Second Life: Dead Wife Rises For Vengeance

The mountain air was crisp and thin, carrying the scent of pine and morning dew.

Andrea Reed stepped closer to the edge, a soft laugh escaped her lips. "Steven," she said, her voice bright with delight, "this place feels unreal. It's like standing inside a painting."

"I'm glad you like it," Steven replied from behind her.

What Andrea couldn't see was that his right hand was openly clasping another woman's.

The woman had striking features and a smug smile curling on her lips. After waiting all these years, this day had finally come.

Andrea stretched out her arms and closed her eyes, letting the morning breeze brush across her face. Her body relaxed completely. Today was her second wedding anniversary with Steven. She hadn't expected him to take time off to travel with her-it made her genuinely happy.

'When I tell him the news later... he'll be happy too, right?'

Then his voice cut through the air without warning.

"Andrea, let's get a divorce."

Her body froze.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and turned around, forcing an awkward smile. "Honey... what did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly."

Steven took out a divorce agreement and spoke coldly, his face unreadable. "Andrea, we're getting divorced. The car and the house will go to you. As for the company-you don't know how to run it, so I'll continue managing it."

"Why...?"

It felt like a thunderbolt had struck her. She stared at the man in front of her. He still had the same handsome, gentle face-but somehow, he suddenly felt like a stranger.

"Because Steven doesn't love you," a woman's voice cut in sharply. "The one he loves is me."

Sandra stepped forward and hooked her arm around Steven's, pressing her seductive body tightly against him. Her red lips curled in disdain. "Andrea, do yourself a favor and sign the papers. Don't force us to embarrass you."

"Sandra... Steven... you two..." Andrea shook her head in disbelief. "No, this isn't real. You're joking, right? You're just trying to scare me. Honey, today is our anniversary. Please stop joking, okay?"

Steven frowned impatiently, his voice turning harsh. "Andrea, I don't have time for this. Sign the agreement now-or don't blame me for being ruthless."

"No! You can't do this to me!" Andrea broke down, tears streaming down her face. "I love you! For you, I was willing to do anything! How could you treat me like this?"

She reached for his arm, but he shoved her away without hesitation.

Sandra glanced at her freshly painted crimson nails and said lazily, "Andrea, have some self-respect. Steven never loved you. Crying, making a scene, threatening your life-it's all useless. You might as well sign the divorce and leave with some dignity."

Andrea stared at her stepsister in disbelief.

Was this really the same girl who used to cling to her and say, 'Sis, you're the best'?

She had treated Sandra like her own sister-protected her, indulged her, gave way to her in everything. And now she was saying she was in love with her husband?

Andrea shook her head helplessly. Then something suddenly occurred to her.

"Steven! I'm pregnant!" she cried out desperately. "I'm carrying your child. We don't have to divorce-let's start over, okay?"

Steven stiffened.

Sandra tightened her grip on his arm and shook it gently. "Steven, Brian is already over a year old. Are you really going to let him keep being called an illegitimate child?"

She spoke softly, sounding pitiful, but her eyes were fixed on Andrea-burning with hatred. If it weren't for Andrea, her son wouldn't have carried that label from the moment he was born.

"No," Steven said firmly, pulling Sandra into his arms. "Brian is my son. I won't let him suffer anymore."

When he looked back at Andrea, his gaze was icy and merciless. "Andrea, this is your last chance. Sign the agreement."

If she still didn't understand now, then she truly was a fool.

Brian-the obedient little boy who always called her Auntie. Sandra had said he was adopted from an orphanage.

But he was actually her husband's child.

The couple standing before her, locked in an intimate embrace, looked more and more unfamiliar... and unbearably ugly.

How many things had they been hiding from her?

Sandra leaned in, her face twisted with malice, whispering into Andrea's ear. "My dear sister, let me tell you a secret. Your father and your brother didn't die by accident."

Andrea's heart lurched violently. She looked up sharply. "You did it?"

"Wasn't it beautifully done?" Sandra smiled darkly. Then she wrapped her hands around Andrea's shoulders and pushed her backward, step by step. Her red lips hovered near her ear as she whispered cruelly, "One more secret-Steven bought you an accident insurance policy. Guess who the beneficiary is?"

