Before I Leave

Ethan Shaw had died.

Before the funeral, his wife, Stella Walker, packed his belongings and found a thick photo album.

On the cover, it said, [My True Love.]

She opened it.

The photos inside were not of her.

They were Rachel Chester, the girl Ethan had adopted years ago.

Stella had always believed that Ethan saw Rachel only as his adopted daughter.

However, every picture is filled with deep romantic love—Rachel was smiling, sleeping, crying.

Under a photo of Rachel in a wedding dress, Ethan had written a line.

[I would rather make do with it if I can't marry the one I love.]

After reading the secrets her husband had kept for so many years, Stella's face turned pale.

After 20 years of marriage, Stella was just nothing but an unwanted alternative.

The funeral began soon after.

People tried to comfort her.

"I'm sorry for your loss. Just take the inheritance and live well."

"Yes, even though there are some problems with the medicine produced by Ethan's company and he must pay a large sum, he still has enough money. You won't need to worry about your life."

Just as they finished speaking, a lawyer stood up.

"Mr. Shaw decided to leave all his money and property to Ms. Rachel Chester before he passed away."

The room went silent.

Then, someone burst in.

"Who's going to pay for our medical expenses then?"

The families of the medicine accident victims stormed in.

"She's that bastard, Ethan Shaw's wife! If we can't get our compensation, kill her to repay! An eye for an eye!"

They rushed at her.

A sharp knife stabbed into Stella's chest.

She fell.

Before she died, she saw Ethan's cold face in the funeral photo.

She slowly closed her eyes.

'I would never marry you if I could ever live again—'

When Stella opened her eyes again, she was in a messy bed sheet.

Before she could react, she heard a cold voice, "I've called our parents. The wedding will happen in five days. Are you happy now?"

Stella looked up and saw Ethan.

He was not the fifty-something man who had died. He looked like he did in his early thirties—young and full of life.

She realized she had gone back to the days before she married Ethan.

Their families had arranged the marriage when they were kids… but Ethan never liked her.

He kept delaying the wedding, and she became Harbouria's laughingstock.

One day, Ethan got drunk. Stella ran into him by accident, and they ended up sleeping together.

Ethan always believed she had planned it. He hated her even more.

Still, he took responsibility and married her.

After marriage, Ethan treated her coldly.

Still, Stella gave him everything.

She gave Ethan all the Walkers' assets when he needed money. She quit her job and stayed home because Ethan did not like her to leave the house. She even walked silently in their house because Ethan wanted quiet.

She lived like that for over 10 years, but she barely got a few rare smiles in return.

Stella once thought he was just not good at showing emotion.

At last, she knew—he had given all his love to someone else.

Memories crawled over her heart, biting her piece by piece.

She forced herself to calm down and looked at the man in front of her.

"You don't need to take responsibility," she said calmly. "Let's cancel the engagement."

She would not waste her life on a man who never loved her this time.

Ethan only gave a cold laugh. "Are you playing hard to get again?"

Stella froze.

She remembered how much she had loved him back then.

She had threatened to cancel the engagement many times, but his parents always talked her out of it.

So Ethan never believed she would leave.

"I mean it—" Stella tried to explain, but Ethan turned and walked away.

He never listened to her, which was typical of him.

Stella let out a quiet breath.

It was fine. If she wanted to break off the engagement, she only needed to talk to his family.

For the time being, she had something more important to do.

She made a call.

"Professor, can I still apply for the Artemis Project at the space base?"

The professor sounded surprised and happy.

"Of course you can! You were their top pick. But as I told you, this is a top-secret project.

"You won't be able to return nor contact anyone for ten years once you enter the Northwest Research Base. Are you sure?"

Stella studied aerospace in college and ranked at the top. Her graduate work focused on critical national technology.

After her graduation, the space base offered her a spot. It was her dream.

In her past life, she gave it up to marry Ethan. She would definitely pursue her dream this time.

"I am sure."

The professor was thrilled.

"Great! The project starts soon. You will leave in five days. Say your best wishes to your family right away."