Reborn, Yet We Still Lost Each Other

Born again, I swore I would love Ethan with all my heart and make up for what I owed him in my past life.

But he had changed.

He brought his mistress home and even slept with her right in front of me, in our bed.

He stole my art exhibition and gave it to his mistress, caressing her slightly swollen pregnant belly as he publicly declared she was his true love.

It wasn't until I signed the divorce papers and left for good that he remembered he was also reborn.

He called me.

"Stella, I remember everything now! You're the one I love!"

But it was too late.

I sat on the falling plane, my heart calm.

"If there's a next life, let's never meet again."

Stella's POV

To pave the way for Vivian Sullivan, Ethan Blackwood forcibly took the solo art exhibition I'd prepared for three years and put Vivian's name on it.

Two burly bodyguards pinned me to a chair in the lounge. Through the gaps in the blinds, I watched the big screen with heartbreak.

On screen, Vivian wore the haute couture dress that was supposed to be mine, gracefully accepting the media's flashbulbs and praise.

And every painting hanging in that exhibition hall was the result of countless sleepless nights I had spent creating them.

"Ethan, you can't do this!" I struggled, my voice breaking with sobs.

"That's my achievement! You know how important it is to me! I painted those to commemorate my grandmother who passed away!"

Ethan stood before me, looking down at me with arrogance. The eyes that once overflowed with tenderness now looked at me with the coldness of a stranger.

"Vivian just returned to the country. She needs a prominent name to establish herself in the art world. You're my wife. You get the power and status that come with being a Blackwood. What's wrong with doing her a small favor?"

"Sacrifice?" I looked at this man who had once sacrificed everything for me with despair, my heart crushed by an invisible hand.

I shed all my tears, and finally couldn't help asking him before he turned away. "Ethan, you loved me so much. Why did you suddenly stop loving me?"

He paused, not looking back, and said, "Ours is just a marriage in name only, a mutual arrangement. When did I ever love you?"

The moment the door closed, I slid down the wall to the floor, tears streaming down my face.

Never loved me? How could he have never loved me?

In my past life, he loved me so much.

That's right. I was reborn.

In my previous life, I was forced to marry Ethan because of family circumstances.

Back then, he indulged my every whim. If I wanted the stars, he would never give me the moon. If I mentioned liking a multi-million dollar piece of jewelry, it would appear on my desk the next day. When I was sick, he would cancel billion-dollar international meetings to stay by my bedside.

But I despised him. Because the one I loved was Adrian Foster.

After my parents forced me to marry Ethan, I fiercely resisted the marriage. I refused to sleep in the same bed as him, wouldn't accompany him to any events, and even frequently went out drinking at bars, deliberately embarrassing him.

In the end, I believed Adrian Foster's words, naively thinking it was love, and eloped with him.

But I never imagined Adrian Foster didn't love me at all. The reason he went to such lengths to win my heart was because the Foster family and the Blackwood family were business competitors.

Adrian had long ago figured out that Ethan loved me, so he came up with a plan to use me to defeat Ethan.

Adrian kidnapped me and used my life to threaten Ethan.

"Ethan, send me one of your fingers every day, or I'll throw her off this building."

Ethan said nothing. He simply cut off one finger each day and sent it in a box.

On the tenth day, when the last finger, still wearing his wedding ring, was delivered, I completely lost my mind. Unwilling to let Ethan continue such foolishness for my sake, I killed myself.

After death, my soul floated in midair. I watched as Ethan, who had always been so proud, went mad at the sight of my corpse. He went alone to avenge me, personally breaking every bone in Adrian Foster's body, listening to his screams.

He abandoned his billion-dollar fortune, abandoned the entire Blackwood Group, and perished in flames while holding my corpse.

In the fire, he kissed my lips tenderly and whispered, "Stella, if there's a next life... could you love me just once?"

As the flames consumed him, I floated in midair, sobbing uncontrollably. In that moment, I finally saw his love.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn.

I was back to the first year of my marriage to Ethan. I was overjoyed. This time, I was determined to love Ethan properly and make up for everything I owed him in my past life.

So I deleted all of Adrian Foster's contact information, woke up early every day to make him breakfast, waited for him to come home late into the night. My whole world revolved around him.

