Forgive, Never Forget

The 99th time I caught Sarah Burton cheating, she slept with my foster brother, Lucas, just to get back at me.

When I walked in on them in bed, there wasn't a trace of guilt on her face. If anything, she looked unapologetically smug.

"Jason," she said, "your brother's a hell of a lot better than you."

In my past life, those words broke me completely. I lost my mind. I leaked their sex photos to the entire world.

Sarah couldn't take the humiliation. She divorced me.

My parents were so disgusted that they kicked me out for good.

I thought I'd bounce back. I was wrong.

I'd spent the first eighteen years of my life growing up wild in the countryside. Even after the Robinsons brought me back, I had no real-life skills. I didn't know how to survive in their world.

Then Sarah's family came after me. I went years without a proper meal. By my early thirties, I died of cancer.

Meanwhile, Lucas married Sarah and climbed straight into high society.

And me? I was just the ex-husband who became a joke to everyone.

Now, I open my eyes again. I'm back on the day she slept with him.

"Jason, what are you waiting for? Get in there and see who that bastard is!"

My mother's voice was urgent, her face twisted with worry, like she actually cared about me.

But if you think about it for two seconds, it's obvious: this whole setup was her and Lucas's doing.

In my past life, I was supposed to be out of town. She came to me personally with the tip. I flew into a rage, stormed home, and ended up brawling with both of them. I hit Sarah. She lost the baby.

My mother acted heartbroken, but she blamed me for all of it. Because of her, I lost my child, my marriage, and any foothold I had left in the world.

I shut my burning eyes and forced down the dull ache in my chest. Then I turned and walked away.

This time around, I've figured it out. Love doesn't matter one bit. Money matters.

Seeing me walk off like I couldn't care less, my mother's face flickered with shock. She gritted her teeth and shoved the bedroom door open herself.

A scream followed.

Lucas scrambled to pull the sheet over himself, his face full of regret.

"Mom... I was drunk. I didn't mean to—"

My mother pretended to be horrified, lunging at him and sobbing as she smacked his head.

Sarah didn't panic at all. She grabbed a robe, threw it on, and lit herself a cigarette. She looked at me, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"So, what are you going to do this time?"

The first time I caught her, I chased her lover out of the house naked.

The second time, I slashed her assistant's face.

The third time, I showed up at her company and caused the stock price to tank.

I can't even remember how many times it happened anymore. All I remember is my own hoarse screaming and the ugly snarl on my face. Everyone who saw me would sneer, "Here comes the crazy husband again."

And each time, Sarah just pushed further.

But this life? I'm done with her. All I want is a quiet, comfortable life.

Suddenly, Lucas dropped to his knees in front of me with a thud.

"Jason, it's my fault," he said, his voice shaking. "Don't blame Sarah. Blame me."

So brave. So noble. Throwing himself on the grenade to protect his woman.

Sure enough, Sarah's expression softened just a little. When she looked back at me, her eyes were even sharper.

"Jason, I—"

"Okay, well, if that's it, I'm leaving. I'm gonna be late meeting my friends."

I cut her off before she could finish. Then, pretending not to notice the stunned look on her face, I turned and walked out.

My mother panicked. But by the time she ran after me, I was already gone. She just stood there, frozen, her mouth hanging open.

Nobody saw that coming.