked over, as though my answer did not matter.

With every step, the collar gaped wider. Faint red marks flashed along his collarbone and climbed the side of his neck. There were too many of them, and they were too deliberately placed to be accidental.

In my previous life, that sight had set me off. I had exploded and made a scene. I had called Donovan shameless to his face.

Amanda had shattered a glass and sneered that my mind was filthy, so I saw filth everywhere. Then she had led him into the guest room in front of me. Neither of