Her voice dropped to a deadly whisper.

"My name.

So today... is the day you die."

The moment the words left her mouth, she shoved hard.

Andrea's frail body stumbled backward several steps before slamming into the safety railing. She hadn't even regained her balance when Sandra rushed forward again and pushed her a second time.

Her body tipped over the railing.

Instinct took over.

Andrea clawed desperately at the metal bar, her fingers locking around it as her entire body dangled in midair. Beneath her was a bottomless abyss. The mountain wind howled past her ears, rocking her violently, as if eager to tear her loose at any second.

Her grip tightened until her knuckles turned white.

Her bloodshot eyes locked onto Steven.

"Why...?"

Why did I love you so much-only for you to treat me like this?

Steven curled his lips into a faint smile and strolled over, looking down at her from above. His voice was cold, almost amused.

"Don't you get it yet? I never loved you. Not once."

"I hate you!" Andrea screamed. "You shameless monsters-you won't die a good death!"

Her eyes were so red they looked like they might bleed. Hatred twisted her features into something almost unrecognizable.

Steven snorted and crouched down, prying at her fingers. But she was holding on too tightly. His brows furrowed. He glanced around, picked up a jagged stone, and smashed it down on her fingers.

Once.

Twice.

Blood burst from her mangled hand.

Yet she didn't scream.

She laughed.

Wild, broken laughter tore from her throat-hoarse, shrill, soaked in despair and venomous hatred. It sent chills straight down the spine.

"What are you laughing at? What's so funny?" Sandra snapped, humiliated and furious. "Go die, you bitch!"

She lifted her foot and kicked Andrea squarely in the head.

The world went black.

Her fingers finally lost their strength.

Her body plunged into the endless void.

Branches and thorns tore at her flesh as she fell, ripping her skin apart. Blood soaked her clothes. Her throat felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand, suffocating her, yet her mind was terrifyingly clear.

Scenes flashed before her eyes, one after another, like a cruel movie reel.

She had defied her father to fall in love with the poor but ambitious Steven. To marry him, she had fought so hard that her father collapsed from a heart attack in fury.

On their first wedding anniversary, she transferred ten percent of her shares-her father's gift-to Steven. Her father rushed to confront her, and died in a car accident on the way.

So that was it.

Steven had approached her from the very beginning for her family's fortune.

And her gentle, obedient stepsister, the one who always pretended to be kind, was the real murderer behind her father's and brother's deaths.

She hated herself.

Hated her blindness.

Hated her stupidity.

Hated that she had fallen in love with a wolf wearing a human smile.

She had mistaken enemies for family, loved them, respected them, only to let them destroy the people who truly loved her.

If there is another life,

Even if she had to crawl out of hell itself, she would make those beasts pay in blood.

'Dad, Darius, I was wrong. I'm so sorry.'

'My baby, mommy couldn't protect you. I'm useless. In the next life, find a better family. Don't ever be my child again...'

Her falling body finally slammed into the valley floor.

She lay in a pool of blood, staring blankly at the sky. Her body twitched uncontrollably as blood bubbled from her lips.

As life slipped away, she saw a man.

His hands were locked in handcuffs, yet his smile was gentle-warm.

"Andrea, don't be afraid," he said softly. "I killed them. You don't need to feel guilty."

Sam...

The man she had hurt the most.

The one she owed the most.

'Sam, if there is another life, let me protect you this time, okay?'

-----

"Sis-hey, sis. Wake up. It's morning already."

"Shh," a woman said gently. "Lower your voice, young master. The young lady hasn't fully recovered yet. Let her sleep a little longer."

The voice was familiar. Warm, steady, comforting. It wrapped around Andrea like a memory.

It felt as though she had been trapped in an endless nightmare. Now that she was finally waking, the grief she had buried came crashing back, tearing through her chest as if a blade were twisting in her heart.

"Ms. Dorian," a boy asked anxiously, "why is my sister crying?"

The woman sighed softly and leaned closer. "She must have had a bad dream."

Warm fingers brushed Andrea's cheek, clumsily wiping away her tears.

