Chapter 4 On Purpose

"Quit daydreaming, Rylie. I intend for you to regret ever marrying me," Mathias said, regaining his icy composure as if he'd seen right through me. "You want to lead separate lives? Fine, let's do it."

I was taken aback. So, to make me rue our marriage, he'd even tolerate infidelity?

I hadn't foreseen that being obligated to marry me would bring him such monumental distress that he'd need extreme measures to move past it.

Just as I was grappling with these thoughts, Mathias yanked me toward him, pressing my frame tightly against his own. The expression in his eyes was indistinct as he licked his lips. "Would you like me to accelerate your maturity a little?"

"No!" I swiftly shoved him away.

Those destined to part should steer clear of unnecessary intimacy.

He squinted, scrutinizing me closely. Given his intelligence, he'd probably picked up on my recent odd behavior. Gripping my chin, he forced me to meet his gaze. "What are you, Rylie's twin sister?"

How could the woman who had loved him for nearly a decade act so erratically all of a sudden?

I managed a forced smile. "You guess."

"Look, our marriage is complicated. If it falls apart, there will be numerous, intricate disputes to unravel. I have no time for sentimental games of love and hate with you. If you're lonely and looking for some diversion," he leaned in, whispering, "be cautious. I won't tolerate an illegitimate child."

Having already tasted death once, you'd think my heart would be at peace. Yet, an unidentifiable urge led me to slap Mathias so hard it numbed my palm.

His face turned, revealing a red imprint and a perfectly sculpted jawline.

Even when his face was marred by my handprint, he still looked striking.

As he met my gaze, a chilling darkness filled his eyes-so intense it seemed he might throttle me right there. My hand trembled, not from fright, but because the force of the slap had reopened my wound. Blood began to seep through.

Mathias glanced at my bleeding hand, then pivoted away, leaving me with only the frosty silhouette of his exit.

I stared at the blood oozing from the bandage and felt alright. It was preferable to the emotional hemorrhaging I'd suffered in my previous life.

After that incident, Mathias became a phantom-appearing in gossip columns, surrounded by admirers, seen in clubs and his office, but never at home.

Thereafter, the days ticked by. It wouldn't be long before Mathias would encounter Olivia.

In the meantime, I frequented Blossom Restaurant, where I'd order black coffee and an array of desserts while silently observing Olivia at work. Each of her expressions-every frown and smile-was etched deep into my consciousness.

If I were a man, she'd be my type too.

"Olivia, your boyfriend is here!" one of her colleagues said to her.

Ah, yes, she had a boyfriend. However, that unfortunate soul was no competition for Mathias. Even deeply smitten with Olivia as he was, he'd crumbled under the weight of power and status, rendering them a tragic pair.

By the time I had researched Olivia, she'd already severed ties with her luckless ex, so I never delved any further.

The door to the restaurant swung open, and a young man stepped inside. Dressed in a white T-shirt, light blue jeans, and sporting a white baseball cap, he carried a box of takoyaki. He looked as crisp and spotless as a morning sky.

Wait a second. The college student?

"Phil, what brings you here?" Olivia greeted him with the gleeful enthusiasm of a pet hamster welcoming its caregiver.

"I was handing out flyers nearby and thought I'd drop by. Brought you some takoyaki too," Phil smiled, his eyes taking on a crescent shape, mirroring Olivia's.

This was the image of love, a picture so touching it highlighted the atrocity of Mathias' interference.

Caught between joy and guilt, Olivia replied, "Just coming to see me is enough. You've been working hard passing out those flyers; you didn't have to spend money on snacks for me."

"Working hard means I get to treat my Olivia to some snacks," Phil said, his charming words landing perfectly.

That got me thinking. Mathias had never bought me snacks. Not that I was fond of snacks to begin with.

Phil didn't linger, given that Olivia was still working. I kept my head down, tucked away in a corner of the restaurant. The last thing I wanted was for him to spot me and recognize me as the older woman who'd attempted to flirt with him at the club.

After Phil left, I settled my bill quickly and exited.

"Ma'am." Lanny greeted me, as he always did when he saw me.

"Hey, Lanny. I'm heading home," I said, feeling drained to the core. How had life gotten even more complex despite the second chance? Rubbing my temples, I sighed at the overwhelming reality.

Barely a hundred meters into our drive, I spoke up. "Lanny, let me take the wheel."

Restlessness had taken hold of me, and I was eager to show off my driving skills.

Holding the steering wheel tightly and keenly aware of my surroundings, I spotted Phil, the college guy, waiting at a traffic light up ahead. I seized the moment, accelerated and knocked him off his feet.

"Oh, my God. I'm so sorry!" Rushing out of the car, I saw his leg covered in blood, and saw that the wound looked pretty severe.

"Ma'am?" Phil, despite his obvious pain, seemed surprised to see me.

It was easy to see why people were smitten with college students. They sure knew how to charm.

I turned to Lanny and said, "Get him to the hospital. Quickly!"

His name was Phil Walsh, a 21-year-old college student.

Sitting on a hospital bench, staring at Phil's contact newly saved in my phone, I felt a wave of sadness wash over me. My revenge seemed so petty, a reflection of the injustice done to me.

If Olivia could steal my husband, wasn't it fair for me to take her boyfriend away? Though she resisted at first, she had accepted Mathias in the end and that was when Mathias completely lost his marbles.

Had Olivia consistently turned him down, he might have been more rational, realizing that his pursuits were likely to be in vain.

The hospital was bustling with activity, a stark reminder of my past life, where my last days were consumed by the agony of terminal liver cancer.

Medical professionals often stated that a constant state of anger, depression, and a disordered lifestyle could damage the liver, increasing the likelihood of liver cancer.

I took responsibility for all of Phil's medical expenses and generously compensated him for his nutritional needs and wages lost, knowing that he wouldn't be able to work part-time during his hospital stay.

Honestly, I was quite adept at making conversation. In a brief span of time, I gathered substantial information about Phil. His family was ordinary, both parents were alive and worked as farmers, and he had an older sister who was already married.

No wonder Mathias managed to steal his girlfriend away from him.

"Take good care of yourself and rest. I'll visit regularly," I said as I smiled warmly, behaving like a caring older sister.

"Don't worry about me. I'm young and fit. I'll heal in no time," Phil replied, his teeth shining brightly.

Hearing him describe himself as young and fit almost felt like a provocation.

I wasn't that old myself, being only 27. However, the burdens of a stifling five-year marriage and a long-standing habit of neglecting proper nutrition had made me feel as if I aged both mentally and physically.

I nodded, acknowledging his words. On my way home, I stopped at a pharmacy to buy an array of health supplements.