The Woman Who Took Back Her Life

I was beaten by my husband so severely that I ended up in the ICU, unable to speak.

But I managed to scrawl a few words on paper:

"It’s okay, love can ease the pain."

My mother was so furious that she passed out right there.

My life was hanging by a thread, and even as I lost consciousness, I was still defending him.

Before my mind fully faded, I felt warm fingers lifting my eyelids, followed by a blinding flashlight shining directly into my eyes.

A soothing voice, tinged with regret, echoed.

"This girl... someone must have put a curse on her."

And with that, I slipped completely into darkness.

I was reborn.

Back to three years ago, on my friend Tessa's birthday. I accompanied her to a bar to celebrate. But when the night ended, we ran into a group of thugs who tried to harass us. That was when I met Marcus Flynn, the hero who came to our rescue, and I instantly fell for him.

But what followed was the memory of his fists repeatedly swinging toward me.

I screamed in fear!

"Elena?" Tessa startled at my reaction, pulling me aside and asking with concern, "Are you okay? Did you drink too much? Is your head hurting?"

I nodded, "Tessa, maybe we should head home. I just remembered something..."

There was something I needed to confirm at home, urgently.

Tessa hesitated, clearly unwilling.

"We were supposed to stay out later tonight. It’s not even 10 PM yet."

But seeing my state, she softened. "Alright, stay here for a moment. I'll use the restroom, and then we’ll head home."

I looked at her gratefully.

Whether in this life or the last, she had always been my best friend.

In my previous life, when everyone turned their backs on me, it was only she who stood by my side, doing everything she could to help me in my hardest times.

Even when Marcus nearly beat me to death, I was the first one to call her.

Two minutes later, Tessa returned.

She smiled, linking her arm with mine, "Let’s go, Elena."

We walked out of the hotel, crossing the long corridor.

The hallway wasn’t too bad during the day, but at night, likely to match the hotel’s atmosphere, the lights were dim, barely enough to see the way.

I quickened my pace.

But just as I did, a group of people suddenly emerged from the corner.

My heart skipped a beat.

It seemed that some things couldn’t be avoided, even if I were reborn.

But now, as I looked at the familiar faces I had seen in my past life, I realized they were nothing more than a group of naive students.

They just dressed more socially, and their expressions were intentionally smug and aggressive.

But their eyes... revealed nothing but foolishness.

A thought suddenly popped into my mind—maybe they weren't real "thugs" after all.

Seeing Tessa, who was on the verge of tears, I pulled her behind me and calmly faced the leader of the group.

"Who sent you?"

The guy paused, surprised, as if he’d been caught off guard.

I smirked coldly.

As expected.

I continued, "How much are they paying you? I’ll double it."

I pulled out my wallet and flashed him a glimpse of the stack of hundred-dollar bills inside, then tossed it at his feet.

He hesitated for a moment before crouching down to pick it up.

After confirming the amount, he exchanged confused glances with the others around him.

Clearly, this situation was outside the scope of what he had expected.

Just then, a brave voice rang out from the end of the corridor.

"Stop! Let them go!"

That voice was far too familiar to me.

Even though I had been reborn, hearing it still made me tremble uncontrollably.

A fearful shudder.

The cruel words from my past flooded my mind—

"Elena Vance, when you marry a chicken, follow the chicken. When you marry a dog, follow the dog. You married me, so my word is law."

"I’ve never seen anyone as worthless as you. I treat you like shit, yet you open your heart to me. I guess it really works, huh?"

"No money? No money, I’ll beat you until you have some!"

...

I closed my eyes for a moment. When I opened them again, I saw that face.

Marcus from three years ago. The Marcus I had first met—the hero who rescued me, the one I fell for at first sight.

The Marcus who later nearly killed me.

So, you're back.