Chapter 5

Wendy, looking like she'd been gravely wronged, pouted and stormed off to her room. Moments later, she came back holding an envelope.

"Here's 20 thousand dollars. It's everything I've got, and I'm giving it all to you. As for the 5 thousand dollars? You decide whether my life is worth that much or not."

Jacob's expression softened the moment he saw her like that. "Wendy, come on… What are you doing? You don't need to rush to pay it back. Just take your time."

I shot Jacob a glance, then reached out and took the envelope from Wendy's hand. Right in front of her, I started counting the bills.

"One, two, three… exactly 20 thousand dollars. As for the remaining 5 thousand dollars, consider it my wedding gift for you. Keep it. No need to pay it back."

Jacob panicked. "Alicia! Don't say nonsense like that. Everyone around here can hear you, and everyone knows you're my wife!"

I gave a cold laugh. "Sure. Anyway, everyone knows you spend every other day running off to Wendy's place. We all know who you really care about."

Wendy's face lit up like she'd just won a prize.

Jacob's voice turned solemn, almost like he was taking an oath. "Alicia, I will never divorce you!"

Wendy's smile vanished in an instant.

I didn't respond. I just turned and walked back into the house.

Jacob trailed close behind, as if afraid I might disappear the second he took his eyes off me.

I pulled the envelope back out. I'd meant to leave 10 thousand dollars for Jacob. After all, he was the one who earned it.

But then Wendy suddenly cried out from outside to grab Jacob's attention. He bolted for the door without a second thought, only to hesitate once he got there.

He glanced back at me, the wife who'd just asked him for a divorce. He looked caught, stuck between guilt and instinct.

I waved my hand. "Go. We're neighbors. Helping each other out is a decent thing to do."

Relieved, he rushed out.

A little while later, Elizabeth knocked and came in.

"I just saw Wendy twist her ankle, and Jacob picked her up like a hero and ran straight to the hospital. Who knows if she's really hurt or just putting on a show?

"You're still here, and they're already like this. Once you go abroad, they're going to lose their minds."

I let out a light laugh. "Honestly, Elizabeth, I've already made up my mind to leave. Let them do whatever they want. Since there's nothing else tying me down now, I can finally further my studies in peace.

"Oh, and here's 10 thousand dollars. Give it to Jacob for me, will you? I've finished all the paperwork. I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

Elizabeth was caught off guard. "So soon? Why the sudden rush?"

I kept packing as I answered, "I was worried Jacob might try to stop me when the time came. So I'm leaving ahead of schedule without informing him."

Seeing how resolute I was, Elizabeth just shook her head and sighed. She didn't try to talk me out of it.

The next morning, before the sun was even up, I slipped out of the house with my suitcase in tow. The only thing I left behind for Jacob was a signed divorce agreement.

The moment the plane took off, I felt lighter than I had in years.

In my past life, I threw everything I had into that marriage. I didn't even leave the town, let alone the country. And in the end? I had nothing to show for it.

Even after death, my soul was trapped. I had to watch Jacob and Wendy act like a happy couple every single day. I was furious but stuck in a silent torment.

I watched them act all lovey-dovey until I was given a second life.

And this time, I finally understood—there was nothing more important than becoming the best version of myself and repaying the country.