What's the first thing you'd do if you were reborn?

Me? I'd start by divorcing my husband, Finn Gallagher.

Yeah, Finn Gallagher, the same man who runs half the underworld from behind closed doors.

The Don.

The richest man alive.

The man women dream about; his face plastered on magazines, named "Sexiest Man Alive" five years in a row.

In my last life, I tried everything to make him look at me like I mattered.

I married him. I gave birth to his son. I swallowed every ounce of pride, trying to be the perfect wife.

However, it didn't work.

To him, I was no different than a waitress he might casually tip—forgettable, replaceable, invisible.

So this time, I'm not begging. I'm not pretending.

I'm handing Madeline Brooks the key to my place in his life, and walking away.

She's Finn's first love, and also the shadow that haunted every day of my last life.

Now Madeline was sitting opposite to me, blinked at me like she didn't hear me right.

"You tried so hard to push me out," she said slowly, eyes narrowed. "Now you want me to be with Finn?"

"Yes. That's all I'm asking. Just talk to Finn. Tell him to sign the divorce papers."

I looked at her confused face and kept going.

"Everyone knows I'm the last person who'd ever let Finn go. So if I say I want a divorce, he won't believe me for a second. But you? You're the one who can make that happen... aren't you?"

She laughed, because she was finally getting her chance.

I laughed too, because I was finally free.

What's the first thing you'd do if you were reborn?

Me? I'd start by divorcing my husband, Finn Gallagher.

Yeah, Finn Gallagher, the same man who runs half the underworld from behind closed doors.

The Don.

The richest man alive.

The man women dream about; his face plastered on magazines, named "Sexiest Man Alive" five years in a row.

In my last life, I tried everything to make him look at me like I mattered.

I married him. I gave birth to his son. I swallowed every ounce of pride, trying to be the perfect wife.

However, it didn't work.

To him, I was no different than a waitress he might casually tip—forgettable, replaceable, invisible.

So this time, I'm not begging. I'm not pretending.

I'm handing Madeline Brooks the key to my place in his life, and walking away.

She's Finn's first love, and also the shadow that haunted every day of my last life.

Now Madeline was sitting opposite to me, blinked at me like she didn't hear me right.

"You tried so hard to push me out," she said slowly, eyes narrowed. "Now you want me to be with Finn?"

"Yes. That's all I'm asking. Just talk to Finn. Tell him to sign the divorce papers."

I looked at her confused face and kept going.

"Everyone knows I'm the last person who'd ever let Finn go. So if I say I want a divorce, he won't believe me for a second. But you? You're the one who can make that happen... aren't you?"

She laughed, because she was finally getting her chance.

I laughed too, because I was finally free.

...

Madeline stared at me for a long time after she head me saying 'divorce papers'.

She didn't say anything at first, just looked at me like I'd grown another head.

Then, without a word, she pulled out her phone and turned her back slightly.

I could still hear everything.

"Finn," she said softly, like she was testing the waters. "You got a minute?"

She paused, listening. I could hear the low rumble of his voice on the other end, even from where I was sitting.

"I'm at your Glory Café," she went on, "Can you come pick me up?"

There was another pause. Her fingers tightened around the phone.

"Alright, see you then."

Madeline hung up the call and turned to me again, still suspicious.

"Alright, Jillian," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Tell me straight; what game are you playing?"

I let out a slow breath. She was still on edge, even when I was handing her everything on a silver platter.

"I'm not playing anything," I said calmly. "I'm done. You can have Finn… and Henry too."

Her brows shot up. "You serious? You're giving me your husband and your son?"

I nodded.

"I'm dead serious. I've already been through hell once. I'm not going back."

She studied me for a second, then smirked like she didn't believe me, but didn't care either.

"Fine. Since you're being so generous," she said, flipping her hair back, "but don't come crawling back later. If you regret it, don't expect me to step aside."

"I won't," I said flatly.

She smiled like she'd won. "I'll take care of the divorce papers."

Twenty minutes later, the sound of engines filled the street.

Not just one car, but five black Bentleys rolled up outside the café. All tinted windows. All trouble.

And then he stepped out.

Finn Gallagher.

My husband. The one man every woman in the city fantasized about… and the one man I spent a whole damn lifetime trying to reach.

I hadn't seen him in months. According to the maids, he was in France one week, Brazil the next, Thailand after that. Always gone. Always running.

But now? Now he was here. All because she called.

