The Past is Hard to Recall

Cole Lewis had chased after me for ten years before I finally agreed to marry him. But three days before the wedding, he asked to replace the bride with his childhood sweetheart.

I didn’t argue or cause a scene and simply smiled, saying, “Alright.”

Only because in my previous life, I had refused his request to change the bride. As a result, his childhood sweetheart slit her wrists and died on our wedding day.

On the surface, he smiled and said it was fine, but on the day I was about to give birth, he drugged me and took me deep into the mountains.

Not only did he smash my newborn child to death with a shovel right in front of me,

but he also tortured me to death, cutting me apart piece by piece.

I cried and questioned him, asking why he did this.

With a crazed expression, he said, "Do you think I wanted to be with you if not for your filthy money? But now, no matter how much money you have, Winona can’t come back! You and this bastard both deserve to die!"

Afterward, he pretended to be a devoted lover, deceiving countless netizens and even my parents.

Eventually, they took over my company and killed my parents in the same cruel way.

This time, I wanted to see if they could stay together without my dirty money!"

I didn’t know if it was because I died too unjustly in my past life, but after death, my vengeful spirit lingered, always following Cole.

I watched as he dragged my corpse and the baby’s body to Winona’s grave to beg for her forgiveness.

Then, pretending to be a devoted lover, he not only issued a public announcement online claiming to search for his beloved wife but also knelt before my parents and swore an oath.

He swore that I was the only wife he would ever have in this lifetime and that if I and the baby were never found, he would remain unmarried for the rest of his life.

He promised to treat my parents as his own and care for them with filial devotion.

In the end, he gained their trust. My grieving parents, devastated by the loss of their daughter, believed him.

Not only did they treat Cole as their own son and groom him, but a few years later, they even handed the company over to him, consoling him.

"The police have been searching for years without finding them. It's likely that Stella and the child have met an unfortunate fate. You're not young anymore, maybe you should consider remarrying."

Faced with my parents’ care and sacrifices, he spoke endlessly of how he could never forget me. Yet, once he had fully taken control of the company, he used the same brutal methods to murder my parents.

The pain of losing my loved ones and the torment of being dismembered felt as though it would tear my heart apart.

I trembled all over, my mouth slightly open, gasping for breath.

Cole, sitting across from me, noticed my pale expression.

He immediately walked around the dining table, crouched in front of me and gently held my hand, speaking softly. “Honey, why do you look so pale? Is the baby troubling you again?”

At four months pregnant, my belly was already starting to show. It was precisely for this reason that my parents, who had always opposed me marrying Cole, finally relented.

Before I could respond, Cole, in his usual manner, reached out to touch my belly, smiling as he said, "Little troublemaker, I can't bear to see your mom upset. When you’re born, just wait and see how I’ll spoil you!"

I instinctively pulled away from his touch.

Cole’s hand froze in midair, looking at me with confusion.

In the past, whenever he made such gestures, I would respond with happiness in my heart. But at that moment, my entire back was drenched in cold sweat.

Who would have thought that such a gentle and considerate man would kill his wife and child a few months later for another woman?

The exhaustion made me too tired to argue with him. "You didn’t wash your hands."

Cole froze for a moment, then remembered my obsession with cleanliness.

A flash of impatience crossed his eyes, but he quickly replaced it with a doting smile. "It’s my fault."

He obediently went to the bathroom to wash his hands.

A moment later, he returned to my side, pushing the century egg and lean pork congee he had spent the afternoon preparing toward me.

After a brief hesitation, he spoke, “Stella, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

I absentmindedly stirred with the spoon, coldly thinking to myself, ‘As expected, it has come.’

"You know, Winona has liked me for so many years and she has depression. I was thinking, can I go through a mock wedding with her this time and then we can have our official wedding? It would be like fulfilling the girl's dream and she won't disturb our lives anymore after that."

My hand, stirring the congee, froze.

I looked up at him in silence.

Cole seemed uneasy, his expression uncomfortable. "Stella, we owe it to her after all. She got depression because of me. You love me the most, you will understand me, right?"

