"Mom, take me to the hospital, I'm sick!" My son, Leo, threw himself at my feet, his little fists hammering my thigh. "My stomach hurts, my head hurts, everything hurts!" Seeing my young son standing there, tangible and alive, I finally believed it. I was reborn. The rage from my past life hadn't dissipated. The thought of the son I raised with such care faking an illness to help Bella scam me out of money—money she used to study abroad while I rotted—made me sick. He had even called her "Mom" with such affection. I had been a good mother. In my last life, when he cried about pain, I swallowed my pride and begged the base driver to rush us to the hospital. While I was terrified for his health, he and his father were plotting how to deceive me. Right, my husband, the decorated officer, Ethan Stone. Father and son, cut from the same cloth. Neither could take their eyes off Bella. Since fate has given me a second chance, I will never let them hurt me again. 1 My son's fists rained down on me. "Bad mommy! I want to go to the hospital!" "Okay," I replied indifferently. I turned around, walked into the bedroom, and lay down. Leo was stunned. He gritted his teeth, threw himself on the floor, and started wailing. But I remained unmoved. "You're a bad woman!" He screamed and ran out the door, straight to the group of neighborhood women gossiping in the courtyard. "Mommy won't take me to the hospital..." He looked at me with tearful eyes, but there was a cunning glint in them. "I hurt all over. It feels so bad." The women's faces instantly darkened. "Mrs. Stone, are you human?" They were indignant. "The child is sick and you won't take him to the doctor? What kind of mother are you?!" seeing me walk out, Leo scrambled over. "Mommy, I won't be naughty anymore," he acted pitifully. "Please take me to the hospital." "Sure." I smiled faintly, grabbed him by the collar, and tossed him into the abandoned chicken coop next to the house. "MOM!" Leo was stunned, crying in terror inside the coop. The onlookers were even more shocked. "Leo's mom, what are you doing?" I clapped my hands clean. "This is an old remedy from my hometown. If a kid is acting up and feeling 'unwell,' living in a chicken coop for two days cures everything. No need for a hospital." The women stared, wide-eyed. "How is that possible?" "Sarah! Have you lost your mind?!" A furious roar came from behind me. I shuddered. "It's not enough that you're ignorant? Do you want to kill our son with your stupidity?" My husband, Ethan, looked like he wanted to strangle me. "I never should have brought you from the village to the base!" "Calm down, don't blame Sarah." Bella, dressed in a fashionable Western dress, gently smoothed Ethan's furrowed brow. "She's from the countryside, she doesn't know any better. It's not her fault, as long as she learns." She leaned affectionately on Ethan's shoulder, looking down at me with condescension. No one thought their intimacy was inappropriate. As if Bella was the real mistress of this house. Him and her. One stole my future, the other left me disabled for life. I'll settle this debt slowly. Ethan tore open the coop and dragged Leo out. "I'm taking him to the hospital now," he said coldly. "If anything is wrong with him, it's on you." We arrived at the county hospital in ten minutes. Bella handed me a report that read "Confirmed: Leukemia." "I never thought Leo would have such bad luck." Her eyes were red. "Leukemia is aggressive. The doctor says we need at least ten thousand dollars for treatment." Bella looked up, her eyes probing cautiously. "Sarah, you're his biological mother. You'll definitely raise the money, right?" It was the same in my last life. Bella handed me the diagnosis. I was stunned by the word "Leukemia." I didn't have time to doubt it. I ran myself ragged raising money. In the 80s, jobs were scarce. I worked without sleep. When that wasn't enough, I knelt and begged door to door, enduring humiliation. But I never imagined. Every cent I scraped together went into Bella's pocket, funding her lavish life abroad. In this life, she won't suck my blood again! "What are you standing there for?" Ethan glared at me. "Our son is sick! Go get the money!" "Oh, right," he added. "You can give your study abroad slot to Bella. Stay home and take care of Leo." Giving away my future to another woman. He didn't hesitate. "This hospital is unreliable." I hugged Leo tight. "Let's go to another one. Just to be safe." Their faces froze. Bella tried to stop me. "Let's not waste time, just do it here—" "I'm his mother. I decide." I dragged Leo to the new hospital across town. Three hours later, I had the physical exam report. "Look. The other hospital misdiagnosed him." I smiled. "All indicators are normal. No leukemia." Seeing the report, Bella looked like she'd swallowed a fly. Leo, who had been whining about pain, went silent. "I suspect he's just bored at home." I beamed. "The sports academy is recruiting. Let's send him there to toughen up. Support the national fitness initiative." The sports academy was a boarding school. Home visits every two weeks. Conditions were harsh. Since this kid didn't want a good home and wanted to be an ingrate, I'd send him to enjoy some collective discipline. "I don't want to go—" Leo panicked. "Mommy Bella save me! I don't want to go to the sports academy!" Bella's face turned pale. "Leo, you misspoke. I'm not your mommy, I'm your auntie." Her eyes darted around. "Don't say that again." "But Daddy said..." "Shut up!" Bella fled. Ethan glared at me viciously before chasing after her. My smile turned cold. No wonder Leo accepted Bella so easily. Ethan had been teaching him to call her "Mom" behind my back. I left Leo in the pediatric ward and went