He walked straight toward the entrance, eyes locked on the woman next to me. Not even a glance in my direction. I could've been invisible.

He stopped beside our table and spoke, voice low and warm, like velvet laced with steel.

"Let's go," he said to her, not even acknowledging me.

Madeline smiled up at him. "Wait, Finn. I've got something for you to sign. It's my dream house..."

He raised a brow. "Didn't I already give you the black card? That should cover ten of whatever it is."

She laughed lightly. "Yeah, but this isn't about money. It's property. The deed still has your name on it."

Finn shook his head, half amused. "You're really something, you know that?"

Then, without even skimming the document, he flipped to the last page and scribbled his name across it.

I watched him, watched all of it, feeling like someone just pulled a curtain off my eyes.

It was ridiculous.

And yet, for the first time in years, I felt… free.

In my last life, I clung to Finn like a lifeline.

I thought if I just loved him hard enough, he'd turn around and see me.

I died for that hope.

That day, the elevator got stuck. Me, Madeline, and our son, Henry.

The cables snapped. Smoke everywhere. Panic. Screaming.

Finn had to choose. And he chose her.

She got out first, carrying Henry in her arms, completely unharmed.

I stayed behind. The elevator failed again before they could bring it back up.

I died thinking maybe, just maybe, he'd come back for me.

But he didn't.

So now, in this second chance at life, I wasn't going to make that mistake again.

Finn took Madeline's hand and started walking out of the café. I followed behind a little, heading for the exit myself.

Just before they stepped out the door, Finn turned around.

His eyes met mine -- cold, sharp, unreadable. He gave the smallest nod to his assistant.

Leo stepped in front of me. "Mrs. Gallagher..."

"You can't come with them. Mr. Gallagher has business to handle."

I shrugged. "Wasn't planning on it. Just heading the same way. I've got places to be."

I turned, ready to walk away and finally leave all of this behind, when I heard a little voice shout from outside.

"Madeline! I missed you so much!"

I froze. My heart cracked.

I turned and saw my son, Henry, running straight toward her. His small arms wrapped around her waist like she was his entire world.

Then his eyes landed on me, and just like that, his smile vanished.

"Dad," he frowned, tugging on Finn's hand, "why is that woman here?"

I stood there, swallowing down the lump in my throat.

Finn gave him a small pat on the head. "She's not with us. Come on, let's go eat."

Henry beamed. "Yay! I get to eat with Madeline!"

I didn't say a word. Just stepped out into the street, waved down a cab, and slid inside.

As the city blurred past the window, I stared out in silence.

Madeline was his first love. Always had been.

They didn't marry back then because she studied abroad, and his family forced him to marry me instead. It was a business move.

I still remember the night I found out the truth. I couldn't sleep for days. Maybe I've been half-awake ever since.

But now? Now I was wide awake.

This life, I'd be sober.

This time, I'd walk away before I drowned again.

I went straight back to the villa after leaving the café.

Big, cold, and quiet as always.

Sometimes I wondered why we even needed all these people around, the bodyguards, the maids, the housekeepers. What were they protecting, cleaning, or serving? I was the only one who actually lived here. Occasionally Henry, when he wasn't at school.

And Finn? Finn showed up maybe seven days out of the whole damn year. If that.

I wandered through the halls, heels echoing against marble floors.

I passed the garden I once designed myself, every flower chosen to match Finn's taste.

I peeked into his room. The one where I set everything up to make him stay. The room where I tried to trap him with a child.

Memories hit me like a punch to the chest. The woman I used to be would've clung to them. But not anymore.

I'd already signed the divorce. I had no business staying here.

It was time to prepare for leaving.

I started packing. Quietly. Until the housekeeper suddenly popped into the room, acting like I was some maid breaking the rules.

"What are you doing in here?" he asked, frowning. "You know you're not allowed in Mr. Gallagher's room without his permission."

He knew how little I mattered in this household. He'd always taken advantage of that, talking down to me when Finn wasn't around.

I turned, sharp. "Do yourself a favor and leave me alone."

When he didn't back off, I dropped everything and walked into Henry's room instead.

It still smelled like him. Still had that boyish mess everywhere, books, shoes, scattered Legos.

And on his bed sat the teddy bear I bought for him last year.

I still remembered that day.

He looked at the bear, then frowned and said, "That's not the one I wanted."

He didn't even touch it.

