I moved around the kitchen like I always did, preparing Jake’s breakfast as if nothing had changed. As if my world hadn’t crumbled days ago. As if I didn’t know the truth.

Jake walked in, adjusting his tie, looking like the perfect husband. He sat down at the dining table, sipping the coffee I made for him.

"I have a business trip today and will be away for a few days," he said casually, picking up a piece of toast.

I nodded, pretending not to care. I never asked where he was going anymore because I thought he’s just at work as always but I already knew. He was going to see Clarissa. Those ‘Business trips’ are just a front.

He had been feeding me lies for years, and I had swallowed every single one of them. But not anymore.

Jake’s mother, Eleanor, had always made it clear that she wanted Clarissa as her daughter-in-law in every party that I attended and pretended to be Jake’s secretary. I had known for a long time, but I hadn’t expected just how deep the betrayal ran.

Jake and Clarissa had already married behind my back.

I clenched the knife in my hand for a second before forcing myself to set it down gently. It all made sense now why Eleanor had suddenly become so affectionate toward Clarissa one time, why Jake always had an excuse to leave, why he never once let me meet his business partners.

Because I wasn’t his wife. Not even once in his eyes. As Jake finished his breakfast and left, I made a decision. I would follow him.

I trailed his car carefully, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. I had prepared myself for what I might find. But nothing could have prepared me for the reality.

The venue was grand, decorated with golden chandeliers and fresh white roses. The kind of place people rented for life-changing celebrations.

And there he was. Jake. Standing next to Clarissa, dressed in an expensive suit, his arm wrapped around her waist.

The banner above them read:

"Congratulations on Your Engagement, Jake & Clarissa!"

For a moment, my mind went blank.

I had thought I hated him enough not to feel anything anymore. But when I saw the way he smiled at her—the way his happiness looked effortless, natural, something inside me cracked.

Pain. Deep, raw, suffocating.

I had loved him. Despite everything, I had loved him. And now, I stood here, watching him celebrate his future with another woman while I had wasted years being his fool.

Anger surged through me, thick and consuming. They had made a fool out of me. Over and over again. I turned to leave, but someone stepped in my way.

Harry Clinton, again. His face was unreadable as he looked at me. Then, he sighed. "It seems that you already know about your husband and Clarrisa."

I forced a bitter smile. "I had to see it for myself to make sure. So that I won’t regret or think of giving him a second chance." I snorted. “Why would I need to give him a chance again, Jake and I were not even married to begin with.

Harry shook his head. "I told him to tell you the truth. To stop playing this sick game. But he refused. He wanted to keep you in the dark, to keep making a fool of you."

A sharp pang of humiliation twisted in my chest. "And you knew all along?"

He didn’t flinch. "Yes. But I thought he’d eventually do the right thing. He didn’t. But even if I told you, you won’t believe me anyway."

He exhaled, his expression shifting into something colder. "But my friendship with him is now long gone. I won’t support him anymore and whatever friendship we had ends today."

His words struck something deep inside me. Jake had lost someone loyal to him because of his cruelty. Good.

I thought back to the phone call at this time, 3 years before I died and regressed, Harry had called me and warned me to leave Jake. I ignored him, told him to stop bothering me. I had clung to the illusion of love, refusing to see the truth.

But not anymore.

"I’m leaving him soon," I said, my voice steady. For the first time, the words didn’t feel impossible. They felt right.

Harry studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "Good. You deserve better, Lindsay." After a few seconds of silence, he hesitated before continuing. "I have an offer for you."

I frowned. "An offer?"

"A job," he clarified. "I need a nanny for my son." A son. Does Harry Clinton have a son? I never knew he had a son, not even before I died.

I blinked at him, caught off guard. "You have a son and you want me to be your babysitter?"

"I want to help you," he said simply. "You’ll need a job when you leave Jake. You’ll need a fresh start. I can give you that. I can give you more."

I stared at him, my emotions a tangled mess. A fresh start. A way out. I had been trapped in Jake’s web for years, drowning in my own pain.

But maybe, just maybe, this was my chance to finally escape. I took a deep breath. Is this it? Is this the escape I needed?

