Chapter 1Hurricane. Me and my Navy pilot husband's first love—both trapped.
Theron hesitated. Saved me first—pregnant.
When he went back for her? Too late. She DROWNED.
"You delayed the rescue. You killed Livia!"
He hated me SEVEN YEARS. Wouldn't even let our son call him Dad.
Then Time Machine finally dropped.
He abandoned EVERYTHING. Went back.
"Nerissa, if saving Livia first wouldn't make her look like my mistress, I'd NEVER pick you."
After he left—
His parents: "God, if only he'd saved Livia. At least they'd be happy."
My own son: "Dad hates me because YOU killed Aunt Livia! Why didn't YOU die?"
FUCK THAT.
I went back too.
This time? I'll save myself.
I'm done owing Theron Blackwell shit.
...
The dizziness from the Time Machine faded.
The freezing water I'd been soaking in made me feel like I was dying.
I forced my eyes open.
Theron was standing in a small boat, looking down at me coldly.
Our eyes met.
He didn't even hesitate, turned the boat around and rowed toward Livia trapped on a rooftop.
The current almost swept me away. I grabbed onto driftwood, swimming with everything I had.
Just as I was reaching safety, Theron's boat passed right by me.
Livia stumbled and nearly fell in.
To save her, he dropped the oars.
The boat slammed straight into me.
Pain shot through my stomach. I almost let go.
But Theron didn't even look, simply rushed Livia to shore.
When I finally dragged myself onto land, coughing violently, Theron—who had already brought Livia to safety—walked over.
"Nerissa, you got out fine on your own, didn't you?"
"You stayed in the water on purpose, trying to force me to save you first so I couldn't get to Livia, right?"
The ice in his eyes made me shiver.
He had no idea I'd come back through the Time Machine too.
"Planning to run to my parents again? Say whatever you want about me."
"But if you dare frame Livia, I won't let you get away with it—even if they take your side."
I pressed my hand against my stomach. The pain was unbearable.
I looked up at him.
"Let's get divorced."
Theron froze. Then frowned, annoyed.
"I've got things to do. No time for your drama."
"I'm not being dramatic. I'm serious."
In the last timeline, before he left, Theron said his biggest regrets were not saving Livia first—and marrying me because his parents told him to.
I wasn't going to repeat that same mistake.
This time, I'd let him fix both regrets.
He didn't believe me and looked more irritated.
"Mom and Dad aren't here. You don't need to put on a show."
"You're just using divorce to make them hate Livia more."
"Drop the act. Don't use something serious like divorce as a bargaining chip for your tantrum."
"I'll take you to the hospital first."
He shot me a warning look, signaling me to stop.
The pain in my stomach got worse.
I was about to take his hand when Livia shoved me aside.
She grabbed his arm, crying.
"Theron, Apollo swallowed so much water trying to protect me."
"He's in bad shape. Can you please take him to the vet first?"
Theron didn't hesitate and agreed instantly.
Then he remembered—he'd just said he'd take me to the hospital.
Seeing this, Livia dropped to her knees in front of me.
"Nerissa, you're not hurt anyway. Just let Theron take Apollo to the vet first, okay? I really can't lose him."
Apollo was the dog Theron and Livia adopted together.
"I'll find someone to bike you to the hospital."
"I'll come find you after I take Livia and Apollo to the vet."
I replied calmly.
"Okay. Go."
Theron looked surprised.
But Livia was rushing him.
He didn't think twice. Got in his Jeep and drove off with her and the dog.
After he left, I turned around.
As expected, it was soaked with blood.
By the time I finally made it to the hospital, the doctor said it was too late.
The baby was gone.
Chapter 2
In my previous life, Theron saved me first. So the baby survived.
After our son was born, Theron never held him. Never did anything for him except hand over money.
He even threw away gifts our son made for him.
One day, my son cried and asked me why other kids got birthday presents from their dads, but Theron never even bought him snacks.
I didn't understand either.
Not until I walked in on him telling our son:
"Don't call me Dad. I'll never accept you as my son."
Our son was sobbing.
Theron pulled out a clump of golden fur he'd kept for years.
"Because you got sick, everyone rushed you to the hospital. That's when Apollo ran off in the chaos."
"I already failed to protect Livia. But I couldn't even protect Apollo."
"If I could do it over, I'd protect Livia and Apollo. Even if it meant losing my kid."
I snapped back to the present and wiped my tears.