"Sis?" the boy said, his voice tight with worry. "Did you have a nightmare? Don't be scared. Your handsome, brave little brother is here. No one's going to bully you while I'm around."

"Darius... Darius..."

Andrea forced her heavy eyelids open.

Through the blur of tears, she saw a familiar face, handsome, youthful, still carrying traces of boyish innocence.

Her brother.

Her Darius.

"Darius!"

She threw her arms around him, sobbing uncontrollably. "Thank goodness, I can still see you. I missed you so much!"

Darius froze for a second, clearly caught off guard. Then he hugged her back, patting her back in an awkward, careful way.

"Hey, hey-easy," he murmured. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere. You'll see me every day from now on." After a pause, he added softly, "Be good, okay? Stop crying. You'll make yourself sick."

Andrea laughed and cried at the same time.

This was her brother, loud, lively, handsome, unbearably precious.

How could she ever have believed he was rebellious and hopeless?

She really had been a fool, letting that vicious mother-and-daughter pair poison her mind.

"Miss, please don't cry anymore," the older woman said softly. Her hands-rough with calluses-held a tissue as she gently wiped the tears from Andrea's face. "Your health is still weak. If your father sees this, he'll be heartbroken."

"Ms. Dorian..."

Andrea looked up at the familiar, gentle face, and her tears fell even harder.

Ms. Dorian had worked for the Reed family since Andrea was born. She had raised Andrea and Darius almost as her own, caring for them with a devotion that went far beyond duty. In Andrea's heart, Ms. Dorian was no different from a second mother.

"Alright, alright, don't cry," Ms. Dorian coaxed, forcing a smile even as her eyes turned red. "I'll make your favorite dessert later, okay?"

She had always treated the young miss like her own daughter. Seeing her hurt, how could her heart not ache?

It took a long while before Andrea finally calmed down.

But confusion crept in.

'What's going on? Wasn't I dead?'

Why was she seeing her brother-who had already died-and Ms. Dorian, who should have retired back to her hometown years ago?

Was this the final hallucination before death?

She bit down hard on her tongue.

"Hiss-!"

Pain shot through her.

Not an illusion.

This was real.

Maybe God had heard her unwillingness to die. Her regret. Her remorse.

Maybe she had been given a second chance.

-----

Inside the bathroom, Andrea stared at her reflection in the mirror. The face staring back at her was clearly younger-soft, unscarred, untouched by suffering.

After a long moment, her breathing grew uneven.

She had really been reborn.

Back to when she was twenty.

That winter, when she had accidentally fallen into the lake, and Steven had pulled her out.

Their first meeting.

The moment his name surfaced, her blood seemed to boil. Hatred surged through her like a savage beast, clawing at her soul. Her hands trembled, and the fury burning in her eyes was enough to chill anyone who saw it.

Since I've been given another life...

She would never allow those people to control her fate again.

She would protect the ones she loved.

And she would make every single person who had hurt her pay-one by one.

"Sis? Are you okay?"

Darius's worried voice pulled her back to reality.

Andrea took a slow, steady breath, forcing the hatred in her eyes to fade. She opened the door and stepped out.

"I'm fine," she said calmly. "Where's Ms. Dorian?"

"She went downstairs to make you something to eat," Darius replied, still studying her closely. "Are you really okay? If anything feels off, you have to tell me, alright?"

He could feel it, something about his sister had changed since she fell into the water. He just couldn't explain what.

Andrea smiled and ruffled his hair. "I'm really fine. Stop worrying. How about you? How's school lately? Anyone giving you trouble?"

She remembered.

This was his first year of high school.

Back then, Darius had excellent grades. But somehow, he started skipping classes, getting into fights, making their father furious. Later, he even got mixed up with a gang, and after that-

Darius lifted his chin proudly. "Me? Bullied? No way. And don't worry about my grades, I'm ranked first in the entire grade."

"Of course you are," Andrea said with a laugh, patting his shoulder. Then her expression grew serious. "Darius, no matter what trouble you run into, remember this, you can always come to me. I'll help you. Don't forget, I'm your real sister."

Darius froze.

