The Men I Loved Both Chose Her

After being reborn, I burned every photo I had with Ethan Rivers.

I also tore up the love letters Lucas Knight had written for three years.

Because in my previous life, I became a complete joke between these two men.

Ethan said he loved me, but after I gave up my study abroad opportunity for him, he left the country with Willow Hayes.

Before leaving, he left me a letter: "She needs me more than you do."

I cried for three months. Lucas stayed by my side and said, "I've waited eight years for you."

After marrying him, he came home on time every night and never got involved with any other women.

I thought I'd finally made the right bet.

Until that winter when I got into a car accident. I was unconscious in the ICU for seven days, and he never came once.

But I heard the nurses talking: "Her husband comes every day, but he goes to the room next door to take care of a patient named Willow Hayes."

Later I learned that Ethan took Willow abroad to treat her illness, and Lucas paid for everything.

In this life, I sold my house early and took my grandmother abroad to study.

"The patient in Room 12 is so pitiful. Her husband comes every day but never goes in to see her."

"Yeah, he goes straight to the next room to visit that patient named Willow Hayes."

The nurses' voices drifted in from outside the door.

After the car accident, I had multiple fractures and had been lying in the ICU for seven days.

Though unconscious, my mind was clear. I heard the nurses call Lucas Knight over and over.

But he never came to see me.

He was with someone more important.

The salvation I thought I'd found was just another lie.

I used all my strength trying to open my eyes, but my vision filled only with a flat line on the heart monitor.

When I opened my eyes again, the sunlight was blinding.

I sat at my familiar desk. The calendar showed three months before I would give up my study abroad spot for Ethan Rivers.

This time, I answered the call from the school's international exchange office: "Professor, I confirm I'm participating in this year's exchange program. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

The professor's voice was pleased: "I'm glad you've thought it through. It would be such a waste to give up such a good opportunity."

Yes, such a waste.

Giving up my own life for a man was the stupidest thing I'd ever done.

After hanging up, I contacted a real estate agent and listed the house my parents left me.

I had only one requirement: full payment, as soon as possible.

Once that was done, Ethan called.

His voice was cold: "Anna, Willow's graduation project hit a snag. You're good at this stuff, go help her."

Willow again.

Her business always came between us.

In my previous life, I stayed up three nights straight because of that one sentence, revising her design from rough draft to final product.

The award-winning work bore only her name.

Ethan's explanation was: "Willow's health is poor. She needs this award for her resume."

I actually believed him back then.

I gripped my phone and said softly, "Okay, send me the materials."

Ethan's voice came through the phone: "Good girl."

One word, and he thought he could dismiss me.

I looked out the window, thinking back to my past life, and felt nothing but absurdity.

Before long, Lucas Knight knocked on my door carrying macarons from my favorite shop.

His tone was gentle: "I know you've been stressed about Ethan and Willow. Don't wear yourself out."

He always appeared when Ethan hurt me, coming to care for me.

Then he would casually mention: "That project is pretty important for Willow. Ethan doesn't have much choice. That girl's been frail since childhood, can't handle it alone."

See, they always had a thousand reasons.

Willow's health was poor, so everything she did was justified.

I bit into a macaron and smiled at him: "I know. I won't make things difficult for Ethan."

Lucas smiled with relief.

They all thought I was still that Anna Sullivan who would compromise endlessly for Ethan Rivers.

The next day, I took my laptop to the library to prepare my study abroad application materials.

I was searching for references in the materials section when I looked up and saw Ethan and Willow not far away.

Willow was leaning against Ethan, her face rosy, looking nothing like someone with poor health.

She was laughing, saying to Ethan: "Ethan, thank goodness for you. I really wouldn't know what to do otherwise."

Ethan looked down at her with a tenderness I'd never heard in his voice: "Silly girl."

Ethan turned to buy water, and when he looked back, he saw me.

His expression froze for a moment, then quickly turned to a frown.

My presence disturbed them.

I didn't rush up to confront them like in my previous life. I just gave him a slight smile from afar.

