All Chapters of The Strength to Start Over: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Noise came from the entryway.Amanda Carroll walked in with Donovan White.He had thrown on an expensive silk shirt, the kind Amanda wore when she went out. The first three buttons hung open, exposing the hard line of his chest.I sat on the sofa and watched him notice me.He did not even pretend to tidy himself up. He leaned against the foyer wall as if he owned the place with a lazy smile."Cedric," he said. "My luggage got lost at the airport. Manda was worried I'd catch a chill, so she let me wear one of her shirts. You're a man. You're not going to mind, right?"He spoke as he walked over, as though my answer did not matter.With every step, the collar gaped wider. Faint red marks flashed along his collarbone and climbed the side of his neck. There were too many of them, and they were too deliberately placed to be accidental.In my previous life, that sight had set me off. I had exploded and made a scene. I had called Donovan shameless to his face.Amanda had shattered a

Chapter 2

Early the next morning, I went to the hospital and submitted my resignation. The director, Ted Johnson, read my letter with clear regret and tried several times to talk me out of it.I stood firm. I only said that I wanted some time off.I had just finished packing my things when the clinic door burst open.Amanda rushed in while half supporting Donovan. Worry tightened her face. "Ced, good. You're here. Hurry and take a look at Don. He says his chest feels tight. Something feels wrong with his heart."I frowned and started to explain that I had already resigned.Donovan slumped into a chair and cut me off with a pained expression, "Cedric, I've lived abroad too long. I don't trust the skill level of other doctors here. Manda said you're the best doctor in this hospital. I booked your consultation. Hurry and check me. My heart really hurts."In my previous life, Donovan had pulled the same stunt. He had faked an illness and insisted that I prescribe something.I had followed the

Chapter 3

"Take it away." I pushed the box of macadamia nuts back across the desk. "I'm allergic to nuts."Amanda froze. Panic flashed across her face. "Allergic? Why have you never said that before?"Donovan frowned. Impatience crept into his voice. "Cedric, I had someone track those down for me. They're top quality. If you don't appreciate it, fine. But do you really need to make up excuses just to kill the mood?"The trace of guilt on Amanda's face vanished at once."Enough, Cedric!" she snapped. "Don meant well. He didn't know you were allergic. If you don't want to eat them, just leave them there. Why make a scene in front of everyone? Do you only feel satisfied when you ruin the atmosphere?"She grabbed Donovan's arm and stormed out, her expression cold.I watched them disappear down the hallway. Then I tore the carbon copy from the prescription pad and slipped it into the medical file.…That afternoon, I had barely reached the hospital entrance when I received a complaint notice

Chapter 4

Amanda let out a breath. Her face still looked unpleasant, but her tone softened. "If it was a misunderstanding, then forget it."She glanced at me and added with complete confidence, "Don's a victim too. As the doctor, you should have asked more about his dietary history. Let's all be a little generous. We'll call this even.""Even?" I actually laughed. "Amanda, you almost killed me just now. And you're telling me we're even? You two apologize right now, or I'm calling the police."Her expression darkened at once. "Cedric, don't push your luck—""Enough," Donovan cut her off and looked at me with open impatience. "Cedric, fine. My bad luck. I ate the wrong thing and blamed you. Manda was only protecting me. If you want to call the police, go ahead. But don't stand here pretending you're the victim."He turned and walked out of the room without another word. Amanda shot me a vicious glare and hurried after him. "Cedric, you're impossible!"Exhaustion settled deep in my bones.…

Chapter 5

My phone kept ringing without pause. A cold smile touched my lips. At last, I tapped "Accept."Amanda's voice exploded through the speaker the instant the line connected. Her hysterical scream rattled my ears. "Cedric! You finally dare to answer?! What the hell did you do?!"Why did the patent office say that patent was transferred to someone else three days ago? Do you know how I looked at the press conference? Like a complete clown!"And that USB drive! It didn't just crash the company computers. It shredded every confidential file and client record we had!"Now the investors are pulling out and threatening to sue me for commercial fraud! Are you trying to destroy me?!"I held the phone a little farther from my ear and looked out at the unfamiliar city beyond the window. The foreign streets carried an exotic air.My voice remained calm. "Destroy you? Amanda, this is just basic courtesy returned. You wanted to sell the work my mother left behind to pay off your little boyfriend'

