Love's Dark Reckoning

Five years into our child-free marriage,my husband brought home the child of his late first love.

I refused to raise another woman's daughter,so my husband threatened divorce.With no choice,I reluctantly agreed.

As the girl grew up,she didn't do well in school and failed to get into her dream university.My husband then wanted to use the money I'd saved for my cancer treatment to send her abroad.

At the moment I was close to death,my husband walked into my hospital room holding hands with his first lovethe woman he claimed had died.

She smirked triumphantly.

"Thank you for raising me and Ethan's daughter for eighteen years."

In that moment,I finally understood: she had faked her death just so Ethan could bring their illegitimate daughter home openly.

When I opened my eyes again,I was back to the day he was set to attend her funeral.

"I don't get why you're fussing over a dead woman.Chloe's gonecan't I at least pay my respects as a friend?"

"You're getting so petty,always making a scene."

Young Ethan Grant's voice echoed in my ears.I looked down at the black suit in my arms,realizing I'd been reborn.

Today was the day Ethan planned to attend his first love Chloe Evans'funeral.

Clutching the tailored suit,hatred surged,but I forced it down.

Smiling,I stood and handed it to him.

"You're right.The dead deserve respect.We should pay our respects."

Ethan's frown eased instantly.

"Really,honey?"

I nodded.Ethan immediately took the suit and happily went to change clothes.

Last life,on this day,Ethan claimed Chloe died in a car crash.After her funeral,he brought home their illegitimate daughter.

Living in my mansion,driving my luxury car,spending my money,he dared expect me to raise his mistress's child.

This time,I'd make them all pay.

Ethan emerged in the suit,in high spirits,ready to leave.Seeing me with my purse at the door,his smile froze.

"Honey,you going out too?"

"Aren't we attending Chloe's funeral?Hurry up,or we'll miss the memorial."

I smiled sweetly and linked arms with him,pulling him forward.

Ethan stiffened,unmoving.

"Claire,why would you go to Chloe's funeral?You two never got along.You'll just cause trouble."

Chloe and I were college classmates,always at odds.I found her pretentious;she called me crass.Ethan's role in our feud meant I never spared her a kind look.

My expression changed.

"Ethan,I'm kindly paying respects.How's that trouble?Am I crashing the place or skipping the condolence gift?"

"I didn't mean it like that,Claire.It's just that today is so hot,and you going there will only exhaust you.Just stay home and have a rest.I'll come back tonight with a big surprise for you."

Ethan tried to stop me.

I felt a cold sneer forming inside me.That so-called "surprise"would be my death sentence.

"Ethan,you keep blocking me from Chloe's funeral.Got something to hide?"

At my words,a flicker of discomfort crossed Ethan's face.

"Claire,you always jump to conclusions.Chloe is already deadwhat could I possibly be hiding?If you don't believe me,go ahead and investigate.I have nothing to hide."

What a noble declarationI have nothing to hide.In my previous life,whenever I questioned Ethan,he always turned the blame back on me,accusing me of not trusting him,making me feel guilty.Every time,I was the one who backed down first.

Now,seeing his true face,only hatred remained.

I smirked,stepping out first.

"If you truly have nothing to hide,then let's go."

Ethan froze,stunned by my response,but pride forced him to follow.

Throughout the ride,Ethan remained silent and sullen,but I felt a strange sense of joy and excitement.

We arrived at Chloe's funeralthe memorial hall had been set up in a suburban hotel.As soon as Chloe's mother saw me,her face darkened instantly.

"Why'd you bring her?My daughter's dead,and she's here to disturb her peace in the afterlife?"

Her mother's voice was loud and coarse,drawing the few relatives and friends to gawk.

If my memory was right,Chloe had a friend who was a live-streamer.Sure enough,even at this funeral,the girl hadn't stopped broadcasting.

"See?I told you not to come,but you insisted.Now everyone's upset."

Ethan shot me a disgusted look.

I glanced at Chloe's mother,spotting a five-year-old girl behind herChloe and Ethan's daughter,Sophie.

Sophie glared at me venomously.

"Uncle Ethan,is this your wife?Not half as pretty as my mom."

Her words echoed what she said last life when Ethan first brought her home.

Her voice was sharp,precocious,devoid of childish innocence,dripping with snobbery.

"Yeah,this is my wife,your future mom."

Ethan took Sophie's hand,fondly tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Hold on,Ethan,what's that mean?"

He grabbed my hand,coaxing patiently.

"Honey,we're child-free.Chloe's gone,leaving Sophie and her grandma.Let's adopt her."

I shook off his hand,face cold.

"No way.I chose child-free because I don't like kids.Now you want me to raise Chloe's kid?What's your game?"

Ethan,embarrassed,bristled.

