Chapter 2
I stayed at Sofia's house for a night, and it wasn't until the next evening that I returned home with braids. When I opened the door, I saw Mia and Ethan sitting on the couch waiting for me.
"Honey, how did it go with the birth details?"
I shook my phone, showing my call log with my aunt. I said, "Got it."
Then, I pretended to seek praise and asked, "Honey, do you like my new hairstyle today?"
He was absent-minded and complimented me before taking out red paper and a pen from the coffee table drawer and asking me to write down my birth details.
I had already replaced the ink in the pen with erasable ink.
I took the paper and pen and pretended to write the wrong date. Seeing this, Ethan immediately corrected me.
Sofia had explained to me that the zodiac signs were also important.
Ethan usually couldn't even remember the order of the zodiac signs, but now he suddenly knew so much. It was clear he had come prepared.
I had checked his step count. Someone who usually only took 3,000 steps had taken 20,000 steps yesterday. I guessed he had specifically gone to consult a priest and learn these details, even figuring out my birth details.
I had also asked Sofia to figure out his birth details.
I pretended to admire him. I praised him, then crossed out the date, writing the correct birth details.
After finishing, I purposely handed him the paper to check if it was correct. He carefully reviewed the red paper and then showed a satisfied expression.
I was also pleased. He had touched the red paper, leaving his scent on it.
He didn't know that the red paper also had his birth details, which I had written with the erasable pen when no one was home.
But just having the birth details wasn't enough. It also needed a bit of Ethan's scent. Now, it was perfect. Our scents were on the red paper.
Next, Mia held a pair of scissors and said she wanted to cut my hair, explaining that it would make the prayer for my safety more effective.
In reality, Sofia had told me that strands of hair were one of the mediums for life transfer.
I tried to confuse the source of the hair, saying, "There's plenty of hair on the floor. Just use the fallen ones."
The hair on the floor wasn't just mine. If she wanted to use hair, then she could use hair from all three of us.
Just as I bent down to cut the hair, Ethan stopped me, saying, "Honey, the hair cut from your head is the most effective."
He was quite cautious, but it didn't matter. I had prepared in advance.
I pouted reluctantly. After Ethan coaxed me a bit, I finally pulled out the braid I had prepared and cut it off.
Mia's eyes lit up when she saw the cut hair. She immediately took it and wrapped it with a red string.
After completing the entire process, the two told me to return to my room and rest. I didn't leave but watched as Ethan carefully wrapped the red paper and hair together, placing them in a red pouch with symbols.
After they finished everything, they couldn't stop smiling. They were completely unaware that I was watching them from the side.
They won't be smiling once they find out the truth.
Chapter 3
That night, Mia and Ethan left the house. They used the excuse of an emergency at a relative's home and didn't return until the next morning.
As soon as Ethan got home, he suggested I stay home full-time to take care of him. I pretended to be angry and gave him the silent treatment for three days and nights.
In the end, it was Mia who persuaded me. I agreed to quit my job, but on the condition that she had to move back to her hometown.
Before the wedding, Mia had always controlled Ethan. She did not allow him to stay up late playing games, or eat snacks and drink sodas.
After she left, I used our anniversary as an excuse to upgrade Ethan's gaming equipment and treated him to a fun late-night snack. It included all the things he liked but wasn't usually allowed to eat, like skewers, cola, steak, and more.
I bought all that food from the best places in town. Ethan loved it after one bite. With no one to restrain him, he indulged even more. As a dutiful wife, I naturally bought it for him daily.
After feeding him like this for a week, I noticed he was going to the bathroom more frequently. I started to scold him in Mia's tone.
"Honey, stop playing games. They make you lose your motivation.
"Stop eating late-night snacks. They're bad for your stomach. Mom told me to make sure you eat lightly."
I emphasized the words "eat lightly" clearly. Ethan frowned as soon as he heard it.
Ethan's digestive system had been weaker than most since birth. Even drinking a cold glass of water in the summer would give him diarrhea, so Mia had always strictly controlled his diet.
Since childhood, Ethan has always eaten lightly at home. Unfortunately, Mia wasn't a good cook.