Then a bright smile spread across his face, and he nodded hard. "Yeah! I know, sis!"

Ever since Sandra moved into their home, his sister had rarely spoken to him like this. She always preferred spending time with Sandra instead.

Now she was close to him again.

It felt like he was floating.

"Sis, may I come in?"

A gentle, sweet voice interrupted them.

Andrea's heart clenched.

Her fingers tightened instinctively as her gaze locked onto the closed door. Hatred surged back into her eyes.

She would never forget that voice.

Its owner had joined hands with Steven and destroyed the Reed family.

Darius muttered under his breath, "Ugh. The annoying one."

Andrea snapped back to herself and relaxed her tense body.

Calm down.

If she lost control this easily, Sandra and her so-called gentle mother would notice something was wrong.

She rubbed Darius's hair and lowered her voice. "From now on, even if you don't like someone, don't show it. Enemies love exploiting emotions like that. Understand?"

Darius stared at her as if she'd grown a second head.

"Sis," he said slowly, frowning. "Are you sure you're my sister, and not an alien who took her place?"

He had warned her countless times that that mother-daughter pair weren't good people, only to be scolded every time for being immature.

And now?

Not only didn't she yell at him-she actually said that.

Andrea smiled, soft on the surface, ice underneath.

"Just let her in."

The door opened.

The girl who had killed her in her past life stood right outside, smiling sweetly.

Nineteen-year-old Sandra was undeniably beautiful. She strongly resembled her mother, Melinda-large, watery eyes, a delicate nose, pale pink lips, and a small, refined face. Dressed in a white wool dress that hugged her figure just right, she moved with effortless grace, every gesture calm and composed.

Like a lily in full bloom-pure, quiet, and seemingly untouched.

Everyone was fooled by that appearance.

Everyone except Andrea.

Andrea's smile brightened, but her eyes were icy.

Sandra... we meet again.

"Andrea, are you feeling better?" Sandra asked, concern written clearly across her flawless face.

Andrea studied that beautiful expression-every trace of worry carefully rehearsed. For a brief, violent second, she wanted nothing more than to rush forward and tear her throat out.

But no.

She couldn't rush this.

Every ounce of pain she had suffered-she would return slowly, piece by piece.

Digging her nails into her palm, Andrea forced the storm inside her back down and smiled. "I'm much better now. Sorry to make you worry, Sandra."

Sandra visibly relaxed, the tension leaving her brows. She spoke gently, almost reproachfully. "You really scared me. Falling into the lake in the middle of winter-do you know how dangerous that was? Thank goodness someone passed by and saved you. Otherwise..." She trailed off, eyes full of lingering fear.

Every word sounded sincere. Caring. Exactly like a devoted younger sister should.

If Andrea hadn't already lived one lifetime, she might have believed it again.

A trace of mockery flashed through Andrea's eyes, though her smile remained soft. "Alright, alright. I know I was careless. Stop embarrassing me-Darius already gave me a long lecture."

Darius stood off to the side, watching Sandra's performance with thinly veiled irritation. Remembering his sister's earlier warning, he held himself back instead of snapping like he usually would.

He snorted. "Next time, don't tell people I'm your brother. I don't have a sister this dumb."

Andrea huffed twice, pretending to be offended.

Sandra immediately stepped in to smooth things over, seamlessly changing the subject-though in her heart, she wished nothing more than for the siblings' closeness to crack.

"Oh, right," she said as if suddenly remembering something. "Andrea, Senior Steven came to see you. We should go downstairs."

Andrea blinked, looking genuinely confused. "Steven? Who's that?"

Sandra stepped closer and linked arms with her, smiling gently. "Andrea, Steven is quite well-known at our school. How could you forget him? Besides-he's your lifesaver."

A lifesaver?

More like a carefully staged trap.

Andrea remembered that day clearly.

She had been sitting by the lake, reading, when she suddenly felt a heavy shove against her shoulder. Before she could react-splash-she was in the water.

She struggled. Screamed for help.

No one answered.

Icy water flooded her lungs. The suffocation had been unbearable. She had truly believed she was going to die-until a hand grabbed her arm.

In her previous life, she had dismissed it as an accident.