But he had changed. He was no longer gentle with me, no longer came home every day, and kept a mistress on the side. Vivian Sullivan.

Now, he had even stolen my art exhibition to help Vivian.

After Ethan left, I sat on the cold floor, my tears dried up.

Fine! Since he didn't love me in this life, I would let go and completely fulfill his wishes.

I stood up and dragged my exhausted body to the hospital. When I pushed open the door to the ward, Dad was still unconscious, his face pale, his breathing weak beneath the oxygen mask.

"Stella." Mom stood sadly by the bed, looking as if she'd aged ten years overnight. "Your father's company was maliciously sabotaged by Ethan. The capital chain broke, which triggered your father's heart attack..."

I fell to my knees. "Mom, I'm sorry... it's all because of me..."

Mom pulled me up and sighed. "Back then, Ethan was the one who actively pursued you, saying he'd loved you for years. How did things suddenly become like this?"

"Mom," I took a deep breath, my nails digging deep into my palms. "I've made up my mind. I want to divorce Ethan. Once Dad gets a little better, our family will leave the country. We'll leave this place forever."

Mom thought for a moment, looked at Dad on the hospital bed, and nodded. "Alright. We'll leave."

Stella's POV

The immigration office paperwork went smoothly. When I walked out the door, the sunlight outside was brilliant.

This marriage full of misunderstandings and torment was finally coming to an end.

Just then, I heard a loud screech of brakes. "Watch out!"

Before I could turn around, a massive impact knocked me to the ground. My entire body exploded in pain, and then I blacked out.

I woke to the smell of disinfectant. The instant I opened my eyes, Ethan's cold face was right in front of me.

He looked down at me with arrogance and disgust. "Stella, did you do this on purpose? Seeing that Vivian got hurt a few days ago, you deliberately got into a car accident to gain sympathy?"

He sneered. "Let me tell you, ours is just a marriage in name only with no love. No matter how much you imitate Vivian, it won't work. I don't have time to play along with your act here."

I opened my mouth, about to say I really had been in a car accident, when the hospital room door suddenly burst open.

"Mr. Blackwood, the fruit you requested." The assistant handed over a box.

Ethan took it, lifted the lid to glance inside, and his brow immediately furrowed. "Why is there mango?"

His voice was displeased. "My wife is allergic to mangoes. Go buy another batch."

That sentence struck me like lightning, freezing all the blood in my body.

Allergic to mangoes.

In my past life, in our second year of marriage, I ate mango and had an acute asthma attack that nearly caused me to pass out. That's when he learned about it.

But now, we'd only been married one year, and I'd never mentioned my mango allergy to anyone!

Thinking back to his behavior recently. His sudden distance from me, his inexplicable favoritism toward Vivian Sullivan, and that statement "when did I ever love you"...

An absurd thought appeared in my mind, and my whole body began to tremble.

"Ethan..." I looked into his eyes. "Are you... also reborn?"

A flicker of emotion flashed through Ethan's eyes, but he quickly concealed it. He frowned, his tone impatient. "What rebirth? Did you damage your brain in the crash?"

I continued to press. "Then how did you know I'm allergic to mangoes?"

"A while ago your parents came to see me," he said calmly, not even a flutter of his eyelashes, his tone cold and flawless. "They asked me to treat you better. They gave me a notebook with your preferences and dietary restrictions written in it. I glanced through it before throwing it in the trash."

His explanation was perfect, but it caused me great pain. Was I overthinking? Yes, if he really carried memories from his past life, how could he bear to hurt me like this?

A nurse suddenly pushed the door open. "Mr. Blackwood, Miss Sullivan is awake. She says her heart hurts and she's looking for you."

At those words, Ethan turned without hesitation and walked away without looking back, not even sparing me a glance as I lay in the hospital bed.

During my three-day hospital stay, Ethan didn't visit me once. Every time the nurse came to change my dressing, her hesitant glances felt like mockery of my miserable state.

On the fourth morning, I discharged myself.

The immigration paperwork was complete. To leave now, only one final step remained. Divorce.

I returned to that cold house and sat at the desk, neatly writing out a divorce agreement. The terms in the agreement were simple: I would leave with nothing, wanting only my freedom.

