chapter 2

Catching the hatred in my eyes, Nathan fetched his parents to talk me down. "Oliver, we didn't think this through—blame us, not anyone else," they said.

I'd always respected them, a byproduct of loving Megan.

They must've been terrified I'd dig up loose ends if I checked the procedures—but I wasn't that naive.

Megan's dad had been our family driver before I got with her; once we started dating, I told him to quit.

I sent them a generous monthly allowance—enough for them to stop working and enjoy their golden years.

Most relatives had no clue what went on inside that crematorium, but the three of them? They were definitely accomplices.

I masked the fury in my eyes and asked, "The day before yesterday, I had breakfast with her right before my business trip. She was fine. You're sure it was a stroke? How could it happen so suddenly?"

That was when Megan's mom, Miranda Fox, squatted down, sobbing, "It's all my fault! The neighbor's kid got sick, and no one was there to look after him. So, I made Megan stay with him for a few days. Who knew... who knew she'd push herself so hard?"

She choked out, "The kid found her passed out, and she'd been out cold for a while."

Feigning confusion, I pressed, "Which neighbor's kid?"

Miranda hurried to answer, "Nick Wilson—you've met him before."

In my last life, I'd delivered food to Megan's door and seen their wedding photo hanging in the living room—Nick and her.

Everything clicked.

Raising my voice, I demanded, "Where's Nick? Doesn't he owe me an explanation?"

I first heard Nick's name in my last life, right before our wedding.

Megan had admitted she had an unrequited love.

I'd chased her for two whole years before she said yes, and that day, it all made sense.

Nick had left the country to pursue his own crush, so she'd finally given up and noticed me, the one who'd always been there.

I didn't mind. "Do you still like him now?" I asked.

She took my hand, sweet as could be, and said softly, "Of course not. We're getting married soon."

I pulled her into my arms and smiled, "Everything I have is yours from now on. I'll always treat you right."

After we married, I gave her full control of the company and let her be the successful woman she wanted to be, while I supported her from the background.

Never did I think she'd steal every penny I had, driving me to my death from rage.

No one from the family spoke up. "Where is Nick?" I pressed again. "Did he never show, or did he leave?"

Miranda panicked, grabbed my hand, and hissed urgently, "Keep your voice down—there are so many people here! Nick's still sick; we told him not to come."

Megan's parents had coddled Nick, both before and after our wedding.

They'd said they owed his family a favor, and told me to look out for him.

After he got divorced and came back, I'd fixed him up with a job, an apartment—everything.

I'd always thought Megan kept asking me to help him just to repay that favor.

It turned out that her feelings for him had never faded.

I'd been blinded by my own infatuation, walking right into their trap.

Megan's extended family chimed in, "Listen to Miranda, Oliver. Let Megan rest in peace. Don't blame anyone. It's just her fate."

Nice guys finished last. These relatives had milked me dry before: asking for favors, even begging me to set their kids up on dates with wealthy families.

Now they were all siding with Megan's parents.

Did they really think Megan's parents were some big-shot patrons?

Without me, they were nothing!

The sight of their repulsive lips moving made my stomach churn. Unable to hold it back any longer, I lunged for the trash can and started retching.