“But let me correct you, not only as a babysitter, but also his mother and my wife. I’ll provide you the things that Jake didn’t offer you. Even if revenge, I will offer it to you,”

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my phone. I was staring at Harry’s phone number that he gave me earlier. Harry’s offer echoed in my mind, repeating like a haunting melody.

Marriage. Not for love. Not for companionship. But for revenge.

I never imagined Harry would be the one to offer me a way out. He had always been a distant presence in my life, a friend of Jake’s who occasionally stood up for me when Eleanor’s cruelty of words became unbearable. But now, he wasn’t just offering me an escape, he was giving me the power to destroy the people who had destroyed me.

Revenge wasn’t something I had ever thought about before. I had spent years enduring, suffering because of my children’s stillborn deaths, and believing that my love for Jake would be enough. But love had gotten me nowhere. It had only turned me into a fool.

If I wanted justice, I needed power. I needed money. I needed someone who had both. And Harry had them. In return, all he asked was for me to be his wife and the mother of his son.

The revelation still unsettled me. I had never known Harry had a child. It made me wonder what else I had missed, what other truths had been hidden from me. But none of that mattered now.

This was my chance. My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts.

Jake: My out-of-town trip will be extended. Business matters came up.

I stared at the message, feeling nothing. Well, now that I know that he’s busy with Clarissa, I don’t care about it.

Me: Take the time you need.

A few seconds later, another message came in.

Jake: You’re always so understanding. I’ll bring you souvenirs, okay? I will buy you a bag that you wanted.

Souvenirs. I almost laughed. What a joke. He thought I would still be here when he got back. He thought I would wait, like I always had. Maybe It’s time to move on. I’m done being a fool. Not this time.

I pressed down on the call button, my fingers steady as I dialed Harry’s number. He picked up on the first ring.

"Lindsay?" His voice was calm, as if he already knew why I was calling. I smiled.

"I’ll do it." My voice didn’t waver. "I’ll accept your offer. But only for a year."

A brief pause. Then, "Understood."

"When do you need me to leave?"

"Tomorrow."

So soon. I tightened my grip on the phone. Well, it’s not like I wanted to stay in this wretched place. "I’ll be ready."

“Okay, I will tell my driver to pick you up. See you soon.”

I ended the call and exhaled. This was happening. It was real. I stood up and walked to the closet.

Everything in there had been chosen by Jake. The dresses, the shoes, the handbags—all of them were things he had picked for me, things that made me fit into the role he wanted me to play.

I pulled them out, one by one, dragging them into the backyard. The night air was cool, but my skin burned with purpose.

I dosed some oil in it and I struck a match, then watched the flame come to life.

The fire consumed everything. The dresses, the handbags, the little love notes Jake used to leave when he pretended to care.

I let them all burn. But not the jewelry. Jewelry had value. It wasn’t sentiment—it was currency.

And I would need all the resources I could get. The fire crackled, and the scent of burning fabric filled the air. I watched until there was nothing left but ashes. Then, for the first time in years, I felt free.

Morning came faster than I expected. I stood by the doorway of the house I had lived in for eight long years, a single suitcase by my side. It didn’t take much to pack—I was leaving everything behind.

I turned back for one final look. This wasn’t a home. It had been my cage, my prison, built on lies and filled with pain. No more. I stepped outside, closing the door behind me.

And I never looked back.

---

Jake was looking for souvenirs when Clarissa came and laid down on the bed and snaked her arms to Jake’s torso. Clarissa saw that Jake was picking out some souvenirs for me. Clarissa, not liking what she sees and Jake’s action, decided to ask him a question.

“Are you planning on having a child again with Lindsay?” Clarissa asked like she’s just inquiring. “It’s really too bad that the child has been cremated, I’m lacking materials for my experiments.”

Jake looked at Clarissa and hugged her back. “I’m sorry about it, next time I will make sure to bring it to you before she even asks to cremated it.”

“What do you think about bringing Lindsay here? Like she could be part of our wedding?” Clarissa suggested. “Explain to her that you needed to do it because your mother wanted it and It’s just for show?”

Jake looked at Clarissa, skeptical. “Are you really sure about this?”

Clarissa nodded. “Of course, she’s your wife, after all! Don’t forget about Harry too!”

“Okay.” Jake can’t win against Clarissa. Jake then called his secretary and told her to bring Lindsay but the Secretary surprised her.

“Sir, Madam is nowhere to be found!”