Chapter 1 I Will Sign

• The cold storage door opened, and a crematorium worker slowly emerged, pushing a somewhat empty iron-framed bed.
• The bone-chilling cold slightly eased the scorching heat of summer. Bright sunlight streamed through the air, revealing layers of drifting ash swirling through the crematorium.
• The worker, who seemed around 27 or 28, lifted his head. Just as he was about to instinctively call for the crowd to disperse, he realized that from beginning to end, only one man stood there. His face was darkened, his bloodshot eyes filled with sorrow, and his sallow face was etched with grief.
• "Laurel..."
• Timothy Lawson stood before the iron bed, his dry, cracked hands trembling as he gently lifted the shroud.
• Beneath the pale cloth lay a small girl, her waist and abdomen visibly sunken. Blood had stained the fabric red, trailing from her frail body, though it had already frozen stiff.
• Her skin was icy to the touch. Clutched tightly in her tiny hand was a photo from the previous summer, showing a family of three by the riverside. A faint smile remained on her lips, though they had already turned a pale, purplish hue.
• Seeing his daughter like this, Timothy trembled all over, rage burning in his bloodshot eyes.
• His breathing grew heavier, but he forced himself to stay silent, afraid of disturbing her. His entire body shook like a leaf in the wind.
• "It's about time. Hurry up and burn her! I still have to get back to Jonathan's birthday party!" Timothy's brother-in-law stood to the side, glancing impatiently at the green Submariner watch on his wrist.
• The worker, sensing the tense atmosphere, lowered his voice to offer a small comfort. "My condolences. At least, after your daughter passed, her kidney saved another child. That child will live happily for her."
• The brother-in-law sneered at those words, his voice dripping with contempt. "Saving Jonathan's son with your daughter's kidney is already more than she deserved."
• Timothy suddenly turned, his gaze locking onto his brother-in-law with searing hatred. The man's cold, heartless face burned itself into Timothy's mind, and a single thought echoed relentlessly. They killed Laurel!
• The voice in his head grew louder, until all he could hear was the rush of blood in his ears. His vision darkened as rage surged through him. Without thinking, he lunged forward and threw a fist at his brother-in-law's smug face.
• "You worthless piece of trash! I've really let you get away with too much!" The brother-in-law, trained in combat since childhood, wasn't about to back down from Timothy's attack.
• The scorching sun suddenly disappeared behind thick clouds, thunder rumbling across the sky.
• Boom!
• The sky cracked open with thunder as heavy rain poured down in sheets, each drop striking the skin like tiny needles.
• The world blurred under the downpour, visibility dropping sharply.
• Next to a green trash bin, Timothy awoke, jolted by the rain pelting his face. His body ached all over, and his head throbbed violently.
• But his attention wasn't on himself. It was on the black urn lying beside him.
• Beneath the urn rested a dragon-shaped jade pendant and a family photo, now soaked by the rain.
• "Laurel... Laurel!"
• Clutching the urn to his chest, Timothy couldn't hold back anymore. Blood and tears mixed, streaming down his face.
• Thankfully, the pouring rain concealed his breakdown. No one was around, only the relentless hammering of water on the ground kept him company.
• Six years ago, Timothy's family fell into ruin, and he had been forced to flee for his life. By chance, he encountered Hannah Miller, a woman drugged and desperate to escape an arranged marriage imposed by her own family.
• What was supposed to be a one-night mistake turned into something more. Hannah found in Timothy the perfect shield against her family's plans.
• Shortly after their marriage of convenience, Hannah got pregnant and gave birth to their daughter, Laurel Lawson.
• Timothy had originally thought that with Laurel's arrival, Hannah would grow closer to him, and they would live happily together as a family of three.
• But contrary to his hopes, after giving birth to Laurel, Hannah didn't change。 Instead, her disdain for Timothy deepened, extending even toward Laurel.
• For six years, Timothy used his past status and resources to please Hannah, lowering himself to desperate flattery, just to win her back and build the happy family he dreamed of.
