Happily Ever After… With Another의 모든 챕터: 챕터 1 - 챕터 10

I caught a trace of pleading in Jonathan's eyes. He was backing down.I glanced at the brooch. A pigeon-egg–sized ruby was set at its center, glowing with a soft, warm red. One look was enough to tell it was worth a fortune."Is this something only I have," I asked, "or did you give it to someone else too?"Jonathan smiled gently."This is my apology gift. Of course you're the only one who has it."He was lying.I had seen Jess Macaron wearing one exactly the same.There was still a dull ache in my chest, but it was no longer the gut-wrenching pain it had been at the beginning.He tenderly pinned the brooch onto me. His eyes were filled with affection, just as they always had. And yet, all of a sudden, he felt so unfamiliar.Ten years ago, Jonathan had been a prodigy who rose to fame at a young age—a genius pianist from a scholarly family. His parents had never thought much of me, an orphan with no background. And yet, for the sake of marrying me, he had decisively cut ties wi

"Jess is only moving in with us because my mom is afraid she'll be overwhelmed by memories at home and keep thinking about my brother. I can't refuse."We've made it through ten years together. Don't you understand my feelings by now? I'm stuck in the middle—can't you try to be a little more understanding of me?"Let's not waste time. I'll take you to the hospital first. I still have things to take care of afterward."Back then, for the sake of marrying me, he had been willing to sever ties with his family. Even when they pressured him, when he couldn't find work, when he could no longer play the piano, he still married me without hesitation.He had done something so difficult back then. And yet now, when his mother asked him to take care of his late brother's widow for a lifetime, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.The moment Jess was in danger, he threw himself into saving her without a second thought. He even let my child become part of her life—while abandoning me, who neede

After I died, the system didn't take me home right away. Instead, it left me floating in midair to watch the show unfold.Not long after my death, Heidi called Jonathan and Sam over.Jonathan was still dressed in his elegant tailcoat, yet he no longer cared about appearances. He dropped to his knees in front of me, trembling as he reached out to check my breath. Then he pulled my body into his arms and burst into loud, broken sobs."Honey! How could you just die like this… You weren't lying to me after all…"Sam was terrified into tears as well. He knelt beside me, shaking my body and crying at the top of his lungs."Mom, Heidi said you're dead. I don't believe it! Wake up! I'm so scared!"The cries overlapped, noisy and chaotic. My consciousness drifted farther and farther away with what little memory I had left, until everything dissolved into blankness.When I opened my eyes again, all I saw were the stark white walls of a hospital—and a small boy carefully leaning against my

As if provoked by my words, he became visibly agitated. Shaking his head, he grabbed my shoulders, biting down so hard on his lip that fear drew blood."Do you really not remember me at all? You said I was the devoted second male lead in a novel. You were supposed to conquer me, but you fell in love with me instead, so you begged the system to let you stay and be with me."We got married. I gave up inheriting the family conglomerate for you. You negotiated with my rivals for my career, drinking yourself senseless until your whole body was swollen and flushed. You even endured the hardship of giving birth to Sam for me. You said we would grow old together, and I planted a garden full of roses just for you."We loved each other so deeply. I replay these memories day and night. You loved me so much—so you must be lying to me now, right?"His face was deathly pale as he kept talking, trying desperately to use words to awaken my memories. Every sentence was drenched in obsessive love. Y

Caleb's loud cries snapped us out of the strange, tense atmosphere. I turned in alarm and saw that he had somehow fallen into the lake, flailing and screaming, "Mom!"Action overtook thought. My heart pounding, I plunged into the water and pulled Caleb to safety, checking him over carefully.Only then did I notice Sam struggling in the lake as well—somehow, in my panic, I hadn't even realized he was calling for me.Jonathan had already rescued him.Caleb clung to my sleeve, fear etched on his face, and whispered an apology, "Mom, I'm sorry." Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Mom, you're so good at swimming."I wiped away his tears gently and smiled. "It's okay. You're my son, and I'm supposed to protect you. Once we get out of here, I'll teach you to swim properly, alright?"Caleb's eyes lit up. He nodded furiously. "Alright!"Sam, standing near his father, trembled, teeth chattering, his small face full of hurt."Mom… why didn't you save me?" he hiccupped through h