Justin Stokes tried to kill himself for his dream girl for the seventh time and like an idiot, I gave up a kidney to save him.

After he got out of the hospital, he did a complete 180, suddenly treating me like a queen, never mentioning divorce again. He showered me with affection, as if I actually meant something to him.

And I fell for it. I thought, Finally. After everything, he sees me. He wants me. A year later, I was glowing with happiness, waiting for our baby to arrive.

Then, when I was about to give birth, Justin locked me in the house and set it on fire. "Who cares about your damn kidney? You make me sick! You ruined me and Leah and I’ll never forgive you!"

Turned out, it had all been a sick joke. He never loved me. Never wanted me. He just made me believe in a dream before dragging me to hell with him.

The pain swallowed me whole. And in those last moments, as everything faded away, so did the last bit of love I had left for him.

Then—

I woke up. My waist throbbed, my breath hitched and my eyes flew open. I was back. Reborn. Right to the day I had given my kidney to Justin.

——

My heart pounded. I knew exactly how this played out last time. Justin had staged that accident, gambling with his life just to force his parents into letting him marry Leah.

And like a fool, I had saved him. He had to let her go and return home, but he never forgave me for it. In the end, he wanted me dead. Not this time.

Without hesitating, I grabbed my phone, sent Leah’s location, ripped off my hospital gown and caught a taxi home.

Two hours later, my phone rang. Monica, Justin’s mother, sounded frantic. “Come to the hospital! Hurry!”

I already knew what I would find. Sure enough, when I got there, Leah was kneeling weakly in front of Francis and Monica, dressed in the hospital gown I had thrown away. Playing the part of the selfless, tragic savior.

"Mr. and Mrs. Stokes, I only donated my kidney to Justin to save his life. I never wanted to replace Lara," Leah said softly, her voice trembling just enough to sound pure and selfless.

Justin, lying weakly on the hospital bed, was completely taken in. His eyes reddened with emotion as he gritted his teeth.

"I’ve told you, Leah is the love of my life," he said, voice hoarse but firm. "Now she’s given up a kidney for me. How could I ever let her down?"

His breathing turned ragged, frustration bubbling to the surface. "This is the seventh time I’ve tried to kill myself. If you don’t let me divorce Lara, I’ll do it an eighth time. A ninth. Either let me go or let me die!"

And then his gaze landed on me.

The second he saw me standing at the door, his entire expression twisted with rage. Before I could react, his hand flew to the bedside table.

A second later, a vase came hurtling toward me. I barely had time to flinch before it smashed against my forehead.

Pain shot through me, sharp and blinding. I staggered, feeling the warm trickle of blood drip down my face. The world tilted for a moment before I forced myself to stay upright.

"Lara!" Monica rushed forward, grabbing my arm just as Francis stormed over to Justin. The slap that followed was loud enough to make the whole room go still.

"You ungrateful little brat!" Francis roared. "Lara just saved your damn life and this is how you repay her?"

Monica frantically pressed a tissue to my forehead, her voice soft with concern. "Lara, sweetheart, are you alright? Justin was just upset. Don’t be scared, we’ll make this right."

I let out a breath and shook my head.

They had told me the same thing in my last life. Over and over. That if I just stayed, if I just endured, Justin would eventually come around. That if I loved him enough, he would love me back.

And I believed them. I believed so much that I gave him everything. And for what? A year of empty affection before he locked me in a burning house and watched me die?

Even after I gave him my kidney, he still hated me. Not this time.

"Justin," I said, my voice steady despite the pounding in my skull. "I’ve thought it through. Let’s get a divorce."

Silence. Justin actually looked stunned. For a second, he just blinked at me, as if trying to figure out if he heard me right. Then, he let out a low, bitter laugh.

"Lara, come on," he scoffed. "You’ve spent years chasing me, doing everything in your power to keep this marriage together and now you expect me to believe you’re just going to walk away?"

Monica tightened her grip on my arm, concern etched all over her face. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she reached up and pressed her palm to my forehead.

“Sweetheart, are you just saying this because you’re upset?” Monica asked, her voice gentle but firm. “Your parents entrusted you to us before they passed. That boy may be reckless, but he has a responsibility to take care of you for the rest of his life. How could you two possibly separate?”

