In a factory overgrown with weeds, the stench of garbage permeated the air.
"Drip, drip..."
It was the sound of blood dripping onto the lime floor.
Jade Quinn's long hair was disheveled, and she was weakly tied to a chair. Upon closer inspection, one could see the hideous scars on her exposed arm.
With a creak, the old factory door opened.
A woman in a pink dress and high heels walked in elegantly. Upon smelling the odor inside, the woman wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"My dear sister, everything will end today..."
Lila Quinn wiped the blade, the smile on her lips turning bloodthirsty and ferocious.
Suddenly, a loud screech of brakes echoed outside the door. A man in black rushed in like a demon, his handsome face darkening the moment he saw the woman tied to the chair.
"Jade..." Before he could finish his sentence, explosions erupted all around. The man's feet kicked up rocks that detonated instantly.
Ethan Ford hadn't even reached the factory entrance before he was blown several meters away. Blood splattered through the air, and his body was torn apart beyond recognition.
"Ethan!" Jade Quinn trembled and tried to get up, forgetting she was tied to a chair.
With a clatter, she fell to the ground. Shards of broken porcelain pierced her palms, causing fresh blood to flow.
"Jade, don't be afraid… I'll save you…"
The man's lips curled into a soft smile, wanting to leave something beautiful behind for his Jade—before death claimed him.
"No… no, I don't want you to die, don't…" Jade Quinn cried, tears streaming uncontrollably.
"Why is he so stupid? I clearly caused him to be wanted, I clearly don't deserve him—so why… why does he still come to save me!" Her hoarse sobbing echoed through the factory.
"Jade, don't cry."
Ethan wanted so desperately to wipe her tears, but he was too far… too weak.
In the final explosion, the man was blown to pieces—vanishing without a trace.
"Ah!! Lila, you deserve to die!"
Jade grabbed a handful of broken glass and cried out miserably. She pushed herself forward with the chair still on her back.
But before she even touched Lila's skirt, a sharp kick from Lila's high heel slammed into her stomach. Pain shot through Jade's body, cold sweat forming on her skin.
"Looking for death!" Lila took out a knife from her bag. "You and your beloved husband can meet in hell!"
Crimson blood flowed down Jade's forehead, blurring her vision in shades of red. She grit her teeth—but she no longer had the strength to fight.
If there was another life… she would never let Lila go. She would make her suffer.
Lila sneered. She hadn't planned to kill Ethan at first, but since he showed up—he only had himself to blame.
…
"Ugh."
Jade Quinn gasped in pain and suddenly woke up.
Her vision cleared—and the factory scene sharpened. Ethan Ford's body blown apart… her own death…
Just recalling it made her chest tighten until she couldn't breathe.
"Do you really hate me that much?"
The man's low, gloomy voice carried indescribable sorrow.
Jade froze. This voice… she knew it too well.
"Ethan Ford?"
His name slipped out unconsciously. In her past life, those three words felt like chains. But now—just saying it made her want to cry.
She looked him over carefully—head to toe. It really was him.
A sudden pain jolted through her body…
Then the familiar scene replayed—wasn't this the first night they shared a room after their forced marriage?
Back then, their parents pushed them together. Jade was still a student, resentful and stubborn. She already liked someone else, and after the marriage, she moved to live at school. Later, she said she wanted to travel with Adrian Fang. Ethan, furious, threw her luggage out—and they ended up in bed that night.
From then on, their relationship only spiraled down. She saw him as a heartless devil…
Now—everything had returned to the beginning.
Had she… truly been reborn?
Jade pinched her thigh hard. Tears welled up.
It was real.
She was alive again.
"I don't hate you, I don't hate you. How could I hate you… Ethan…?"
Remembering the man who died trying to save her, her heart twisted in unbearable pain.
In this life—she would cherish him.
Love him fiercely.
Her sudden change stunned Ethan Ford. He looked at her silently, his eyes filled with suspicion and confusion.
Ryan Han's words echoed in his mind:
"That woman is using you to get confidential information from Junye Group. I don't understand how someone as sharp as you fell for her."
Jade squirmed, then suddenly leaped into his arms.
"Honey, why are you ignoring me? Is it because of last night… you hate me now?"
Her bright eyes shimmered with tears, lower lip trembling.
Ethan's Adam's apple bobbed.
Was this woman… normal?
Last night she was cold and rebellious. Today she was suddenly soft, clingy, calling him—
Husband.
Had sleeping with him changed her attitude?
Or was she acting?
His Jade had never acted like this.
"Are you running a fever?" He hesitated, placing his palm on her forehead.
Her temperature was normal—but her behavior was not.
Jade removed his hand and pressed it against her own.
She stared at her bare fingers and frowned.
Seeing this, Ethan's face grew serious. Maybe she had just been half-asleep earlier—but now she was fully awake.
"Jade Quinn, as long as I'm here, you're not going to see that man."
His tone sharpened, anger coating his voice. Whenever Adrian Fang was mentioned, they clashed immediately.
He prepared himself for a fight.
But instead…
Jade lifted her head, eyes misty, lips pouty.
"Ethan… why is there no ring?"
Ring?
This was the second time today she called him "husband."
Ethan was speechless. After a long moment, he finally said:
"Buy."
No matter what she was planning—
That word "husband" melted through his cold heart like sunlight.
Even if she was using him…
It was worth it.
Jade's eyebrows relaxed, a soft smile blooming.
"I thought so. How can a married couple not have rings? My sister told me a ring wasn't necessary for marriage…"
Her last sentence was soft, almost whispering to herself.
But Ethan heard every word.