Evelyn

"Let's get a divorce," with a stoic look on my face, I slam the divorce agreement down on his desk.

Salvatore raised his head, his eyes empty as he stared at me.

"If you want a divorce, we can get it. However, we have to wait for three months so it doesn't affect the company's shares!" He declared, his voice leaving no room for further arguments.

"I...."

"Salvatore didn't give me a chance to respond.

Picking up a pen, he signed his name on the divorce agreement.

Three more months, and then I'd be finally free!

......

One Month Ago

Tick, tock. The chiming of the clock was the only sound inside the large dining room. Over and over again, it ticked, reminding me of the emptiness that had enveloped me ever since I moved into this house.

I looked up at the time, 12:30. It was a new day. Not just any day, but my wedding anniversary.

However, although it had been ten years since we got married, once again, he didn't show up.

My eyes fell on the fancy spread on the table, it had since gone cold, after all, I had been waiting for hours.

Clenching the papers in my hand, I closed my eyes, as I tried to remain calm.

When I opened my eyes again, I slowly brought the papers to my face as I read through it.

The heading of the first document was printed boldly, "Divorce agreement."

I wondered what Salvatore's reaction to this would be.

Perhaps he would laugh in my face, or he would call me pathetic one more time, however, one thing was certain, he would be relieved to receive these papers from me.

A lone tear rolled down my cheek. After ten years, I was willing to give up and claim back my life.

"Madam, you are still awake?"

That voice jolted me back to the present, and I looked up to see the housekeeper, Elena, staring at me with a pitiful look in her eyes.

My lips turned up in a sarcastic smile. Pitiful. That was what I had been reduced to after ten years of marriage.

"Madam, why don't you go to bed? I will wake you up when the master gets back, we can heat up the dishes again when he's back...."

"No need, you can throw it away," I said calmly.

Since he wasn't back yet, Salvatore definitely would not be coming home.

He had told me several times that he hated seeing my face, and finally, I had gotten the message loud and clear.

"What?" Elena looked shocked.

Forcing a smile on my face, I waved my hand dismissively.

"It seems he's busy and won't be coming back, there's no need for us to keep these dishes for him," I said as I stood up from the table.

"Throw it away," I said, my eyes landed on the spread that had taken me the entire day to make.

"But madam..."

Elena's kind and homely voice was interrupted by my phone ringing.

My eyes landed on it, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the caller ID.

Frank. Salvatore's best friend.

A man I had contacted several times over the years, but who never took the initiative to contact me.

Why would he be calling me at such an ungodly hour?

With shaky hands, I picked up the phone.

"Hello?" I said into the phone, as a bad feeling settled inside of me.

There was a short pause on the other end. Then Frank spoke, sounding worried.

“Evelyn… I’m sorry to tell you this, but there’s been a car accident. Salvatore is in the hospital,and he needs a blood transfusion as soon as possible. You...."

"So he needs my blood?" A ghostly smile formed on my face as my eyes grew wet.

Of course, only my blood was useful to that man!

I was unfortunate to have the same blood type as him, and I had to be on standby as a blood bank whenever he needed it.

"Evelyn, I understand that you're upset but....".

"How did he get hurt?" Despite my better judgment, I found myself asking.

My grip on the phone tightened again as I waited for an answer.

It was our anniversary, where could he have been?!

"Evelyn, your sister Lara was at the bar...."

"It's her again?" I spat out, my voice cold. Once again, Lara's presence was a reminder that I would never be a priority to that man.

"It's not what you think, Evelyn," I could hear Frank struggling to explain from the other end of the call, however, I no longer cared.

I had reached my breaking point.

"I will be there," I said, and ended the call before I changed my mind.

"Madam," Elena called out to me, with worry on her face.

She definitely overheard the call.

Stretching out her hand, she took mine and squeezed it tight, as her eyes searched my face with worry.

We didn't need words between us, and I could understand her quite well.

Sucking in a breath, I flashed her a smile. "Don't worry, this is the last time," I assured her.

Saying this, I headed out of the house, clutching onto the divorce papers tightly.

My blood for my freedom, it seemed like a fair trade to me!

.....

Although I tried my best to remain calm, I was worried about Salvatore deep down.

After all, he was someone that I had loved for over ten years.

We both had a rare blood type, and I knew, that if I didn't get there on time, his life would be in danger!

Clutching the wheels tightly, I stepped on the brakes as I tried my best to make it to the hospital on time.

Just then, a call came in on my phone. Looking at it, I saw that it was Frank again.

Knowing that he was probably calling just to hurry me up, I didn't pick up the call.

Instead, I increased the speed of the car.

The next event, however, was like a scene out of a movie.

Just as I was about to cut into a corner that would get me to the hospital faster, a truck came right out of nowhere.

I could not stop the car on time, and there was a full on collision between both vehicles!

The crash was deafening, metal twisted and crunched loudly. Glass shattered all around me like sharp rain and pain ripped through my body as the car spun out of my control.

My head slammed hard against the window, everything went blurry, then completely dark.