Yeah… if it weren’t for my parents’ dying wish, I don’t think I would’ve ever clung to Justin the way I did.

Our families had been close for generations. But when my parents’ business grew too successful, it put a target on their backs. One day, Justin and I—both just kids—were kidnapped.

My parents didn’t hesitate. They stormed the kidnappers’ hideout to get us out, sacrificing their own lives so we could escape.

I would never forget that last moment. My parents, bleeding and desperate, grabbed my hand and placed it in Justin’s. “Take her. Keep her safe.”

And he did. Barefoot and terrified, Justin carried me on his back, step by step, until we were finally free.

From that moment on, he was my lifeline. The only person I could count on. And as I got older, he became more than that. My first love. My whole world.

Everyone knew I couldn’t live without Justin. And now, looking at Francis, Monica and even Justin himself, I could tell they still believed that.

What they didn’t know, what none of them could have predicted was that I had already booked a plane ticket.

In three days, I would be gone.

Francis and Monica were still trying to talk me out of it, too focused on me to even acknowledge Justin’s seething glare or Leah’s pitiful sobs.

I knew I wouldn’t convince them to agree to a divorce right away, so I decided to shift the conversation. My gaze landed on Leah, still kneeling on the floor, her hands trembling.

"If it weren’t for Miss Sloane’s generous kidney donation," I said smoothly, "Justin wouldn’t have been saved so quickly. So why don’t you let her go home with him?"

Leah’s head snapped up, her wide eyes locking onto mine.

She was stunned. Completely thrown off. Like she couldn’t understand how anyone could be this stupid. I had already handed her all the credit for the kidney donation and now I was handing her Justin, too?

Justin, on the other hand, didn’t waste a second. Before anyone could object, he grabbed Leah by the arm and yanked her to her feet.

"Let’s go," he said, voice clipped, like he was afraid I’d suddenly change my mind.

Then, without even glancing back, he dragged her out of the hospital, his body still weak, but his determination unwavering.

Francis and Monica didn’t have much of a choice. Between Justin’s stubborn insistence and my own, they finally gave in.

But they didn’t linger. After making sure we were in the car, they sent us home and left without another word.

The second we stepped inside, Justin grabbed my wrist and yanked me to the side.

"Lara," he said in a low, warning tone, his grip tightening. "I don’t know what you’re trying to pull, but whether this is self-torture or some pathetic attempt to win me over, forget it. You’ll never make me love you."

His fingers dug into my side, right over the fresh surgical wound where they had taken my kidney. A sharp, searing pain shot through me, but I refused to flinch.

"And listen carefully," he continued, his voice hard. "Leah is living here now. She’s still recovering, so you’d better not try anything. If you so much as think about hurting her—"

I wrenched my arm out of his grip before he could finish, my voice calm but firm.

"Relax, Justin," I said. "I’ll convince your parents soon enough. We’ll get divorced and I won’t waste another second hoping for your love."

For once, he had nothing to say. I turned without hesitation and walked away, heading straight upstairs.

Even as I climbed the steps, I could feel his eyes on me, but I knew one thing, he wouldn’t be coming upstairs tonight.

Eventually, after listening to the muffled sounds of movement downstairs, I drifted into a fitful sleep. Then, sometime in the middle of the night, I woke up shivering.

A fever had taken hold, my entire body aching and drenched in sweat. The surgical wound on my waist throbbed unbearably, the pain flaring so intensely it made me lightheaded.

With shaking hands, I grabbed my phone and called Justin.

Once. Twice. Three times.

No answer.

By the fourth try, I gave up. Swallowing back the nausea, I forced myself out of bed, steadying myself against the wall as I made my way downstairs to find some medicine.

But the moment I flicked on the living room light, a sharp scream rang out. "Ah!"

I turned my head and there she was. Leah.

Her clothes were half undone, her body practically draped over Justin’s, her wide eyes locked onto mine like she had just been caught red-handed.

Justin’s head jerked up. He quickly pushed her away, rubbing the back of his neck.

"It’s not what you think," Justin said quickly, straightening his shirt. "Leah and I just came downstairs for water and accidentally fell onto the couch."

Leah let out a soft gasp, clutching her half-open shirt to her chest like some helpless damsel before hurrying away.

