Chapter 2

Emmett misunderstood my reaction, thinking I was worried about getting him dirty.

He quickly assured me that it did not matter and helped clean me up with warm water. Then, he tucked me into bed before quietly cleaning the mess on the floor.

Both in my previous life and now, he had always been this way—caring and warm like sunshine. That was why I had fallen so deeply for him in my past life. This time, however, I would not be fooled by his act.

Now that I could hear, his tenderness felt nauseating and repulsive. When I tried to maintain the distance between us, he assumed that I was still feeling unwell and asked me if I needed to go to the hospital.

I shook my head and indicated that I simply wanted to rest. He patted my shoulder, telling me to let him know if I needed anything, and only left after I nodded in response.

As I watched him leave, my eyes turned cold. I was just waiting for news about the competition now.

Once I heard back, I would leave this place and never return. All these disgusting people and their revolting affairs could go to hell.

Perhaps the shock of returning to this time was too much for me. I drifted to sleep moments after lying in bed. When I opened my eyes again, it was pitch dark.

The room was unlit, and Emmett had not returned. Outside, I heard Mrs. Weller's voice saying, "Is Ms. Parker here to keep Beth company again?"

"Beth isn't feeling well, and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to care for her at night, so I asked Ms. Parker to stay with her," Emmett replied.

"Ms. Parker is so helpful!" Mrs. Weller exclaimed.

"Mr. Klein has done so much for me. This is the least I can do," Calista responded.

After exchanging pleasantries, they entered the yard. Although they claimed to be here to care for me, neither of them even bothered to check on me.

Dad had sold our original apartment and topped up some money to buy this small house for Emmett and me.

He was worried that us three living together after the wedding would be inconvenient. So, he moved into the bachelor quarters, leaving us this place.

The small house had two bedrooms and a living room, with Emmett and me each having our own room. After locking up, Emmett and Calista rushed into Emmett's room.

Their movements were particularly clear in the quiet house. It seemed that they really could not wait. I could not understand how Emmett could be so disgusting to pretend to be so caring and devoted.

Their noises grew louder until Emmett had to remind her, "Keep it down... Beth can't hear, but the neighbors might!"

Calista quieted down, and soon they were resting. Later, Emmett's gentle voice carried through the wall as he said, "I'm sorry I can't marry you properly, Calista."

"As long as you love me, I don't care about anything else," she replied.

I scoffed at her response. How could she say that she did not care when Emmett and Asher tried to kill me in my previous life?

Calista added, "Besides, how else could we have gotten such a nice house without Bethany? The city theater group is having some training sessions soon. I was hoping you could get me a spot."

"Of course. I'll talk to the person in charge. As the factory manager's son-in-law, they'll have to do me this favor," Emmett agreed.

"While Beth's father is still the factory manager, we should take advantage of every opportunity. Once he dies, won't the Klein family fortune be all yours?" Calista's voice was filled with greed and impatience.

"I know it's hard for you now, Calista, but I promise that whatever Beth has, you'll have too, and even more," Emmett whispered soothingly.

At that moment, everything clicked into place. I finally realized why Calista had joined the theater group shortly after my marriage and later became a household name starring in TV shows.

Meanwhile, Emmett had risen to become a distinguished professor of engineering. At our golden wedding anniversary, they had stood together looking elegant and refined in their expensive clothes, appearing oddly perfect for each other.

I was the opposite. I had aged beyond recognition, and even in new clothes, I could not hide the worn-down look of a homemaker. I had looked more like a housekeeper than a wife.

It was all part of their grand scheme, and I had been too naive in my previous life to notice such obvious signs.

There were countless times when I almost discovered the truth. One particular incident stood out. It was when Asher was five years old and had not come home from school on time.

I had frantically searched the school, but no one had seen him. Unable to speak clearly due to years of silence, I had desperately tried to get help finding him and Emmett.

I remembered running through the pouring rain that day, clutching a rain-soaked cardboard sign, going door to door until I reached Calista's house.

There, I found Emmett and Asher sitting at her dinner table, laughing and chatting like a real family.

I had stood in the doorway, covered in mud, not even realizing that I had lost a shoe. In my relief at finding Asher, I had ignored his impatient expression and the way he pushed me away.

I had missed Emmett's exasperation and disgust and Calista's contemptuous, mocking gaze. I had seen it all but attributed it to them looking down on my disability, never suspecting their betrayal.

Emmett had taken Asher and me home, explaining they had left a note when they could not find me. That missing note had supposedly blown away in the wind.

Back then, I had dismissed it as nothing important. If only I had realized the truth then, I would not have met such a tragic end.

As these memories surfaced, I finally remembered my death clearly. Asher had pushed me down the stairs on my golden wedding anniversary.

The memory of his twisted face and the determination in his push made me tremble uncontrollably.

I accidentally knocked over the water glass on the bedside stool. I heard rushed movements from next door before Emmett burst in, hastily dressed.

He pulled the light cord with a click, and the dim bulb illuminated the room. He felt my forehead for a fever when he saw me sitting upright, expressionless, on the bed.

When my temperature came back normal, he grabbed a paper and pen to ask what had happened. I bit my lip hard, my hands unconsciously clenching into fists.

These people had plotted to take my life, and I would be a fool to keep tolerating this. I stood up and, without hesitation, slapped Emmett hard across the face.