But to ensure Ethan got enough nutrients, she forced him to finish every meal.
Ethan, who had been playing games, paused and frowned. He said, "I work hard to earn money for you. What's wrong with having a late-night snack at home?
"If you keep nagging, I'll quit my job!"
I pretended to be hurt and apologized. I then handed him an iced cola, opening the cap for him.
Only then was he satisfied.
The next day, Ethan dragged me to the insurance company.
In my previous life, he had also bought insurance for me. At the time, I thought it was just a precaution. After my death, I overheard him and my mother-in-law talking and realized he was trading my life for money.
At that time, I wasn't feeling well. I went to the hospital with Ethan for a check-up. But I never saw the report, and the doctor told me it was just a minor issue.
It wasn't until after I died that I learned Ethan had told the doctor not to reveal the truth to me, fearing it would affect my mood. The doctor, touched by his supposed concern for his wife, agreed to his request.
After receiving my cancer diagnosis, he immediately contacted the insurance company to make a claim. Meanwhile, I died within two weeks due to delayed treatment.
Now he wanted to walk the same path as in the previous life. I was ready to accompany him all the way.
Chapter 4
Ethan picked out over a dozen medical insurance plans for me at the insurance company within half an hour. Just as he handed me the forms to sign, I pulled out his ID and said, "Honey, you should buy a policy, too. Your safety is the most important."
He immediately refused. "Why buy it? This is for people who aren't healthy!"
Realizing what he said didn't sound right, he softened his tone and explained, "I didn't mean to jinx you. I just thought it's better to be safe."
I accepted his explanation and pretended to care, saying, "Honey, you should get it too. Don't worry about the money. I'll use the dowry money to buy it for you."
He still didn't want to. He was probably thinking that once I died, all my money, including the dowry, would be his. He didn't want me to spend even a penny more.
I immediately mimicked Mia's tactics and started crying at the insurance company. "Honey, I just want to be good to you, but you don't appreciate it?
"Do you not consider me your wife? Have you found someone else outside?"
He couldn't stand seeing a woman cry. As soon as I started, he immediately pulled me up and comforted me. He then signed all the medical insurance forms in front of me.
This time, I was the beneficiary of my insurance. Of course, he was also the beneficiary of his policy.
After filling out all the information, I used the dowry money to pay the premium and went home with a stack of contracts.
...
I started bringing him meals daily to better care for Ethan's stomach. I didn't expect to see a familiar face there.
In my previous life, Ethan had protected his affair partner very well. I had never seen her while I was alive. After I died, I did see her, and I engraved her face into my mind.
After some investigation, I found out that the pregnant mistress was Ethan's assistant. She was named Chloe Clark.
She had worked with Ethan for four years, while I had only known Ethan for two and a half years. It seemed I was the fool they had chosen.
After delivering the heavy flavored food to Ethan, I contacted an agent to list the other house my parents left me for sale at a price thirty thousand below market value.
I had never told Ethan about this property. He didn't know I had other assets.
Within a week, I received the money from the sale. I used it to hire a private investigator to look into Chloe.
A week later, I finally got the chance I had been waiting for. Ethan and Chloe were going on a business trip.
That day, I went to a restaurant. I ordered three portions of lamb steak and delivered them to Ethan.
In the afternoon, I received a call from him saying he would be away on a business trip for three days.
The private investigator followed them all the way to the hotel. Under my instruction, he called in a tip, claiming there was a suspected exchange of money for sexual favors happening in the hotel.
Within three hours, I received a call from the police.
At that time, I was in Mia's hometown taking care of her. When she heard her Ethan had been arrested, she quickly gathered her relatives to go to the police station and get him out.
As the dutiful daughter-in-law, I naturally complied. I helped her call three cars to take all her relatives in a hurry to the station.
Mia was the first to rush inside. Although she wasn't in great health, the moment she heard Ethan was in trouble, she ran quickly.
When she saw Ethan, she shouted, "Ethan is innocent! He's been an exemplary student since he was young. There's no way he committed a crime!"