Chapter 4

The air was suddenly dead silent, though a cold snort could soon be heard.

"You'd better not regret this," Ivy eventually snarled through her teeth in disdain.

I was quite calm in contrast.

In fact, I had been simulating this scenario in my mind countless times, ever since I decided to go through with it.

If anything, I had already predicted every word she said.

"Don't worry, I'm not one for taking backsies. Just sign the divorce papers, and we can decide on a date together. How does next Wednesday sound—"

Ivy hung up on me before I could finish, leaving me speechless.

Damn that bitch! All she ever did was hang up on me!

Glancing at my watch, however, I decided that this was not the time to press the divorce issue. That would simply have to wait for tomorrow, as a momentous event in my life awaited!

I left the house after quickly washing out, revving my motorbike before speeding toward my destination.

When I arrived, I stopped under the shade since the summer sun was ablaze overhead, while my eyes scanned the densely packed rows of shops.

Even though I was patiently waiting, my heart was thumping.

Then, after two hours of waiting, my eyes narrowed sharply as I spotted a couple.

My target finally showed up!

Still, I waited until they entered a cafe before getting off my bike, tailing them closely.

As they sat at a table opposite each other, I picked a quiet corner, watching silently.

The lady wore a pink dress, her bright eyes twinkling spiritedly as she chatted happily with the man.

On the other hand, the man was the perfect gentleman—prim and proper, be it in distance or manners.

As such, if I had not gone back in time, I would never have predicted the shocking scene that would soon unfold.

When the man suddenly stood up and headed to the washroom, the sweet smile on the lady's face faded once he was out of sight.

Then, as she kept an eye at the direction of the restroom from time to time, she took out a tiny bottle of clear fluid from her pocket.

I clenched a fist while whipping out my phone, aiming the camera squarely at her as she emptied the entire bottle into the man's coffee, even stirring it for good measure.

Once that was done, she hid the bottle and acted as if nothing happened while waiting for the man to return.

And when he did, the girl was on her feet, welcoming him back sweetly while sliding him his coffee.

Clearly charmed, the man was about to drink when I steadily walked over to their table with my phone in hand as I spoke calmly, "'Never drink anything that's been left out of your sight.' That's what you taught me, or have you forgotten?"

The couple turned toward me when they heard me, though the man scowled when our eyes met. "What are you doing here, Isaac?"

"Long time no see, Kyle."

Kyle Urban snorted before asking sarcastically, "Where's the noble Ms. Jenner? I thought you can't be apart from her for one second."

I was not at all annoyed despite my best friend clearly throwing shade at me.

We grew up together and could basically read each other's minds, but we had a falling out a year ago because I was hell-bent on marrying Ivy.

He had tried to talk me out of it countless times, ultimately calling me delusional, seeing love where there was none to be found.

And he was certainly right—I had even set the bar for being delusional in my last life, refusing to hear a word of it.

That was why back then, I abandoned Kyle, and we never reconciled even until he died.

And Linda Singer, this lady with him who appeared so guileless and harmless, was the reason he died.

She was both Kyle's neighbor and a serial honey-trapper, drugging men so that they would force themselves on her.

And when the deed was done, she would have gathered incriminating photos and videos of her target, threatening them to pay her off each month or she would upload them to certain sites. In Kyle's case, he had fallen for it too and ended up borrowing from loan sharks, and eventually got crippling depression and ended his own life.

I was there at his funeral, remorseful and hysterical—all I wanted was to have him back.

That was why I would definitely save him this time!

Hence, taking Kyle's slight in stride, I sat beside him, throwing an arm around him as I chuckled. "Ivy Jenner? She's nothing to me—I can touch grass anytime I want. You, on the other hand, are hanging out with a farm animal."

Linda's pretty face darkened right then. "What are you talking about, sir? Why are you insulting me? We don't even know each other."

I chuckled coolly, dispensing with disguises. "What am I talking about? You know what you did. And don't call me sir—your respect only makes me cringe."

Linda's eyes widened, briefly flickering in panic, but she soon forced herself to stay calm.

With tears suddenly welling up in her eyes, she turned to Kyle. "Who is this guy? Why is he suddenly slandering me?"

Nevertheless, the look on Kyle's face had already changed as he glanced at Linda.

We were basically bros for years, and he would definitely trust me.

"What did she do?" he asked.

I simply showed him the footage I recorded, with Kyle's expression darkening as he watched.

And seeing that I had everything on video, Linda suddenly got on her feet, ready to flee.

However, Kyle caught her even before she got up.

He did not punch her, thanks to years of self-discipline, instead telling me calmly, "Would you mind calling the cops for me, Isaac?"

-

We both headed to Kyle's home once we filed the police report, though his expression remained gloomy. "She helped me out a few times and was flirting with me from time to time. I thought that she liked me and wanted things to get serious… Well, thank goodness you came when you did."

I chuckled as he summed up a thousand words into a single line of gratitude. "Well, I do wonder how many good men have been tricked by her innocent looks."

The relief of bailing my best friend out of trouble also gave me another thought.

If I could change Kyle's fate, did that not mean that I could change mine too?

Trading a knowing smile just then, Kyle asked, "How have you been this past year?"

I shook my head, as I decided to be honest.

That left Kyle anxious. "What, is that broad abusing you?"

Before I could say a word, he scowled. "Look, I'm not taking you in if it's just a typical lover's quarrel. I don't want to waste my breath warning you, only for the same shit to happen again. I simply refuse to condone stupidity."

I shrugged. "And I'm not going to stay stupid. I've already started divorce proceedings with Ivy."

Kyle gaped at me in disbelief.

"F-For real?!" he cried. "Can you actually bring yourself to leave her? You're always saying that you're only in it for that pretty face and that banging body, and that you'd stay loyal for life."