Chapter 2

Elise flinched as the cold air brushed against her cheeks, sending an icy shiver through her body. Her skin felt damp, and an unfamiliar chill clung to her frame.

Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open, and a serene sky greeted her gaze.

"What…? Am... I not dead?" The question echoed in her mind, disbelief washing over her. She could still vividly recall the horrifying moments of her demise—her heartless husband pushing her down the stairs, the searing pain of her body hitting the cold, hard floor, and the agonizing sensation of life draining away.

She remembered the weakness, the numbing cold, and the all-consuming fear. Desperately, she had begged Lucas for help, her voice trembling with a flicker of hope. Yet all he offered was a chilling, detached stare, devoid of guilt or remorse. He had watched, unbothered, as if he had been waiting for her end all along.

It all made sense. Once she was gone, every piece of her wealth, her possessions, would fall into his hands. That was the purpose of their marriage—a calculated, heartless scheme.

Anger bubbled within her as she instinctively touched her head, expecting to find a wound, some evidence of his cruelty. But her fingers met no injury. Instead, she felt strands of damp hair clinging to her skin. Water, not blood.

Her heart raced. "What is going on?!"

She glanced down, scanning her body. The blouse she wore caught her attention. It was an old, custom-made piece she hadn’t seen in years. Recognition struck her like a bolt of lightning—it was the very blouse Lucas had torn apart in his rage after accusing her of disgracing Athena, though Athena had been the one to provoke her.

But here it was, intact as if nothing had happened.

"Am I dreaming...?"

A soft, muffled sob broke her thoughts. She turned her head and froze. On her left, Lucas and Athena came into view. Athena was crying, her wet hair clinging to her face, her body draped in Lucas' shirt. Lucas, on the other hand, was half-naked, his damp figure betraying signs of a recent swim.

She sucked in a sharp breath and let her eyes wander. Her surroundings slowly came into focus—the familiar setting of their vacation house, the expansive pool shimmering before them. Her hand flew to her mouth as realization struck her.

"This… I remember this day!" How could Elise forget? It was their first wedding anniversary, the day she had received a tip that Lucas was at their vacation house. She had come here, hoping for a surprise, only to find the bitter truth staring back at her—Athena, waiting for him.

Her chest tightened as she processed the scene before her.

Oh my god!

"H-Have I... gone back in time? Am I… reborn?"

Elise's lips parted in shock as she lifted her head to meet Lucas' furious glare. His face and neck were flushed red, his sharp eyes burning with anger.

“You are selfish and desperate, Eli!"

Her forehead creased as confusion clouded her thoughts.

"What did I…?" Then it hit her. Athena had pulled her into the water when she saw Lucas' approaching and pretended to be drowning. 

“You are crazy!” Lucas' voice thundered, his fury palpable. “First, you used your money and connections to overwork her with projects so she couldn’t come back to this country. Now you’re trying to kill her?”

Elise pulled herself up, her gaze shifting to Athena, who remained on the ground, feigning vulnerability. Even now, Elise struggled to grasp the reality of her rebirth.

Lucas growled again, his jaw clenched so tightly it trembled. “Are you just going to stand there and not apologize?”

"Apologize?" Elise's chest tightened as the memories flooded back. She had apologized that day—profusely, tearfully—and had left broken and humiliated. She had spent the entire night crying, then begged Lucas to come home the next day.

That day marked the beginning of her nightmare.

In their first year of marriage, Lucas had been cold and distant. After this incident, though, his cruelty escalated. He had manipulated her endlessly, using her love for him to control her. He had demanded she leave the Villa—her grandfather’s company—and she had obeyed, terrified of losing him.

“L-Lucas, don’t… She’s just angry. Don’t do anything to her. She’s still your wife.” Athena's sickly sweet voice yanked Elise back to the present. Athena's crocodile tears and concerned tone were as convincing as ever. Elise knew better now. Behind the mask of kindness lay a manipulative liar.

“No, Athena!” Lucas' voice rose again, his chest heaving as his fury grew. “She needs to apologize. She’s so desperate for my attention, it’s disgusting!”

Instead of pain, an unfamiliar anger swelled in Elise heart. How did she endure this man’s toxicity for so long? She couldn’t believe how blind and desperate she had been.

“Ah!” A sharp cry escaped her as Lucas grabbed her arm and yanked her toward him.

Her eyes widened as she tried to pull free, but his grip only tightened, his strength almost unbearable.

“Let me go!” she hissed, struggling against him.

“No!” he snapped through gritted teeth, his grip tightening further. “Not until you apologize to her!”

Summoning her strength, Elise shoved him hard. He staggered back, but not before his nails scraped her arm, leaving a stinging scratch. Blood welled from the wound, but she ignored it.

“Lucas, don’t hurt her!” Athena cried, her voice dripping with fake concern.

Elise pressed her lips together, glaring at the scratch for a moment before lifting her head to meet Lucas' eyes. Her expression was blank, indifferent—so different from the tearful, submissive woman he was used to. He faltered, momentarily stunned by her defiance.

If this is real, if she truly went back in time, she'll make things right. She won’t let herself fall into this toxic trap again.

“I’m not going to apologize, Lucas. Never.” Elise turned on her heel, but Lucas grabbed her arm again, forcing her to face him. "What?!” she snarled, her voice heavy with the fury, pain, and determination that had been building inside her.

Lucas jabbed a finger at her. “Say it! Say you’re sorry, Eli, or I’ll divorce you!”

Elise smacked his hand away, her glare unwavering. “Don’t you dare point your finger at me!”

Athena clung to Lucas' arm, her voice soft and pleading. “Lucas, it’s okay. Don’t hurt her. Let’s just leave.”

Elise's lips curled into a sardonic grin. This manipulative snake is convincing, she'll give her that.

“I said apologize!” Lucas' exploded, his voice echoing around them. “If you don’t, I’m leaving you!”

Raising an eyebrow, Elise met his gaze with defiance. “I don’t want to. Go ahead and divorce me—I don’t care.” 

With that, she turned away and walked off, her lips curving into a mischievous grin. For the first time in years, she felt alive. Her heart swelled with the thrill of freedom. This is insane. Absurd. But she's here. She's really here, and she's not dreaming.

Stepping outside, her eyes landed on her car. Her expensive, luxurious car. She remembered selling it to save her grandfather’s company after pulling out a significant amount of money to invest in Lucas' business.

Not this time.

"This time, I’ll make things right. I’ll make him pay..."