But then Finn said, "Madeline picked that out."

Henry's whole face changed. He hugged the bear tightly and slept with it every night since.

That moment crushed me.

I didn't know whether to be grateful Finn convinced him… or broken because my son only accepted a gift once he thought it came from another woman.

I picked up the bear. Just held it.

I didn't plan on taking much with me, but this? I wanted this. I needed the reminder.

Suddenly, I heard his voice, sharp and angry.

"Put that down! That's from Madeline!"

I looked up and saw Henry in the doorway, eyes burning. And behind him, Finn.

No Madeline. Just the three of us.

It was so rare, us in the same space.

"Where's Madeline?" I asked before I could stop myself.

Finn frowned. "She told me to spend more time with Henry. So I did. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in your room?"

Henry stepped in, arms crossed. "Yeah! Why are you in my room, touching my stuff?"

"I wasn't throwing anything away," I said, tired. "It's a teddy bear. I bought it for you."

"I don't care!" he yelled. "I don't want you here!"

I flinched. But I held my ground.

"Henry… I'm your mother."

"No, you're not! Not really! I don't even wanna live under the same roof as you!"

Finn stepped in. Quiet. Still. Cold.

"Let's go," he told Henry, and grabbed his hand.

He paused at the door. Looked back at me.

"Jillian," he said. "Stop acting like a child. And don't put this on Madeline."

Then, just as he was about to leave the room, he reached into his jacket and tossed me a card. It landed at my feet.

"You can stay. Break whatever you want. Just… keep it down."

Then they left.

I stood there, staring at the card. A million-dollar limit. Not even close to the card he gave Madeline.

But back then… in my old life… I would've seen that card as something more. A sign that he still cared. That there was hope.

Now?

Now I knew better.

I let the tears fall. Just for a minute.

Then I wiped them away, threw the card across the room, and whispered to myself:

"Don't worry, Finn. I won't make noise again. Not ever."

***

Since that day, I started changing.

That morning, my body automatically told me to cook Henry's favorite, pan-fried fish with lemon and dill. But I stopped myself. Sat down in the living room with a book instead.

After a while, one of the maids peeked in, hesitating.

"Um… ma'am, are you not cooking breakfast today?"

I slammed the book shut harder than I meant to.

"What, we've got ten people on staff and no one knows how to make breakfast?"

She jumped. "Sorry, I'll take care of it."

When Henry came home from school, I didn't go to his room to check his homework.

Didn't help him with his assignments like I always did.

Didn't ask if he needed help with downloads or supplies.

I let him walk right past me. Didn't say a word.

He played video games all night. I heard it through the walls.

But I kept to myself.

Four days passed like that. I just waited for my lawyer to finalize the property split.

I didn't cry. I didn't talk. I didn't try.

On the fifth day, Henry broke.

He called Finn. I heard him sobbing through the thin walls.

"Dad, I can't take it anymore. I need to move out! Jillian's being awful to me, she's trying to hurt me!"

Finn showed up the next day. Stormed into the villa.

"You're still his mother, Jillian," he said sharply. "I don't care what Madeline told you, you've got responsibilities."

Before I could answer, Henry tugged at his sleeve, still crying.

"Dad, please stay with us for a few days. You'll see it. She's trying to hurt me!"

Finn glanced at me, then back at Henry. "Alright. I'll stay. But Jillian, don't go overboard."

Henry wiped his tears and perked up. "Can we ask Madeline to move in too? She's way better than her!"

Finn didn't answer right away. Just looked at me. Waiting.

I met his eyes. Cold. Steady.

"Then invite her," I said. "I'm fine with it."

His eyes widened a little. "You sure?"

"100 percent."

Henry was already dragging him toward the door. "Let's go! I wanna tell Madeline the good news!"

They left the villa. Finn glanced back at me once, briefly, then got in the car with Henry.

The day Madeline moved in, everything changed. Loud, sudden, and sharp, like a storm tearing through everything I once touched.

The first thing she did was to order the maids to redecorate the entire villa.

Every wall and every curtain, except my room.

She didn't touch that. Maybe out of pity. Or maybe she just didn't care enough.

I watched it all happen in silence.

The housekeeper, who used to talk down to me like I was a stray, suddenly became her lapdog. His voice was sugar-sweet now.

"Yes, Ms. Brooks."

"Of course, Ms. Brooks."

"I'll handle it right away, Ms. Brooks."

