Chapter 1

1: 1

My husband was sleeping with an intern at his company, and he actually smuggled her home inside a suitcase to make it a game.

I woke up thirsty in the middle of the night, got up for water, and walked straight into their affair.

When I stepped forward to confront them, my husband "accidentally" shoved me out the window. I fell from the twelfth floor and died on the spot.

Then he took my inheritance and married the intern.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my husband came home dragging that suitcase.

"Everything in here is hazardous material that needs disposal. It's dangerous, so whatever you do, don't touch it!"

I nodded. Then, the moment he left the apartment, I turned around and loaded the suitcase onto the garbage truck.

The worker asked me, "What's in here? Why's it so heavy?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Hazardous waste. Just take it straight to disposal."

……

Watching Horace Dickerson haul that familiar case back through the door, I understood I'd been reborn.

Before I could say anything, Horace was already warning me.

"Don't you dare touch this case."

Last time he'd said the same thing, and I hadn't questioned it. I just assumed it was something for his work.

Now, looking at that absurdly oversized suitcase, I only felt how laughably naive I'd been.

That intern, Darlene Malone, was inside it right now.

My nails dug crescents into my palm as I forced out a smile.

"Why can't I touch it? What's in there?"

As I spoke, I reached out as if to "help" him pull it along.

Horace shoved me off, his tone turning irritated.

"I said don't touch it. Can't you understand plain words?"

"There's hazardous material inside. The second it hits the light it releases toxins, and one breath will kill you!"

"I'll take it away and deal with it later. It's none of your business."

Hazardous material? Not wrong there.

I was sneering on the inside, but I put a frightened look on my face and backed well away.

"Why would you bring something that dangerous home? What if it leaked by accident?"

Seeing that I'd bought it, Horace even looked smug.

"Relax, I can handle it."

"You just stay out of it."

He leaned hard on the word handle, and he quietly nudged the case with his foot.

The case rocked twice on the floor, as if someone inside were fighting with everything they had to hold in a laugh.

My gaze went cold in an instant.

Bringing someone home to have his affair and chase a thrill. So I was just another part of his little game.

The pain of bone slamming into the ground last time spread through my whole body.

I lifted my head and looked at Horace.

"Then you'd better take good care of 'it.'"

Horace broke into his first big grin since walking in, whistling as he pulled the suitcase into the study.

That night, I pretended to be asleep.

Before long, Horace got up beside me and crept out on tiptoe.

The study light came on.

Following the light spilling through the gap in the door, I walked barefoot to the study doorway.