Return to the Morning He Confessed

In my previous life, I spent thirty loving years with my husband, Marcus.

When I turned fifty, he suddenly confessed that he had fallen in love with one of his students.

I thought it was just a moment of foolishness, so I refused to sign the divorce papers no matter what.

When the student failed to take my place, she left the country and soon news came of her marriage.

On her wedding day, Marcus was so distraught that he got into a car accident and became disabled.

I took care of him at his bedside for fifteen years.

Before he died, he grabbed my hand, his voice trembling:

"The biggest regret of my life was marrying you. If there's a next life, I'll be braver..."

Our children blamed their father's death entirely on me.

Later, I became paralyzed too. One was a company CEO, the other an elite returnee from abroad, yet they dumped me in the cheapest nursing home.

After I died, they casually scattered my ashes in a filthy ditch, looking relieved:

"If it weren't for you, Dad and Maria would have found happiness long ago. You vicious woman, you never deserved a good ending!"

When I woke up again, I had returned to the day Marcus confessed to me.

I started preparing ingredients at six in the morning.

I spent the entire day trapped in the kitchen, so exhausted my back was killing me.

Marcus was either handling work in his study or tending to his snake plants on the balcony.

Ryan, my son, arrived first, carrying a box of premium tea and ten packs of cigarettes.

Then he handed me a plastic bag containing some blackened, rotten fruit.

"Bought these before New Year's. Judy said they couldn't finish them, so she told me to bring them to you."

He said this with a smile, as if he saw nothing wrong with it at all.

I said nothing and took the fruit into the kitchen.

Soon after, my daughter Lester arrived too.

The fish was simmering in the kitchen, and afternoon sunlight flooded the living room.

My children sat around their father, chatting about everyday life.

In this harmonious scene, I alone felt like an outsider.

Soon, the food was served.

Ryan raised his glass first:

"Dad, I want to toast you! If you hadn't set such an example, my career wouldn't be where it is today. You're not just my fatheryou're my greatest mentor!"

Lester stood up too. "Dad, without you, our family wouldn't have the life we have now. I toast you as well."

After emptying their glasses, Lester took a bite of food and frowned. "Mom, the food is too salty."

They all seemed to have forgotten that today was supposed to be my fiftieth birthday celebration.

"I have something to say too."

Marcus drained his third glass and set it down heavily on the table, as if he'd made up his mind about something.

"Marta, there's something I have to confess. I've fallen for someone elseone of my students."

"We've been together for quite some time now. She's young and insecure. I want to... give her a proper status."

I gripped my fork tightly.

Before I could speak, Ryan said excitedly:

"Dad, you finally said it! Honestly, not everyone has that kind of courage. No matter what, I support you!"

Lester applauded. "Congratulations on your second spring! Come on, let's toast to this love that transcends age and convention!"

The three of them raised their glasses together while I sat in silence, like an outsider.

"Mom, you're killing the mood!"

"Yeah, Dad found true love. Shouldn't you be happy for him?"

Their eyes held reproach, as if looking at a petulant child.

I stared at the dishes growing cold on the table and suddenly laughed bitterly.

Then I pulled a wrinkled divorce agreement from my pocket.

"Fine. I'll give you what you want."

The air fell into an eerie silence.

Marcus hadn't expected me to agree so readily. His voice couldn't hide his excitement:

"Marta, you're really willing?"

I pushed the agreement toward him, my action serving as my answer.

My calmness seemed to unsettle all three of them.

Marcus picked up the paper and carefully smoothed it out.

I could tell he was satisfied with the property division.

Our current house was my premarital property.

I was giving up all marital assets. We'd split the savings in half. I had my pension anyway, so I wouldn't worry about my future.

Mainly, I just didn't want to argue with him anymore.

Marcus was about to sign when he noticed my name already there. His pen paused for a moment.

Then he quickly scrawled his own name, as if afraid I'd change my mind if he waited even a second longer.

Only then did Ryan stand up and pour me my first glass of wine that day.

"Mom, that's more like it. You should look on the bright side. Dad has the right to pursue happiness too."

Lester pestered her father about when they could invite Maria over for dinner.

"Maria loves lobster. Make sure you buy several, and remember to pick the fat ones..."

I interrupted expressionlessly: "It's getting late. You should all leave."