Hearing those familiar words, I thought of countless scenes from the past.

Ever since I had completely fallen into the web of love he had carefully woven, he constantly tested my obedience under the guise of love.

For example, if Winona’s depression was triggered after seeing us together, he would ask me to buy her luxury handbags.

Or if Winona cried, he would blame himself, saying it was all because of me that he had let her down, hinting that I should transfer money to her or buy her jewelry to comfort her.

Until this wedding.

Before, Winona had indeed used her depression to threaten him, saying that if he didn’t hold a wedding with her first, she would end her life.

He thought I would compromise, just as I had so many times before. But he underestimated how much I valued this wedding.

For the first and only time, I refused to back down, firmly defending my own rights, even at the cost of a heated argument with him.

I told him that if he insisted on making Winona the bride, we would break up.

In the end, he chose wealth and status over Winona. And, astonishingly, Winona really did slit her wrists and die.

Now, facing the same situation once again, I looked at the uneasy Cole in front of me and didn’t argue or make a scene.

Instead, I smiled and replied, “Alright.”

Cole froze, his mouth slightly open, as if there were many persuasive arguments he had prepared but hadn’t yet voiced.

“Stella, you’re not angry?”

“No. After all, I’m the one you love the most, right? You only let her down because of me.”

With that, I turned and walked into the bedroom.

Behind me, Cole mulled over my words, sensing something wasn’t quite right but unable to pinpoint what it was.

Just as I was drifting off into a hazy sleep...

The mattress beside me sank slightly, followed by Cole's warm breath and restless hands.

"Stella, don’t worry. For you to make such a big concession for me, I promise I’ll never let you down in this lifetime. The doctor said the baby is already four months along. How about we…”

My previously drowsy mind became instantly alert.

I dodged his hand as it slipped into my nightgown, a wave of nausea surging through me.

I rushed into the bathroom and began to vomit.

He followed, gently patting my back, but the more he did, the worse I retched.

Before long, my mouth was filled with bitter bile, the taste and smell unpleasant.

Cole subtly stepped back, distancing himself from me.

I pretended not to notice, dragging myself back to the bedroom.

Cole followed behind me, holding a glass of milk and a small pill in his other hand.

I glanced at the milk and pill in his hands and shook my head. "I don’t want to take it."

He gave me a doting smile. "Don’t be stubborn. It’s for the sake of our baby."

In the end, I swallowed the pill.

After he left the room and closed the door, I spit it out.

I had once been so blinded by love that I never questioned anything. Only now did I realize it wasn't because I felt unwell that I had to take the prenatal medicine. It was because every time his phone vibrated, he would make me take that pill and each time I took it, I would feel very sleepy.

As expected, before I could think further, there was a knock at the door.

Winona’s tearful voice came through, laced with desperation.

“Cole, why aren’t you answering my calls? Have you fallen for that bitch Stella and abandoned me and our child?”

As she spoke, she eagerly threw herself into Cole’s arms, wrapping her arms around his neck.

The sound of their wet kisses filled the air.

After a long moment, Cole finally spoke, his breath ragged. “Don’t you already know who I truly love? If it weren’t for the money, to give you and the child a good life, do you think I’d be willing to play along with her?”

“And what about the wedding?” Winona demanded. “I don’t care what you say. You must marry me first, or I won’t feel secure.”

“She’s just a lovesick fool,” Cole sneered. “Don’t be fooled by her cold demeanor at first. Now, she’s head over heels for me. The moment I bring it up, she agrees to anything. She’s so pathetic.”

Even though I had the memories of my past life, my heart still ached so much at this moment that I could barely breathe.

It turned out that Winona was already pregnant at this point.

It turned out that all my wholehearted devotion to him was nothing but "pathetic" in his eyes.

Tears slipped from the corners of my eyes, quickly soaking the pillow beneath me.

The sound of heavy breathing in the living room grew more intense. Through the gap in the door, I could see two intertwined, naked figures on the couch.

Winona’s tone no longer carried the earlier pretense of grievance. Instead, she was playfully coquettish, scolding, "Ah, be careful of the baby! Were you this impatient with Stella too?"

