Chapter 2

"Please confirm your information. If everything is correct, I’ll sign the papers. Congratulations, you are officially husband and wife."

The voice of the City Hall clerk brought me back to reality. I snapped out of my daze and turned to look at Chloe, who was standing beside me with a cold, displeased expression.

I had actually traveled back in time to the day Chloe and I were registering our marriage—the very day before Lucas fell to his death.

In my ears, Chloe’s venomous curse from my past life seemed to still echo.

"If you hadn't drugged me and taken my innocence back then, do you really think I would have married you? Why don't you just die already!"

That suffocating feeling of being wrapped in despair hit me again. I suddenly stood up and snatched our marriage license and ID papers back from the clerk.

Ignoring the clerk's bewildered look, I turned to Chloe.

"There’s still time to back out. Lucas is waiting for you right outside City Hall, isn't he? Are you absolutely sure you want to marry me?"

Chloe completely didn't expect my sudden move. A flash of surprise crossed her face.

But she quickly composed herself and let out a cold sneer. "What kind of game are you playing now, Ethan? Cut the crap and finish the paperwork. I don't have time to play house with you."

With that, Chloe turned and walked toward the exit.

Watching her retreating figure, a bitter smile played on my lips.

In my past life, Chloe and I grew up together. Our marriage was arranged long ago, and I always believed we were in love.

It wasn't until after we got married, when she smashed our wedding photos, refused to look at our marriage certificate, and publicly screamed at Lucas’s funeral that I didn’t deserve to live, that I finally understood. She blamed me for trapping her in a lifelong cage.

Only then did I realize that the ten years of sweetness I thought we shared were nothing but agonizing torture to her.

Seeing the tension between us, the clerk looked at me hesitantly. "Sir, are we still going through with this?"

"No, thank you."

I took the documents and deliberately lingered inside for a while before walking out.

Just like in my past life, she didn't even spare me a glance.

But as she reached out to grab her documents from me, I took her hand.

The familiar warmth gave me a real sense of being alive again. A mix of pain and surprise erupted in my mind.

Chloe looked at me strangely. "It's just a marriage registration. Is there any need to be this happy? You were acting so hesitant inside."

I nodded. "Yes, I am happy."

But I was no longer happy because I was marrying her. I was happy because this time, I had the power to choose again.

Chloe coldly pulled her hand away. Just as she was about to get into her car, a staff member walked over.

She handed us a large bottle of champagne, naturally assuming we were newlyweds who had just signed our papers.

"Congratulations to you both! Please take this champagne as a gift. I wish you a lifetime of happiness."

I suddenly remembered my past life. Back then, I was so eager to rush home and celebrate with Chloe, only to be met with her rolling her eyes.

"We have a lifetime to spend at home. I’m going out. Don't waste my time."

Back then, I thought she was just tired after a long day, so I humbly apologized to her.

But now, I gripped the champagne, about to throw it into a nearby trash can, when Chloe suddenly slammed her car door shut.

Seeing that I hadn’t gotten in, she frowned with impatience.

"Didn't you say we were going home to celebrate? What are you lingering for?"

I stood frozen, almost thinking I had misheard her.

Chloe actually walked back to my side, snatched the champagne from my hand, and said, "I’m telling you, this is the last time. I won't keep spoiling you like this in the future."

I lowered my gaze, and a faint ripple stirred in my long-dead heart.

To be honest, our ten-year marriage in my past life wasn't entirely filled with darkness.

Before Lucas’s accident, our colleagues always called us the perfect couple.

Because of those moments, I had constantly blinded myself, never noticing that anything was wrong.

Chloe used to cook for me on my birthdays, even when she got blisters on her hands, just to give me a surprise.

She would fly back from abroad the moment I got sick, completely disregarding a multi-million-dollar business deal.

And later, when the lab caught fire and I was trapped in the flames, she was the one who rushed in without a second thought to drag me out.

I was the one who was supposed to die in that explosion, but she threw herself over me, shielding me from the blast.

Setting aside her bitter words, how could I easily let go of someone who had loved me like that?