Chapter 1

He saved me once, and for that, I spent seven years of my youth by Liam’s side, watching him transform from an unknown aspiring artist to a celebrated photographer.

He once knelt before the altar, looking up at the crucifix, and swore a solemn oath to me, promising to never betray me, to make good on his word or pay the ultimate price with his life.

I truly believed I had finally found my happily ever after with the man I loved.

But less than six months into our marriage, Liam died in a sudden studio fire, leaving nothing but ashes.

I was swallowed whole by an ocean of grief, battling crippling depression.

On my therapist’s advice, I came to Iceland, the place Liam and I had always dreamed of visiting together.

Yet here, I saw him alive, standing right in front of me, with an unfamiliar woman in his arms.

In that instant, a deeper despair, colder than the Arctic wind, washed over me, drowning me completely.

I watched them, helpless, as they kissed passionately in the town square, lost in each other.

When the kiss finally ended, Liam’s gaze met my tear-filled eyes. The tenderness in his expression instantly twisted into shock.

In that moment, everything clicked.

Suddenly, the ground beneath us trembled violently. Statues in the square crumbled, buildings collapsed one after another.

Liam’s face blanched. He yanked the girl in his arms and rushed towards me, desperately shielding both of us with his body.

As a massive boulder plummeted towards us,

Liam leaned close to my ear, his voice barely a whisper, a sigh in the chaos: “My broken promise, paid with my life. In another life, I hope you find someone who loves you with their whole heart. I... I still love *her*.”

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself five years in the past, when Liam was still diligently playing the role of the perfect husband.

“Aubrey? Baby, what are you staring at… Drink your warm milk, it’s time for bed.”

Liam held out a warm mug of milk, his eyes gazing at me with gentle affection.

Looking at the man before me, all I felt was a chilling cold.

The pain of my heart being trampled and crushed felt like a slow, agonizing torture, tearing me apart from the inside out.

Because I was a light sleeper, Liam had lovingly warmed milk for me every single day for seven years, patiently coaxing me to drink it.

But seeing him now, I reached out, my hand trembling uncontrollably, unable to steady the cup.

His eyes immediately registered my distress, and his expression shifted to one of worried seriousness:

“Baby, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? I’ll take you to the doctor…”

My nails dug deep into my palms. I shook my head faintly.

It wasn't physical discomfort; it was the ultimate despair, a profound heartache that left me utterly cold towards this husband who was both incredibly gentle and incredibly deceitful.

I never imagined he always harbored feelings for someone else. Why bother putting on this charade of devotion for me?

It had driven me to the brink after his ‘death’, countless times I’d tried to end my life, nearly following him into the abyss.

But the Liam sitting before me was blissfully unaware of the bitterness and irony churning inside me.

Seeing my distraught face, Liam’s eyes filled with concern. He kissed my forehead, then lingered on my soft lips, his thumb gently caressing them.

“Baby… I’ve been so busy with work these past few days. Have you been cooped up and bored at home? I’ll take a few days off to be with you, okay… hmm?”

Before I could reply, his phone suddenly rang—

It was a specially set ringtone, completely different from his usual notification sound.

The moment Liam heard the ring, his expression subtly changed.

I knew in my heart that the person on the other end was probably the woman he was willing to fake his own death to protect.

Back then, though, I hadn't suspected a thing.

After reading the message, his face abruptly turned grave. He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door, tossing a hurried line over his shoulder:

“Wifey, you go to sleep first. Something urgent came up at work. I won’t be back tonight.”

I watched his retreating back in silence, not uttering a word.

Liam never used to leave me for work before.

He had once promised me:

“Baby, you’ll always be number one in my life. I work to give you a better life, and if I neglect you for work, wouldn’t I be a complete fool?”

And now, Liam was using work as an excuse, walking away from me without a backward glance, all for another woman.

The laughable part was, back then, I hadn't paid any attention to that promise, nor had I ever noticed anything amiss.

***CUT-OFF POINT***