"Of course not," Cole replied with a chuckle. "She always acts so cold and distant. How could she possibly be as fun as you? You’re both due around February. When the time comes, we’ll just swap the babies and everything the Hale Family owns will be ours."

Their vile words filled my ears, each one stabbing deeper into my heart.

Beneath the blanket, my fingernails dug into the palms of my hands. The sharp pain was unable to numb the overwhelming ache in my chest. My entire body felt paralyzed from the anguish.

The two of them continued their entanglement for what felt like an eternity.

Finally, Winona wrapped her arms around Cole’s neck, her voice dripping with flirtation. "I’ve got a new outfit I just received today, want to try it out?"

Without hesitation, Cole picked her up and carried her off to another "battlefield."

Exhaustion overwhelmed me and I drifted into a deep, restless sleep.

The next morning, I called my mother.

When I told her that Cole wanted to hold a ceremony with Winona first, she was so furious that she abandoned her usual composure and burst into a stream of curses.

After hearing me say that I was willing to go along with the family’s arranged marriage, she let out a deep sigh. "Ah, your father and I always felt something was off about Cole. His gaze was never sincere and he didn’t seem reliable. It’s a relief that you’ve come to your senses through this matter. They’ve been urging us, so if you’ve made up your mind, let’s proceed in three days."

Hearing that, I fell silent.

Three days later was the exact date originally set for my wedding with Cole.

Just as I hung up the call with my mother, I heard the sound of the door opening.

Cole walked in carrying breakfast. The moment he saw me, he placed the food on the table.

The scent of gardenias wafted into my nose. It was Winona's favorite. The intensity of the aroma was enough to confirm how "eventful" their night must have been after leaving here.

Frowning, I pushed away Cole, who was reaching out to embrace me. "The smell on you is too strong. It’s nauseating."

He sniffed his arm and let out an awkward laugh, his expression slightly unnatural.

Seeing that I wasn’t planning to pursue the matter, he eagerly opened the breakfast and pushed it toward me. "It’s your favorite, century egg and lean pork congee."

I didn’t touch my spoon. I wanted to argue but realized it was pointless.

The first time he made congee for me, I had already told him that I didn’t like the taste of century eggs. Yet, he insisted on adding them every time, claiming it was my favorite.

Back then, I thought it was just the carelessness of a man.

It wasn’t until this morning, when I used an alternate account to check Winona’s social media, that I realized century egg and lean pork congee was her favorite, not mine.

Even his cooking skills were learned for Winona.

I used to watch his back as he made congee in the kitchen and felt a sense of happiness. But now, every frame of that memory felt painfully ironic.

"I don't feel like eating right now. Maybe later."

Seeing that I really didn’t have an appetite, he hesitated for a moment before bringing up the matter of Winona’s wedding dress.

It turned out that it wasn’t just the wedding itself. Winona wanted everything: my wedding dress, my ring, even my bouquet.

"Of course, if you’re not willing..."

"It’s fine," I interrupted calmly and smiled generously. If I no longer cared for Cole, why would I care about these custommade possessions tied to him?

Cole froze in place, staring at my calm gaze. He opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Since the rings had been custommade using my ID, he needed me to accompany him to have the size and name changed.

When we arrived at the jewelry store, I saw the pair of longawaited rings now worn on Cole’s and Winona’s fingers.

The store staff kept complimenting how wellmatched they looked, like a couple destined to be together.

That was, until Winona requested the names on the rings to be changed to hers. The clerk’s smile froze in place.

She turned to look at me, hesitating. “So, which one of you is Miss Hale?”

I stepped forward and said calmly, “That would be me.”

I glanced at Winona and Cole, their fingers intertwined as they posed for photos and chuckled lightly.

“If she likes the ring so much, let’s go with her idea. I’m willing to let her have it,” I said, my tone calm and indifferent.

After urging the jeweler to make the adjustments, Winona and Cole, without missing a beat, dragged me to the bridal shop next.

