Chapter 1

I have an obsessive crush on Alec, and I'm willing to marry him just to be his shield for his affair with his childhood sweetheart.

"I'm bringing Vivienne home tonight. You'd better not show up."

I'm recuperating in the guest room, trying to avoid them at all costs. I watch helplessly as they embrace and head upstairs. They don't even bother to close the master bedroom door before they start their intimate entanglement.

My thoughts are simple: to love someone is to love what they love.

I'm under Alec's spell. If I can't have him, I'm content with being Mrs. Grey in name only.

But when the earthquake strikes, I witness Alec rushing to Vivienne's side, holding her tight as they escape danger.

Meanwhile, I'm trapped under layers of crumbling walls, billboards, and utility poles, closing my eyes forever.

I regret it now. No amount of affection is worth more than my own life.

Given another chance, I decide to give up on Alec.

But now he's the one with regrets.

——————

During flu season, I'm burning up with fever.

It was the same in my previous life. I lay in bed for a day and a night, and my husband Alec didn't even bother with a simple "How are you?"

As if I were completely insignificant.

Unexpectedly, I open my eyes and find myself back at this point in time.

Perhaps Heaven took pity on me, granting this chance to relive my life anew.

The terror of being submerged and crushed in the earthquake had yet to fade. My fingers trembled as I scrolled through my phone.

Just like in my previous life, Alec had sent a text message ten minutes ago.

"I'm bringing Vivienne home tonight. You'd better not show your face."

If memory serves, Vivienne had been back in the country for less than three days.

Alec couldn't contain himself, brazenly bringing her into our home.

In my past life, I lacked the strength to leave, forced to hide in the guest room as they indulged in their passionate affair.

Perhaps thinking the house was empty, they didn't even bother to stifle their voices. Discarded clothes littered every corner.

"Vivienne, I love you so much. Won't you call me 'hubby'? Come on, baby..."

I still remember vividly how Alec, who was always cold and prudish around me, showered Vivienne with sickeningly vulgar words as they basked in their love.

But this time, I refuse to tread the same path.

In my previous life, while they were secretly intimate at home, Alec's mother somehow caught wind of it and stormed over unexpectedly.

At that critical moment, it was I who dragged my sick body downstairs to deal with the situation.

"Melody, you need to keep a close eye on Alec. Although Vivienne grew up with him, the Everhart family has long since fallen from grace. She's not good enough for the Grey family. You absolutely cannot let them do anything dishonorable."

Despite loving Alec in my heart, even though I knew he was hiding in the bedroom, naked and embracing Vivienne, I could only muster my strength to comfort Mrs. Grey and persuade her to go home.

But this time...

If Alec had the guts to bring someone back, he should have figured out how to deal with Mrs. Grey's fury.

I'm not going to be his shield anymore.

So even though I still felt unwell, I gritted my teeth and got up to pack, preparing to leave this troublesome place.

Based on my experience from my past life, Alec and Vivienne wouldn't be home for another twenty minutes.

I hurriedly packed a simple bag and then called a cab straight to the hospital.

I really did have a severe case of the flu, so there was nothing wrong with staying in the hospital for a bit to recover.

As for home, I'll let those two deal with it.

After all, I don't have a habit of eavesdropping.

After getting in the car, I received a message from my best friend.

"How's your cold? My mom made some soup, I'll bring some over for you!"

In my past life, because I was thinking about Alec, I immediately messaged back to refuse her offer.

But this time, I decided not to take action.

After all, just Mrs. Grey discovering the affair wouldn't be exciting enough, would it?

By the time everything was arranged, I was already lying in a hospital bed hooked up to an IV.