This time, she was certain.

She had been pushed.

And the one behind it was Steven-carefully setting up a hero-saves-the-girl scene to get close to her, to earn her trust.

Andrea lowered her gaze, as if thinking hard. After a moment, realization slowly spread across her face.

"Oh-no wonder the name sounded familiar," she said softly. "He's the student council president, right?"

Her lashes fluttered, a hint of shyness appearing on her face. "Sandra... are you saying Senior Steven is the one who saved me?"

Sandra's perfect smile stiffened for the briefest moment.

"Yes," she replied gently. "He's been very worried about you. That's why he came to check on you personally. Let's go downstairs-he's been waiting."

"But I haven't changed yet," Andrea said, glancing down at herself. She shook Sandra's arm playfully. "Why don't you go keep him company first? I'll change and come down in a bit."

"Alright," Sandra said with a soft laugh. "Hurry up, okay?"

She turned and left.

Her lowered lashes hid the thick jealousy burning in her eyes.

...

In the living room, a young man and woman sat at opposite ends of the sofa, chatting softly. From time to time, Sandra's gentle laughter drifted through the air.

Andrea steadied herself, forcing down the tidal wave of hatred threatening to break loose, and slowly descended the staircase.

Hearing her footsteps, Steven looked up.

A flicker of unmistakable amazement flashed through his deep-set eyes.

The woman walking down the stairs moved with unhurried grace. Her long, wavy hair spilled naturally over her shoulders, catching the light with a soft sheen. She wore a red dress-bold, vivid, like flames licking through the air-so striking it made people instinctively hold their breath.

Every movement carried a quiet allure.

Yet her dark, gem-like eyes were cool and distant, an unsettling contrast-like an angel wrapped in a devil's skin. Beautiful in a way that stole the air from one's lungs.

Andrea studied Steven in return.

That face-truly handsome. No wonder she had been so completely captivated in her previous life. Even now, looking at him with nothing but hatred in her heart, she had to admit it.

A beautiful shell.

Only twenty-two years old, yet already composed and self-assured beyond his years. His smile was warm, almost springlike-but in those deep eyes, Andrea saw it clearly.

Ambition.

Greed.

A faint smile curved her lips.

'Steven... you like taking from others, don't you?

Then wait and see how I destroy everything you want.'

Steven rose to his feet with perfect manners, his smile flawless, voice gentle and smooth.

"Andrea, how are you feeling now?"

"Much better," Andrea replied softly, a faint blush blooming across her pale cheeks. "Thank you for your concern. Senior... I still haven't properly thanked you for saving my life."

"It was nothing," he said modestly. "Just a small effort. As long as you're safe, that's what matters."

Andrea casually glanced at Sandra.

Catching sight of Sandra's stiffened smile, Andrea's own grew deeper. She blinked playfully, her voice carrying a hint of light teasing.

"To you, it may have been nothing-but to me, it was an enormous favor. Senior, if you don't mind, I'd like to treat you to dinner to show my gratitude."

Steven declined politely.

Andrea tilted her head, feigning mild indignation. "If you refuse, it'll feel like you're looking down on me."

"...In that case," Steven said with a soft chuckle, "I suppose I have no choice but to accept."

His smile remained warm, his tone gentler now-almost indulgent.

Clatter.

Sandra accidentally knocked over her teacup. Tea spilled across her dress. Her face paled as she forced an awkward smile.

"Sorry... you two continue talking. I'll go change."

Andrea watched her hurry away, mockery flickering through her eyes.

So Sandra had already liked Steven back then.

In her previous life, she had even foolishly asked Sandra for advice on how to pursue him.

Stupid beyond saving.

After Sandra went upstairs, she never came back down.

Andrea had no interest in staring at Steven's hypocritical face any longer. They agreed on a dinner time, exchanged a few polite words, and Steven soon took his leave.

Andrea stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, watching his tall figure disappear into the distance.

In her previous life, she had watched him leave like this too-only back then, her heart had been full of anticipation for their next meeting.

Now?

There was nothing left but hatred.

A cold smile curved Andrea's lips.

She whispered to his retreating back: "See you soon, Steven."