My phone vibrated. Vivian Sullivan had updated her Twitter. In the photo, Ethan sat at his office desk with Vivian leaning on his shoulder. The caption read: "Someone said he never allows non-work personnel in his office, but today he made an exception for me~"

My finger hovered over the screen for a long time without pressing down. In my past life, Ethan had similarly broken countless principles for me. Though he never ate spicy food, he accompanied me eating chili peppers until he needed his stomach pumped. Despite his severe germaphobia, he carried my drunk self home...

I took a deep breath, banishing those images from my mind, picked up the divorce agreement, and walked out the door.

Stella's POV

The Blackwood Group building was still imposing. As the elevator ascended, I was still thinking about how to bring up the divorce. Passing the secretarial area, Ethan's assistant happened to walk by with documents.

"Mrs. Blackwood?" The assistant was obviously stunned. "Are you here to see Mr. Blackwood?"

"Yes." I clutched the document folder in my hand. "I need him to sign something."

The assistant's gaze lingered on my pale face for a moment. "I happen to be going in. I can take it in for you."

I hesitated, then handed him the divorce agreement. "Thank you."

The moment the door opened, my blood froze. Ethan was kneeling on one knee, tenderly massaging the ankle of Vivian who sat on the sofa. Vivian wore a short skirt, her pale legs resting on his knee, a sweet smile on her face.

"Mr. Blackwood, these documents need your signature." The assistant's voice made Ethan look up.

Busy massaging Vivian, he didn't even look at the documents, simply flipping to the last page and signing.

I stood outside the door, my nails digging deep into my skin. In my past life when I sprained my ankle playing tennis, Ethan had knelt just like this, carefully applying medicine, his brow furrowed with worry.

Soon, the assistant came out and returned the divorce agreement to me. "Mrs. Blackwood, it's signed."

I looked at Ethan's name on the divorce agreement, tears streaming down my face involuntarily. I hummed in acknowledgment, thanked him, and turned to leave.

While waiting for the elevator, Vivian's voice suddenly came from behind me. "Stella? What are you doing here?"

I whipped around to see Ethan release Vivian's hand, his face dark as he walked toward me. "Who told you to come to the company?"

He grabbed my wrist. "We have no feelings for each other. I won't bother you, so don't come bothering me!"

I forcefully pulled my hand free. "Got it. There won't be a next time."

Seeing the atmosphere grow tense, Vivian immediately stepped forward and took Ethan's arm, coaxing gently, "Ethan, don't be like this. Stella, Ethan and I are going to the auction house. Why don't you come with us? Consider it relaxing."

"That's not necessary." I cut her off directly.

"Stella," Ethan said coldly, "When someone tells you to go, you go. Don't waste others' good intentions."

In the end, I was still forced to go with them to the auction house. I sat in the auction hall, the enthusiastic bidding voices ringing in my ears.

"Fifty million! Mr. Blackwood bids fifty million!" the auctioneer shouted excitedly. "This pink diamond necklace goes to Mr. Blackwood!"

Vivian leaned on Ethan's shoulder, a victorious smile on her face. "Ethan, this necklace is so beautiful."

"As long as you like it." Ethan gently brushed the hair by her ear.

I gripped my bidding paddle tightly, my knuckles white. In my past life, Ethan had doted on me the same way. But now the same tenderness was given to another woman.

Just then, the big screen suddenly changed, playing an audio recording.

In the recording, Vivian's voice sounded. "What charity auction? It's just a bunch of poor people gathering. If it weren't for Ethan, I wouldn't come. And that Stella, so what if she's married to Ethan? Didn't Ethan still give me her art exhibition?"

The entire hall erupted. Vivian's face turned from red to white to finally gray.

"Turn it off! Turn it off now!" She stood up screaming, trembling all over. She whirled toward me, tears streaming down. "Stella! Do you hate me this much? You had to use AI to synthesize this recording to humiliate me? Are you trying to drive me to death?"

With that, she covered her face and rushed out.

Ethan's face was very dark, his sharp gaze sweeping across the hall. "Anyone who dares leak what happened today will bear the consequences themselves."

