Chapter 2 A Second Chance

~Kiera’s POV~

If I could turn back time, I may have made different choices.

Three years ago, I offered $5 billion from the Campbell Group to save Relish from financial ruin—a selfless act, driven by my love for Nicholas and my desire to secure a future together.

Although at the time he did not have feelings for me, I hoped that in time, those feelings would bloom.

My big mistake. Now I wonder if it had been in vain.

I blinked my eyes, disoriented by the sudden change in surroundings. Instead of lying at the bottom of the stairs, I found myself on the edge of a tranquil lake, surrounded by an atmosphere of surrealism.

The frigid breeze grazed my face, and as I looked around, confusion enveloped me. There, standing before me, was Nicholas.

But something was off.

It wasn't the familiar setting of my home or the painful aftermath of our confrontation. But…

I lifted my hand to the back of my head, and my fingertips gingerly touched, searching for the blood I had expected to find.

But there was none.

I blinked back in confusion as I glanced down at my drenched attire. The cold water clung to my clothes, casting an uncomfortable dampness over my entire body.

I try to gather my thoughts, but my gaze drifted to the figure seated beside Nicholas—Cristal.

She was wearing Nicholas’ clothes and was equally soaked from head to toe. The sight was bewildering, leaving my mind spinning with questions.

I scrutinized Cristal closely, my eyes narrowing in on the woman who had caused so much turmoil in my life.

The pieces of the puzzle clicked into place, unveiling the truth behind this bizarre turn of events.

The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning. This scene felt oddly familiar, a haunting memory from the first year of my marriage—the time of her return.

Cristal had resurfaced, determined to sabotage our relationship. I remembered the lake, the confrontation we had when she stated she was back for what was hers and gestured with her eyes over to Nicholas.

At first, I ignored it but then things became too much to bear with her actions and she decided to remind me who really had him wrapped around her finger.

Cristal jumped into the lake and pushed my chest, forcing me to retaliate.

Before I could do anything, she pulled me down with her, disguising the situation in a manner that seemed like I pushed her down, making Nicholas misunderstand and the accusations that would forever tarnish my reputation in Nicholas’ eyes and bridge whatever trust we had, followed.

Nicholas’s voice sliced through the air, his words venomous and laced with anger.

“You are a wicked selfish vicious monster, Kiera, how dare you! I never knew you could be this cruel. Do you hate her that much? You want her to drown you witch?! Is that why you did not want her back in the country?”

The weight of confusion pressed upon me as I struggled to understand the madness unfolding before me.

Yet, as I observed Nicholas’ face, I saw no sign of the affection and acceptance that I had yearned for.

Rather, the way he looked at me now mirrored the rejection and disdain that had pushed me away in the first place.

The realization struck me like a blow to the chest, intensifying my feelings of failure and disappointment.

Examining my surroundings more closely, I realized that I had been transported back in time, two years into the past.

The wedding ring on my finger was the old one, not the newer one exchanged on our third anniversary. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place, illuminating the deception that had shaped our lives.

Nicholas’ grip tightened around my arm as he pulled me up, leaving a trail of scratches and blood in his wake.

I winced at the pain, both physical and emotional, but I refused to succumb to his demands. I knew I had to make a choice, to break free from the cycle of lies and manipulation.

With newfound determination, I looked at Cristal, seeing through her facade.

She feigned concern, pretending to be the victim in this twisted game of hers.

“Nick, you cannot be too harsh on her. I bet it was a mistake. She doesn’t need to be yelled on like a kid or made to apologize. I forgive her. I would not like a forced apology either.”

“She needs to apologize. It is not okay.”

“No, it is. See I am alive. Isn’t that what matters most? Ignore her attempt to drown me. I hold no grudge.”

I scoffed a laugh. But I knew her true nature, the cruelty she had inflicted upon me in secret. This time, I wouldn't allow her to deceive Nicholas or control our fate.

Summoning every ounce of strength, I spoke my truth, refusing to apologize for something I hadn't done.

“When you do not know exactly what happened, is this how you judge? You side with a stranger over your wife. She was the one who said she is back to take you away from me and she would ensure you leave me. I would never apologize to her.”

“Silence! Now you try to ruin her good name? Cristal would never do that. I have known her all my life.”

“And me? Am I now the monster?”

My voice trembled, but my resolve remained unyielding. I wanted Nicholas to see Crystal’s true face, to understand the depths of her deception.

Cristal’s eyes flickered with a mix of anger and panic, her mask slipping for a fleeting moment.

She urged Nicholas not to push me too hard, feigning concern for my well-being.

Perhaps that would work on my husband but not me. I saw through her act, recognizing her manipulative tactics. He, however, seemed blinded by her false vulnerability.

“Kiera apologize to Cristal now or…”

“Or what? How can you not even believe me?”

“I know she wouldn’t lie,” he defended, brushing off the truth. “Last warning, this should not repeat itself. Choose, either you apologize or I would divorce you.”

At that moment, a surge of clarity washed over me. I couldn't continue down the path I had already walked.

I refused to be a pawn in their game, trapped in a toxic cycle of betrayal and heartache. It was time to break free, to sever the ties that bound me to this past life, to them.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I made up my mind. Divorce became my salvation, my ticket to liberation. I couldn't wait for the next time, for another chance to change our fate.

My reborn self had the strength to forge my own path, leaving behind the shackles of my past.

As I stood before Nicholas, my heart heavy with the weight of the decision I was about to make, a flicker of hope ignited within me.

“You want to divorce me?”

“W-what… It isn’t like that. I said next time if such happens again, I…”

I lifted my palm between us, silencing his words. My eyes glazed with anger and determination.

“I’ll spare you the stress. No need to wait long to put up with me. Let’s get divorced.”

I had been given a second chance, an opportunity to reclaim my life and find true happiness.

I knew the journey ahead would be challenging, but I was ready to embrace it, knowing that the future held infinite possibilities beyond the confines of this tumultuous past.

“K-Kiera,” shocked, Nicholas stuttered but that did not change anything. My mind had been made up.

Only a fool would remain in this hell hole after what happened in the future. No.

“My lawyers would visit you,” I uttered once more and walked away.