Chapter 1

Lowell Sullivan, a city youth sent to the countryside, fell into the water by accident, and I was the one who saved him.

The next day he showed up with a thick load of betrothal gifts to propose marriage, saying he wanted to repay me for saving his life.

My biased parents pushed my younger sister forward and claimed she was the one who had gone into the river to save him.

I refused to accept it. Right there in front of everyone, I exposed the truth: my sister couldn't swim at all, and I was the one who saved him.

"He was unconscious at the time, and I was the one who gave him mouth-to-mouth."

"I saved him without a thought for my own reputation, so if he owes anyone, he owes it to me."

I made a scene until the whole village knew about it, and under the pressure, Lowell had no choice but to change his tune and marry me.

After the wedding, I got my wish and moved to the city with him, but he treated me like a total stranger, nothing but coldness. His family didn't treat me like a person either, wearing me down and giving me a hard time day after day.

Still, I believed that as long as my heart was sincere, one day it would warm him, so I slaved away in the Sullivan household, working without complaint.

Until I saw him secretly meeting with my sister, Loretta.

Rage surged through me until my whole body shook, and I rushed over like a madwoman to demand an explanation.

Lowell shoved me away hard, his eyes full of disgust and loathing.

"Lily, let me tell you this. From beginning to end, the one I wanted to marry was Loretta. If you hadn't thrown a public fit and made such an unreasonable scene, we'd have been together long ago. You took her place."

Only then did I understand that his talk of proposing to the woman who saved his life had only ever been a pretext. The one he wanted to marry all along was Loretta.

Once I knew the truth, I sank into grief and rage and wasted away in depression. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day he came to propose.

This time, I'll grant your wish.

...........

Lowell stood tall and straight in a crisp, well-fitted Mao suit, a thick pile of betrothal gifts stacked on his old bicycle.

"A life saved should be repaid many times over, and besides, there must have been some physical contact between us in the water yesterday, so I must take responsibility."

He was speaking to my parents, but his eyes were glued to Loretta, and she stood there shy and bashful.

I must have been so stupid in my past life that I didn't even notice such an obvious sign, believing he really was there to thank me for saving his life.

Beaming, my parents gave Loretta a little push forward. "The young man's right. Our Loretta risked her life to pull you out of that water. You mustn't let her down."

Loretta's cheeks flushed scarlet in an instant, and she shyly nestled into Lowell's arms.

Lowell agreed to it all. "I'll treat Loretta well for the rest of my life. I'll never let her down."

The villagers who'd come to watch the excitement offered their congratulations to my parents too. "You two are so blessed! Lowell's about to head back to the city, and Loretta gets to go along and live the good life."

My parents stood up straight, their faces practically blooming with joy, until they saw me. Then the smiles froze on their faces.

"Lily, what are you doing here?"

What a ridiculous question. A smile curved on my lips as I looked at my parents. "This is my home. Is there a problem with me being in my own home?"

Only then did Mom realize she'd said the wrong thing, a flicker of guilt in the corner of her eye. "I'm only worried about you and your fever, aren't I? It's windy out here. Hurry back inside and rest."

Her eyes were terrified I might say one more word and ruin Loretta's good fortune, and I found it laughable.

Lowell suddenly stepped forward and spoke in a rush. "Lily, what are you trying to pull now? Don't tell me you're going to say you were the one who saved me."

"When I was pulled out of the water yesterday, I saw with my own eyes that Loretta was the one who saved me. Don't go trying to steal the credit. I will not marry you."

I froze and stared at him in shock. So he had been reborn too, which was why he couldn't wait to shut me up, striking first by saying he'd seen Loretta save him.

The villagers turned to look at me with doubt in their eyes as well.

But my gaze stayed calm. "What are you talking about, brother-in-law?"

"The one who saved you was of course my sister, Loretta."

"Besides, I'm already engaged, so why would I ever want to marry you?"