Finally, he looked at me, his voice ice-cold. "You just wait."

Stella's POV

I returned home in a daze, my mind completely blank. I hadn't done any such thing. I had no idea about that recording. But Ethan wouldn't believe me. He would only think I was making excuses.

I sat anxiously on the sofa waiting all night. It wasn't until dawn that the front door was violently flung open.

Ethan stormed in radiating fury. "Stella!"

He grabbed my chin, applying so much force he nearly crushed my bones. "Do you know Vivian tried to kill herself?! If I hadn't arrived in time, she'd be a corpse by now!"

"It wasn't me..." I said with difficulty. "I didn't play that recording..."

"It wasn't you? Are you telling me she synthesized a recording herself to ruin her own reputation?!" He sneered and abruptly released his grip. "You keep hurting her. You must pay the price!"

Those words stabbed into my heart like a knife.

"Stella, hold a press conference immediately. Publicly apologize to Vivian and admit you forged the recording!"

I felt heartbroken but still looked at him defiantly. "I didn't do anything wrong. I won't apologize!"

Ethan sneered. "Fine. Quite stubborn. In that case, the Sinclair Group's overseas project will shut down completely today. Also, the special medication your father's using at the hospital will be immediately discontinued."

"Ethan!" I looked at him in disbelief, trembling all over. "Are you insane? That's my father's life!"

"You forced my hand." He looked at me coldly, like an emotionless machine. "Apologize, and the medication resumes."

For my father's life, I gave in.

Under the spotlights, countless cameras pointed at me. My face pale, like a soulless robot, I stood before the microphone.

"I'm sorry. I was jealous of Miss Sullivan and forged the recording. I apologize to her." I mechanically recited the script the PR department had prepared, each sentence crushing my self-respect.

The flashbulbs were blinding. The reporters below attacked me with the most vicious language. "Miss Sinclair, how could you do something so malicious?" "Are you psychologically twisted?"

And Ethan stood not far away, watching me coldly, even thoughtfully draping a coat over Vivian Sullivan, who had just been discharged from the hospital.

In that moment, my heart died completely. The man who once said "whoever hurts Stella, I'll make their whole family die" had now personally pushed me into hell and destroyed my reputation.

That evening, Ethan actually brought Vivian Sullivan back to our house.

"Vivian was traumatized and her mental state isn't good. She'll be staying at home for a while." His tone was flat, as if discussing the weather.

I had no energy left to argue. "Whatever." Anyway, we were already going through divorce proceedings. Soon, this wouldn't be my home anymore.

Vivian looked at me, a smile curling her lips. "Stella, I'm hungry. Can you make me some pasta?"

Ethan looked at me. "Didn't you hear?"

How ironic that I'd fallen to the point of cooking for my husband's mistress. I pulled at the corners of my mouth and mechanically walked toward the kitchen.

In the kitchen, the water had just started boiling.

Vivian suddenly walked in and closed the door behind her. The vulnerability on her face instantly vanished, replaced by undisguised arrogance. "Stella, Ethan loves me now. You have to serve me like a servant."

I chopped vegetables expressionlessly, not even giving her a glance. "Are you done? If so, get out."

Vivian's gaze shifted and suddenly landed on the table. There lay the bracelet I'd casually removed when washing my hands. The only thing my mother had left me, and my most treasured possession.

Vivian sneered and suddenly reached out to grab the bracelet, deliberately smashing it hard on the floor.

The crisp sound of shattering echoed in the kitchen. The fine bracelet instantly broke into several pieces.

"What are you doing!" I shouted angrily, my brain buzzing as I shoved her hard.

Vivian deliberately fell backward, hitting the cabinet heavily, then let out a shrill scream. "Ah! It hurts!"

Ethan rushed in at the sound. Seeing this scene, his expression changed drastically. He rushed forward and shoved me hard. Caught off guard, my waist slammed heavily into the corner of the table. The pain made me gasp, cold sweat instantly breaking out.

"Stella, what are you going crazy about now!" Ethan roared.

"She broke the bracelet my mother left me!" I pointed at the broken bracelet on the floor, my voice choked with tears, my eyes full of despair.