to pay the bill. I accidentally saw Bella crying in a corner. "Will I never get to go abroad?" Her eyes were swollen. "But it's my dream. My grandmother always told me stories about studying overseas. I want it so much." "Why can't Sarah just play dumb and help me with the money and the slot? I'd be grateful..." Ethan held her, eyes full of heartache. "I'll figure out the money and the slot. Don't worry." Bella smiled through her tears and kissed Ethan on the cheek. I had no interest in watching further. I paid the bill and left with Leo. I sent Leo to the sports academy. No matter how much he cried and kicked, I didn't soften. Without a child to care for, I had ample time to study English and prepare for my departure. After a few peaceful days, Ethan suddenly came home. Since Bella arrived at the base, he spent eight out of ten nights at her singles' dorm. He rarely came home. In my past life, I fought about it. But his excuse—"I'm just used to looking out for Comrade Bella"—shut me down. I ignored Ethan and continued reading. Suddenly, his warm body pressed against mine, smelling of laundry soap. His hands gripped my shoulders. "It's late. Let's sleep." As if that wasn't enough, he scooped me up in his strong arms. "It's been a while since we were intimate." He looked at me with deep eyes. "Let's try tonight." Ethan blatantly placed the contraceptives he got from the clinic in front of me. To be fair, his daily training made his body hard as iron. His stamina was incredible. Any woman would fall for him. In my past life, I would have shyly agreed, secretly anticipating it. But now, I only felt repulsion. "No need." I lowered my eyes. "If you have needs, go find Bella." "Don't talk nonsense!" Ethan frowned. "She and I are innocent. Intimacy is only for you." I laughed bitterly, shook him off, went into the guest room, and locked the door. Ethan was gone the next morning. I went out as usual to process my paperwork. "Leo's mom!" The clinic auntie stopped me, looking curious. "Your husband treats you so well. He went specifically to buy pills for... you know. Everyone envies your luck." I looked at her blankly. "What are you waiting for? Go see!" She dragged me to the clinic. I was about to leave when I heard Ethan's hushed voice. "As long as the pills work. If she gets pregnant, she can't go abroad with a belly." "But you already have Leo. Policy doesn't allow a second child." "I never intended for her to give birth." Ethan's words chilled me to the bone. So the sudden intimacy was a trap. To get me pregnant so the study abroad office would reject me. As for the child, it wouldn't even survive. The baby and I were just stepping stones for Bella. I retched. Right. In my last life, he disfigured and disabled me. In this life, merely getting me pregnant and forcing an abortion was him being "merciful." I held back my tears and ran to the Commander's office. "Commander, I want to file for divorce!" "Why so sudden?" The Commander was surprised. "If it's about Bella, Ethan already spoke to me. He's just looking out for a teammate. Don't overthink it." I shook my head. "It's not about him. I plan to dedicate myself to the development of the Northwest frontier immediately after I return from my studies." Building the Northwest meant spending years, maybe decades, in secret facilities. It often meant sacrificing family. "Sacrificing the small family for the greater good." The Commander sighed. "I admire your dedication. But does Ethan agree?" "I don't need his opinion. I insist on divorce." The Commander looked at me deeply. "Alright. The organization can approve a special divorce without Ethan's consent. Comrade Sarah, you may dedicate your life to your cause." Leaving the office, I received more good news. The study abroad office moved the training schedule up. The departure date, originally next month, was now tomorrow. I rushed home to pack. "You're really leaving—" Seeing me packing, Ethan's face turned livid. He pulled a packet of pills from his pocket. "I bought these for you. Take them." He probably didn't expect the date to change either. Tonight was his last chance to trap me. I didn't even look. I threw the pills in the trash. "Are you determined to go?" he asked. "Yes." "Enough!" Ethan glared at me. "Bella is clearly more suited for this opportunity. Why do you insist on hoarding it?!" "Or are you just jealous of her education and want to bully her?" I laughed in anger. "I earned this spot with my exam scores. I didn't steal it. Why should I give it to her?" "But you shouldn't—" Ethan stopped, unable to find a rebuttal. He didn't speak to me again until the next day. I happily dragged my luggage to wait for the bus. It was rare for someone from the base to go abroad. Neighbors gathered to watch. Just as the bus arrived and I was about to board, Ethan appeared and grabbed me. "Don't go. Mom and Dad are critically ill." His attitude was cold. "You need to go back to the village and care for them immediately." Bella walked over with an identical suitcase, smiling. "Ethan is right. Filial piety comes first. Sarah, you should go back." "As for studying abroad, I'll go in your place." I was stunned. Watching Bella move to take my place, I tried to rush forward, but the neighbors blocked me. "Sarah, there will be other chances to study. But if your in-laws die because of you, can you live with that?" "We thought you were a good wife. Turns out you're selfish. Ethan was blind to marry you." Ethan watched with satisfaction as I was besieged. He snatched my bag, took out my admission documents, and handed them to Bella. "Give it back!" I screamed desperately. But no matter how I struggled, the crowd held me tight.
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