I barely reacted. My throat was dry, my voice rough when I finally spoke. "Go ahead," I said flatly. "Don’t let me stop you."

I turned to leave, but Justin grabbed my wrist. The second his fingers touched my skin, he froze.

He could feel the heat radiating off me, the fever that had my body shaking. For a split second, I thought I saw something flicker in his expression. But just as quickly, he dropped my arm like I was something disgusting.

"Are you seriously pretending to be sick just to make me and Leah feel guilty?" His voice was laced with irritation. "Look, I won’t cheat on you before the divorce and when the time comes, you’ll get whatever compensation you want. But until then, don’t try any of your little tricks on me!"

And with that, he shoved me away and ran after Leah. I stumbled back, landing hard on the sofa. For a moment, I just sat there.

Then, a bitter laugh escaped my lips. Justin… this time, I’m really done with you.

For the next two days, he didn’t speak to me once. Instead, he spent every moment clinging to Leah, making sure I saw just how "in love" they were.

And then, as if he couldn’t sink any lower, he started planning his eighth suicide attempt.

"Leah," I heard him whisper to her, "if I try again, my parents will have no choice but to let me marry you. And honestly… if I can’t be with you, there’s no reason for me to keep living."

Leah let out a choked sob and kissed his cheek, completely swept up in the moment. Justin smiled down at her, stroking her hair like she was the most precious thing in the world.

By the time they left the house hand in hand, I was already heading out myself. But I wasn’t going where they were.

Today was the day I was leaving Hartmere. And before I did, I had one last thing to do. I needed to say goodbye.

The cemetery in the southern suburbs was quiet when I arrived. But as I made my way to my parents’ graves, I froze.

Not far from me, I spotted two familiar figures. Justin and Leah. I watched as he knelt solemnly in front of his grandparents’ tombstones, his voice full of reverence.

"Grandpa, Grandma," he said softly, "this is Leah. She’s the woman I’ve chosen to spend my life with and she’ll be your future granddaughter-in-law. Please watch over her. Keep her safe and happy."

His tone was gentle. Sincere. Like he truly meant every word.

A dull, heavy weight settled in my chest. In my last life, Justin never once acknowledged me as his wife. He never brought me here. Not even once.

Even when he pretended to care—even when he put on the perfect act of a devoted husband—he refused to bring me to this place.

"I don’t want to disturb their peace," he had said.

But now, with Leah, there was no hesitation. He was proud to introduce her. Proud to claim her. Justin and Leah knelt in front of the grave, fingers intertwined, completely at ease. Like this was exactly where they were meant to be.

I should have walked away. Should have ignored them and left without a second glance. But then, something caught my eye.

Hanging around Leah’s neck, a small, familiar charm. My breath hitched. It was my amulet. The one my parents got for me at the church.

The one I placed on Justin’s pillow when he was in the hospital after his fifth pathetic suicide attempt, back when I still believed he was worth saving. And now, somehow, it was on her.

My body moved before I could think. I lunged forward, reaching for it, but Justin was faster.

His arm shot out, yanking Leah behind him like I was some kind of threat. His entire stance turned defensive, like he was protecting her from me.

"Lara?" His voice was sharp, full of disbelief. "Are you insane? You followed us here? And now you’re trying to attack Leah in broad daylight?"

I was shaking, my breath coming out in short, angry bursts.

"That amulet," I ground out, pointing at it. "It belongs to me. My parents left it for me. I only put it with you when you were in the hospital. Why did you give it to Leah?"

"Give it back," I demanded, my voice thick with rage. "That’s mine."

Justin didn’t move. He stood firm, his expression unreadable. I pushed forward, trying to reach for it again, but he was like a damn brick wall. No matter how much I fought against him, he didn’t budge an inch.

And then, as if he had finally had enough, he shoved me backward. I stumbled, landing hard on the ground, my palms scraping against the rough dirt.

Justin let out an irritated sigh, shaking his head like I was the one causing problems.

"Leah gave up her kidney for me," he said, his voice cold and dismissive. "She’s still recovering. What’s wrong with me giving her an amulet for protection?"

He scoffed. "Stop making a scene. I’ll transfer some money to your account later—go buy yourself another one. Just quit showing up and bothering Leah over nothing."