When Ingrid Stewart, the prettiest woman in the factory, got dragged into an abandoned warehouse by a hooligan named Edmund Holloway, I didn't rush after them with a brick in my hand, unlike my past self in the previous life. Instead, I went to the nearest police station right away.

In my previous life, I sustained heavy injuries in order to save Ingrid from Edmund. The Stewarts decided to marry her to me so that they could repay my life debt.

After our marriage, I treated Ingrid with utmost sincerity, but all I received in return was her resentment.

On the night the rundown apartment we lived in was on fire, I rushed into the inferno to push Ingrid and our son out of danger. In return, a beam crashed down on me.

When I raised my head, I saw Ingrid dragging our son toward Edmund. Then, she said to me icily, "This is all your fault, you stupid coward! You're the reason why Edmund and I weren't able to get together for so many years!"

Edmund guffawed loudly as well. "Right, I forgot to tell you that your son, whom you've loved for 18 years, is actually my child!"

In the end, I kept coughing up blood because I inhaled too much smoke. Just like that, I died a gruesome death in the fire.

When I open my eyes again, I've returned to the day Ingrid gets harassed by Edmund.

In this life, I choose to grant Ingrid and Edmund's wish of staying together.

The moment I touched the rusted metal door of the police station, the cold sensation jolted me awake.

In my previous life, I had rushed into an abandoned warehouse swinging a brick.

Edmund and his crew surrounded me and slashed at me relentlessly. I shielded Ingrid, blood spattering everywhere.

The worst part was that the tendons in my right hand were completely severed. From then on, I, the factory's finest mechanic, could no longer hold a wrench steady and was relegated to watching over the warehouse.

All the bright prospects that should have been mine were ruthlessly cut short.

The Stewart family, feeling indebted to me, insisted on marrying Ingrid off to me.

I had carried feelings for Ingrid for many years, so I privately asked for her opinion, fearing she was being forced into it. But she bowed her head and said she was willing. I thought she held some affection for me after all.

Yet, after our wedding night, she wouldn't even let me touch her hand.

Every time I accidentally brushed against her, she would rush to the bathroom and frantically scrub her hands, as if I were something filthy.

Later, she became pregnant but suffered terribly from morning sickness. I would make her ginger tea and lemon water every day. Even when she vomited on me, I never showed a hint of disgust.

Her gaze toward me gradually softened, and I thought she was finally beginning to accept me.

Until one day, I discovered a stack of love letters hidden in her wardrobe. All of them were written to Edmund. The handwriting was neat, and the dates were consecutive, without a single day missed.

Some described imagined scenes of intimacy, while others poured out her disgust toward me.

Even the day before she gave birth, she had written, "I wish the one by my side was Edmund, not this useless man I'm with."

I stood before the wardrobe, clutching those letters in my hand, feeling as though a blunt knife were slowly carving out my heart piece by piece.

The police station's metal door creaked, pulling me back to reality.

The officer on duty looked up at me. "What can I do for you, sir?"

"I want to report a crime," I replied in an eerily calm voice. "Someone is committing indecent acts at the abandoned warehouse."

This time, I wasn't going to let Ingrid ruin my life again. Let her and Edmund live their perfect love story. I was going to live a different life.

About half an hour later, the officers returned with Edmund and Ingrid.

Edmund was handcuffed, still cursing, while Ingrid kept her head down. Her hair was disheveled, making her look utterly pitiful.

Edmund spotted me and immediately pointed in my direction, shouting, "Officer, he's in love with Ingrid, so he's framing me on purpose. You have to see justice done!"

Ingrid looked at me with disbelief, her expression a mix of shock and anger.

I avoided her gaze and said to the officer, "Officer, I was only here to report the incident. I don't know the specifics, so you'd have to ask them."

With that, I stood up and turned to leave.

"Stop!" Ingrid suddenly rushed in front of me. Then, she grabbed my arm and said through gritted teeth, "Wesley Galvan, why did you do this? You meddling scumbag! What business is it of yours to interfere with me and Edmund?"

