Chapter 4 REWRITING THE PAST.

CHAPTER FOUR- REWRITING THE PAST

~ LUCY'S POV ~

As I arrived at my formal residence- the home I shared with Dave before our marriage.

This was the year Dave and I got married (2022) and I'm determined to rewrite that course of my life and avoid the heartache that once unfolded.

Upon entering, I was struck by the familiarity of the space, including the door passcode, which, to my surprise, was still set to Dave's Birthday date. I changed the code to today's date, 0422, symbolizing a fresh start.

As I stepped inside, I saw a photo frame that had Dave, Suzy, and me, alongside another picture of Suzy and me with the inscription 'Best Friends.'

Memories of our carefree days at the game center flooded my mind, where we took photos and exchanged matching dolls as a token of our friendship. If only I had known then that Suzy would ultimately betray me, I would have confronted anyone who dared to suggest such a thing. But, alas, her true intentions remained hidden until it was too late.

With the past behind me, I'm determined to focus on the future and tackle important tasks. I began by searching the house for my bankbook, recognizing the need to take my financial affairs more seriously.

The expenses and loses I had during my father's funeral have left me with a renewed sense of urgency to start saving. I'm also looking forward to a fresh start- a new house and a new life.

My phone rang and it was Suzy. "Lucy, Dave, and I are coming over to check on you. You didn't seem yourself earlier and we wanted to see how you're doing", she said, feigning concern. I was skeptical of her intentions, given her true nature.

Not wanting them to come to my house, I replied curtly, "I'm fine, no need to come over. Let's meet at the pub instead." I ended the call abruptly and I could picture Suzy's confused reaction, unfamiliar with my newfound assertiveness.

It was time to break free from my habit of prioritizing her views over mine. I needed to meet them at the pub, so I quickly dressed in a simple outfit- a hoodie and black tracksuit pants. I tied my long, wavy, black hair into a ponytail and headed out.

Upon arrival, I found them already seated and engaged in conversation, their familiarity with each other striking. As I observed their ease with one another, I couldn't help but think that perhaps they were indeed better suited for each other.

I think I should make that happen.

"Lucy! Over here" Suzy said gesturing to a vacant chair facing them. I took the seat and sat down.

"Suzy was worried about you so I told her I'll be meeting you tonight, she decided to tag along". Dave elaborated. "Are you okay? Lucy"

"Yes, I'm fine, just a stomach ache," I said, forcing a smile.

To successfully carry out my revenge, I need to play along.

"What can I get for you all?" said a young lady, who was dressed in an apron, likely the pub's owner.

"How about we have beer and chicken wings?" I suggested knowing Suzy wouldn't be able to handle much alcohol. I planned to get her tipsy so Dave would offer to take her home, and maybe they'd get closer.

"Ok fine" Suzy and Dave responded.

Few minutes later, our orders arrived, and we proceeded to eat and drink. Suzy, having ordered multiple bottles of beer, soon became drunk because she couldn't handle her liquor.

"Dave let me see your hand," Suzy said, sounding completely wasted. "Why are your hands so big." She grabbed Dave's hand and compared it with hers.

"You're funny Suzy, of course, my hand should be bigger," he said laughing so hard.

Observing their interaction, feeling satisfied that my plan to bring them together was working. To give them some space, I stood up and said, "Let me use the restroom."

As I turned to leave, Suzy's voice lingered. "Dave, may I ask, what do you like about Lucy?" she inquired, refilling her glass with beer.

Dave responded, "Lucy is kind and excels in her profession because she's smart."

Suzy's eyes sparked with interest as she replied, "That's lovely, Yes she's smart. You're an excellent judge of character, Dave." Her tone was flirtatious, and I sensed Dave's smile in response as he said,

"Thank you. I'm grateful Lucy has a wonderful friend like you."

I spent over 30 minutes in the restroom, giving them space to chat and develop a connection.

When I returned, I found Suzy leaning into Dave. "Suzy you look drunk," I said, noticing her giggling and caressing Dave's face with her hands.

"Huh? Me? No, I'm not drunk," she slurred, before falling asleep mere seconds later.

"Is she sleeping? Dave chuckled "I've never seen Suzy this intoxicated. She's quite adorable like this".

I smiled, replying, "She's clearly lightheaded. Let's have a few more drinks since it's the weekend tomorrow." I raised my glass in toast.

"I like the sound of that," Dave said, clinking his glass against mine.

"By the way Dave, I need your help with something," I said, setting down my glass deliberately. "I've been thinking... I want to start investing in stocks. But I'll need your guidance."

He paused, his glass halfway to his lips, eyes narrowing slightly. "Really didn't know you were interested in the stock market."

Two years before my reincarnation, Dave had made a huge fortune selling off some of his stocks - a windfall he never saw coming, and one I definitely wasn't going to let him enjoy alone this time around. A plan began to form in my mind. I would use this advantage to build a better life and secure a brighter future.

I shrugged, leaning back with a smile that masked more than it revealed. "Well, there's a first time for everything, right?"

He studied me for a moment, as if trying to read between the lines.

"Sure... I guess I could show you a few things. But stocks aren't for everyone, Lucy. They're risky."

"Trust me, I'm aware"

Dave poured himself another drink. "Alright then," he said, swirling the glass in his hand. "If you're serious about it, I can walk you through the basics sometime this week."

I watched him closely, hiding my satisfaction behind a calm expression. "Perfect. I'd appreciate that."

"Just curious, though-why now? You've never even asked about my portfolio before." he asked I gave him a casual shrug.

"Like I said, I'm trying new things. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to diversify my future. You of all people should understand that."

His eyes lingered on me a moment longer, skeptical but intrigued. "Alright. I'll introduce a few companies for you to invest in. But don't blame me if you lose money." I forced a laugh.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I've lost bigger things before."

There was a brief silence. He didn't ask what I meant - and I didn't elaborate. Let him wonder. Let him stay off-balance. This wasn't just about stocks. It was about control. And step by step, I was reclaiming mine.

We finished our drinks, and I checked my watch - it was 10:55 pm. "I think it's time to head home. You should take Suzy home; it would be safer than a cab, don't you think?" I suggested.

He nodded in agreement. After waking Suzy up, we exited the pub. Dave opened the car door for her and then turned to me. "I'll get going now," he said.

"Ok bye" But instead of a simple farewell, he pulled me into a hug and attempted to kiss me.

I quickly stepped back, saying, "I should get back inside; I'm really exhausted." I said clearly avoiding the kiss and with that, I turned and headed towards my house.

The weather was pleasant, with a gentle breeze that carried a refreshing crispness. My neighborhood was particularly vibrant in the evenings, filled with the warmth of community life. Just to the left of my path was a convenience store run by an elderly couple.

As I stood there, I was captivated by a lively outdoor dance performance.

Lost in the moment, I failed to notice an approaching dispatch rider. The sudden blast of his horn startled me, and as I hastily stepped aside to avoid the bike, I lost my balance and fell, injuring my wrist in the process.

"Shit!" I cursed, wincing as I caught sight of the injury on my left wrist. A sudden sense of déjà vu washed over me – I had experienced this before.

Memories flooded back, and I recalled the exact events that transpired this exact time, before my reincarnation. I had suffered a similar bruise on my left wrist after tripping and falling while dodging an oncoming vehicle.

A shiver ran down my spine as a haunting thought crept in: Was this fate repeating itself? Will the past inevitably repeat itself?

Does that mean I'll end up marrying that psychopath again?

No, I can't let that happen I have to do something.