Reborn For Revenge

CHAPTER TWO

My eyes snapped open as I woke up, choking on air.

My hands immediately flew to my stomach, and I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the burning pain to spread through my body. I expected the nausea, the weakness, and the horrible pressure in my chest that had made every breath a struggle.

But nothing happened.

"Wait...what?"

I opened my eyes and sat up, looking around my bedroom. The ceiling was whole, my wardrobe stood against the wall, and the curtains beside the windows were exactly as I remembered them.

My room. This was definitely my room.

I looked down at my hands. There were no cuts or bruises, and when I got out of bed, my legs held me without difficulty.

Did I suddenly become well? Did Matheo give me the drug? Am I dreaming?

I walked to the mirror and stared at my reflection.  My jaw was round and full. My lips were plump and red, even my eyes had life shining in them . I looked the same as I had before the apocalypse.

"Oh my God."

I covered my mouth, but I could still feel the tears rolling down my cheeks. I was alive.

I hurried back to the bed and grabbed my phone. When I checked the date, I stared at the screen in disbelief.

"26th October, 2026... what the actual hell?"

I was back in time? Three months before the apocalypse hit and destroyed the world?

I sank onto the bed, tears falling onto my hands.

"Thank you," I whispered.

I didn't know how I'd gotten another chance, but I wasn't going to question it. If whatever power had saved me, gave me another chance, I was not about to waste it either.

Bile filled my throat, mouth and stomach as I remembered the last moments before I died.

Matheo...

"That bastard!!! That evil, ungrateful ungrateful bastard!!!"

I could still remember the pain I'd felt before I died, the blood in my mouth, and how I'd struggled to take my last breath.

How could he stand in front of me with the medicine I needed while I begged him to help me?

I'd been his wife, yet he'd left me to die.

More tears streamed down my face at the Heartbreak.  He had been cheating on me, spending my hard money on his mistress right under my nose.  He chose her life over mine over and over again, and I foolishly let him and his mother walk all over me in the past.

I wiped my face and looked at the date again. I had three months to prepare, and I wasn't going to waste them.

I wouldn't hand over my savings because Matheo claimed he needed money for the family.

I wouldn't watch my supplies disappear while convincing myself I could always buy more. And I would never again put my life in the hands of someone who had already shown me how little it meant to him.

This time, I would be ready.

A knock sounded at my door. I quickly wiped my face, but before I could answer, the door opened and Matheo walked in.

My fingers went cold around the phone.

He looked exactly as I remembered him, with his neatly styled hair and pressed shirt, walking into my room as if nothing had happened. There was no guilt on his face, no regret, no trace of the man who had watched me die.

Of course, they wasn't. He didn't remember any of it.

I did.

For a moment, I could see the ruined building again, feel the concrete against my cheek, and hear myself begging while he stood there with the medicine in his hands. My chest tightened, and I forced myself to take a slow breath.

Matheo glanced up from his phone.

"You're awake."

I stared at him, my nails digging into my palm.

He frowned. "What?"

I nearly laughed in his face. What was I supposed to say? That I had died? That I could still remember begging him to save me while he decided I wasn't worth the fucking medicine?

Instead, I swallowed everything burning in my throat.

Matheo slipped his phone into his pocket and glanced toward the wardrobe. "I'm heading out for a while. I need your card."

My stomach turned.

Of course he did.

In my first life, he always asked for my card just like this. I hadn't questioned him because he was my husband, and I thought trusting him was part of loving him. Whenever he needed money, I gave it to him.

And where had that trust gotten me?

I remembered Morgana avoiding my eyes while Matheo protected her without a second thought.

"Why do you need my card?" I asked.

He gave me an impatient look. "My card is having issues. I already told you that."

"No, you didn't."

He paused, then shrugged. "Maybe I forgot."

I lowered my eyes before my expression could betray me. I had been back for barely an hour, and Matheo was already asking me for money as though nothing had changed.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

I looked up at him. "Out where, Matheo?"

He sighed. "I have somewhere to be, Vanessa. Do I really have to explain every little thing to you?"

My mouth tightened. I knew that tone. He used it whenever I questioned his excuses or wanted to know where my money was going. Somehow, he always made me feel as if I were the one causing trouble.

I used to back down just to keep the peace...not anymore.

"If your card is not working, call the bank, not me. I dont work there."

His jaw tightened. "I just told you I have somewhere to go. Are you going to make me beg you for money? Is that how you see me?"

I looked at him, remembering how easily he and Morgana had spent my money while I sat at home believing my husband was taking care of something important. My stomach twisted, but I kept my face calm.

Matheo stepped closer, apparently tired of the conversation. He leaned down to kiss me, and I turned my face away before his lips could reach mine.

His mouth brushed my cheek.

He straightened, staring at me. "What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing."

"You just turned away from me."

"I am not in the mood."

He let out an irritated breath. "You've been acting strange all day."

I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from telling him exactly why. I remembered him holding that medicine container, looking me in the eye and deciding I wasn't worth saving.

Even now, I could still hear his voice telling me there was no point wasting a dose on someone who might die anyway.

I wanted to scream at him. Instead, I met his gaze.

"I'm tired, leave me alone for now."

"You just woke up, baby... what is wrong with you?."

"Do you want me to apologize for that too?"

His brows drew together. "Are you on your period or something?"

I stared at him, my fingers curling into my palms. Even now, he could look at me and reduce whatever I felt to a period.

He rubbed his forehead impatiently. "Did you take your anxiety medication?"

A short, disbelieving laugh slipped out of me. Damn, this  fucker just called me crazy.

"Go the fuck away from me, please. I need to breathe some fresh air. You dont even know how much I begged for fresh air"

Fuck. I let that slip.

His expression hardened. "Vanessa, what are you talking about. Don't start, ok?"

I had heard those words so often that I could have said them with him. They used to make me question myself until I convinced myself I was being too sensitive. I had spent years trying to be the kind of wife who didn't complain or make his life difficult.

And when I needed him most, he had left me to die.

I leaned against the headboard and folded my arms, meeting his eyes.

"I'm not starting anything, Matheo. You came into my room. Inside my space. Stressing my life, disturbing my morning...Do you hear yourself?"

He stared at me, his mouth parting slightly before he closed it again.

I waited for him to twist my words around or tell me I was being unreasonable. But for once, he seemed unsure of how to respond.

I held his gaze, refusing to soften my words just to make him comfortable.

"No," I said when he still didn't answer. "Don't bother. I don't need an explanation."

I turned away and focused on my phone. I could feel his stare, but I didn't look back. For years, I had been so afraid of upsetting him that I had forgotten I was allowed to say no.

He wasn't getting my card. He wasn't getting my savings, and he wasn't getting another chance to convince me that loving him meant putting myself last.

I had three months to prepare for the apocalypse, protect what belonged to me, and make sure I never ended up helpless in front of him again.

I had already died once because I trusted Matheo.

I wouldn't make that mistake twice.