Vivian hid in Ethan's arms, crying softly and gently. "Ethan, I didn't mean to. I was just trying to help get a bowl and accidentally knocked it off... Stella pushed me, my waist hurts so much..."

"Over a broken bracelet, you assault someone?" Ethan looked at me coldly, his eyes full of disgust. "Stella, you're becoming more and more vicious."

A broken bracelet? That was the last keepsake my mother left me!

I looked at him and found myself unable to breathe. I suddenly felt that explanations were meaningless, because for someone unloved, even breathing was wrong.

"Since you like pushing people so much, go stand outside tonight. You can come in when you're ready to admit your mistake." Ethan issued his cruel order.

Stella's POV

On a late autumn night, heavy rain began to fall. The bodyguards forcibly dragged me into the courtyard. The icy rain mercilessly pounded down on me, stealing away all my body heat.

Through the bright floor-to-ceiling windows, I watched the warm lamplight inside where Ethan held a towel, tenderly drying Vivian's hair.

Rain mixed with tears streamed down my face. I stood in the rain all night. In my past life, even in light drizzle, he would nervously shelter me in his arms, afraid I'd get even slightly wet. But now, he personally pushed me into the rain.

By dawn, my legs had completely lost feeling. My vision went black and I collapsed heavily into the rainwater.

I developed a high fever, my consciousness blurry.

But in the huge house, no one cared about me. The servants looked at me with pity, but none dared help because Ethan had issued a supreme order: no one was allowed to call a doctor for me.

I forced myself to get up and took two pills myself. Because Ethan sent word: Vivian's birthday party must be personally organized by me, as punishment for pushing her.

Dragging my sick body, I mechanically confirmed every detail of the party. Selecting flowers, confirming dishes, checking the guest list. I was like a soulless machine.

On the day of the birthday party, the Blackwood estate was brilliantly lit. Guests wore haute couture, holding champagne and greeting each other.

"The legitimate wife throwing a birthday party for the mistress. I've never heard of such a thing..."

"Mr. Blackwood is truly in love this time. Look at those gifts. Any one of them is worth a fortune..."

I stood in the shadows of a corner, deaf to these comments. My gaze fell on Ethan at center stage. He wore an impeccable suit, constantly checking his watch, obviously waiting for Vivian to appear.

Time passed minute by minute, but Vivian never showed up. Ethan's expression grew worse and worse. Finally, he sent his assistant to find her.

"Mr. Blackwood!" The assistant ran back in a panic, holding a letter. "Miss Sullivan left. She only left this..."

Ethan snatched the letter and scanned it quickly, his face changing drastically. Finally, he threw the letter in my face.

"Stella!" His voice seemed to squeeze through his teeth. "You'd better explain this clearly!"

The letter drifted to my feet. Trembling, I picked it up. It was in Vivian's handwriting. "Ethan, by the time you read this letter, I'll be gone. I love you very much, but Stella threatened me using my brother. I had no choice but to leave. From now on, we'll never see each other again."

"It wasn't me." I numbly returned the letter to him. "I didn't do such a thing."

"You say that every time!" Ethan grabbed my throat. "But you've done everything! Tell me! Where is Vivian?"

I could barely breathe but stubbornly met his gaze. "I... really... don't know..."

Ethan sneered and pulled out his phone to make a call. "Immediately turn off the respirator for Stella's father at the hospital."

"No!" I completely broke down. I knelt on the ground and said, "Ethan, please, spare my father! I really don't know where she is! If you turn off the respirator, my father will die!"

I desperately begged. Was this cold, ruthless man really the same man who died for me in my past life?

Just then, a bodyguard rushed in. "Mr. Blackwood, we found Miss Sullivan! She's on her way to the airport!"

Ethan immediately released me and rushed out without looking back.

I lay on the floor, my face covered in blood, and closed my eyes in despair.

Stella's POV

The ambulance siren pierced the night sky.

I sat on a bench in the hospital corridor, my hands clenched into fists. On his way to chase after Vivian, Ethan had gotten into a car accident because he was driving too fast.

From the end of the corridor came Vivian's anguished crying. Medical staff rushed past pushing a gurney. Ethan lay on it, his white shirt soaked with blood, his handsome face completely pale.

