Reborn: Falling for the Scoundrel (On Purpose)

"Did you hear? Mr. Stone Senior specifically asked for Mrs. Ingram and threatened to bankrupt Mr. Ingram's company if she didn't comply. Apparently, Mr. Ingram has agreed."

"Mr. Stone Senior is in his 60s and is notorious for being a freak. No one would come out of his private brothel alive—at least not with a sane mind. How could Mr. Ingram send her to hell?"

"Well, well. That's because his first love is in the picture. If Ms. Riverson had been the one summoned, Mr. Ingram would rather give up his entire fortune than let her get close to that man!"

The door was half open, so the maids' hushed gossip drifted in from the living room. Pam Williams, who was helping me organize my clothes, couldn't help piping up.

"Mrs. Ingram, don't listen to their nonsense. Why don't you talk to Mr. Ingram again? He's your husband—he'd never actually do such a heartless thing to you."

I smiled helplessly. "Forget it. It's useless."

Everyone in the upper circle knew what Walter Stone was like. He controlled everything and showed no mercy. My husband, Caleb Ingram, would never provoke him for my sake—I knew that much about myself.

In my previous life, Caleb agreed almost immediately when he heard about Walter's demand. To make me go willingly, he put on a show of devotion. He told lie after lie, saying he would rather let the company go bankrupt than give me up.

I was just starting to concede when I saw him downstairs, locked in a deep kiss with Sadie Riverson, his precious first love. And so, I changed my mind. I threatened him with suicide, pointing a knife at my protruding belly until he gave in.

Later, Sadie came forward and volunteered to go in my place. Caleb's eyes immediately reddened. The day he sent her to Walter's villa, he made her a promise right in front of me that he would divorce me and marry her when she came back.

However, the day after she returned, she took her life. The autopsy revealed that she had been pregnant. Caleb handled her funeral casually, and he never brought up divorce again.

I thought that even though he had loved Sadie deeply, he would move on because she was already gone. I believed he still remembered the bond between us and intended to spend the rest of his life earnestly with me. Yet, he did the one thing I never expected.

On the day I gave birth, he took our newborn baby and tossed him off the hospital rooftop. Seeing the life I had carried for ten months, then turned into a pile of bloodied flesh, I knew he had been pretending all this while.

He had never truly moved on from Sadie. In fact, he had resented me all this time.

Hence, when I was reborn and heard Walter had summoned me again, I didn't fight back. In this life, I would gladly step aside and give them my blessings.

"Mrs. Ingram, Mr. Ingram is back and wants you downstairs."

I nodded calmly. "Alright."

I went to the living room and saw Sadie there, taken aback momentarily at how boldly Caleb was gripping her hand in front of me. Had he been reborn as well?

"Nala, Mr. Stone Senior has summoned you. He wants you to go over in two days. You should pack your things," Caleb said. "Oh, and starting today, Sadie will be moving in."

Had this been in the past, I would've lost control and caused a huge scene. Now, I simply nodded and said, "Alright."

Caleb avoided my gaze, guilt flashing across his face. His tone brazenly turned impatient. "What are you plotting this time? Making a fuss won't save you. Go against Mr. Stone Senior, and your consequences will be worse than death."

Sadie chimed in. "That's right. This is also to protect the Ingram family's business. Besides, being chosen by Mr. Stone Senior is a blessing in itself."

I chuckled. "Is that so? Why don't I give this blessing to you, then?"

Caleb flew into a rage at once. "He's the one who's after you! Why are you taking it out on Sadie? Stop with the unwanted sarcasm and apologize to her now."

I ignored him, only to see Sadie dropping to her knees behind him out of nowhere. She put on a righteous, heroic look.

"Mr. Ingram, please don't fight with your wife because of me. I'm just an assistant. I'll get over it, even if she wants to look down on me or mock me. As long as the company is safe, I'm willing to go to Mr. Stone Senior in her place!"

Before her knees even touched the floor, Caleb hurriedly pulled her up. "You're pregnant, Sadie. Don't kneel to her."

The way he looked at her screamed pure adoration. "I know you'd give up everything for me, but Nala's the one he wants."

He suddenly turned to me, his gaze cold. "I'm warning you—don't get any ideas about Sadie, or I won't let you off. If you're worried that I won't want you after you come back, you can relax. I promise I won't divorce you over this."

I could only sneer inside. I turned around, took out a document, and handed it to Caleb.

He frowned, asking, "What is this supposed to mean?"

I smiled. "To make room for the right person, of course. Let's get a divorce, Caleb."