V
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
By their sixth year of marriage, Claire’s husband Ethan had fallen head over heels for their new live–in nanny.
The girl had just moved to the city from some small town–bubbly, sweet, with that wide–eyed innocence that screamed “fresh off the bus.”
Ethan personally decorated a whole new room for her. Pink curtains, a princess bed straight out of a fairy tale, fluffy bunny slippers–the works. Like he was setting up some kind of dream dollhouse.
Funny how selective memory could be. He seemed to have forgotten how he’d literally bled for Claire once upon a time. How he’d taken ninety–nine lashes from her father just to earn the right to marry her, nearly dying in the process.
He’d also conveniently forgotten his annual pilgrimages to Tibet–six years running. Every single year, he’d climb those sacred mountains, prostrating himself step by agonizing step for eighty–one days straight, all to earn a single blessed amulet.
Just three months ago, he’d placed the sixth one around her neck with his own hands.
Back then, his eyes had been full of nothing but her. His voice had been so tender: “May every god and spirit in heaven keep my Claire safe and happy, healthy and worry–free, for all the years to come.”
But now? Now he was standing there with the nanny’s, named Tiffany’s–dirty laundry pressed against his face, breathing it in like some kind of pervert.
“She smells like youth,” he’d said, as if that explained everything.
Youth. What a joke.
Hadn’t Claire been just as young when they first got together?
From eighteen to twenty–four, from girl to woman–she’d broken her parents‘ hearts for him, and now he’d fallen for some other girl.
Claire didn’t cry. She just took off the charm hanging around her neck, lit it on fire, and flushed the ashes down the toilet.
She had five more just like it.
When all the charms were gone, that’s when she’d leave Ethan for good.
After that, walking through the front door, Claire immediately heard Tiffany’s bell–like laughter echoing from the living room..
“Mr. Ethan, this is Mrs. Claire’s favorite necklace–are you really giving it to me?”
Ethan’s voice was low and intimate: “Hmm… the colors look way better on you anyway.”
Tiffany practically squealed with delight. “Oh my God, thank you so much, Mr. Ethan!”
“Come here, let me put it on you.”
Like an obedient little puppy, Tiffany turned around. Ethan moved behind her, supposedly to fasten the necklace, but from where Claire stood, she could see him burying his face in the girl’s neck, breathing her in like she was his personal drug.
“You smell like… milk or something,” Ethan murmured, his lips and nose trailing along her neck: “Like a baby.”
22:01
Two Chances, One Bullet: How His “Next Life” Promise Failed
79.3%
Chapter 1
Tiffany giggled: “Maybe it’s ‘cause I still have baby fat, ha ha. Mr. Ethan, stop it–that tickles!”
“Shh, hold still…”
Claire’s footsteps seemed to break up their little make–out session.
Tiffany jumped out of Ethan’s arms like a startled rabbit, head down as she mumbled: “Oh, Mrs. Claire’s home.”
Claire’s eyes immediately locked onto the pearl necklace around the girl’s neck–the only thing her mother had ever left her.
Her face went white: “Who said you could wear that? Take it off. Now.”
Tiffany burst into tears, immediately reaching for the clasp: “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Claire! I didn’t steal it, I swear! Mr. Ethan, he-”
“I gave it to her.”
Ethan caught Tiffany’s hands, stopping her from removing the necklace. His voice was gentle but firm: “I gave it to you, sweetheart. No take–backs.”
Claire felt the blood rush to her head. “Ethan, you know damn well this necklace is-”
“I know what it is, but whatever, it’s just jewelry. Not even worth that much. You want another one? I’ll take you shopping tomorrow and get you something way more expensive.”
“I don’t want another one. I want THIS one.”
Ethan’s expression turned cold: “Look, I already gave it to her. Don’t embarrass me like this.”
“Oops!”
Tiffany gasped as the pearl necklace suddenly snapped, sending pearls bouncing and rolling across the hardwood floor.
Claire immediately dropped to her hands and knees, frantically gathering each pearl, too devastated to keep fighting with
Ethan.
Tiffany shrank back behind Ethan, grabbing onto his sleeve: “Oh God, Mr. Ethan, I’m such a klutz! I totally broke Mrs. Claire’s necklace. Maybe you should just let me go? I feel so bad–look how upset she is. This is all on me…”
Tiffany started crying those perfect little tears while Ethan wrapped a protective arm around her.
“Hey, hey, none of that talk, okay? You’re not going anywhere. Just go upstairs and chill out. I’ll handle this.”
After Tiffany left, Ethan crouched down, watching Claire crawl around on the floor desperately searching for every pearl, tears streaming down her face.
“Claire, come on. Go upstairs and get some rest. I’ll find them for you.”
Claire let him help her up without suspicion, his arm around her as they headed toward the staircase. But the moment she turned around, someone shoved her hard from behind.
She tumbled down the stairs, her body hitting each step before finally crashing at the bottom in a pool of blood.
Warm, sticky liquid began pooling beneath her, spreading like a crimson flower blooming on the marble floor.
“The baby… My baby…”
22:01
Two Chances, One Bullet: How His “Next Life” Promise Failed
79.6%
Chapter 1
She was pregnant—just over a month along. And Ethan knew. He knew.
In the split second before she lost consciousness, Ethan’s black dress shoes appeared in her blurry vision.
He knelt down beside her, gently stroking her hair as he whispered: “Don’t worry, Claire. We can always have another baby later. Tiffany was threatening to leave, you know? But now that you’re hurt, she’ll stay to take care of you.”
22:01