Thanks to my parents’ upbringing and their emphasis on quality, the wedding gown was designed to be bold and elegant, perfectly highlighting my striking temperament.

Worn by the petite and delicate Winona, the wedding gown instantly lost its original charm. In the mirror, she looked more like a maid trying on the clothes of a noble lady.

Even Cole couldn’t help but suggest, “Maybe it’s better to pick one that suits you more.”

But Winona stubbornly insisted on this one.

Cole looked at me, caught in a dilemma. He knew how much this wedding and especially this gown meant to me. I had spent six months carefully selecting it.

Every diamond on the gown was carefully chosen after discussions with the designer. That’s why it wasn’t until three days before the wedding that the final adjustments were made.

I had once dreamed of being Cole's most beautiful bride. Now, it seemed unnecessary. Even this wedding dress made me feel utterly ridiculous.

“Stella, I love Cole just like you do, you know that. I even developed depression because of him. Before, you tolerated me, gave in to me and bought me so many nice things. Now, I’ve truly decided to let go. You wouldn’t even refuse to let me have this wedding dress, would you?”

Winona spoke with a pitiful tone, as if I had wronged her. Cole looked at her with so much sympathy, his worry evident in his eyes.

"Stella, I never realized you could be so petty! It's just a wedding dress! You know Winona has depression, why are you making such a fuss about it?"

I studied them carefully, watching their expressions become uncomfortable. Only then did I smile and nod. "Of course, if you like it so much, take it. I'm not the storekeeper; I can't stop a sale."

With that, I went to speak with the shopkeeper, explaining that I agreed to let Winona have the dress. The whole ordeal dragged on until evening.

Cole then mentioned my pregnancy, urging me to go rest early.

I didn't say much and went straight to the hospital where I had made an appointment to have the child removed.

By the time I returned home, it was already 10 p.m. I touched my nowflat belly and thought of the child from my previous life and my eyes filled with tears once again.

Cole called me, saying he had to work overtime tonight. He reminded me several times not to forget to take my vitamins and drink hot milk.

After hanging up, I lay on the bed, feeling drowsy.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed with several messages.

The photos showed a man's and woman's bare collarbones, marked with love bites and sweat.

The caption read:

“What's the point of being rich? You're still only worthy of my secondhand wedding and secondhand man.”

I had just read twothirds of the message when it was retracted.

Winona sent another message.

[I sent the wrong message earlier. Please don't misunderstand.]

I couldn't be bothered to reply and immediately blocked her number.

On the wedding day,

I finally understood that the socalled "formality" was not as simple as just the two of them having a ceremony.

Even both sets of parents and relatives had arrived. Several of Winona's friends were even livestreaming the event.

After all, "Yucca Hotel" was the top hotel in Arham City.

If it weren't for Winona, I probably would never have had the chance to step foot in this place.

They kept bragging in the live stream about how good Winona's marriage was.

The uninformed netizens in the live stream began flooding the chat.

"Wow, isn't this the Empress Hall of Yucca Hotel? I heard a wedding here costs at least a hundred thousand dollars to start!"

"It's not just about money. For places like the Empress Hall and the Emperor Hall, you need both money and connections. I heard at the last gathering that this wedding is the marriage of the Hale Family 's heir, Stella Hale."

"Wow! So the bride is the eldest daughter of the Hale Family. It's great to have a rich best friend."

I sat calmly in the crowd, wearing my wedding dress.

I called the owners of the jewelry store, bridal shop and the hotel where the wedding was held.

I asked them to confirm the value of these expensive items and informed them that I would no longer be paying the balance. I told them to confirm that Winona and Cole were capable of covering the costs.

I also sent them the wedding address.

Previously, my credit had guaranteed the payments, so the plan was to settle the balance after the wedding.

But now that they were so eager to take everything for themselves, I naturally wouldn't continue to play the fool.

The Hale Family 's status in Arham City was wellknown.

With my words, these people would certainly understand what I meant.

Half an hour later...

The ceremony on stage had just reached the part where the bride and groom were exchanging rings.

Suddenly, the hotel’s front doors were forcefully pushed open.