My mother is gravely ill and needs a million dollars for surgery. I run all over the city, desperately trying to borrow the money.

Just when I'm at my breaking point, my childhood friend shows up, holding a check for one million dollars.

His condition? He wants to marry me.

Everyone's waiting for me to say yes, but I calmly refuse.

Because in my last life, even after I married him, my mother still died. Her surgery failed.

Later, I accidentally overhear a conversation between him and a doctor.

"Christopher, you sabotaged the surgery just to transplant Alice's mom's kidney into Jennifer? Was it worth it? If Alice finds out, you’re done."

"I just want Jennifer to live. And honestly, marrying someone like Alice? My life is already over."

That's when I realize our entire marriage was nothing but a carefully woven lie. He did it all for the woman he truly loved.

"Don't worry, Alice. As long as I'm here, Ms. Morgan will get better soon. I'll take care of both of you."

I looked up and met Christopher Hudson's eyes, which seemed filled with concern.

That was the gaze that fooled me so perfectly for five whole years in my past life and cost my mom, Bethany Morgan, her life.

Around us, the other patients and their families started cheering. "Say yes! Say yes!"

Christopher and I had grown up together. We shared an unspoken affection that lasted over a decade.

If he hadn't fallen for Jennifer Crane, a college girl he was sponsoring, we might have been married by now.

When he proposed to me in my past life, I was deeply moved. At the time, I thought I still mattered to him.

After we got married, however, I realized I had just been a pawn in his grand plan. He stayed celibate for Jennifer the entire time.

I tried everything to please him and did my best to hold that marriage together. I never expected the whole thing to be a lie from the start.

In fact, he had Mom killed just to give Jennifer a kidney. The emotional blow was too much for me. I ended up in a car crash and died just like that.

However, fate gave me another chance and sent me back to the very beginning of it all.

This time, all I wanted was to save Mom and stay far away from those two "soulmates".

Presently, I reached out a hand.

Christopher thought I was taking the check from his hand. His lips curled in triumph.

Against his expectations, I pushed it back to him the very next second. "No. Marriage shouldn't be rushed. Two people who don't love each other won't find happiness."

His smile froze. "Alice, what do you mean? I'm serious. After all these years, don't you know how I feel about you?"

"I don't need this. Take your money back. I'll figure things out on my own."

Christopher sighed and shook his head, looking heartbroken.

"Alice, why are you being so stubborn? There's nothing between me and Jennifer."

I lowered my gaze, hiding the sarcasm that hid beneath.

If there was truly nothing between them, why was he willing to murder for her? Why did he marry someone he didn't even love?

I asked coldly, "Can you stop seeing her from now on, then?"

Christopher hesitated for a moment. Just as he was about to answer, a nurse burst into the room in a panic.

"Dr. Hudson, the VIP patient is demanding to see you."

Christopher instinctively took a step toward the door, although he tried to appear calm.

"There's a patient asking for me. I'll check on them first. Think about what I said. Ms. Morgan's condition can't wait."

He rushed out without waiting for my reply.

He always cared about his image. His panicked reaction just now could only have been because of Jennifer.

In my past life, I was so worried about Mom that I never realized Jennifer was being treated in the same hospital.

I followed him quietly and stopped at the door of a VIP ward, which happened to be slightly ajar. I could see Jennifer lying on the bed inside, face pale as a sheet.

"Chris, stop worrying about me. I'm dying from kidney failure. Just let me go."

He held her carefully, his voice soft and gentle.

"Don't say that, Jennifer. I've already found a donor. Just hang on for two more days. For you, I'm willing to marry a woman I don't love and spend the rest of my life with her."

Jennifer reached up and touched his face, her eyes brimming with tears.

"No, Chris. Don't sacrifice yourself like this for me. I want you to be happy. It doesn't matter even if I die."

Christopher lowered his head. His eyes burned with obsession and desperation as he looked at Jennifer.

"No, I won't let you die. Just tell me—do you have any feelings for me at all?"

Jennifer's eyes reddened. She bit her lower lip, holding back her words.

"Don't say things like that. Alice would be upset—"

"I just want your answer. I don't care about anyone else."

At last, Jennifer stopped resisting. She leaned in and kissed him. They clung to each other in the ward, completely lost in the moment.

I raised my phone and took a photo of this touching scene.

If this had been before, I would've felt like my heart was being ripped apart. But now, all I felt was numbness and disgust.

I turned away and called my grandpa, Peter Hickman.

"I'm willing to return to the Hickman family on one condition. Immediately arrange the best cardiac surgery for my mom. The lead surgeon and the team must be top-tier."

On the other end of the call, Grandpa was overjoyed and agreed right away.

"Of course! I'll arrange everything right away. I'm just glad you've come around."

In my past life, I had actually planned to reach out to Grandpa if Christopher hadn't offered to marry me.

I was the illegitimate daughter of the Hickman family in Maverton City.

It wasn't until my father and his legal wife died in an accident last year that the Hickmans came looking for me, begging me to return and inherit the family business.

I never agreed to their offer. After all, I was only born because Mom was assaulted.

She'd suffered so much just to raise me. I couldn't bring myself to acknowledge the man who violated her.

But now, to save her life, I had no choice but to compromise.

In my past life, Christopher was the lead surgeon on Mom's case. He could easily have let something go wrong during the operation if he wanted to.

This time, everything should be fine with a new hospital and a new doctor in charge.

