Chapter 3

"If you hadn't been so harsh back then, maybe it wouldn't have blown up like that," she snapped.

***

Her words dragged me back.

In our last life, we met at some art show. Clicked fast, started dating, then tied the knot like it was meant to be.

We threw a big party—friends, family, the works.

That's when Jason crashed it.

Slick suit, smug face, playing Mr. Perfect.

The second Summer saw him, she froze.

Didn't think much of it at first. But after that? She started drifting. Pulled away.

Stopped sleeping in the same room.

Something felt off. I just didn't wanna admit it.

We liked the same stuff. Wanted the same things. I loved her. No way she'd cheat, right?

But then she started staying out late. Always on her phone.

One night after work, I saw her outside—wrapped up in Jason's arms.

That broke me.

I snapped. Demanded answers.

She shot back, "Ethan, look at you! You're always exhausted, sloppy, like some washed-up old man. Jason's everything you're not—charming, clean, in control. He's who I want."

Those words wrecked me.

Then she said it—

"This marriage was a mistake."

The one person I trusted ditched me for my own cousin.

Once it was out, she didn't flinch—just asked for a divorce.

I lost everything. Eventually, I gave up.

On the way to sign the papers, Jason kept running his mouth.

I was too mad to notice the truck turning the corner.

One loud crash—then black.

When I came to, it was our wedding day again. Right after we got the license.

I wasn't doing that mess twice. So I let them go.

They got together, moved overseas. I went back to the law firm.

This time, I had the upper hand—knew how it all played out.

Climbed fast, became lead attorney. Met someone real.

No more heartbreak. No more do-overs.

***

The whole clan had shown up. My parents strolled over, arm in arm, grinning.

"Ethan, did you say hi to everyone yet?"

I jerked my chin at the crowd. "They're all over Jason and Summer. Doubt they even noticed me."

Their smiles faded, but they stayed quiet.

I got it—those two had gone big overseas. Of course people wanted a piece of that spotlight.

That's just how people are—suck up to the flashy, stomp on the quiet.

But as we moved in, I kept hearing the same crap on repeat.

"Sure, Summer picked the wrong guy at first, but that mistake led her to Jason—totally fate!"