Vivian clutched his hand tightly, crying heartbrokenly. "I'm sorry... it's all my fault... I shouldn't have thrown a tantrum and left..."

Ethan weakly raised his hand and wiped away her tears with his fingertips. "As long as you don't leave, I'm willing to do anything..."

My heart clenched violently. I turned and quickly left. I didn't want to watch anymore, didn't dare to watch. My heart had died completely.

In the following days, I stayed at the hospital caring for Dad. Dad's condition finally stabilized. I knew it was time to leave.

Before leaving, I went to a church in the suburbs. The church was very quiet in the early morning. I sat there peacefully, silently crying. Slowly, all the moments I'd shared with Ethan began replaying in my mind. The wishes Ethan had made when shooting stars passed also appeared before me one by one.

"May Stella be happy and safe. From Ethan"

"Praying for Stella's health. From Ethan"

"I hope Stella can come to like me. From Ethan"

Everything from the past slowly turned black and white before me, and finally, along with my feelings for him, disappeared completely.

After returning, I went to the Blackwood family's old house to say goodbye to Ethan's grandfather. Ethan's grandfather had always been very fond of me. He was the only person in the Blackwood family who gave me warmth.

"Ethan and I... got divorced."

After his initial shock, Ethan's grandfather sighed deeply and gripped my hand. "He failed to seize the opportunity. Remember this. As long as I'm alive, that Vivian Sullivan will never marry into my Blackwood family!"

My nose stung. "Please rest. I'll go pour you some water."

I went out to get water. When I returned, I heard Vivian's malicious voice from inside the room. "You still dare obstruct me from marrying Ethan? Go die!"

I froze in shock, then burst through the door to see Vivian replacing Ethan's grandfather's emergency medication with different pills.

"What are you doing!" I rushed forward and shoved Vivian aside.

Startled, Vivian dropped the pill bottle. Ethan's grandfather suffered extreme shock, his eyes wide, unable to catch his breath, and he passed out directly.

The hospital corridor lights were a harsh, pallid white. The operating room light stayed on all night.

At dawn, the doctor finally emerged, his expression grave. "Mr. Blackwood, your grandfather's condition is too severe. Combined with the extreme shock, there's a high probability... he'll become a vegetative patient."

Ethan punched the wall, his knuckles immediately bloody. He turned around, his face dark, looking at me and Vivian standing to the side. "What exactly happened?"

"It was her!" Vivian immediately pointed at me and screamed. "She tried to kill Grandfather! When I came in, she was switching Grandfather's medication! Ethan, I'm so scared..."

"It wasn't me!" My voice trembled as I looked at Vivian lying in disbelief. "It was Vivian Sullivan. I saw with my own eyes that she switched the medication!"

"Enough!" Ethan angrily interrupted, his gaze like a sharp knife stabbing my heart. "Stella, my grandfather treated you so well. How could you bear to hurt him?"

"Ethan, believe me." I looked at him in despair.

"Take her away." Ethan coldly ordered, feeling that even one more glance at me was excessive.

He didn't torture me. Instead, he threw three plane tickets in my face. "Stella, you've disappointed me too much. Take your parents and get on a plane immediately. Leave and never appear before me again. Otherwise, I guarantee the Sinclair family will completely disappear from this world."

I stared at those plane tickets, suddenly finding it laughably absurd. In my past life he killed himself for me. In this life he wanted to drive me overseas, never to see me again.

I said nothing and silently picked up the tickets.

On the way to the airport, I quietly sent a text to Mom and Dad. "Mom, Dad, bring my divorce certificate. Let's meet at the airport. We're leaving right away."

The departure hall was bustling with people. Ethan had originally planned to watch me go through security, but Vivian's call suddenly came.

"Vivian? Don't be afraid, I'll come back to be with you right away." He hung up and didn't even glance at me again, turning and striding away.

I stood there, watching his figure disappear into the crowd, finally allowing a smile to appear on my face.

I walked toward Mom and Dad and took the divorce certificate. Then I tore the three tickets to Paris that Ethan had given me into pieces, threw them in the trash, and bought three new tickets to Switzerland.

"Dad, Mom, let's go."In the evening light, our family walked into the boarding gate without a single person looking back.