Chapter 3

I met Ingrid's gaze and saw the panic and probing in her eyes. She was afraid that I also remembered what happened in my previous life.

She took a deep breath, as if steeling herself.

"I admit I wronged you in our previous lives. I betrayed your love for me, but you know what? If you hadn't meddled, Edmund and I would have been together long ago. It was your 'kindness' that tied me to you."

She grew more agitated as she spoke. "I had no choice but to marry you. Do you have any idea how much I suffered?"

Seeing how worked up she was, I couldn't help but find the whole thing utterly ridiculous. She was still making excuses for herself and blaming me.

I smiled faintly. "Don't worry, I won't play the fool again. I'm staying out of your and Edmund's affairs from now on."

She eyed me suspiciously. "You're not planning to pull something behind my back, are you?"

Even after half a lifetime together, she had not an ounce of trust in my character.

"Rather than worrying about me, perhaps you should worry about whether you're marrying the wrong person."

"Don't you dare slander Edmund!" she snapped, glaring at me angrily. "He's a hundred times better than you!"

Soon, word spread through the factory that Ingrid was going to marry Edmund. People gossiped endlessly, and someone said she was willingly throwing herself into ruin. But I paid no attention to their talk.

I walked straight into the office of the factory manager, Jordan Cain, and earnestly submitted my application.

Mr. Cain reviewed the documents and nodded in satisfaction. "There are only three spots for this advanced training program in Elmridge. Wesley, if you go, make sure you study hard."

I nodded.

In my previous life, before Mr. Cain could even inform me of this opportunity, I had already been hospitalized after saving Ingrid. Thus, I missed out on this chance entirely.

It was only later that I learned that those who went to Elmridge for training were eligible to apply for special college admission quotas.

Mr. Cain hesitated before saying, "What a shame it's not you who Ingrid is marrying. But going to Elmridge might help you heal a bit from that heartbreak."

"Mr. Cain, don't worry. I've already moved on."

He patted my shoulder. "When you come back, I'll introduce you to a nice girl."

I nodded with a smile, but I was already thinking about what I needed to pack.

However, when I returned home, I found the yard in complete disarray, and several strangers were hauling my furniture out of the house.

"What are you all doing?" I demanded.

I swept a cold gaze across the yard. The coffee table, wardrobe, and television had all been dragged outside. Even the redwood table my parents had left behind was being carried out by someone, and my door had been forcibly pried open.

"Put that down," I ordered sharply.

Startled, the mover let go of the table. It crashed to the ground with a loud thud, a corner chipping off.

A sharp pain twisted in my chest.

"What are you shouting about?" Mrs. Steward planted her hands on her hips. "Consider these things compensation for you standing by and doing nothing. Ingrid's reputation is ruined because of you, so what's wrong with us taking a few measly items?"

I let out a cold laugh. "You're just plain robbing me."

Leaning against the doorframe, Edmund looked at me tauntingly.

"What's the matter, Wesley? Are you trying to worm yourself out of this? Ingrid and I wanted a little privacy, and you just had to stick your nose in.

"If it weren't for you calling the police, I wouldn't have to spend those few days locked up. So, is it too much to ask for a little compensation?"

Ingrid nestled in Edmund's arms and said icily, "Everyone knows you have a crush on me. Hand over these things today, and we'll call it even."

She gave a mocking smile. "After all, didn't you call the police just to have Edmund arrested for harassment and ruin my reputation, so that you could marry me?"

"Exactly!" Mrs. Stewart chimed in. "How evil of you. I guess this is what happens when you grow up without parents."

I clenched my fists tightly, nails digging deep into my palms.

In my previous life, my parents had rushed into a crumbling house during an earthquake to save Ingrid, who'd been fooling around inside.

Yet now, they were using my parents against me.

"Ingrid, do you really think you'd have walked away unharmed from that warehouse if I hadn't called the police?"

In my previous life, it was only after digging around that I'd learned the truth.

Having owed a huge debt to loan sharks, Edmund had planned to hand Ingrid over to them as collateral that time. Moreover, the man who acted so devoted to Ingrid was already married and had a wife waiting for him back in his hometown.