I let out a cold laugh. "Ingrid, do you really think it was just you and Edmund in that warehouse? There were seven or eight other people there too. Do you honestly believe Edmund truly cares about you? Or was he just setting you up?"

Even though I had resolved not to get involved with her anymore, I couldn't just stand by and watch her life be destroyed.

Ingrid's face instantly turned pale.

Without another word, I turned and walked away.

Her furious voice followed me from behind. "Wesley, stop right there!"

But I ignored it completely.

Early the next morning, just as I entered the yard, I heard a fierce argument coming from the Stewart residence.

Mrs. Hart suddenly popped out of nowhere and grabbed my arm.

"Hey, Wesley, are you heading to work?" She then continued in a lowered voice, "Did you know Ingrid almost got herself ruined by that scumbag Edmund yesterday?

"Now, to make matters worse, she insists on marrying Edmund, saying he had touched her. Isn't that just—"

Before Mrs. Hart could finish, Ingrid rushed out of the house. Her face was streaked with tears, and her clothes were crumpled.

"If any of you dare report Edmund, I'll never marry anyone else in my life!" she screamed hysterically toward the house.

Then, she turned and saw me. In that moment, her gaze held hatred, resentment, and something unclear.

"Thank you," she said to me.

I froze.

"Thank you for not rushing in impulsively to save me in this life." Ingrid suddenly smiled mockingly. "This way, I don't owe you anything."

I jolted—Ingrid had been reborn too.

Ingrid's mother, Mrs. Stewart, rushed out of the house, pointing and screaming hysterically at me.

"Wesley, you heartless scumbag! Ingrid was almost violated, yet you did nothing to save her?"

Neighbors began peering out one after another.

"Wesley is truly despicable. He and Ingrid grew up together, so how could he watch her suffer without stepping in to help?"

"Exactly. How can a young man be so cowardly?"

I watched these self-righteous people coldly.

In my previous life, I sacrificed my entire future to save Ingrid. Yet, in their eyes, I was nothing but a reckless fool.

I chuckled lightly. "Yes, I was cowardly. I couldn't take on seven or eight thugs by myself, so I went to report it to the police. What's wrong with that?"

When Mrs. Stewart heard this, she became even more furious.

"Report it to the police? What good does that do? Once the police are involved, Ingrid's reputation will be ruined! What use are you if you can't even handle a few thugs?"

Looking at Mrs. Stewart's face, twisted with anger, I suddenly felt how absurd it all was.

In my previous life, I lost the use of my right hand trying to save Ingrid. It was chopped up so badly I could never hold a wrench again.

Back then, Mrs. Stewart would visit me every day with chicken soup, saying she'd treat me like her own son from then on.

But after the wedding, whenever Ingrid threw things and called me useless, Mrs. Stewart would mock me alongside her.

I stared at her coldly. "So, you think I should risk my life for Ingrid's reputation? Did it ever cross your mind what would have happened to Ingrid if I hadn't reported the crime in time?"

"Why you—you—" Mrs. Stewart was left speechless, her face flushing a deep red.

Mrs. Hart cut in. "Wesley does have a point. Those thugs were vicious, so charging in alone would've been suicidal."

"Exactly, at least Wesley went to report it to the police."

"If you ask me, Ingrid usually dresses too provocatively. That's what brings this kind of trouble."

As I listened to everyone arguing back and forth, I suddenly felt weary of it all.

These were the same people who had criticized me in my previous life, and now they were turning their judgment on Ingrid in this one.

Public opinion could be formidable, yet in the end, it was hardly worth taking to heart.

Seeing the shift in opinion, Mrs. Stewart grew even more flustered and furious.

"What do any of you know? Now the whole factory knows about this, how is Ingrid supposed to face anyone after this?"

"Mom, stop talking," Ingrid suddenly said, her voice as cold as ice. "What does my reputation have to do with Wesley? He's nothing to me. In any case, I'm set on marrying Edmund, and you can arrange it for me."

With the matter settled, I turned to leave. Just as I reached the alleyway entrance, Ingrid caught up with me.

She stared intently into my eyes and said, "Wesley, were you reborn too?"

