Start Over Without You

Everyone in Sparrowville said that Margaret Chapman was the happiest woman in town. Gavin Hartley showered her with gifts—a sapphire ring, an asteroid after her name—treating her like she was the center of his universe.

Margaret had always believed it, too. Until the day she accidentally discovered the woman he had been hiding in his villa.

For ten years, he had kept her there—his childhood sweetheart. After she lost herself to schizophrenia, she had said, "Margaret is me." And so, for nearly seven years, Gavin had courted Margaret and cherished her, playing out a love story that had never truly been hers.

Margaret's heart crumbled to ash after she found out the truth. She left without looking back, moving to a country thousands of miles away. But she never imagined that Gavin would lose himself to rage, his eyes burning red as he nearly tore Sparrowville apart.

"Where the hell is Margaret?!"

"I promise you, I'll give you my identity."

The autumn wind howled, sweeping up a blanket of fallen leaves. After saying those words, Margaret Chapman crushed the glowing tip of her cigarette, her voice cold and detached.

"You won't forget the deal you made with me, right?"

On the other end of the line, a low chuckle rang out. "Sure, no problem. Now, about my identity—"

"I don't want it," Margaret interrupted, her tone even. "If Gavin asks, just tell him I'm dead—if he asks, that is."

She hung up the phone, and moments later, Gavin Hartley's distinctive Maybach pulled up right in front of her. Behind it, a swarm of press cars followed closely.

The man stepped out, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit and a black trench coat. His sharp eyes softened to an almost unbearable tenderness as they met Margaret's gaze.

He walked over and wrapped his coat around her fragile frame, shielding her from the chill. The crowd gasped in admiration.

"Mr. Hartley really softens up whenever he's with Ms. Chapman. She must be so lucky."

"Do you remember Mr. Hartley's birthday gift from last year? A limited edition sapphire ring worth a fortune. I'm so jealous!"

"That's nothing! Mr. Hartley would give up his life for Ms. Chapman! When her mother was diagnosed with uremia, he immediately went to get tested for a kidney match. The way he looked, he seemed ready to donate a kidney right away!"

"Yeah! Although the match didn't work out, I heard he even traveled to several countries just to find a kidney for her mother!"

-

"Isn't it cold?" Gavin's soft voice pulled Margaret back from her wandering thoughts.

"Weren't you supposed to wait for me at the hospital?"

Gavin swiftly removed his own coat and draped it over her shoulders. He was gentle, tender beyond measure.

Margaret hugged the coat tightly around herself. She wanted to smile, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't.

Because, at that moment, she had come to her senses.

A week ago, she had suddenly realized that Gavin had never truly loved her.

It started when Margaret received a package from overseas that was returned to her with the label "Undelivered".

At that time, Gavin had already been abroad for over a month, searching for a kidney for her mother.

Gavin's birthday was approaching, so Margaret had handmade a knitted sweater and sent it to the hospital in Chesterio he had mentioned. She paid for expedited shipping, but it was returned.

The courier said the recipient didn't exist.

When Margaret couldn't get through to him on the phone, she panicked, thinking something had happened to him. She immediately booked a flight overseas.

Her luck was both good and bad. She found Gavin—but not at the hospital he'd told her about.

Instead, she found him at a nearby psychiatric hospital—carrying another girl in his arms.

The girl was playfully messing with his hair, completely carefree, while Gavin laughed, that same warmth in his eyes.

But Margaret remembered, with clarity, that he never allowed anyone to touch his hair.

When Margaret saw the girl's face, her world turned cold.

The girl and she were nearly identical.

Margaret stood in the freezing wind for an hour before hastily booking the earliest flight back home.

She hired a private investigator. Gavin was keeping the girl well-hidden, and it took Margaret a lot of time and effort to find out who she was.

Her name was Marjorie Page, younger than Gavin by four years. She and Gavin had been childhood sweethearts.

They were the perfect match in everyone's eyes.

But Marjorie had long struggled with bipolar disorder, and at eighteen, she had a complete mental breakdown after a traumatic event.

Margaret couldn't help but think back to the first time she met Gavin—back when he was twenty-five. It was three years after Marjorie's breakdown.

They had met at a bar. Margaret had accidentally spilled beer on his expensive coat. He looked up at her, clearly irritated, but when their eyes met, he froze.

After that, Gavin spent six months wooing her—according to others, he put all his time and effort into loving Margaret.

She became the envy of every girl in Sparrowville.

For years, she had thought that the look he gave her was love at first sight.

But now she realized it was all part of some plan.

-

Margaret walked quickly into the hospital, her steps heavy.

Gavin was still "putting on a show".

He didn't follow her, and so, he didn't notice that, as soon as she turned her back, Margaret's face was already streaked with tears.

She allowed herself to cry just once.

Margaret silently made a vow. Once she was done crying, she'd kick Gavin out of her life and start over.