I said "you all."

Ryan's hand froze mid-reach for the food.

Lester's smile instantly stiffened.

After the three left, I took out a bottle of Marcus's treasured wine.

I poured myself a glass and drank it down with the table full of dishes.

I didn't feel like cleaning up the table, so I just left it.

I went back to my bedroom and lay down. Without the thunderous snoring, without someone constantly getting up during the night, I slept exceptionally well.

The next morning, I slept until I woke naturally, then changed into workout clothes and exercised in the park for a while.

When I got back, I slowly tidied up, toasted some bread, fried two eggs, and made myself coffee.

In my previous life, I had to get up at five every morning to feed bedridden Marcus, change his diapers, bathe him, give him massages...

Before I could take a single bite, I'd have to pick up my grandson from school, then go to Lester's bachelor apartment to clean and cook.

In the evening, I'd go home and repeat the whole morning routine.

Day after day, with no end in sight.

I hadn't experienced such a leisurely morning in so long.

I opened the closet and packed all of Marcus's things into boxes.

After I finished, only a few old, outdated clothes remained in the closet.

In my previous life, just because Marcus said:

"Marta, I'm a professor. I need to set an example for my students. We must live modestly."

I wore the same down jacket for fifteen years, the same pair of jeans for eight years.

But when that student Maria got engaged, he casually gave her $888,000 as a gift.

After leaving the package station, I went straight to the mall.

For the rest of my days, I didn't want to shortchange myself anymore.

I didn't expect to run into Maria there, with Ryan and Lester by her side.

When they saw me, their smiles stiffened and embarrassment flickered across their faces.

But Maria spoke first:

"Marta, long time no see. Are you here alone?"

"Look at these two kids. I said they didn't need to come, but they insisted."

"Ryan really splurged on this trip."

I looked at the designer shopping bags Ryan was carrying.

Thinking of that bag of rotten fruit, I felt nothing but bitter irony.

Maria walked over and took the dress I'd been looking at.

"This color suits me perfectly. How much is it? I'll take it!"

"I saw it first," I said, suppressing my anger.

"Mom, such a beautiful dress is wasted on you. Just let Maria have it!" Ryan immediately said.

"Exactly. At your age, wearing a dress like thishave you no shame?" Lester's words were even more cutting than Ryan's.

Maria pretended to mediate:

"Don't say that. Everyone loves beauty. I just think this dress doesn't suit you. Shop assistant, please wrap it up for me!"

"Wait," I called out.

My husbandshe could have him. My two childrenI could give them up too.

But this dress represented my rebirth and transformation. I just didn't want to let her have it.

But just as I was about to pay, Lester suddenly ran over and pushed me.

I lost my balance and crashed into a rack of clothes behind me.

I'd had surgery on my back before, and now a searing pain shot through it.

Ryan took the opportunity to pay for Maria first.

He turned around, saw me on the ground, and though a trace of reluctance crossed his eyes, he still said:

"Mom, don't blame us. Who told you to be so foolish as to compete with Maria?"

With that, they surrounded Maria and left.

In the end, the shop assistant helped me up and asked with concern if I needed to go to the hospital.

I saw the panic in her eyes and reassured her I was fine.

Walking out of the mall, I saw the three of them waiting for a car.

When they spotted me, Ryan and Lester immediately moved to shield Maria behind them.

I ignored them and walked to the curb to hail a taxi.

"Marta, Ryan called a driver. Why don't we all ride together?" Maria invited with a smile.

"No need."

"Don't be so polite..." Maria pretended to pull me along, but leaned close to my ear and whispered:

"Did you know? Your children have been calling me Mom for a while now."

"You're such a failure. Can't keep your husband, and your children don't even want you. If I were you, I'd be too ashamed to live."

I looked at that young, delicate face and couldn't help but raise my hand.

Back then, I pitied her poor family situation. I often invited her to eat at our house and privately gave her money. I never imagined she'd repay kindness with betrayal.

Now she was even flaunting it in my face.

Before my hand could fall, Ryan grabbed it viciously, his grip nearly crushing my bones.

"You crazy woman, I knew you had bad intentions!"

"Ryan, do you know what she just said to me?"

I straightened my back and looked him in the eyes.