Chapter 6

My first month in Libera barely let my feet touch the ground.The institute where Hazel worked ranked among the world's top biomedical research centers. The pace was brutal, yet the environment felt clean in a way I had not experienced for years. There was no scheming or toxic politics. The work consisted of endless experiments and mountains of data that demanded analysis and reports.My memory from my previous life and my solid professional training gave me a clear advantage. I quickly secured a position as a key member of the core project team.One afternoon, Hazel entered the lab with two cups of coffee in her hands. She placed one beside me."Take a break, workaholic," she said with a teasing smile. "By the way, do you want to hear the latest news from back home?"I accepted the coffee and took a sip. The taste was bitter at first, then smooth."Go ahead," I said. "Brighten my day."Hazel took out her tablet and opened a news clip from Dryana.The screen showed Amanda's com

Chapter 7

Three months later, winter settled over Dryana. Yet the city where I lived still felt like spring.Our anti-cancer drug, Hopium, achieved a major breakthrough during clinical trials. The effective response rate reached ninety percent.The number stunned the medical world.Major media outlets rushed to report the results. For the first time, my name appeared on the front page of international news. Reporters introduced me as a leading scientist.While the spotlight turned toward me, life across the ocean looked very different for Amanda and Donovan.Friends back home sent frequent updates. Every luxury property under Amanda's name had been auctioned to pay her debts. The mansion and the sports cars were gone.The company she once took pride in had collapsed completely.She now faced criminal charges for embezzlement. Although the court granted temporary bail, authorities had restricted her spending and banned her from leaving the country.The once untouchable "CEO Carroll" now l

Chapter 8

The summit hall glittered under bright lights. Cameras flashed without pause.I stood at the podium in a tailored black suit. The fabric sat sharply on my shoulders. In clear, steady Engul, I explained the development philosophy behind Hopium and the clinical data that had shaken the medical world.When I finished, the hall erupted in applause. Dozens of eyes turned toward me with admiration.The moment I stepped down from the stage, reporters surrounded me."Dr. Lunsford, we heard this drug was developed in memory of your late mother. Is that true?""Dr. Lunsford, you're so young and have already achieved such success. Do you have any advice?"I answered calmly and smiled when it felt appropriate.Then the commotion began."Let me in! I'm his wife! I'm Cedric Lunsford's wife!"The shrill voice cut through the crowd like broken glass.I turned toward the noise. Several security guards blocked a woman at the edge of the hall. It was Amanda. Somehow, she had made it here.Thre

Chapter 9

Amanda was deported back to Dryana.A pair of handcuffs awaited her.The scandal she caused overseas spread through international media and forced Dryanese authorities to reopen the investigation into her earlier commercial fraud case. With the charges combined, she would likely spend the rest of her life behind bars.Donovan's fate proved even worse. After stealing the last of Amanda's money, he tried to slip across the border into Southeast Morvea.The smugglers betrayed him. Instead of freedom, they sold him to an underground fight ring in a remote region.According to the rumors I heard, he was still young and strong. Therefore, the organizers forced him into constant bare-knuckle matches to repay his debts. When he was not fighting, he worked as labor.One mistake meant broken bones. His life now ranked below that of an animal.The arrogant hotshot who once treated everyone else as stepping stones had finally discovered what real hell looked like.I heard the news in the l

Chapter 10

Five years later, I received a nomination for the Nobel Prize in Medicine.At the award ceremony, I wore a sharply tailored dark suit and walked the red carpet beside Hazel.For the past five years, we had fought side by side and solved one medical challenge after another.We never married, yet our bond was stronger than that. We were two minds that understood each other completely, partners on the same battlefield.When the time came for my acceptance speech, I stood on the stage with the reward in my hand and looked out at the audience.So many young, bright, hopeful faces filled the hall."Once, I believed marriage was a safe harbor. Because of someone who did not deserve it, I nearly lost myself and my life."I paused."But later I realized something important. No one should live as someone else's accessory. The pursuit of one's own value is the only thing that lasts."This award belongs to me, to my team, and to everyone who refuses to surrender when life turns against th

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