Chapter 1 Rebirth and Divorce

• The shrill wail of an ambulance siren pierced through the busy streets of downtown.
• Lucille Stuart lay in the ambulance, her consciousness slowly fading as the voices of the doctor and nurse buzzed in her ears.
• The nurse took her phone away, and she soon heard the nurse making a call.
• "Hello, is this Mrs. Ashworth's husband? Your wife has been in an accident and is currently being rushed to the hospital. Please—"
• "Is she dead?"
• The nurse's words were cut short by the cold, emotionless voice of the man on the other end.
• Stunned, the nurse instinctively replied, "Not yet."
• "I'm busy. Let me know when she's dead so I can pick up the body."
• "Hello—"
• Beep—
• The call ended abruptly before the nurse could finish, leaving the line dead and mocking Lucille's foolish hopes with every hollow beep.
• Even though her awareness was slipping away, she still heard Flint's words as clear as day.
• A bitter smile tugged at her lips as she slowly closed her eyes.
• Some people's hearts are just that cold, Lucille thought. How could I have been so deluded, thinking I could ever change him?
• Her hand fell limply to her side.
• "The patient's heart has stopped…"
• *
• Lucille sat in bed, staring blankly at her pale, unscathed hands. Her smooth skin was completely unmarked.
• What's going on?
• Wasn't I in a car accident and rushed to the hospital?
• Why am I in my bedroom now, with no injuries at all?
• An impossible thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
• Her eyes snapped to the clock on the wall, which read:
• January 1, 2020.
• Had she … been reborn?
• As absurd as it seemed, like something straight out of a novel, it was the only explanation for why she was lying unharmed in her bedroom and why the clock was showing a date from a year ago.
• It was as if fate was giving her a second chance, an opportunity to make different choices.
• She thought back to the heartless words Flint Ashworth had said before she died, and a self-mocking smile curled on her lips.
• Suddenly, something occurred to her, and she turned to open her bedside drawer.
• "Just as I thought … "
• Lucille sneered as she spotted the divorce papers.
• These were delivered by Flint's lawyer yesterday. Even when it came to something as significant as divorce, he couldn't be bothered to talk to her in person.
• In her previous life, she had stubbornly refused to sign the papers, which only worsened their already strained relationship. For an entire year, Flint barely came home, and even when he did, he wouldn't say a single word to her.
• She couldn't understand why she was so fixated on holding onto a marriage that was already dead.
• She had convinced herself that as long as she held onto the title of Mrs. Ashworth, she would eventually win Flint over.
• But in reality, even when she was on the brink of death after the car accident, Flint didn't show the slightest concern. He was practically waiting for her to die.
• The familiar dull ache in her heart resurfaced at the thought.
• Flint was like an executioner wielding a blade, expertly carving her heart apart over and over.
• Even though the pain was unbearable, she had refused to let go.
• The more she thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed.
• She reached into the drawer and pulled out the divorce papers, reading through every word carefully.
• Flint might not have had any feelings for her, but he wasn't stingy.
• The assets he offered in the settlement were more than enough for her to live comfortably for several lifetimes.
• After finishing the document, she headed to the study.
• When she emerged from the study, she was holding an envelope. She then dialed Flint's lawyer.
• "Mr. Lewis, I've signed the divorce papers and made a few revisions. Please pass them on to Flint. If everything looks good, he can go ahead and sign."