Chapter 2

The light in Josie’s eyes slowly faded. Just as she shut them in despair, a strong, burning-hot hand suddenly grabbed her wrist. The world spun, and the next thing she knew, she was pulled against a broad, solid chest.

“Hold on to me!”

A man hoisted her up around the waist. It wasn’t gentle, almost like scooping up a stray cat off the ground. A second later, something exploded nearby. His hand came up immediately, pressing her head against his chest to protect her.

The pungent stench of burning explosives assaulted her senses as a blistering heat wave swept past from behind.

Yet beneath it all was a cold, sharp scent.

It felt strange and yet familiar at the same time.

The smoke stung her eyes. Josie squinted, trying to see the man who had pulled her from the flames.

Through the firefighter’s mask, she could make out only a pair of dark, bottomless eyes.

A moment later, from the corner of her vision, she saw Zac carrying Suzy out of the burning building, standing on relatively safe open ground.

He held Suzy tightly against him, like something precious he had almost lost forever. The fear and desperation in his eyes were emotions Josie had never seen directed at her.

She slowly shut her eyes.

A single tear slid silently down her cheek.

She could feel it with certainty now.

Zac was back too.

Only this time, he chose Suzy.

In their past life, Zac had saved her, and Suzy had died in the fire. He had carried Suzy’s photo with him for seven years, mourning her day and night. He had even refused to let another woman bear his child.

And now, he had finally saved the woman he loved, fixing the regret that had haunted him for years.

He must be happy.

Josie let out a bitter smile.

Fine.

If fate had brought them both back, perhaps it was to give them a chance to finally sever this doomed tie.

It was time for her to let go.

She had inhaled too much smoke, and the emotional shock had taken its toll. Darkness swept over her, and she collapsed.

Just before she fully lost consciousness, she thought she heard Zac’s voice calling out from somewhere nearby, urgent and frantic.

“Where is she? Where’s Josie?”

She let out a soft, inward laugh.

She had to be mistaken.

Right now, his mind would be filled only with Suzy.

And her? She was nobody to him.

*

When she woke again, it was already early morning.

Josie slowly opened her eyes and saw her mother, Susan Spencer, leaning over her with worry written all over her face.

“Josie, you’re awake? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”

Josie’s eyes immediately reddened. She sat up abruptly and threw herself into Susan’s arms, holding her tightly.

“Mom… I missed you so much.”

In this lifetime, Susan was alive. What a blessing.

In her previous life, less than half a year after she married Zac, her parents’ private plane crashed into the mountains during a business trip. Their bodies were never recovered.

For years after that, aside from Zac’s seemingly affectionate but ultimately hollow love, she had never felt an ounce of warmth.

Everyone stared at her abdomen, whispering about why she still had no child.

No matter what pain her body endured or how much sorrow she carried, she could only swallow it silently. She had no one to confide in.

She had woken from countless nightmares in tears, wishing Susan could hug her just once more and tell her everything would be alright.

It felt like life had finally shown her mercy and given her another chance. This time, she would not let history repeat itself.

Susan gently patted her back, her voice trembling with the lingering fear of almost losing Josie.

“Were you scared last night? Thank goodness Zac reacted quickly. He rushed in and saved you right away. I could barely breathe thinking about what might have happened.

“My baby girl is about to get married. If something had happened to you, what would I do?”

Josie’s brow furrowed.

Zac had saved Suzy last night.

How did she become the one he “rescued”? Why was he taking credit for it?

But she did not have time to correct that now. She tightened her hold on Susan’s hand, her voice firm and steady.

“Mom, I’m not marrying Zac.”