Frame Me Twice? No Way, Ma'am

Stanley Porter, my wife Jessica Evans’ close male friend, and I are both competing to be the next fire captain.

In my first lifetime, I was chosen by a unanimous vote. On my very first night on duty as captain, Jessica came over to the fire station to celebrate with me.

Sticking to my duties as captain, I didn't touch a single drop of alcohol. Yet, after drinking the chicken soup Jessica gave me, I fell into a deep sleep.

That night, a massive fire broke out in the old district, resulting in the deaths of 58 people.

Because I missed the station's alarm, I was accused of dereliction of duty and labeled as the main person responsible for the tragedy. The enraged families of the victims ended up beating me to death.

In my second lifetime, I withdrew my name from the selection for captain. I handed the badge over to Stanley instead, saying, "You're better suited to be captain than I am."

I'd assumed that this was enough to ensure that the fire couldn't be pinned on me.

Yet, when the authorities looked into the fire, they ended up seeing me appear in the security footage from where the fire began.

Everyone assumed I'd deliberately started the fire to get back at Stanley out of jealousy for losing out on the captain position.

I now open my eyes again to live my third life.

I watch as Stanley excitedly gives his speech on the podium after being made the captain. This time around, I submit a request for annual leave and take a cab straight to the airport.

The fire would break out at 1:00 am the next morning. I deliberately booked a flight to Dalisbury for 11:00 pm that night.

Just as the booking system notified me that the ticket had been issued successfully, I received a message from my wife, Jessica Evans.

"Honey, even though you didn't get the position, you'll always be the best to me. I made some chicken soup just for you. Make sure you come home early from work today."

Her words seemed full of care and concern for me, but the hair on my arms stood on end.

In my first life, after drinking the chicken soup Jessica made for me, I blacked out. I didn't hear the station alarm going off.

In the end, I was labeled the one responsible for the fire, while Stanley Porter became the hero who put it out.

The second time around, to avoid repeating the same mistake, I not only gave up on the fire captain position but also deliberately left work early to go home.

Yet, after drinking the chicken soup Jessica had made, I fell into a deep sleep again.

When I woke up the next day, Stanley claimed he'd seen me in the security footage from the scene of the fire. I became the main suspect in an arson case.

Jessica, the only person who could prove my alibi—that I wasn't there at the scene—adamantly declared that I only got home at 3:00 am. She even falsified the security footage showing me entering the house at 3:00 am and handed it to the police.

Just like that, the person I loved the most personally sent me to prison.

After reliving the same tragedy twice now, no matter how dumb I was, it became clear to me that Jessica, my beloved wife, had betrayed me.

In other words, Jessica and Stanley definitely had something to do with the fire. I had simply been their scapegoat.

I was still lost in thought when my phone started ringing with a call from Jessica. The moment I took the call, her irritated voice rang out. "Craig, didn't you see my message?"

"I did."

That only seemed to irritate her more. "Then why didn't you reply? Stan has always been better than you. It's no surprise you lose to him."

Even though this was my third lifetime, hearing those words still made my heart clench painfully. I honestly believed I'd done my best as Jessica's husband. I had cherished her with my whole heart and cared for her in every way.

But in her eyes, I could never compare to Stanley. She didn't even hesitate to let me die for his sake.

In both of my previous lives, the moment I received my sentence, I also received the divorce papers from Jessica, along with her statement that she was cutting all ties with me.

My eyes flashed with hatred. After taking a deep breath, I kept my voice as calm as I could and said, "I just wrapped up some work and was about to text you back. I don't think I'll be going home tonight. I have to be on duty at the fire station."

Jessica was a little taken aback, asking in confusion, "Aren't you off the roster for tonight? Why are you suddenly on duty now?"

Smirking, I fed her the excuse I'd come up with from the start.

"There's going to be a party at the station tonight to celebrate Stanley's appointment as the fire captain. I'm afraid that everyone might have too much to drink during the party and won't be able to handle any emergencies that might come up. So, I decided to stay for another shift."