I met Ingrid's gaze and saw the panic and probing in her eyes. She was afraid that I also remembered what happened in my previous life.

She took a deep breath, as if steeling herself.

"I admit I wronged you in our previous lives. I betrayed your love for me, but you know what? If you hadn't meddled, Edmund and I would have been together long ago. It was your 'kindness' that tied me to you."

She grew more agitated as she spoke. "I had no choice but to marry you. Do you have any idea how much I suffered?"

Seeing how worked up she was, I couldn't help but find the whole thing utterly ridiculous. She was still making excuses for herself and blaming me.

I smiled faintly. "Don't worry, I won't play the fool again. I'm staying out of your and Edmund's affairs from now on."

She eyed me suspiciously. "You're not planning to pull something behind my back, are you?"

Even after half a lifetime together, she had not an ounce of trust in my character.

"Rather than worrying about me, perhaps you should worry about whether you're marrying the wrong person."

"Don't you dare slander Edmund!" she snapped, glaring at me angrily. "He's a hundred times better than you!"

Soon, word spread through the factory that Ingrid was going to marry Edmund. People gossiped endlessly, and someone said she was willingly throwing herself into ruin. But I paid no attention to their talk.

I walked straight into the office of the factory manager, Jordan Cain, and earnestly submitted my application.

Mr. Cain reviewed the documents and nodded in satisfaction. "There are only three spots for this advanced training program in Elmridge. Wesley, if you go, make sure you study hard."

I nodded.

In my previous life, before Mr. Cain could even inform me of this opportunity, I had already been hospitalized after saving Ingrid. Thus, I missed out on this chance entirely.

It was only later that I learned that those who went to Elmridge for training were eligible to apply for special college admission quotas.

Mr. Cain hesitated before saying, "What a shame it's not you who Ingrid is marrying. But going to Elmridge might help you heal a bit from that heartbreak."

"Mr. Cain, don't worry. I've already moved on."

He patted my shoulder. "When you come back, I'll introduce you to a nice girl."

I nodded with a smile, but I was already thinking about what I needed to pack.

However, when I returned home, I found the yard in complete disarray, and several strangers were hauling my furniture out of the house.

"What are you all doing?" I demanded.

I swept a cold gaze across the yard. The coffee table, wardrobe, and television had all been dragged outside. Even the redwood table my parents had left behind was being carried out by someone, and my door had been forcibly pried open.

"Put that down," I ordered sharply.

Startled, the mover let go of the table. It crashed to the ground with a loud thud, a corner chipping off.

A sharp pain twisted in my chest.

"What are you shouting about?" Mrs. Steward planted her hands on her hips. "Consider these things compensation for you standing by and doing nothing. Ingrid's reputation is ruined because of you, so what's wrong with us taking a few measly items?"

I let out a cold laugh. "You're just plain robbing me."

Leaning against the doorframe, Edmund looked at me tauntingly.

"What's the matter, Wesley? Are you trying to worm yourself out of this? Ingrid and I wanted a little privacy, and you just had to stick your nose in.

"If it weren't for you calling the police, I wouldn't have to spend those few days locked up. So, is it too much to ask for a little compensation?"

Ingrid nestled in Edmund's arms and said icily, "Everyone knows you have a crush on me. Hand over these things today, and we'll call it even."

She gave a mocking smile. "After all, didn't you call the police just to have Edmund arrested for harassment and ruin my reputation, so that you could marry me?"

"Exactly!" Mrs. Stewart chimed in. "How evil of you. I guess this is what happens when you grow up without parents."

I clenched my fists tightly, nails digging deep into my palms.

In my previous life, my parents had rushed into a crumbling house during an earthquake to save Ingrid, who'd been fooling around inside.

Yet now, they were using my parents against me.

"Ingrid, do you really think you'd have walked away unharmed from that warehouse if I hadn't called the police?"

In my previous life, it was only after digging around that I'd learned the truth.

Having owed a huge debt to loan sharks, Edmund had planned to hand Ingrid over to them as collateral that time. Moreover, the man who acted so devoted to Ingrid was already married and had a wife waiting for him back in his hometown.