And Finn just stood behind her the whole time. Cold. Quiet. Watching.

"All of it," he said, nodding once. "Do whatever Madeline wants."

That's all.

My peaceful morning was shattered, along with whatever little peace I'd tried to keep for myself.

When I stepped out of my room and looked over the second-floor railing, I saw them downstairs: Finn, Madeline, the maids, the furniture movers. I didn't say a word.

But Finn… he looked up. Met my eyes.

And for a moment, I saw something in his stare.

Complication. Like I was a problem he didn't want to solve.

I held his gaze, expressionless, then turned away.

"Madeline!" Henry's voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence. He ran up to her like a puppy, tugging at her sleeve. "Can we get rid of this sofa? Jillian picked it out. I always hated it!"

Madeline laughed lightly and brushed his hair back.

"Of course, sweetheart," she said. "If you don't like it, we'll change it. You get the final say now."

I watched as the movers dragged it away.

They had no idea how many hours I spent tracking down the exact fabric, sourced from a specialty factory that only made hypoallergenic materials.

Henry had sensitive skin. Always sneezing, itching, reacting to dust and bacteria. That sofa was my way of protecting him.

But sure. Toss it. Like it meant nothing.

It was just one more little piece of myself being thrown away.

But I didn't stop them.

I'd already given them everything. My heart, my pride, my years.

And in my last life, I nearly gave them my life.

The next morning, the villa looked like a different house.

Brighter. Louder. Alive.

Henry's voice echoed down the halls, laughing, shouting, chattering about school.

Finn's low voice followed, gentle and teasing. "Don't run around too much, Madeline. Just sit with me for a bit."

Everywhere I went, I heard their voices.

The maids, now beaming as they greeted her: "Good morning, Ms. Brooks." "Your dress looks lovely today, Ms. Brooks."

And at night…things felt off.

I expected to hear those shameless moans coming from Finn's room. But when I walked past once and couldn't help peeking in, I realized Madeline wasn't sleeping in the same room as him.

What was even stranger? One stormy night, I actually caught Madeline trying to convince Finn to sleep with her. And he turned her down, in the gentlest way possible.

Maybe he was just waiting until I was truly gone before giving in. Or maybe it never had anything to do with me in the first place.

What a considerate, gentle mafia man…

Pity that his tenderness was reserved for Madeline alone.

One afternoon, I tried to escape to the garden, my last little corner of quiet.

But even there, I wasn't safe.

I heard whispers from two maids near the rose bushes.

"Mr. Gallagher treats Ms. Brooks like royalty," one of them giggled.

"Yeah," the other sighed. "He never looked at Mrs. Gallagher like that."

"I feel bad for her," the first one added. "Even Henry's calling Madeline Mom now."

"Think he's gonna kick her out soon?"

"Oh definitely. Let's bet on how long she lasts."

I smiled bitterly and whispered under my breath, "Don't waste your money. You'll all lose."

They didn't know. I was already divorced.

Back in my room, I sat by the window, waiting for my lawyer's call.

The property division was complicated. Finn's assets could take weeks to sort out. Maybe longer.

But what really bothered me was how quiet the house had become again.

They were gone. For days. No voices. No laughter. No orders being barked.

Then I found out why.

They were at Henry's school camping trip.

Finn. Madeline. Henry.

The happy little family package.

And Madeline made sure I'd see the photos and videos.

One video hit me the hardest.

In the video, Henry stood beside Madeline, grinning wide. A classmate asked him, "Hey, Henry, where's your mom? And who is this lady? She's so pretty!"

"You mean that maid who used to pick me up before?" he said. "Oh, you mistook for it. And this is my mom!"

The other kid laughed. "Whoa, you're so lucky! Your mom and dad are both so good-looking. They look perfect together!"

Perfect together.

I held the phone tight. My hands shook.

"Maid," huh?

I got up slowly and walked to the kitchen. Reached for a glass of water.

The glass slipped from my hand. Shattered on the floor.

I squatted to pick up the shards, my hands trembling. I didn't even feel the sharp edge that cut my palm. I just… broke.

I sat there, on the cold tile floor, surrounded by broken glass. And I cried.

Not for Finn. Not for Henry.

Not even for Madeline.

I cried for the woman I used to be.

The one who thought love could be earned with enough loyalty. Enough sacrifice. Enough pain.

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and whispered to myself,

"It's okay. The maid is leaving soon anyway."