.......

Darkness enveloped the entire room, as I could barely make out where I was.

Instinctively, I reached towards the bedside and turned on the night light.

The room was instantly illuminated, and I quickly realized that I was in my bedroom.

Looking around, confused, I tried to make sense of what had happened.

Wasn't I just in a car accident?

How come I was back in this bedroom?

"Turn off the lights," just then, a sleepy voice whispered into my ear, as he threw his arms around me.

"Argh!!!" Shocked, I screamed at once and pushed the man away from me.

Salvatore's eyes snapped open as I jumped out of the bed.

"What....what...." I muttered, my heart racing fast.

My eyes landed on Salvatore who was in his pyjamas, looking lazy and relaxed.

He looked younger, different from the Salvatore I was used to.

The one always in business suits.

Wasn't he supposed to be in the hospital?

Wasn't I just in a car accident?

How come we were both in this bedroom again?!

Salvatore sat up on the bed as he grinned at me, "Evelyn, are you really going to kick me out of bed on our wedding night?"

"What did you just say?! Wedding night?!" I screamed out in shock, wasn't today our tenth wedding anniversary?

Salvatore nodded his head with a serious look on his face.

"Yes, we got married a few hours ago!"

Evelyn

"How.....what do you mean? Is this some kind of joke? We've been married for years!" I screamed out, without thinking too much about my words.

The corners of Salvatore's lips lifted in a charming smile, and for a split second, I forgot about my woes as I felt a force pulling me towards him.

That smile always seemed to be reserved only for Lara.

What was happening? Did the accident mess with Salvatore's head?

"I also want to be married to you for a long time, Evelyn, however, we really just got married!"

He rested his head on the headboard, a grin on his face as his eyes roamed my body.

Unable to hold his gaze, I turned my face away, my eyes falling on a flower vase.

I remembered that vase, Lara had given it to Salvatore as a gift, and he cherished it.

However, one day, after a one sided fight with Salvatore, I broke it in a moment of anger.

Because of that vase, he refused to come to the house for two months.

How could that vase...

My eyes landed on my phone that was on the bedside table and I snatched it, looking at it like it was a wonder.

This phone....I had lost it a long time ago. How come it was here?!

"What date is it today?" I asked, my hands shaking as I held onto the phone.

"Are you okay?" Salvatore's gaze was filled with worry.

Getting up from the bed, he slowly approached me.

Spreading out his hands, he tried to grab my shoulder, however I pushed him away roughly, stumbling back in the presence.

"Answer my question! What day is it today?!" I demanded to know, wanting to know the answer, but then too scared to face what I suspected .

Salvatore glanced out the window, and when he turned to face me, there was an incredulous look on his face.

"It's a new day, which means it's a day after we got married, 16th December, 2015," Salvatore eyed me suspiciously as he said this, as if he was scared that I would do something to myself.

With my fingers shaking, I turned on my phone.

He was right. It was the 16th of December, 2015. A day after I married him.

Had I gone back....ten years in the past?

"Argh!" Unable to handle the surprise, I screamed out in shock.

My eyes widened at the realisation.

I was....reborn?

How could something so fascinating happen to me?

"Evelyn, I am calling the doctor. You don't seem to be well...."

Hearing Salvatore's voice, I was reminded that even in this life, I was still tied to him.

I couldn't have been reborn to just a day before the damn marriage?!

"No, let's get you to the hospital and have Frank take a good look at you...."

Saying this, Salvatore attempted to take my hand.

However, I panicked and did the best thing I could think of in that moment.

Rushing into the bathroom, I made sure to shut the door tightly behind me.

......

My mind was spinning in circles, I leaned against the wall, trying to sort through my thoughts.

I was somehow reborn to ten years ago, obviously, when I had just gotten married to Salvatore.

I was still a twenty-two year old woman, with hopes and dreams before they were all crashed.

My heart palpitated at the realisation that I had been given a second chance.

In my past life, I had way too many regrets, as loving Salvatore had cost me everything.

Determination soared in my chest, as I planned to do everything that I was unable to do back then.

A smile lit up on my face, at twenty-two years old, I had just left college, with dreams of starting a fashion line with my best friend.

However, Salvatore's family had insisted that the wife of Salvatore could never show her face in public, and so I was forced to abandon the dream I had since childhood, hurting my one and only friend in the process.

I clenched my fists tightly, this time, I would never let anyone dictate my life!

"Evelyn, what are you doing in there? Do you still want to call Frank or do you want to go to the hospital directly?"

Hearing Salvatore's voice, I was reminded of one very important thing I needed to get done before anything else.

Divorce Salvatore Harrington!

......

A long time passed before I finally got the courage to walk out of the bathroom.

Since I had been given a second chance, I was determined to make good use of it and live well.

First, I needed to take back everything that was taken from me.

My freedom, as well, as my ...inheritance!

Convinced that Salvatore would have gone to work by now, I headed downstairs to have breakfast.

As I walked through the house, I couldn't help but feel my chest tightening.

This place had been my cage for ten years, and now, I was going to be free at last.

