Chapter 2

Regret?

I dazed off for a moment, my mind drifting back to my past life.

My history with Chloe actually started because of Zack.

Chloe was a transfer student in our class.

Her family was poor, and somehow, she rubbed Zack the wrong way.

Zack was the notorious school bully. Even the teachers turned a blind eye to him.

So, he targeted Chloe.

He used a pocket knife to leave horrible scars on her arms,

locked her in the dirty bathroom stalls,

and cornered her in alleys after school just to beat her up.

I was the one who saved her.

After calling the cops, I rushed into that alleyway.

The moment Zack's blade was about to slash Chloe's face, I threw myself over her.

Before the police arrived, Zack unleashed all his rage on me.

I was an art student.

But Zack used his expensive sneakers to stomp on and break my fingers.

Because of that, I missed my portfolio submission for CalArts.

Chloe and I ended up going to a mediocre college together and got married right after graduation.

But soon, we started having screaming matches.

It all started at a high school reunion. When she saw how lavishly Zack treated his girlfriend,

her heart began to waver.

Zack was a famous wealthy playboy.

After graduation, he had actually confessed to Chloe.

He claimed he had fallen in love with her *while* he was bullying her.

But Chloe was already with me back then, so she rejected him.

Now, she regretted it.

Honestly, our life back then wasn't even bad.

Even though I couldn't go to my dream art school, we both graduated from a decent university.

I never gave up painting in my spare time.

Combined, we had saved over a hundred thousand dollars in our bank account.

But she wasn't satisfied. She believed she deserved better.

"Liam, I'm asking you one last time. Are you coming with me or not?"

My breath hitched as I stared at her in disbelief.

Leave?

It wasn't that simple.

It meant abandoning everything we had built.

Was the wealthy world out there really that great?

I didn't understand.

"Chloe, why are you so desperate to leave?"

She sneered.

"If I don't leave, am I supposed to rot with you here forever?"

"Surviving on these pieces of trash nobody wants?"

I let out a bitter laugh.

The paintings I had poured my heart and soul into—the ones she used to praise—were now just "trash" to her.

"Chloe, is that what you really think of me?"

Chloe interrupted me impatiently.

"Enough! If you won't leave, I'll go by myself!"

"I must have been blind to choose you in the first place."

Even though I was furious, I still worried about her.

I ran after her.

Chloe rushed onto the street, completely ignoring a car running a red light.

The car was about to hit her.

Without thinking, I lunged forward to push her out of the way.

But we were both struck by the car and sent flying.

When I opened my eyes again,

we had both been reborn.

Immediately, Chloe broke up with me and accepted Zack's confession.

She started posting her daily life with Zack on TikTok, quickly becoming a popular influencer.

As for me, I kept a stable job while continuing to hone my painting skills.

Being an artist was my dream.

I respected Chloe's choice.

But no matter what, I would never regret mine.