• Yet, all those years couldn't compare to the mere week since Hannah's first love returned from abroad.
• After just a few meetings, Hannah couldn't wait to divorce Timothy.
• Laurel's tragic death had been nothing short of a trap, set by that very first love of Hannah's.
• And through it all, Hannah remained ignorant, never bothering to ask questions, completely in the dark.
• "Where are you?!" Timothy's eyes, full of despair, stared down at the urn in his arms as he pulled out his phone and dialed Hannah's video call.
• It took a long moment for her to answer. On screen, Hannah wore an elegant evening gown, a shimmering crystal necklace around her neck, the emerald centerpiece wrapped in 24-karat gold, dazzling in the light.
• Her makeup was light, highlighting her delicate features. She looked like the ugly duckling who had finally turned into a graceful swan.
• Around her, people sat in a lavish banquet hall, bright lights overhead, plates of exquisite food covering the table.
• But facing Timothy's questioning, Hannah's voice was sharp with irritation, her cold eyes devoid of warmth. "I'm celebrating Jonathan's birthday. Are you insane? I told you not to bother me. Is there something wrong with your brain?"
• She added, "It's raining, and instead of being at the hospital helping Laurel recover, you're out there in the rain, playing the pitiful ex trying to win me back? Timothy, you're like a loser chasing a league way out of your reach. Give it up already! The banquet's starting. If you keep causing trouble, don't expect me to pay Laurel's medical bills!"
• Timothy closed his eyes and ended the call. Today was also Laurel's birthday.
• Holding his daughter's urn and her belongings, he looked like an empty shell, a soulless figure wandering aimlessly.
• Beep! Beep! Beep!
• A truck's horn blared frantically, but Timothy's hollow eyes didn't register the danger.
• Crash!
• The sound of screeching brakes tore through the air as his body was flung into the sky, landing heavily on the ground.
• Blood soaked the jade dragon pendant clutched tightly in his hand, its golden glow piercing through the pouring rain.
• "Congratulations, you have obtained the Warlord's legacy!"
• A deep, ancient voice echoed in his ears before Timothy's consciousness faded completely.
• "Timothy, you pathetic loser! Do you think you were ever worthy of marrying me? If I hadn't been forced into it back then, would I have ever looked at you? All these years, you flatter me like a dog just to get your hands on the Miller family fortune. Do you really think I didn't see through you? Spineless failure. I must've been blind to marry someone like you. Now, with all these guests watching, sign the divorce papers or don't even think about leaving this hall!"
• Timothy's eyes snapped open, her voice ringing in his ears.
• He blinked, adjusting to the bright lights around him, shocked by the familiar contempt on the faces of wealthy guests surrounding him.
• Wasn't I dead? How am I here?
• Testing reality, he pinched his thigh. The pain was real. He had truly traveled back to the moment when Hannah humiliated him in front of everyone, stomping his dignity into the dirt.
• Back then, Timothy had been even more pathetic, begging for her to stay, unwilling to let go of his so-called love.
• "I told you, this loser's just a wannabe punching way above his weight. Did he really think life's some cheesy drama where the underdog magically wins?"
• "Yeah, what a joke!"
• "Timothy, take a good look at yourself. Do you think you deserve Ms. Hannah?"
• "Just grovel a little more, maybe she'll give you some extra money!"
• "Forget it, he looks too scared to even speak now. Probably just thinking about how to beg her next!"
• As their ridicule echoed around him, Hannah stood tall like a proud swan, her heels clicking sharply on the floor as she glared down at him. "Timothy, don't even think about begging. Sign the divorce papers."
• But this time, Timothy's eyes flashed with newfound clarity. A small, cold smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he cut her off:
• "Beg? Do you think you're worth it?"
• Hannah blinked, stunned by his sudden change. But she quickly recovered, brushing it off as one last show of pride. "So, you agree to the divorce?"
• "Isn't this what you've been waiting for? Fine. I'll sign."