Chapter 1 Shirlene’s Death
In an abandoned warehouse in the suburbs.
Shirlene Osborne was huddled miserably on the ground, her nailless fingers bleeding, the pain nearly making her lose consciousness.
Daisy Osborne, Shirlene’s half-sister, reveled in cruel laughter, triumphant with a pincer in hand.
“Shirlene, does it hurt?” Daisy stood up and callously stepped on Shirlene’s injured fingers with a sinister smile. “I’ve always wanted to do this. Sebastian Pearson shielded you, and I never had the chance before. Otherwise, do you think you’d live to see this day? But you were so foolish, divorcing Sebastian for Nolan Lowe! You’ve dug your own grave!”
Envy flickered in Daisy’s eyes as she mentioned Sebastian’s name. With a malicious smile, she kicked Shirlene in the belly.
It hurt so much Shirlene had cramps and vomited blood.
“Daisy, why? Why?” Shirlene asked, her eyes fiery.
She had never mistreated Daisy. Why did Daisy kidnap and torture her?
“Why?” With a murderous look in her eyes, Daisy grabbed Shirlene’s long hair and said viciously, “Because you got in my way! Why are you the firstborn of the Osborne family? Why does Sebastian like you but won’t even spare me a look? Why does that old bastard want you to take over the company?
“If you die, the company will be mine, and Sebastian will like me. Don’t you deserve to die?”
Holding Shirlene’s hair, Daisy smashed her head against the cold wall.
Shirlene’s head began to spin, and she slumped to the ground, blood streaming down from her head.
Daisy released her grip, stood up, and grabbed the gas barrel, dousing the area with gasoline.
The flames roared to life, spreading rapidly as the lighter ignited the gas.
Daisy briskly exited the warehouse.
Regret and hatred overwhelmed Shirlene as she watched Daisy depart.
The dreadful mistakes she had made in her life…
If another life awaited, she vowed never to push away the man who cherished her.
“Sebastian, Sebastian…” she called out inwardly.
“Shirlene!”
A heart-wrenching cry echoed. Shirlene looked up in shock, spotting Sebastian’s figure through the flames. Their eyes locked, and horror was etched across his typically composed and handsome face. His eyes were bloodshot.
Tears flowed down Shirlene’s cheeks. She tried to speak but couldn’t make a sound. Before losing consciousness, she witnessed Sebastian, his face filled with desperation, charging into the inferno towards her like a man possessed.
***
“No!
“No! Sebastian…no!” Shirlene screamed as her eyes jerked open.
“Shirlene, do you hate me so much?” a deep voice said beside her.
Shirlene shivered.
She thought, “this voice…”
She turned her head to look, but the sudden movement induced dizziness, forcing her to shut her eyes and recline on the pillow.
Aches surged through her body as if a car had just rolled over her, especially…there…
Observing her keep her mouth shut with closed eyes, Sebastian interpreted it as agreement with his statement. His gaze dimmed, and he exited the bed.
The sound of water splashing came from the bathroom.
After a while, the dizziness was finally eased.
Shirlene sat up with difficulty and looked around. The surroundings shocked her.
This was her and Sebastian’s bedroom.
But didn’t she…die?
Shirlene shook her head. The quilt slipped off her, and she found herself naked with hickeys all over her body.
A realization dawned on her. She grabbed her phone from the nightstand and checked the date.
2022?
She was reborn and returned to the year before?
On the same day the year before, Daisy had invited her to celebrate Nolan’s birthday. Daisy had gotten Shirlene drunk, and she woke up to find she had slept with Sebastian.
Back then, Shirlene believed Sebastian had taken advantage of her inebriated state.
However, on the day Shirlene died, Daisy revealed that her drink had been spiked that night. The consequences could have been dire if Sebastian hadn’t intervened and taken Shirlene away in time.
Contemplating this revelation, Shirlene clenched her fists, the hatred evident in her eyes.
Sebastian happened to witness her in this state as he emerged from the bathroom.
He sneered in his heart, “Do you hate me so much for taking your first time?
Are you so deeply in love with Nolan?”
“I’ll sleep in the guest room,” Sebastian withdrew his gaze and said coldly, ready to leave.
Shirlene realized what was going on immediately. Seeing Sebastian had put his hand on the door handle, she called out anxiously, “Honey.”
Sebastian trembled, his pupils contracting. He froze on the spot in disbelief.
He thought, “What did Shirlene just call me?
Honey?”
Sebastian tightened his grip on the door handle, his eyes oozing with disdain. He declared coldly, “Don’t fret. I won’t harm Nolan. He’ll be released tomorrow.”
Gazing at his frosty profile, Shirlene felt a pang of sadness and guilt.
In her last life, she had rarely treated Sebastian kindly except when seeking a favor.
Sebastian might assume Shirlene was interceding for Nolan, fearing he would inflict harm.
“I’m not doing this for him!” she explained hastily, anxious to prevent any further misunderstanding by Sebastian.
Sebastian glanced at her doubtfully.
“I want to say that…” Shirlene bit her lip, blushing. “you can stay.”
Sebastian held his breath, thinking he must’ve misheard.
“You…” Sebastian was surprised at first. Then, something seemed to occur to him. Scowling, he sneered, “You want me to sign the divorce agreement, don’t you?”
He misunderstood again. Shirlene felt a lump in her chest.
Before she could answer, Sebastian took out a document from the drawer.
The words “Divorce Agreement” on the cover were conspicuous.
Shirlene’s heart constricted as Sebastian turned to the final page, seizing a pen from the desk to sign his name.
Shirlene’s complexion drained of color. She hastily donned a nightgown and cried out, “Don’t sign it! Don’t!”
Exiting the bed, she seized the document from Sebastian and tore it into pieces without a moment’s hesitation.
The shredded paper fell to the floor. Sebastian looked at her in surprise.
He thought, “Haven’t you drafted the divorce agreement yourself?
Don’t you always want a divorce? I’m about to grant your wish. Why did you…”
Shirlene patted her chest in relief, winking as she coquettishly said, “Honey, let’s not get divorced, OK? It’s late. Why don’t we go to bed?”
At the sight of her bright eyes, Sebastian’s Adam’s apple bobbed, a hint of ambiguity in his gaze.
“No,” Sebastian looked away, refusing coldly. “I’m going to the guest room.”
He opened the door and exited.
The closed door now separated them from each other.
The smile on Shirlene’s face faded. A profound sense of crisis gripped her heart. Desiring to go to Sebastian, she attempted to move, but she got a cramp in her leg. She slumped back in pain on the bed and didn’t recover until much later.
