Chapter 1

I collapsed in the street with my clothes in disarray. Vanessa Coleman looked at me with eyes full of aching concern and draped a jacket over me.

"Don't talk about it," she comforted me. "Let's go home first."

The eyes of neighbors and acquaintances cut into me like knives.

I shuddered all over and finally believed that I really had been reborn.

In my previous life, I had been kidnapped for no clear reason. Twenty-four hours later, I was dumped outside my own home.

I was a wreck, filthy and drained.

Vanessa put on the perfect-wife act, terrified that anyone might touch my wounds.

She forbade everyone from asking me what had happened.

Even when I asked her myself, she refused without hesitation.

"You're very fragile right now. Get some rest first. Leave everything else to me."

Back then, I was dazed enough to believe she was thinking of me.

But within three days, the rumor that I had been retaliated against for some shameful affair had spread everywhere.

By the time I tried to clear my name, it was already too late.

It was not until after I killed myself in old age that Vanessa came to pay her respects at my grave.

Those hypocritical eyes of hers grew moist for two seconds as she thanked me for everything I had done all those years.

But she said she did not regret it. In her mind, I had taken the place meant for the man she'd never gotten over and killed her fantasy.

If she had to do it again, she would still do the same thing.

Seeing me stare straight at her, Vanessa's face flickered with panic for a second.

But very quickly, she tried to lead me home.

To the relatives and friends who wanted to come forward, she said, "Miles isn't doing well. For the sake of his mental state, please don't see him right now."

Every word sounded sincere. Even my parents hesitated for a moment.

They looked at me with swollen, red eyes, afraid that if Vanessa was right, they might upset me.

Rage shot straight to my head. I shook off Vanessa's hand, which was digging into my wrist, and strode toward my parents.

Their tears spilled instantly, and they reached out to hold me.

"Miles, my poor boy."

Once they calmed down a little, I signaled to them calmly.

"Mom, Dad, I'm fine. Let's go home and talk."

Vanessa panicked and immediately followed.

Her voice rose despite herself. "Miles Lawson, haven't you made enough of a scene? Don't run around at a time like this."

My son did not understand either. He glanced at the probing eyes around us and said irritably, "Dad, why aren't you going home? Why are you going to Grandma's?"

My heart clenched. The mother and son were echoing each other perfectly.

There was no worry for me in their eyes at all. There was only fear that the truth would come out, and resentment that I had embarrassed them.

My parents noticed it too. Their faces darkened. After exchanging a glance, they pulled me into the car.

Vanessa was completely stunned, then she and our son hurried after us.

When she saw me take out my phone to call the police, she snatched it away and shut the screen off without even thinking.

For one instant, everyone in the car looked at her.

Vanessa's face froze. Her eyes shifted unnaturally.

"I've already reported it for you. There's no need to do it again."

But I knew she was lying.