Chapter 1

“Don’t worry, Zoe. We’ll make sure Dylan takes responsibility for what he did,” Mr. Xander said gently.

“He’s being punished right now. He’s out in the guest house, kneeling. He won’t be allowed to get up until he admits he was wrong,” Mrs. Xander added softly.

They sat with Zoe Stone in her room, speaking with warmth and concern. Their eyes kept drifting to her still-flat stomach.

Zoe lowered her voice. “Mr. and Mrs. Xander, I’ve thought this through. You can’t force love. Please don’t pressure Dylan into marrying me.”

Mr. Xander’s brow furrowed. “He crossed a line. He needs to be accountable. Especially now that you're carrying his child.”

Zoe shook her head. “I’ve made my decision. I’m going to honor my mother’s last wish and volunteer as a teacher in Backwater Ridge. Please don’t try to talk me out of it.”

Mrs. Xander reached out and gently smoothed a hand through Zoe’s hair, her heart aching. “But what about the baby?”

“I’ve already scheduled the procedure,” Zoe said calmly. “Dylan’s not even married yet. If this got out, it would create a mess for everyone.”

Mrs. Xander’s eyes brimmed with tears. “You’re such a good girl, Zoe. It’s just a shame that Dylan doesn’t see that.”

Mr. Xander let out a deep sigh. “The conditions in those remote areas can be harsh. Are you certain this is what you want?”

Zoe nodded firmly. “I’m sure. Once everything’s finalized, I’ll be on my way. I should be leaving in about a week.”

Mrs. Xander nodded with a soft sigh. “If that’s really what you want, we won’t stop you. Just remember, no matter what happens, we’re still family. Please keep in touch.”

“I will,” Zoe said with a small smile.

After they left, she went into the kitchen and carefully prepared a pot of nourishing chicken soup. She poured it into a thermal flask, then packed a thick winter coat before heading to the guest house.

Snow was falling in wide, heavy flakes. The wind was bitter, cutting straight through the open doors. Inside, Dylan Xander was still kneeling, unmoving.

His clothes were too thin for this weather, and his lips had turned pale from the cold. Even after kneeling for over two hours, his back was straight and unyielding.

Zoe stood in the courtyard, looking at his silhouette. Her eyes suddenly stung with tears.

No one knew this, but she had been reborn.

In her previous life, Dylan had been forced to marry her. That same day, the woman he had truly loved—his first love—died in a plane crash.

After the wedding, Dylan fell into deep depression. He hated her with all his heart.

For seven long years, she humbled herself to win even the slightest bit of his warmth. But all she got in return were cruel accusations:

“Why wasn’t it you who died instead?”

And yet, when the tsunami came, it was Dylan who gave her his one and only chance to survive.

On the lifeboat, she had reached desperately for his hand. But he pulled away with everything he had.

As he fell into the sea, he gave her a quiet, relieved smile.

“I’m finally free. I can go be with her now.”

After that, the entire Xander family turned on her.

Mr. Xander had pointed a finger at her, cursing, “We never should’ve forced him to marry a jinx like you!”

Mrs. Xander had screamed in grief, slapping her across the face. “You killed my son! Why couldn’t it have been you?!”

Even the son she had doted on had yelled, “I don’t want a shameless woman like you to be my mom!”

Crushed by despair, she had thrown herself into the sea.

When she opened her eyes again, it was seven years earlier.

Dylan was twenty-three now, and his parents were pressuring him to marry her.

But this time, she wouldn’t make the same mistakes.

Hearing her footsteps, Dylan turned his head.

The moment he saw her, his eyes turned cold—like he was looking at something filthy.

“Get out of here! I don’t want to see you!”

Her chest tightened at his words, but she held back her tears. Quietly, she draped the down coat over his shoulders and set the chicken soup beside him.

“Dylan… you should eat something. I’ve already spoken to your parents. I—”

Before she could finish, he shoved her away in fury.

“I said I don’t want to see you. What part of that don’t you understand?”