"Claire,how can you be so heartless?This child has just lost her mother and is practically orphaned.How can you say such cruel things?Don't you have any compassion?"

"And besides,"he continued,"it was you who insisted we become child-free.You even made me get a vasectomy.If it wasn't for you,would I have chosen to be child-free?"

His words immediately stirred up the crowd,and they started whispering and pointing fingers at me.

"She's vicious,forcing a vasectomycutting off his line!No wonder she's cursed."

"Look at her,so hard to deal with.It's just a kidwon't eat much.So arrogant."

I shot them a cold look.

"If it's so easy,why don't you adopt her then?"

That shut them right up.

"And by the way,"I added,"you didn't get a vasectomy because of me.It was because your sperm viability was too lowdon't try to blame everything on me."

Ethan was speechless,humiliated in front of everyone.His face turned blacker than charcoal.

"Claire,you're getting more unreasonable.I can't talk to you anymore."

With that,Ethan stormed into the memorial hall.

Seeing Ethan disappear inside,Chloe's mother quickly signaled for the mourning ceremony to begin.

I smirked.As if I'd let them carry out their plans so easily.

Suddenly,several people in white lab coats burst in.

"Hello,Ms.Chloe Evans signed an organ donation agreement.We just received news of her passing,so we're here to take her for organ extraction."

Chloe's mother and Ethan exchanged a glance;Ethan glared at me fiercely.

"Only a few people knew about Chloe's death.Was it you who leaked it?"

I shrugged,hands spread.

"Don't look at me like that.I'm just doing what's best for Chloe.Organ donation can save more livesisn't that making her death more meaningful?"

"Besides,Chloe signed the organ donation agreement herself.She must have thought the same thing."

"You bitch!You stole her love when she was alive,and now you want her dismembered in death!"

Chloe's mother took a step forward,grabbing my collar and raising her hand to slap me.I caught her wrist firmly.

"Ma'am,mind yourself.Your relatives are livestreaming.Donating organs is such a noble actshouldn't you feel proud as her family?Why are you stopping it?Could it be you have something to hide?"

Her mother froze,glancing at the livestreaming influencer,panic flickering.

"You're talking nonsense!My daughter is already dead.I just want her to rest in peace with her body intact!"

Seeing the situation spiral,Ethan quickly pulled me away.

If I hadn't worn sneakers today,I probably would've been thrown to the ground.

"Claire,"he spat,"you really disgust me.Chloe is already dead,and you still won't let go of her."

Before I could retort,Sophie rushed up,kicking and punching my legs.

"You evil woman!I'll kill you for ruining my mom's funeral,stealing my dad!"

I grabbed Sophie,staring her down gravely.

"Repeat that.Who's your dad?"

Her venomous glare wavered,trembling,too scared to speak.

Ethan,distressed,pulled her into his arms.

"Claire,you've gone too far.I didn't think you'd be this vicious.I want a divorce."

In the past,loving him,I'd cave during fights,yielding endlessly,only to die miserably.

Arms crossed,I stared coldly.

"Fine.Tomorrow,courthouse.You leave with nothing."

Ethan froze,stunned by my quick agreement.

"We need to take Ms.Evans'body for organ extraction.Time's criticalplease,everyone,step aside."

The lab-coated staff,seizing our argument,pushed past Chloe's mother,reaching for the coffin.

"No way!"

"Anyone touches my daughter,I'll fight to the death!"

Chloe's mother threw herself over the coffin.

"Ma'am,what are you doing?You're stopping your daughter from being a hero!"

I stepped forward,feigning outrage.

At that moment,only I noticed Chloe's fists clenched tightly in the coffinshe was practically shaking with rage,barely holding back from jumping up.

"Get out!You witch!I'll kill you!This is all your fault!"

Chloe's mother stood up and glared at me like a demon.

I gave the medical staff a subtle signal.They immediately understood and two of them stepped forward to pull Chloe's mother away.

"Ma'am,please cooperate."

The other two reached their hands into the coffin.

Chloe's mother broke free,grabbed a knife from the table,and held it to her throat.

"If anyone dares to touch my daughter,I'll die right here in front of you!"

"Claire,"Ethan shouted,holding Sophie tightly,his face twisted with anger,"are you going to cause someone's death just to satisfy yourself?If she dies today,you'll be a murderer!"

"This woman is truly despicable.Even after someone dies,she wants to rip them apart."

"Such hatred,grinding her to dust even in death!"

"She's begging for karma!"

The crowd buzzed,the livestream's viewership soaring.

As I was vilified,a staff member shouted.

"She's alive!"

All eyes turned.Chloe,unable to bear it,sat up in the coffin,pointing at me,cursing.

"Claire,you bitch!I never signed any organ donation agreement!"