Chapter 1

1.

After I slept with my girlfriend, I noticed a red thread hanging over my head, tied to the top of hers.

But there were two threads over her head. The other one connected to her childhood sweetheart.

At a dinner one night, I overheard the two of them talking.

"Mary Pruitt, I've got to go overseas soon to build up the business. I won't be able to look after you or the baby, so I'll have to let him be the fall guy for now. I know it's hard on you."

"I'll make it up to you twice over when I get back."

"Kerry, for our future, it's no hardship at all."

"Besides, he already agreed to add my name to all the property deeds."

"When the time comes, I'll find an excuse to divorce him and walk away with half of everything. Then you won't have to work so hard, and the three of us can be together forever."

I listened with cold eyes.

In my last life, I found the red thread and exposed the affair between my girlfriend and her childhood sweetheart.

She cried her eyes out and begged me to forgive her, just once, for the baby's sake.

I gave in.

And then she and Kerry Henson pushed me off a building when I wasn't looking, forged a marriage certificate, and seized everything I owned.

This time, I won't go soft again.

1.

The two of them were still talking.

There was something vicious in Kerry's voice.

"Mary, you're so good to me. But every time I think about him touching you, I want to kill him."

"For our future, I'll swallow it this once."

"Once that piece of trash's assets are in our hands, I'll arrange an accident and make him disappear."

Mary's voice turned disgusted.

"For now we still need to keep him calm."

"Don't worry. I promise I won't let him touch me. I belong only to you."

Hearing that, something in me went cold.

Now it finally made sense.

Mary had always refused to let me touch her.

Then last night she suddenly came to me on her own and seduced me.

She hadn't had a change of heart. She wanted me to believe the baby in her belly was mine.

I forced myself calm, saved the recording, and went back to the table.

Seeing me return, the two of them exchanged a glance.

Mary gave me an affectionate smile.

"Ervin Dickerson, the wedding's less than a month away now. How are the preparations coming along?"

I looked at her.

The expression on her face was so genuine. If I hadn't been through this once already, I'd still be completely in the dark right now.

Anger surged through me, but I kept my voice even.

"Almost everything's ready. You'll love it."

Kerry's lips curved, and he raised his glass to me.

"Ervin, Mary and I grew up together. I've always thought of her like a little sister. Once she marries you, you'd better take good care of her."

I didn't let anything show.

"Of course."

He smiled, something shadowed in his eyes, tipped his head back, and drained his glass in one go.

"Good. Then let me offer you both an early toast. Long life together, and a child soon."

I drank with him and glanced at Mary's belly.

Then I lowered my head.

I knocked their tangled legs apart under the table.

Then I looked up, at the space above their heads.

The red thread joining them had grown even brighter.

I gave a cold smile.

Since they wanted to take everything I owned.

Then I'd turn their own plot against them.

Watching the two of them laugh and chat, I spoke slowly.

"You two go ahead and eat. I've got to work late tonight, so I won't be coming home."

Then I stood.

I walked to the register and paid.

As I passed the two of them, I gave Kerry a slight smile.

"I've settled the bill. Take your time."

Kerry's lips curved, and he smiled back.

"Take care, Ervin. I won't see you out."

Outside the hotel, I let the smile drop from my face.

Then I hailed a cab and left.