I spent ten years chasing the woman who would burn me alive. My wife. All because she was afraid I'd expose what she'd done with my halfbrother. As the flames consumed me, I saw a stranger rush into the fire. She pulled me into her arms. Her tears burned hotter than the flames on my skin. "Ethan," she sobbed. "If there's a next life... can you choose me first?" My soul scattered. But I saw her before I died. This woman---Serena Vance. She built me a gravestone. *"My Beloved Husband."* She destroyed Rose and Julian without mercy. Then she took her own life. When I opened my eyes again, I'd been reborn. I broke off my engagement to Rose Miller. I married Serena instead. Two years later, Rose was on her knees in front of me. She'd been reborn too, apparently. But I'd already sworn to love Serena in this life. So why was everything falling apart? Serena started going to clubs with Julian. My stomach ulcer flared up. I collapsed at home, alone. She was having dinner with my brother. When Julian ran over the stray dog we'd adopted together, she did nothing. I held the small body in my arms, shaking. "Why?" My voice cracked. "Why are you doing this to me?" Serena looked at me like I was pathetic. "Do I need a reason to stop loving someone?"
I told Mrs. Vance I wanted a divorce. "Please don't tell Serena yet," I begged. She squeezed my hand. "I'm so sorry, Ethan." I took the divorce papers and went to find Serena myself. I found her at a private club. Through the VIP booth window, I saw her wrapped around Julian. Her chin rested in the curve of his neck. He whispered something. She smiled. I knocked. Serena's eyes flicked up. Annoyed. "Who let you in?" I held out the papers. My arm stayed frozen in the air. Five seconds. Ten. My shoulder started to ache. Finally, she pinched Julian's waist. "Take it." Julian leaned into her like a cat, flipping through the papers lazily. His eyes widened. "What's this?" Serena frowned. "What?" "Nothing." Julian's smile stretched wide. He turned to the signature page. "Serena... I think Ethan brought you some company documents. You should sign them so he can leave." My blood went cold. But Serena barely glanced at the papers. "You sign," she said. "I'm giving you full authority." I watched Julian scrawl Serena's name across the divorce agreement. "Wait," I said. "Serena, don't you want to read---" She laughed. "He speaks for me. What, afraid I'll go back on my word in front of all these people?" Something inside me cracked. She used to check every document I gave her. Every single one. Now she trusted Julian more than me. Julian handed me the signed papers. I turned to leave. A hand grabbed my arm. Serena pulled me back. "Hold on." "What?" She smiled. It didn't reach her eyes. "Come home with us. I'm pregnant. Julian's moving in to help me through it." My vision blurred. "And Ethan?" Her voice was sweet as poison. "Make him that chicken soup he likes so much." Pregnant. Serena was pregnant with Julian's child. Bile rose in my throat. "I won't do it." Julian tugged her sleeve. "It's okay, Serena. Don't force him." "Shut up." Serena's voice turned to ice. "You'll do what I tell you to do. Now let's go." She didn't wait for an answer. She dragged me back to the villa.
The car pulled up to the villa. Serena dragged me straight to the kitchen. She watched me take out the chicken and vegetables. Fill the pot with water. Only when the flame was lit did she finally leave. I stared at the bubbling broth. This was pathetic. "My dear brother.You must be so disappointed. Serena didn't even look at those divorce papers, right?" Julian's voice came from behind me, , full of mockery. "The woman who used to love you so much... now her heart belongs completely to me. That's just how women are, I guess." He laughed. "But wow, you're so obedient. You were about to leave, but she told you to make soup and here you are. You're such a good little dog." "Are you done?" My voice was flat. Julian's smile vanished. His eyes landed on the pot of boiling soup. Before I could react, he grabbed the handle and swung it at me. The scalding liquid hit my face, my chest, my arms. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't scream. My skin blistered instantly. Then Julian started screaming instead. "Help! HELP!" The door burst open. Serena ran in. For just a second, when she saw me, something flickered in her eyes. Concern? "Serena!" Julian sobbed, clutching his hand. "I tried to help Ethan carry the soup, but he tried to throw it on me!" The pain was unbearable. I curled into myself, shaking. "You're lying," I gasped. "Check the security camera. Check it!" Serena looked at Julian. Doubt crossed her face. "The camera will show everything," I said desperately. "ENOUGH!" Serena snapped. "I believe Julian. You tried to hurt him and burned yourself instead. You deserve this." Julian held up his finger. A tiny blister. "Serena, it hurts." "Let's get you to the hospital." She didn't look at me again. A dull ache spread through my chest. I shook my head with a bitter smile. What an idiot I was, thinking she might actually care about me. Her heart only had room for Julian. I couldn't hold on anymore. Darkness swallowed me. "Ethan!" As I fell, I thought I heard Serena running toward me. Thought I heard panic in her voice. But I was probably imagining it. When I woke up, I was in a hospital room. My blood was draining into Julian's arm. I tried to pull out the IV. Serena grabbed my wrist. "Don't even think about it," she hissed. "You're giving Julian your blood whether you like it or not. This is your fault. He fell because of you." Her eyes were cold. "You should be grateful your worthless blood can save him." The room spun. My burns screamed. The needle in my arm kept sucking me dry. I passed out again. Before I lost consciousness, I heard Serena's angry voice. "I told you to take 20ml to scare him. Not 2000ml, you idiots. Do you want to kill him?" When I woke up again, Serena was sitting by my bed. She tapped her fingers on the table. Her eyes were ice. "Stop pretending to be dead. We're going to the old manor this afternoon." "I don't know what kind of spell you put on my mother, but she's throwing you a networking party. How manipulative." I tried to speak. But my throat was too dry. So I was right. That worried voice I heard was nothing but my imagination. Why would Serena ever care? I was a fool to hope for even a second.
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