Part 1Rewind to My Fiancé's Accident, Only to Discover His Love Was a Lie

After my fiancé died in a car accident, I locked myself away for two full years.

Every day, I stared at the ceiling, tears streaming down my face, my hair turning gray overnight.

Until that day, when I climbed the mountain, forehead bloodied from kneeling and bowing, praying to a higher power.

When I opened my eyes again, I had somehow returned to the night two weeks before the accident.

I saw Ethan, not far away, laughing and clinking glasses with his friends.

Hot tears ran down my cheeks, reminding me this was real.

Then, the next second, his mocking words hit me like a slap:

"I was only pretending to love her to get her in bed. She's easy to handle—obedient, doesn't make a fuss. Why not marry her? And as for other women… she'll never find out."

0I froze on the spot, my chest heaving violently.

Everything was changing too fast—maybe I misheard?

Instinctively, I took a few steps closer to Ethan, trying to confirm.

"Rachel's got no one left in her life. She can't survive without me. I just have to do the bare minimum, and she's grateful for days."

"She's so starved for love, man. I bet if I dumped her, she'd be on her knees begging me to take her back. Don't you think?"

"Exactly. With her family background, me marrying her is already a favor. She should feel lucky."

Snowflakes swirled in the air, falling without purpose.

I stood there, helpless, shocked, unable to believe what I was hearing. My hands trembled uncontrollably.

The man I had mourned day and night, whose love I had clung to,

Every word he spoke now cut into me like shards of ice.

I stared at his familiar yet unfamiliar silhouette, my throat tight, unable to make a sound.

Ethan, the man who had appeared in my dreams countless times, was right in front of me—yet somehow, he felt farther away than ever.

My phone buzzed with a notification. It was a text from Ethan:

"Baby, I'm heading home soon. Craving anything? ❤️"

That emoji, the one he always sent, now felt like a cruel joke.

At this time in the past, I'd have been at home, eagerly waiting for him.

Not standing here, hearing the truth spill from his lips.

Reality is often a blade wrapped in flowers, while lies are dressed up to look like love.

I don't even remember how I got back home.

I collapsed onto the couch, my mind a chaotic mess, thoughts swirling with no resolution.

After a while, the door creaked open, and Ethan walked in, carrying takeout in his arms.

I looked up at him, unsure what expression to put on, silently watching as he approached.

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