All Chapters of Saving Him Before It All Began: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

On the day my husband, Caleb Vale, laid his first love, Layla Shaw, to rest, he turned to me and flung our wedding ring into the sea.For the next 12 years, the breakfasts I brought him were tossed away untouched, and the scarf I painstakingly knitted through the night was thrown into the flames and burned to nothing.He was the cruelest when he looked me in the eye and said, "Aurora, if you really want me to be happy, you might as well go die."But when a mugger lunged at me with a knife, Caleb stepped in front of me without a moment's hesitation.As he lay dying in my arms, he used the last of his strength to force out a few broken words. "Go… I hope I never see you again in my next life."At the funeral, Helena Rogers sobbed until she fainted. "This is all my fault. I never should've arranged for you two to be married…"Everyone around us pitied him and resented me. They whispered that misfortune followed me and wondered why fate hadn't taken me instead.And honestly, I wonde

"Now, Caleb's grandfather can finally stop worrying," Helena said.Caleb's father, Liam Vale, set his newspaper down hard on the coffee table when he saw me walk in alone."Did Caleb bail on you again? You're getting married soon. When he comes back later, I'll—""Mr. and Mrs. Vale, I'm not going to marry Caleb," I interjected.After my parents died, I became an orphan. Liam and Helena took me in and gave me all the love that I'd lost.I had always been obedient and grateful, but this time, I had to defy their wishes.I looked straight at them and spoke slowly so they would hear every single word. "Mr. and Mrs. Vale, I've decided not to marry Caleb. I'm flying overseas tomorrow. Once I leave, I won't be here to look after you anymore. So you'll have to take care of yourselves."Helena froze, panic flashing across her face. "Your parents are gone. You only have us. We're your family. Where would you even go?""Is it because of Layla? Is she messing with you again? We're not lett

It was the same beetroot soup I used to pester Caleb's housekeeper to make for me when I was a child."Does it still hurt?" Caleb asked. He blew on the spoon until the steam thinned, then held it to my lips. "I was out of line yesterday. Don't take it to heart. But Layla really didn't do anything wrong. Stop going after her."My fingers trembled slightly as I took the bowl from him.In my previous life, I would have burst into tears, screaming that Layla had framed me and insisting the engagement be called off at once.But now, I just shook my head. "I won't do it again."Caleb let out a breath of relief, a rare softness flickering in his eyes. "Once you're discharged, we can travel overseas. You always said you wanted to—""No," I cut in, gently pushing the bowl back toward him. "I chose to help Layla. You don't need to make it up to me."His hand trembled around the spoon, the injury he got saving me from that cliff fall acting up again.I looked at his pale knuckles, my thro

Helena pulled out her phone and tapped to play a recording.In the recording, Layla's voice came through, laced with malice and manipulation. "Mrs. Vale, did you really think that forcing Caleb to marry Aurora would ever make him love her? All I have to do is crook a finger and spin a few lies, and he comes running to me like a fool."He believes every single word I say. I'm the only one he cares about. I could string him along for a lifetime, and he'd still lap it up. But honestly, he's just my backup. Why waste my youth on one man when it's so much more fun to keep a few?"Helena snapped, her voice shaking with rage. "You shameless bitch! Aren't you afraid you'll have to answer for this one day?"Layla snorted in contempt, and the recording ended with a sharp click.Caleb stared at the phone, stunned. This wasn't the Layla he'd pictured in his mind at all.Helena patted his shoulder and let out a long sigh. "I don't know what hold she has over you, but she's far more calculatin

When the final list came out, I was surprised to see my name on it.That day, I met Caleb at a cafe and got straight to the point. I asked, "Did you pull strings for me? What did it cost you?"He answered casually, as if it were nothing. "I gave up a small chunk of shares. It's no big deal. You're worth it."I almost laughed from sheer frustration. That wasn't something insignificant. I doubted he had even bothered to get the other shareholders' approval before making that decision.Caleb just leaned back and said, "None of that matters. As long as you're happy, I'm fine. You're the most important person in my life."The most important person?I kept staring at him, and the tips of his ears turned red. He cleared his throat and said, "I saw you liked that picture of the flower fields the other day. I planned a surprise for you tonight. By then, you'll—""Caleb," I cut in softly.He saw something shift in my expression and rushed to explain. "You don't like flowers? I'm sorry. I