Reborn to Ruin My Ex-Husband's Life

“Sign this, Kate. Now.”

Paul’s voice, my husband’s voice, sounds as cold as ice, breaking the silence inside the laboratory where I work. Today is our third wedding anniversary. It should be a celebration of love, but instead it turns into an execution chamber for me.

I stare at the blue folder on the stainless-steel table. Written there in bold capital letters is: Divorce Agreement.

“Divorce? What is this supposed to mean, Paul?” I ask in a trembling voice.

I look at the man who has been the center of my world all this time. We have been perfectly fine all this time, so why does Paul want to divorce me?

“It’s our anniversary. Are you joking?”

Paul scoffs softly. “Just sign it. That’s all I need from you.”

“We don’t have any problems, Paul. I even finished the drug formula you asked me for, and—”

“That’s exactly because the formula is finished. I don’t need you anymore,” Paul cuts in mercilessly.

Paul casually waves all the data stored in the flash drive in his hand. His eyes stare at me sharply with a sneer I have never seen before.

“Don’t make this difficult, Kate. You already give the company what it needs. Now, I need my life back.” Paul takes a breath. “Without you.”

“Without me?”

Suddenly, tears fall uncontrollably. Finding out that my husband suddenly wants to get rid of me feels as if my chest is being torn apart. It hurts... it hurts so much...!

“I give you everything, Paul! I work day and night in the lab. I even give all my patent rights under your name!” I ramble through my tears.

“And I give you the status of Mrs. Goldman for three years. Let’s call it even.”

Paul steps forward and immediately grips my shoulder tightly until I wince.

“Sign it, or I’ll make sure you never touch medical research again for the rest of your life!” he hisses into my ear.

“Are you threatening me?”

“I’m giving you a choice!”

I shake my head hard. “No! I won’t sign it! We can fix all of this, Paul. I love you!”

Paul’s face twists into a disgusted sneer. His grip tightens even more. “Love? Disgusting! Sign it now!”

“Paul! Let go! You’re hurting me!”

But Paul seems possessed by a demon. Instead, he pulls my hand to sign the divorce papers while yanking my hair. Crying, I sign the papers with a trembling hand.

“Please, Paul...” I sob.

The moment I sign the papers, Paul throws me against one of the tables. My forehead slams into it, and pain immediately hits me. I end up sitting on the floor, feeling warm drops and the metallic smell dripping from my split forehead.

Paul throws the pen near my feet, then quickly leaves and shuts the door with a heavy slam. Suddenly, the automatic lock clicks. Something happens. I know something is wrong.

I crawl toward the door when smoke starts rising from the equipment in the laboratory. A faint hissing sound is heard, followed by the smell of leaking gas hitting my nose.

“No, no...!” I keep crawling and begin to feel dizzy. With the last of my strength, I scream as loudly as I can. “HELP! PAUL, OPEN THE DOOR! PAUL, HELP ME!”

But Paul only stands behind the glass, and this time he is not alone. My best friend, Monica, is resting her head on Paul’s shoulder.

What... what is actually happening?

Monica waves her hand while wearing a victorious smile. “Thank you for all your hard work, Kate. Your drug is going to be named Monica’s Cure.”

My world collapses. This betrayal feels sharper than any blade.

“Rest in peace, Kate,” Monica adds.

My eyes widen when I see the gas pressure indicator on the lab wall shooting into the red. I reach the door, coughing violently and still trying to pound on it from the inside.

“Paul! There’s a gas leak! Open the door!” I scream hysterically.

But Paul and Monica simply walk away, leaving me choking and slowly losing consciousness. Then a painful whistling sound is heard, as if the Angel of Death is swinging his scythe.

Boom!

A massive explosion hits from the disposal pipe.

A devastating wave of heat throws me against the concrete wall.

My body aches and goes numb. I can’t feel anything. My skin starts to shrivel and burn. Amid the flames licking around me, I simply close my eyes in surrender.

God... if I can come back. I’ll make sure they experience a hell hotter than this...

...

...

...

“Hah!!”

I jolt awake, gasping for breath, as if my lungs are still filled with black smoke.

My eyes dart wildly around. Above me is a familiar bedroom ceiling. A luxurious crystal chandelier. Then a bed. The soothing scent of lavender. The atmosphere is quiet and peaceful.

I’m not burned. I’m not dead.

My hand touches my neck and smooth face. There are no signs of burns there.

Is this a dream?

An intense wave of nausea hits my stomach when I realize something. There is someone beside the bed, and I can hear the sound of steady breathing. I slowly turn my head, and my heart seems to stop beating.

Paul!

He is sleeping beside me and then turns over. His face looks so peaceful, handsome, and so innocent in his sleep.

Who would ever guess that this man is the devil who burns me alive?

Flashes of fire, bone-deep pain, and Monica’s smile spin through my mind. The hatred suddenly boils, surges, and burns away my sanity in an instant.

Without realizing it, my hand reaches toward the nightstand. My fingers touch the fountain pen on top of the notebook, and I immediately snatch it up.

I slowly rise and kneel on the bed right beside Paul’s body. My eyes stare at Paul’s neck, where his pulse is beating.

Because of you! I have to suffer through all of that! I’d rather be the one to finish you off right now!

I raise my hand as high as possible. I tighten my grip despite the trembling, ready to drive it straight into Paul’s throat with every bit of strength I have left.

Suddenly, Paul’s eyes open. Paul looks at me. His eyes, which had been hazy with sleep just moments ago, slowly sharpened and filled with confusion.

“Kate?” That hoarse, just-woke-up voice only makes me freeze.

Instead, I freeze completely, and tears fall down my cheeks. “You murderer!”

With incredibly fast reflexes, Paul immediately sits up and catches my wrist. His grip is incredibly strong, just like when he hurt me in the lab earlier.

My body is immediately thrown onto the bed. Paul pins me down so I can’t move.

“What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?” Paul snaps.

I clench my fist hard. “You’re the one who’s lost your mind! YOU KILL ME!!”