My hopes of having a peaceful breakfast were dashed when I saw Salvatore sitting at the dining table, a hot cup of coffee in front of him as he gnawed on a piece of toast.

"Why aren't you at work yet?!" I exclaimed, without thinking much.

Salvatore would never be in this house at this time of the day.

Before seven, he was always out of the house, probably in an attempt to avoid me.

Salvatore looked up, flashing a smile at me.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw it.

He had smiled more at me this morning than he ever did throughout our ten year marriage!

Placing the toast down, he stood up and started to approach me.

"My wife isn't fine, you don't suppose I'd just leave you and go off to work?" He asked, grinning softly at me.

My heart skipped a beat when I heard this, Salvatore cared about me?.

He stood right in front of me, picking up a strand of my hair and tucking it behind my ears.

"Since we just got married, there are many things we don't know about each other. If there's anything you want, tell.... "

"Anything I want?" A snort escaped my lips .

"Salvatore, I want a divorce!" I demanded.

Evelyn

"What?" Salvatore stared at me, disbelief on his face, as if he couldn't believe I would dare to ask for a divorce.

Indeed, in the past, I did everything that I could to hold on to this marriage even when he hated me.

Never again, would I be so foolish.

Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth and started to speak calmly, "this marriage was never what either of us wanted. My father arranged this marriage because of the debt to your family and the person you truly have feelings for is..."

"No!" His sharp voice filled the room, and feeling the anger radiating from him, I stumbled back a few steps.

"You don't want me to mention her name?" My lips curled up in a sarcastic smirk.

Salvatore had always been so defensive of Lara!

Snorting at me, Salvatore grabbed my arm and pulled me to himself.

"You are the woman I chose to be my wife, Evelyn. That is not going to change. Get used to that fact!" He snapped at me.

My heart skipped a beat, as my gaze darkened. He didn't want to let me go? Why?

For the ten years we were married, wasn't this divorce what he wanted the most?

"You are Mrs. Harrington whether you like it or not, and you cannot push that responsibility onto someone else!" Salvatore snarled at me, his sharp gaze zeroing in on me.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw the look in his eyes.

I was used to that look, the one he gave me whenever he was angry and he wanted me to shut up.

However, since I no longer wanted this marriage, I had no reason to care about his anger!

His nails dug into my flesh, and feeling the stinging pain, I pushed him away from me sharply.

"I will get a divorce, Salvatore! You can't force me to stay married to you. I..."

"Then get a divorce! Do you think that my brother needs to be married to someone like you? He's the CEO of the Harrington Enterprise! So many women want to be his wife. Who do you think you are to demand a divorce? My brother should be the one asking for a divorce!"

Hearing that familiar grating voice, I froze, as memories flooded my mind.

Who else could it be besides Nora, the spoilt princess of the Harrington family, and the one woman who took it upon herself to make my life hell for three years?

She stormed into the house, acting like she owned the place.

With her chin raised, she pointed a finger in my face and started to scold me.

"Get out of here right now! Who needs you to be his wife?!" She rolled her eyes, a disdainful look that was directed at me, on her face.

A sneer escaped my lips when I saw her, ten years ago, when I first got married, she had also been so rude to me.

I didn't understand why she hated me at first, it was only later I found out that she and Lara were best friends, and she was convinced that I had stolen Lara's spot as Salvatore's wife!

"Who do you think you are to...."

"That's enough, Nora." Salvatore's loud voice filled the room once again, as his brows squeezed in anger.

"Evelyn is my wife, you have no right to speak to her that way!" He said, his sharp words sounding like a command.

My chest tightened uncomfortably, as I stared at the man in front of me, unable to make sense of what was going on.

Why had he changed so much?

Salvatore in the past would never defend me against his spoiled sister!

Nora's mouth was left hanging wide open for a few seconds, as she stared at me maliciously for a few seconds before turning to her brother.

"What the hell is the meaning of this, Salvatore? Why are you losing your temper at me? She is the one who wants to leave you!" Nora snapped, glaring at me once again as those words left her mouth.

"This is none of your business, why are you even here?" Salvatore asked, his irritation showing.

I watched his interaction with his sister, unable to say a word.

Was Salvatore....defending me?

"Do you think I want to be here?" Nora snorted, an air of superiority surrounding her as she spoke.

"Mom wanted me to come see how you are getting along, ha, to think that she has the guts to suggest a divorce when she was so happy during the wedding. Does she take our family as a joke?" Nora rolled her eyes at me.

"Nora, I..."

I was about to respond to Nora when my phone rang.

Bringing out the phone that still felt weird in my hands out of my pocket, I realized that it was my stepmother, Clara.

A relaxed look spread across my face when I saw the familiar string of numbers.

I had been expecting this call since I woke up. I still remembered how much they had taken from me on this day in my past life!

Finally, it was time to take back everything this woman had taken away from me over the years!

As soon as I picked up the call, her panicked voice came in through the phone.

"Evelyn, you have to come to the hospital immediately! Your sister....she needs you!"