…

Perhaps it was because he'd made a promise to Jennifer, but Christopher started treating me even better than before.

Early the next morning, he showed up at Mom's ward.

"Alice, I brought your favorite burrito. You should eat something."

I didn't even look up. I just kept packing up Mom's things.

"There's no need. I already ate," I replied coldly.

His brow furrowed slightly. "What's wrong? You've been so cold to me these past few days."

Back then, even if he only brought me a bottle of water, I'd be over the moon. Now, my indifference clearly caught him off guard.

"There's nothing wrong. We're just regular friends. There's no need to be this close."

That line seemed to hit him hard.

Even though he always thought of me as just a friend, I knew he wouldn't want to hear me say it out loud.

His tone turned a little impatient. "Stop messing around. I know you're taking it out on me as you're worried about Ms. Morgan. But everyone knows you like me."

I looked up at him, finding that his lips were curled into a half-smile. "Aren't you the one who said that we're just friends?"

He had repeatedly distanced himself from me before, just to avoid causing misunderstandings with Jennifer.

His expression turned dark. He clearly remembered saying that too.

Suddenly, Christopher turned and saw the empty hospital bed. He grabbed my arm and asked anxiously, "Where's Ms. Morgan? Why isn't she in bed?"

His tight grip hurt, so I couldn't help but frown. "I transferred her to another hospital."

"What? Why would you transfer her? I'm her attending physician. Why wasn't I informed? Alice, where did you take her?"

I stared him straight in the eyes, a small smirk forming at my lips. "Why are you so anxious?"

He froze for a second, caught off guard by my question.

Then, he stammered, "I-I'm obviously worried about her condition. She watched me grow up. I've always seen her as a mother figure. Besides, I'm the best cardiothoracic surgeon in Aloria City. How could you transfer her without consulting me?"

The more he spoke, the more self-righteous he became. The last line practically sounded like he was accusing me.

When he was a kid, his parents were always away on business. The nanny they left in charge abused him daily. He was so hungry that he used to sneak into our family's diner to eat our patrons' leftovers.

Back then, Christopher was short and skinny. Although he was already eight years old, he looked barely five.

Mom had a soft heart. She felt sorry for him and even called his parents to talk about his nanny. In the end, she brought him home to live with us.

If it hadn't been for Mom, he might not have grown up safe and sound.

But even after all that kindness, he still showed no mercy when he came for her life.

He let go of my arm now, eyes clouded with mixed emotions.

"Alice, were you reborn too?"

I admitted it without hesitation. "Yeah. So drop the act, Christopher."

Hearing me admit it, Christopher actually let out a long breath of relief.

"Alice, you know that the surgery in our past life was an accident. This time, I'll make sure the surgical plan is perfect. Besides, who else in Aloria could possibly match my skill?"

As he spoke, he took my hand, eyes full of tenderness.

"We were married for so long. Haven't I always treated you well? Why don't you trust me?"

Christopher was always playing the role of a devoted husband.

But in our past life, he used "intimacy anxiety" as an excuse to avoid me after the wedding. He even secretly drugged me with sedatives just so he could bring Jennifer back to our home.

Whenever I caught glimpses of what was going on, he brushed it off as my hallucinations. I even blamed myself, thinking I was mentally unstable.

"Christopher, did you ever love me?" I stared straight into his eyes, trying to catch even a hint of sincerity.

He didn't even hesitate. "Of course."

He really was a brilliant actor. It was a waste that he ended up working as a doctor.

"Then, tell me. What exactly was that piece of meat in the fridge?"

A crack finally formed in his composed facade. His fingers clenched the hem of his shirt.

I had found it while cleaning the fridge. It was placed inside a delicate little box. When I opened it, the inside of the lid read, "To my dearest darling."

I'd wanted to throw it out immediately. Yet, he slapped me and screamed hysterically, "Don't touch my stuff!"

That was the first time he ever hit me, and the first time I saw that monstrous look on his face. It was obvious who the box was meant for.

"It's just a specimen I admired as a doctor."

He paused for a moment before abruptly shifting to his gentle voice.

"Why don't we hold the wedding in a few days? I know you've always wanted to marry me since you were a kid. Bring Ms. Morgan back to our hospital. Don't gamble with her health out of spite. You can't afford the kind of care she needs."

He spoke as if he'd already decided everything, and I just needed to go along with it.

I was about to say no when a weak voice cut in.

"Chris, are you two getting married?"

It was Jennifer, of course. She stood at the doorway, looking frail and sickly. Her eyes were filled with heartbreak and disbelief.

Her vulnerability made Christopher panic. He rushed to her side, full of concern.

"What are you doing here? You should be resting!"

Tears streamed down Jennifer's face.

"I shouldn't have come. I know that. I just wanted to wish you happiness," she said between sobs, her voice full of sorrow and reluctant acceptance.

Christopher grew more anxious. "You know exactly…"

Clearly aware of my presence, he swallowed the rest of his words.

I'd had enough of their sick little performance. I grabbed my packed things and turned to leave.

He caught my wrist and spoke in a rushed tone. "Let's register the marriage tomorrow."

"I'm not going," I said, yanking my hand out of his grip.

"Be good. I'll come pick you up at your house tomorrow." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.

I was just about to respond when Jennifer conveniently collapsed.

Christopher let out a cry and scooped her into his arms, shouting for a nurse.

The ward erupted in chaos. He didn't even look at me once. From his arms, Jennifer shot me a smug, taunting smile.