Chapter 2

I gently brushed a fallen leaf off her shoulder. "Everyone has their fate. If this is mine, then I’ll accept it. But I believe I can live well on my own," I said calmly. "What I fear most are people who, when faced with hardships, vent their frustrations on others. Isn’t that the mark of a useless person?" Angela's pupils contracted. She grabbed my wrist tightly. "Maggie! You’ve been reborn, too, haven’t you?" My indifferent expression, unusual for an unmarried girl, only confirmed her suspicion. "So what if you have been reborn? The one marrying Shamar now is me! Just wait and cry over that short-lived man!" With that, she stormed off in anger. Watching her retreating figure, I fell into deep thought. Angela's words reminded me—what would I do if Reynaldo died? Those greedy uncles and cousins of his were no joke. As a weak woman, I’d likely be devoured until there was nothing left of me. I thought about it all evening until a soft voice suddenly came from the window. When I pushed it open, I was stunned. Reynaldo was at the window, covered in sweat, moonlight highlighting his face. His rare and strikingly handsome features took my breath away. I couldn’t help but gasp. "Don’t misunderstand me," he said, panting but unable to hide the sparkle in his eyes. "I’m not a pervert... I just heard you’re going to marry me, so I wanted to see my future wife." "Can I ask you something?" he said hesitantly, making me a bit uneasy. "What is it?" "Are you a fairy? How can someone be this beautiful?" The instant he said it, his face turned crimson. I couldn’t hold back my laughter, but suddenly, footsteps came from behind me. "Well, Maggie! Caught red-handed with a man before the wedding! How are you going to explain yourself now?" Angela pushed the window wide open, only to freeze when she saw Reynaldo. "What are you doing here?" Reynaldo’s disdain was barely hidden in his eyes. "I came to discuss the wedding with my wife. Is that a problem? But you, throwing accusations around so casually—what an ill-mannered thing to do." Angela’s face turned red with anger, and having no outlet, she turned her fury on me. "Don’t get cocky! So what if you get along now? He doesn’t have much time left!" Reynaldo clicked his tongue, the scorn in his expression unmistakable. "Our marriage is none of your concern. The only thing I know is that I will never let Maggie suffer." Angela was so furious that her teeth were practically grinding. "Maggie, I’ll be waiting for the day you become a widow!" Angela had constantly brought up the word "widow" these days. The experiences of her past life had become a nightmare for her. That was why she was so satisfied with Shamar now. As long as he stayed alive, she was happy—what low standards. "Sister, you’d better start learning how to cook and clean. Shamar’s family doesn’t have servants, so you’ll have to do everything yourself," I said coolly, hitting her where it hurt most. Angela stormed off in a fit of rage. Before long, I heard her downstairs, whining to our mother, asking for more dowry. Meanwhile, Reynaldo had reverted to his earlier puppy-like demeanor, resting his head on the windowsill and gazing at me. "Maggie, believe me. As long as I’m alive, I’ll never let you suffer." The word "alive" struck a chord in my heart. I instinctively reached out to cover his lips. The touch of our skin magnified the sound of his heartbeat. How strange. I’d been someone’s wife in my past life, yet here I was, losing my composure. I cleared my throat to hide my shyness. "Reynaldo, I don’t ask for a luxurious life. I only want you to stay alive. Nothing matters more than your life. Understood?" After a long pause, he looked up, smiling as if he’d made some kind of resolution. "Understood."