Chapter 2

Ingrid's face instantly turned pale.

Without another word, I turned and walked away.

Her furious voice followed me from behind. "Wesley, stop right there!"

But I ignored it completely.

Early the next morning, just as I entered the yard, I heard a fierce argument coming from the Stewart residence.

Mrs. Hart suddenly popped out of nowhere and grabbed my arm.

"Hey, Wesley, are you heading to work?" She then continued in a lowered voice, "Did you know Ingrid almost got herself ruined by that scumbag Edmund yesterday?

"Now, to make matters worse, she insists on marrying Edmund, saying he had touched her. Isn't that just—"

Before Mrs. Hart could finish, Ingrid rushed out of the house. Her face was streaked with tears, and her clothes were crumpled.

"If any of you dare report Edmund, I'll never marry anyone else in my life!" she screamed hysterically toward the house.

Then, she turned and saw me. In that moment, her gaze held hatred, resentment, and something unclear.

"Thank you," she said to me.

I froze.

"Thank you for not rushing in impulsively to save me in this life." Ingrid suddenly smiled mockingly. "This way, I don't owe you anything."

I jolted—Ingrid had been reborn too.

Ingrid's mother, Mrs. Stewart, rushed out of the house, pointing and screaming hysterically at me.

"Wesley, you heartless scumbag! Ingrid was almost violated, yet you did nothing to save her?"

Neighbors began peering out one after another.

"Wesley is truly despicable. He and Ingrid grew up together, so how could he watch her suffer without stepping in to help?"

"Exactly. How can a young man be so cowardly?"

I watched these self-righteous people coldly.

In my previous life, I sacrificed my entire future to save Ingrid. Yet, in their eyes, I was nothing but a reckless fool.

I chuckled lightly. "Yes, I was cowardly. I couldn't take on seven or eight thugs by myself, so I went to report it to the police. What's wrong with that?"

When Mrs. Stewart heard this, she became even more furious.

"Report it to the police? What good does that do? Once the police are involved, Ingrid's reputation will be ruined! What use are you if you can't even handle a few thugs?"

Looking at Mrs. Stewart's face, twisted with anger, I suddenly felt how absurd it all was.

In my previous life, I lost the use of my right hand trying to save Ingrid. It was chopped up so badly I could never hold a wrench again.

Back then, Mrs. Stewart would visit me every day with chicken soup, saying she'd treat me like her own son from then on.

But after the wedding, whenever Ingrid threw things and called me useless, Mrs. Stewart would mock me alongside her.

I stared at her coldly. "So, you think I should risk my life for Ingrid's reputation? Did it ever cross your mind what would have happened to Ingrid if I hadn't reported the crime in time?"

"Why you—you—" Mrs. Stewart was left speechless, her face flushing a deep red.

Mrs. Hart cut in. "Wesley does have a point. Those thugs were vicious, so charging in alone would've been suicidal."

"Exactly, at least Wesley went to report it to the police."

"If you ask me, Ingrid usually dresses too provocatively. That's what brings this kind of trouble."

As I listened to everyone arguing back and forth, I suddenly felt weary of it all.

These were the same people who had criticized me in my previous life, and now they were turning their judgment on Ingrid in this one.

Public opinion could be formidable, yet in the end, it was hardly worth taking to heart.

Seeing the shift in opinion, Mrs. Stewart grew even more flustered and furious.

"What do any of you know? Now the whole factory knows about this, how is Ingrid supposed to face anyone after this?"

"Mom, stop talking," Ingrid suddenly said, her voice as cold as ice. "What does my reputation have to do with Wesley? He's nothing to me. In any case, I'm set on marrying Edmund, and you can arrange it for me."

With the matter settled, I turned to leave. Just as I reached the alleyway entrance, Ingrid caught up with me.

She stared intently into my eyes and said, "Wesley, were you reborn too?"