2

“What? Who killed you?” Paul’s hoarse voice rises.

His grip on my wrist feels hot. It reminds me of when I am roasted by the flames inside the laboratory. Only there... it is more painful and more terrifying.

My breathing comes in fast, sharp bursts.

But I don’t answer. I only stare at Paul with a hatred I can no longer hold back. I try to struggle free, while my heart pounds faster and faster. Fear and the desire to kill Paul clash inside me.

“Let go of me!!” I scream.

Paul looks at the sharp fountain pen in my hand, then shifts his gaze to my eyes that are already flooded with tears. Roughly, Paul jerks my wrist, causing the pen to fall onto the blanket.

“Kate, calm down!”

I let out a desperate cry. “Don’t play games with me! You’re a devil! You let me burn on our wedding day! Our third anniversary, God damn it!!”

Paul freezes. The light in his eyes suddenly turns into horror he can’t hide. The hand gripping me trembles slightly, but he immediately reaches for his phone on the nightstand.

Quickly, Paul holds the phone screen right in front of my face.

“Look, Kate! Look at the date! It’s our second anniversary today!”

The light from the phone screen blinds me, but I can still see it clearly: September 5, 2025.

I-I... I return to one year before the tragedy happens? Is it possible?

My chest feels tight. Confusion hits me harder than the explosion in the lab.

“But—”

“You should get some cold water and wash your face.” Paul lets out a rough sigh. The face that was pale and confused a moment ago now turns into restrained irritation. “You scared me.”

Then Paul releases my hand and quickly gets out of bed. With footsteps that sound annoyed, Paul leaves me trembling on the mattress.

I slowly climb out of bed and look toward the window, its curtains still closed. My heartbeat gradually returns to normal, but my mind is still a mess.

I remember everything... all the important events from the past year.

Except for Paul’s betrayal.

Then is all of that just a dream? Are all those memories just an illusion? Or... is what I’m experiencing now an OBE—an Out-of-Body Experience?

Maybe I really am dying, and now I’m hallucinating about returning to the past. A place where I want to fix everything.

Only, the pain I experience feels very real.

I look at both of my palms. “Am I really crazy?”

Instead, my memories return to the past.

Paul and I are friends in the same college faculty. Meanwhile, Monica, my best friend from high school, is in another faculty. The three of us are always together, and I feel that my friendship with Monica is the most sincere thing in the world.

After that, my life became like a fairy tale. Paul, who was born into a wealthy family, proposes to me. Then I work at the company he runs as a researcher there. Monica does too, as Paul’s assistant.

Then... in the third year of our marriage... everything is exposed.

The betrayal. The destruction of my life. And my death...

Oh my God, am I really being given a chance to fix my life?

“Calm down, Kate. Calm down,” I whisper to myself.

A few minutes later, I force myself to go downstairs to the dining room. I need information or anything, even if I don’t want to end up trapped in the explosion again.

Paul is already sitting there, sipping freshly brewed coffee. The expression on Paul’s face is still tense.

The moment I am about to sit down, Paul immediately gets up and practically runs toward me. He hugs me without warning, and so tightly. So tightly that I can hear his heartbeat.

“I’m sorry for acting so roughly. I was just panicking and scared, Kate,” Paul whispers.

Awkwardly, I pat his back. “Okay.”

“Come on, I’ll make you some coffee. Sit down first, sweetheart.”

Paul guides me to a chair, then hurries to the pantry, takes a cup, and pours coffee from the pot. He quickly places it in front of me.

“I think you had a nightmare, Kate,” Paul says.

I only nod silently. My eyes glance at the cup of coffee, steam still rising from it. I have no desire to touch it.

Who knows if there is poison in it, right?

Then Paul starts talking about his plans for today and the next few days. About how he brags about the business plans that are finally starting to run smoothly. I only listen without making any comment.

Because what Paul is saying is something he has said before.

I know it isn’t déjà vu... And I’m not a psychic.

“Kate?” Paul calls, pulling me out of my brief daze.

I only look at him while crossing my arms. “Oh, right. What were you saying?”

“You must have a lot on your mind, huh? I know you’re busy with the formula I asked you to make, but don’t push yourself.” Paul smiles at me.

“Probably.”

Paul reaches out and clasps one of my hands tightly. “Well then... what do you want for our anniversary?”

“Oh, you want to give me a gift?”

He nods. “Anything. Just name it. I’ll give it to you.”

For a few moments, I pause.

There is one thing that crosses my mind. I don’t want to fall for Paul’s sweet talk and useless gifts.

I take a deep breath and look at the husband who has always made me feel like the luckiest woman in the world. Only after what happens in the lab do I know anymore...

Am I lucky, or am I walking straight toward my own misfortune?

“So, what do you want? I’ll have Monica prepare some catalogs, and you can choose which ones you want. Watches, dresses, jewelry...”

I don’t hear the rest of Paul’s rambling. Because the moment I hear Monica’s name, I instantly feel sick.

“Stop, Paul. I don’t want any of that!” I say bluntly, cutting him off.

“Then what do you want for your anniversary gift?”

“I want us to get divorced, Paul.”