A second chance at life.

Chapter One

Natasha

The beeping of the machine close to me jolted my senses back to reality as I slowly opened my eyes. Above me was a bright white ceiling, the light reflecting off the polished walls of the  room. The air carried the sharp, sterile scent of disinfectant mixed with medicine. To my side stood a metal IV stand with a clear drip slowly flowing through the tube connected to my hand. A heart monitor beside the bed blinked with soft green lights, releasing steady beeps that echoed in the otherwise quiet room.

The curtains near the large window were half drawn, allowing thin streaks of daylight to filter inside and fall across the spotless tiled floor.

For a moment, everything felt too clean… too quiet, if my senses are intact  I should be in a hospital.

I lifted up my hand and saw the inserted drip. And with my sight all cleared out, I came to a final realization, I  am at the hospital, but… how?

If I wasn't dreaming, I was on a rooftop a few hours ago. My husband and his so-called childhood friend had kidnapped me and killed me, then framed it as suicide. And if I recall vividly, I was pushed down and was at the point of death, But I hadn’t died immediately.

For a brief moment, I was still conscious, lying there helplessly on the cold rooftop floor, I heard their voices.

“Are you sure this will work?” Sarah asked nervously.

Duncan let out a low chuckle. “Relax. By the time they find her, it will look like suicide. No one will suspect a thing.”

Those words had shattered the last piece of my heart, Even in my dying moments, I finally understood the truth.

The man I had loved for years… had planned my death all along.

After that, everything went dark.

Did I survive the fall?

That would be hard to believe because I had been pushed down from the very top of the Berlin Company building, which has been recorded to be one of the tallest buildings in the entire city. Surviving it would be a miracle… or have I been rebir.......

Before I could complete my thoughts, the door flung open and there he was. My husband walked in with his so-called childhood friend clinging to him like she owned him.

“Finally, you are awake,” Duncan spoke with so much spite.

“Duncan, it's okay. You don't have to scold her. I'm sure she didn't mean to push me down the stairs,” Sarah pleaded, with pretense written all over her face, which made me remember this day. On that very day, Sarah pushed me down the stairs and then pretended she had also fallen just to get Duncan's attention.

If I have truly been reborn, then I must have returned two years into the past.

On this day, I had gotten a broken arm from the fall, while that witch only had a scratch anyone could barely notice. Yet my husband still chose to stay by her side. But just before Duncan turned to comfort her, I caught something strange.

For a brief second, the corner of Sarah’s lips lifted. A smug smile. It disappeared so quickly that anyone else would have missed it.

But not me.

And if truly I have been reborn back to this day, then I guess this is finally the time to set things right so I don't meet the same fate like in my past life.

“You think pushing Sarah down the stairs was the best way to vent your anger?” Duncan blurted out.

“What are you talking about?” I asked with a straight face.

A scoff escaped Duncan's lips.

“Are you pretending now? You hurt Sarah, and she deserves an apology,” Duncan demanded.

“Why?” I asked, glaring at the two standing in front of me. Their faces were plastered with shock at my reply.

In my past life, I had always sucked up to them and did everything they wanted just to keep Duncan and our marriage. But not anymore.

This time I am going to make things right and walk all over their faces in ways they won't expect.

“Why are you acting cold to Duncan? I got hurt because of you and all he asked for was an apology. What is so wrong there?” Sarah said, locking her hands tightly around Duncan as she faked sympathy.

“If I hurt you, then show me. You pushed me down the stairs and lied that I did it,” I said angrily.

“What are you talking about? You pushed Sarah,” Duncan said.

“Oh, is that so? Sarah, did I really push you?” I asked, glaring at her.

But all she did was cling to my man while acting like she was in pain.

“Duncan, I think I should leave the house. It seems your wife doesn't want me there,” she said as her eyes shimmered with fake tears, but the corner of her lips twitched slightly, Showing emotions is stronger than explaining them. slowly walked towards my bedside and bowed her head.

“I am sorry if I have wronged you in any way, but I have nowhere else to go after my house was robbed. But if you don't want me in the house any longer, then I guess I will leave,” Sarah said, feigning tears.

“Fine then, you should leave,” I told her without blinking.

Sarah raised her head in disbelief at my response. I guess she thought I would tell her not to go. But girl, this is a new me, and I am not ready to go easy on any of you.

“Duncan,” she called out his name as she placed her hand on her forehead.

“Sarah, what's wrong?” Duncan rushed to her.

“You are heartless. How can you tell her to go back to that place? What if something happens to her?” Duncan spoke angrily.

“If you are so bothered about that, get her a bodyguard to watch over her,” I told him.

“You know what, it's my fault I came to speak to you. Sarah, let's go,” Duncan said as he walked away.

I  almost said so myself, because having to watch her pretend is making my eyes sore,  I lay back, ruminating about my next move from here.

And what is the first step?

A divorce.

That thought alone would have been impossible for the Natasha of my past life.  Back then, I loved Duncan so much that I was willing to tolerate anything just to remain by his side. His indifference, his coldness… even Sarah’s constant presence between us.

I endured everything and what did I get in return?  Betrayal.

My lips curled into a cold smile because this time, things would be different.

I slowly lifted my arm and examined the bandage wrapped around it. Just as I remembered, my arm had been broken from the fall down the stairs.

In my past life, I had believed Sarah’s act and I had even apologized to her.  How stupid I had been. But not anymore. This time, I will fight for my fate and I will win.