Rebirth and Revenge: Kicking Away Men Who Deceive and Play with Women's Feelings

Chapter 1Eight years into our relationship, I took a knife for my doctor boyfriend, Ethan.He promised I could ask for anything in return.Everyone expected me to demand a proposal.Instead, I calmly said,“Let’s break up.”Then I turned and walked away.Ethan smirked and bet everyone,“She’s just a lovesick puppy fishing for attention. I bet she’ll be back begging me to take her back in three days…”He was wrong.I had a secret; I'd been given a second chance.In my past life, I'd gotten engaged, but Ethan's dream girl, Olivia, jumped off a building and killed herself.He took all his anger out on me.On our wedding night, he slashed my face and locked me in a dark, cramped basement.After I got pregnant, he forced me to eat massive amounts of supplements.By the time I went into labor, the baby was too big, and I couldn't deliver.I bled out, my body torn apart in a horrific stillbirth.This time, back to the day I took that knife for Ethan, I did as he wished.1.The surgeon's office.A sharp pain in my arm brought me back to reality.The nurse finished wrapping the bandage, gently warning me to keep it dry.Ethan, sitting in the chair beside her, sneered,“Just a scratch. Why are you acting so precious?”I remained silent. Other doctors in the office exchanged uneasy glances.They were all there during the attack.The attacker was a hulking ex-con, released two years ago.The fruit knife, a foot long, had sliced through my arm. I needed twenty stitches.The attacker's original target was Ethan's heart.My silence angered him. His handsome face turned icy.“Claire, don't play games. I said you saved me, you can ask for anything. Still not satisfied? What's with the attitude?”Somewhere along the line, Ethan’s tone toward me had become superior and condescending.All his tenderness was reserved for Olivia, his dream girl—an orphaned girl he'd sponsored after a flood relief effort.My gaze landed on the pink bunny hair tie on his wrist.Ignoring the bitterness swelling in my chest, I looked up and smiled.“Anything at all?”Ethan hesitated, a flicker of something crossing his eyes. He glanced at the hair tie, his expression momentarily troubled before regaining his composure.He ground his teeth, then nodded, a resigned sigh escaping him.“Yes.”One of Ethan's medical school buddies chimed in,“Then, Dr. Hayes, you better make an honest woman of her!”Others joined in the laughter.“Yeah, Dr. Hayes, it's about time you two tied the knot.”“I've already got my wedding gift ready! When's the big day?”As the teasing continued, I was about to break up with Ethan when a young nurse rushed in,“Dr. Hayes! Olivia is trying to kill herself!”…Again.If my count was correct, this was Olivia’s one hundred and eighth suicide attempt.Just like last time.As soon as the nurse finished speaking, Ethan ran out, heading towards the hospital rooftop.There, Olivia stood, eyes red and swollen, her small face pale.She wore Ethan's white shirt, her slender legs visible beneath it.I remembered seeing her there d...