Chapter 1

Nathan's POV

"Nathan Walsh, did you hear me? Pull him back!"

My wife, Sophie Barrett, who was usually so calm and gentle, was glaring at me with bloodshot eyes. She barked the order without a single thought for my safety.

It was just like in my last life. Back then, when I plummeted to my death, Sophie hadn't even glanced at my body. Instead, she had rushed straight to Damon Herman's side, shielding him from the horror.

After ten years of being married, that was the moment I realized my life meant absolutely nothing to her.

As hatred surged through my veins, I gave her a cold look and turned on my heel to leave.

Damon Herman immediately called out to me, "Professor Walsh, please, I'm in so much pain. Help me."

Tears streamed down his face, making him look helpless and innocent.

Down below, the crowd of students and staff started shouting in sympathy.

"Professor Walsh, don't leave! Talk to him! Don't let him do this! He's so young!"

"Yeah! He sees you as family! You can't just walk away!"

I let out a cold laugh.

Damon wasn't going to jump. He had stalked me for six months and pretended to take his own life three times already. He didn't want to die. He wanted me dead.

Yet this crowd, wrapped up in their own self-righteousness, was trying to guilt-trip me.

The courtyard below was packed. If I walked away now, everyone would brand me a cold-blooded murderer.

My muscles tensed, and my head throbbed.

"Professor Walsh, I grew up an orphan. If it weren't for you and Professor Barrett funding my education, I wouldn't even be here. You're like an older brother to me. I know you mean well, but the pressure is too much! I can never live up to your expectations! Death is my only way out!"

Damon sobbed loudly, painting me as the villain driving him to the edge.

His mother had died when he was young, his father had abandoned him, and he was raised by his grandmother, who scavenged for a living.

I had sponsored him since middle school, hired top-tier tutors for his high school years, and gotten him into a prestigious university.

But Damon grew greedy. He went from bashfully refusing charity to demanding the latest phones, designer sneakers, and luxury watches.

Now, he wanted my life so he could fully leach off my estate.

Sophie abandoned her usual graceful demeanor and shouted, "Nathan, a life is on the line! I don't care what happened between you two. Just get him down now!"

The crowd below chimed in right on cue.

"Professor Walsh, just apologize! Don't push him over the edge!"

"If he jumps, you're a murderer! You'll never wash your hands of this!"

A flash of smugness crossed Damon's face. He purposefully dangled one foot over the ledge, pretending to lose his balance.

"Ah!" he cried out dramatically as he clung to the edge.

Gasps erupted from the crowd, and several people whipped out their phones to record.

One yelled right at me, "Professor Walsh, grab him! If you don't, his blood is on your hands!"

Inspired, others started recording too.

But I didn't panic. Sure enough, within minutes, the distant wail of sirens echoed through the air.

Damon's eyes narrowed in frustration. He realized that if he didn't act now, he would fail completely.

He reached a hand out toward me. "Professor Walsh, my leg went numb. Please, just give me a hand. Pull me up, and I'll come back inside."

His voice shook with feigned terror, but the malice in his eyes was unmistakable.

I knew the second I got close, he would drag me down with him.

Without a word, I turned and walked briskly down the stairs, passing the arriving firefighters on my way out.

Damon watched me leave, his eyes wide with sheer disbelief.