Chapter 2

Victoria's voice was soft, but her words were firm. "Thank you. I'll be there on time."

The person on the other end grew serious. "There's something you need to understand about this project. Once you join, you'll be placed under strict secrecy rules. You'll have to live at a secure research facility and cut off all contact with the outside world for an extended period. The project could last three to five years, ten years, or even longer. What about your family? Especially your husband and child..."

"Please don't worry. My dream has always been to contribute to my country's scientific progress. As for my family, I've already made arrangements."

She had filed for divorce on the very first day after her rebirth.

She had solid grounds for it, and everything had been done legally. The divorce was now going through its final stages.

The person on the other end seemed relieved. "That's wonderful. We're glad to hear you're so determined! We'll send a car to pick you up at the end of the month. We'll notify you of the exact time and location later. Please make sure you're ready!"

"Of course." After hanging up, Victoria let out a soft breath, as if she'd finally lifted a heavy weight off her shoulders.

If she hadn't experienced it herself, she would never have believed that rebirth was possible.

But since fate had given her another chance, she would live this life for herself alone.

In her previous life, Victoria had met Sebastian through a matchmaking arrangement organized by their families.

She'd heard that he was an outstanding man and that plenty of women had crushes on him.

She hadn't paid much attention to the rumors. She'd assumed people were just exaggerating.

That changed on the day they were supposed to meet. Victoria had arrived early at the park they'd agreed on. While waiting, a drunk man began harassing her.

Just as she started to panic, a man in a military uniform strode over and easily subdued him.

When the man turned around, she caught sight of the gleaming insignia on his shoulders.

"Are you all right? My name is Sebastian Blackwood. I'm the man you're supposed to meet today."

Her heart began racing at that very moment.

He was so dazzling that she could barely bring herself to look at him. Yet she couldn't help being drawn to him.

But during their meeting, Sebastian remained polite and distant. He never contacted her afterward.

Victoria assumed he wasn't interested in her. She felt disappointed for a long time.

Then, out of nowhere, he showed up at her parents' house and asked for her hand in marriage.

She was so thrilled that she lost all reason. Without stopping to wonder why he'd suddenly changed his mind, she agreed to marry him.

Their married life seemed happy at first.

Sebastian was busy with his military duties and was often away from home. Victoria never complained. Instead, she took good care of the house and made sure everything ran smoothly.

Not long after, they had their son, Ethan Blackwood. Victoria devoted even more of her time and energy to her family and child.

Then she heard that the National Institute for Physical Sciences was recruiting researchers from the public for the first time. It had been her dream since her student days. Without telling anyone, she applied for the position and studied for the entrance exams whenever she had free time.

One day, she became so absorbed in her books that she failed to notice Ethan slipping out of the house to play with his friends. The four-year-old boy was struck by a bicycle near the entrance to an alley. His lower leg was broken.

When Sebastian arrived at the hospital, he accused Victoria of being an irresponsible mother. Then he forced her to choose between joining the institute and divorcing him.

Victoria felt deeply guilty and heartbroken.

But at that very moment, the institute called to inform her that she'd been accepted.

She listened to the excited voice on the phone while looking at Ethan, who was crying and fussing in his hospital bed, and Sebastian, whose face was dark with anger. In the end, she gave up the position she'd dreamed of for years. Her voice trembled as she told the institute she wouldn't be joining them.

From then on, she became a full-time housewife, taking care of both Ethan and Sebastian. She watched them excel in their own fields while she slowly became a shadow of the woman she'd once been.

Only when she was gravely ill, lying on her deathbed in the hospital, did Sebastian and Ethan, now a grown man, finally break down in tears and confess the truth to her.

The accident that had broken Ethan's leg all those years ago hadn't been an accident at all. It had been a plan he'd made with Sebastian.

At the time, Sebastian's first love, Caroline, had also wanted to join the institute. But there was only one position available.

They knew Victoria had a soft heart and loved her child more than anything. So, they'd deliberately used Ethan to force her to give up her dream.

That wasn't the only truth they'd hidden from her. Victoria also learned that Sebastian had never truly wanted to marry her. The reason he'd agreed to meet her, and later taken the initiative to propose, was that the Blackwood family had threatened him with Caroline's life. Caroline was unable to have children, and the Blackwood family had made it clear that they would never accept her as a daughter-in-law.

To protect Caroline, Sebastian had no choice but to marry Victoria as a cover.

Her entire life had been built on lies. She'd been nothing more than a fool, deceived and used by the people she loved most.

Then, as she lay dying, she saw Caroline on television, standing on a stage and accepting an award. Caroline's well-kept face glowed with energy and pride. She looked every bit like a successful woman who had achieved everything she'd ever wanted.

Meanwhile, Victoria lay dying in a shabby hospital room.

Overwhelming grief and despair flooded her heart.

She suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood and never woke up again until she opened her eyes and found herself reborn.

She had another chance. This time, she could change everything.

All Victoria wanted now was to live for herself.

She would chase the dream she'd sacrificed and stand on the stage where she had always belonged.

As for Sebastian, Ethan, and this cold, loveless home, they would no longer have anything to do with her.