"She said you've both been calling her Mom, and she called me a failure!"

My son froze, his expression flickering with complexity. After a long moment, he said coldly:

"Was she wrong?"

I looked at him in disbelief.

"Maria isn't just young and beautifulshe's a PhD. You're nothing but a maid who can only wash clothes and cook. You're not worthy of being our mother!"

Even though I'd completely lost hope in them, when Ryan spoke his true feelings so plainly, my heart still felt like it had been punched.

Just then, an out-of-control truck came swaying toward us.

In that critical moment, maternal instinct kicked in. I reflexively tried to push Ryan out of the way.

But the siblings rushed toward Maria instead, even pushing me hard into the road because they thought I was in the way.

The moment I hit the ground, I heard panicked voices:

"Mom"

As my consciousness faded, past memories gradually surfaced in my mind.

Shortly after giving birth, my husband moved to the study under the pretext of needing to prepare lectures.

Back then, he was just an ordinary lecturer.

To become an associate professor as quickly as possible, he'd lock himself in the study the moment he got home, barely coming out except to eat and use the bathroom.

My mother-in-law Rose had poor health and couldn't help, so I had to quit my rising career and raise our two children alone.

Ryan was mischievous as a child. He got into a fight and nearly blinded another student.

To beg for mercy on his behalf, I knelt before the injured student's parents and kowtowed in apology.

As a mother myself, I understood their anger.

So when they came at me to beat me, I just knelt there and let them vent.

I broke three ribs that way, one nearly piercing my internal organs.

But it kept them from pressing charges against Ryan, saving his academic future.

Lester had congenital kidney dysfunction. When she was twelve, the doctor suggested a transplant.

When Marcus heard, he turned and left, saying it wasn't worth it for a girl.

Without hesitation, I donated my own kidney to her.

When they were young, both children were very dependent on me.

But at some point, their hearts gradually shifted toward Marcus and his successful career.

Though it hurt, I never blamed them.

Until one day, I accidentally overheard them talking with Marcus.

"Dad, you've worked so hard, putting up with that freeloader Mom all these years. If it were me, I couldn't have stood it."

"Dad, you deserve better. If you want a divorce, Ryan and I will fully support you."

"I wouldn't recommend divorce though. Without her, who would take care of Dad so wholeheartedly? Besides, maids aren't cheap these days..."

At that moment, my hands and feet went cold, a chill rising from the depths of my heart.

So to them, after raising them with such sacrifice, willing to give up everything for themI was nothing but a free maid.

When I woke up again, I was in the hospital.

A young nurse was changing my bandages while complaining:

"Those two are really filial. Their mom's hurt this badly, but they insisted the doctor treat that young woman first, and she just had a few scratches."

"Honestly, if I had children like that, I'd have cut ties with them long ago. What trash..."

Seeing I was awake, another nurse quickly nudged her.

The speaking nurse's face went pale as she apologized profusely.

But I smiled weakly.

"It's okay. You're not wrong."

She froze in surprise.

Many things were clearer to outsiders than to me.

A week later, I checked myself out of the hospital.

As I was about to hail a taxi, I suddenly received a call from Ryan.

His voice was angry: "Mom, Judy told me you haven't picked up Bobby for a whole week."

"Judy has work too. The household is falling apart, and you're the only one out there slacking off. Have you no shame?"

"I'm giving you two hours. If you're not back, there will be consequences!"

He hung up.

Then Lester's message popped up:

[Mom, how long are you going to keep slacking off? My apartment's a pigsty now! Come clean it up right away. And I want porridge!]

Taxis were hard to get at the hospital entrance.

Standing in the cold wind, I hesitated for a moment, then dialed that number.

The call connected quickly. A man's voice, somewhat aged but tinged with excitement, came through:

"Marta, I've been waiting for this call for so long."

My nose tingled. "Alex, I've made up my mind. Come pick me up."

"Alright. Send me the address."

Minutes later, a luxury car pulled up in front of me...

A uniformed driver got out and personally opened the door for me.

Inside sat a familiar yet unfamiliar face. Looking at him, I couldn't help choking up:

"Alex..."

"It's okay."

He patted my hand, his voice low. "Now that you've made your decision, you can't soften your heart anymore."

I nodded. "I won't."

Never again.