The rain poured heavily over the city.
Thunder echoed through the dark sky as Li Xinyue lay quietly on the cold hospital bed, staring at the ceiling.
Once, she was the proud heiress of the Li family.
The woman everyone admired.
The woman who had everything.
But now, all she had left was regret.
Her fingers slowly touched the wedding ring on her hand.
The ring belonged to Gu Zhen.
Her husband.
The man she had spent years misunderstanding.
A bitter smile appeared on her pale face.
How ironic.
She had spent so much time wishing she could escape her marriage, never realizing that the person she wanted to escape from was the only person who truly protected her.
The door opened slowly.
A familiar figure walked inside.
“Li Xinyue.”
That gentle voice used to make her feel safe.
But now…
She finally understood the danger hidden behind it.
Lin Meiqi.
The woman she considered her closest friend.
The woman who had always comforted her whenever she complained about Gu Zhen.
The woman who secretly wanted him.
“Why are you here?” Li Xinyue asked weakly.
Lin Meiqi walked closer, her expression no longer pretending to be kind.
“To see you one last time.”
Li Xinyue frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Lin Meiqi smiled.
“Did you really think Gu Zhen never loved you?”
Those words made Li Xinyue freeze.
“What?”
“You spent years hating him because I told you he married you only for his family’s benefit.”
Lin Meiqi laughed softly.
“But the truth is, he loved you from the beginning.”
Li Xinyue’s eyes widened.
No…
That couldn’t be true.
“He protected you from danger. He rejected countless women. He gave you everything you wanted.”
Lin Meiqi leaned closer.
“And you? You treated him like an enemy.”
Memories flashed through Li Xinyue’s mind.
The nights Gu Zhen returned from dangerous missions but still asked if she was okay.
The way he silently arranged everything she needed.
The way he stood between her and danger.
She remembered her cold words.
Her cruel attitude.
Her refusal to believe him.
Her heart shattered.
“Why…” Her voice trembled.
“Why did you do this?”
Lin Meiqi’s eyes turned cold.
“Because I loved him.”
A cruel smile appeared.
“And because you had everything I wanted.”
At that moment, Li Xinyue finally understood.
The person she trusted had destroyed her life.
But the person she hated had loved her all along.
Her vision slowly blurred.
The last thought in her mind was simple.
If she had another chance…
She would never hurt Gu Zhen again.
She would never let anyone separate them.
She would love him the way he deserved.
Then darkness took over.
“Madam! Madam, wake up!”
A familiar voice pulled Li Xinyue from the darkness.
Her eyes opened suddenly.
Bright sunlight entered the room.
She breathed heavily.
This wasn’t the hospital.
This wasn’t her death.
She slowly looked around.
The luxurious bedroom.
The familiar decorations.
The wedding photograph on the table.
Her heart stopped.
No…
She walked toward the mirror.
The woman looking back at her was younger.
Alive.
Healthy.
Then she saw the date on the phone beside her.
One month after her wedding.
One month after she became Mrs. Gu.
Li Xinyue froze.
She had returned.
She had returned to the time when she had already hurt Gu Zhen.
Before everything was destroyed.
This time…
She would change their fate.