From the moment I came back, I knew I was divorcing Theron.
So I never planned to keep this baby either.
I finished writing the divorce papers in the hospital room.
Right then, Theron walked in carrying a bag of trendy toys.
"Saw these at the store on the way."
"Figured they might sell out, so I grabbed some for the kid."
He smiled a little, showing me the toys. A hint of genuine anticipation for the child in his eyes.
"Is Apollo okay?"
His smile froze. He nodded awkwardly.
"Vet said he's fine."
"Don't mention today to Mom and Dad, okay? I don't want them misunderstand Livia again."
"If you keep this quiet, I'll do anything you want."
So he didn't buy these for the baby.
He bought them to keep me from going after Livia.
I looked down and saw the label on the toys.
"For Dogs."
My chest tightened.
He bought toys for Apollo. Just grabbed extras.
These imported toys weren't cheap either. Theron really went all out for Livia.
"Anything I want?" I turned my head so he wouldn't see my tears.
Theron nodded.
I pulled out the divorce papers, covered the top, and left the signature line blank.
"Then sign this."
"What is it?"
"A promise agreement. That you'll never fall for anyone else."
To Theron, I was always childish.
I used to pull stunts like this all the time.
So he didn't suspect a thing and signed his name.
The second his signature hit the paper, I felt relief.
Theron once saved me.
Now I was setting him free, letting him choose what he really wanted.
My mom and Theron's parents were close friends.
We'd known each other since we were kids.
At first, my life was just as calm and happy as his.
Then Mom died. Dad remarried. I fell from heaven straight into hell.
My stepmom turned Dad against me.
He stopped giving me money. Wouldn't even buy me basic necessities.
My classmates mocked me for wearing my dad's oversized, torn hand-me-downs.
When I was dying of shame, Theron stepped in.
He blocked the ink they threw at me and stood up to the bullies.
He even said his clothes were hand-me-downs from relatives too.
That it wasn't something to be ashamed of.
That day, he picked up my shattered dignity.
We got closer after that.
Later, my stepmom had a son. They didn't want to support two kids. So they pushed me into a lake.
I almost drowned. Theron saved me again.
After Dad and my stepmom got arrested, Theron brought me to his house and begged his parents to pay for my tuition so I wouldn't be homeless...
Chapter 3
Theron pulled me out of hell over and over.
He made me believe our bond was special.
But it wasn't. I just realized it too late.
At least now I had a chance to choose differently.
"Mom and Dad made your favorite food. They want us to come over for dinner. They haven't seen you in forever."
We were almost at the door when one of Livia's friends rushed over. Said something to him.
"Livia's shaken up from today."
"She's afraid of the water and can't cook. I'm gonna go make her dinner."
After Theron left, I ate with Maxwell and Victoria.
As we were finishing, Victoria's face darkened.
"Did he go see Livia again?"
I didn't look surprised.
Victoria set her fork on the table.
"You said he couldn't come because of work."
"But I just went to Mrs. Fontaine's to get these beans, and I heard Livia bragging in her yard about Theron cooking for her!"
"I don't know what's so great about Livia that makes him this obsessed."
"If I wasn't worried he'd do something stupid, I'd tell him she's been married before!"
My expression stayed calm.
I already knew from Maxwell and Victoria.
She'd hidden it well, and they only found out by accident.
Livia ran to this town because her husband treated her badly.
Maxwell and Victoria never told Theron.
They were afraid he'd go after Livia's husband and lose his job.
I didn't find out until after Theron and I got married.
So in the last life, I never thought about divorce.
But this time, I was letting go.
Whatever Theron did was his choice. I didn't want to be tangled in this mess anymore.
"Nerissa, I know you've been hurt."
"We pushed you and Theron to get married because we thought his feelings for you were different."
"But... God."
I looked at Victoria with a slight smile.
"He helped me because he's kind. Not because he liked me. We misunderstood and forced him into a life he didn't want. If neither of us is happy together, we should just split."
"Split?!"
Maxwell and Victoria shouted in shock.
"Yeah. Theron already signed the divorce papers."
"Once they get approved, we're officially done."
"But please don't tell him yet. I don't want him making another choice out of guilt instead of what he really wants."
Thinking about those seven years of polite distance with Theron made my chest ache.
That night, I was about to sleep when my door slammed open.
I looked up.
Theron's eyes were full of rage.
"Nerissa, you ran to my parents again, didn't you?"
"You won't stop until you drive Livia away?!"