Then I turned back to continue searching for my books on the shelf.

The gaze from behind made me uncomfortable all over.

I didn't care.

Anyway, these days would be over soon.

I didn't touch a single word of Willow's graduation project.

Two days later, Ethan found me in the library.

He yanked the book from my hands and slammed it on the table with a bang.

Students around us all looked over.

"Anna Sullivan, I told you to help Willow, and you're here reading boring books?"

I looked up at him, and at Willow standing behind him with an innocent expression.

"I was just researching some materials," I answered.

"What research could be more important than Willow's graduation project?" Ethan demanded, pulling Willow in front of him. "She hasn't slept well for days because of this design, and you don't care at all."

Willow tugged at his sleeve right on cue, saying softly: "Ethan, don't be like this. Anna must have her own things to deal with. I'll figure something out myself."

Her words made Ethan think I was even more unreasonable.

"Listen to that!" He pointed at Willow. "Willow is more sensible than you! Anna Sullivan, I'm saying this one last time: within a week, I want to see a complete proposal."

I watched them perform their duet and looked away.

I nodded: "Got it."

Ethan thought I'd given in. His expression softened slightly as he pulled Willow away.

I took in all the strange looks from the surrounding students.

It didn't matter. This was the last time anyway.

Ethan finally couldn't hold back.

His voice was sharp on the phone: "Anna Sullivan, what are you playing at? It's due in a week and you haven't done anything?"

"I'm sorry, my grandmother hasn't been feeling well lately. I've been at the hospital taking care of her, so I fell behind," I lied.

"Willow's graduation project is very important to her. Put your family stuff aside and finish her work first."

Listen to how entitled he sounded.

My grandmother meant less to him than Willow's homework.

"But..." I pretended to hesitate.

"No buts." Ethan cut me off. "Anna Sullivan, don't be childish. If Willow can't graduate, you'll regret it."

He hung up forcefully.

I turned off the faucet and looked at myself in the mirror, unable to understand how I'd been so desperate over such a man in my previous life.

Fortunately, I could start over in this life.

The agent called at just the right time to tell me the house had found a buyer who agreed to full payment and could sign the contract today.

I replied with a simple "okay."

To make the house sale more convincing, I needed to move out some of the old furniture my parents left behind.

Those things were heavy. I couldn't move them alone.

The first person I thought of was Lucas Knight, who had always played the role of reliable friend.

I called him: "Lucas, are you free? I have some old furniture at home I want to get rid of. Could you help me?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, then Lucas's voice came through: "Anna, really bad timing. I can't get away right now."

In the background, I clearly heard Willow's delicate coughing.

"Willow has a bit of a fever. I need to stay here and look after her," Lucas explained. "Try to figure something out yourself, or call a moving company? I'll transfer you some money later."

Willow again.

I laughed softly: "No need. Take good care of her. I can manage."

After hanging up, I didn't hesitate for a second and immediately found a paid moving service online.

Why beg people for help when money could solve the problem?

After hanging up, I clutched my stomach and called Lucas in a weak voice: "I have terrible stomach pain. I'm at City Central Hospital right now."

Lucas immediately answered: "Don't move, I'll be right there!"

I sat on the cold bench in the hospital emergency hall, watching people come and go.

Half an hour later, I saw Lucas.

He was running fast, looking hurried, but didn't glance in my direction at all.

Lucas ran right past me, heading straight for the orthopedic clinic on the other side.

I stood up and followed.

Outside the clinic, Willow sat in a wheelchair with her ankle wrapped in bandages, crying.

Lucas crouched in front of her, coaxing her in a soft voice: "Come on, don't cry. The doctor said it's just a minor sprain, right? It'll heal in a few days."

"But it hurts so much..." Willow whined coquettishly.

Lucas frowned, reaching out to touch her ankle but afraid of hurting her, his movements cautious.

That look was more genuine than any performance he'd put on at my bedside in my previous life.

I stood behind them watching.

So the rumors I'd heard in the ICU in my previous life had started even earlier.

My appearance changed the atmosphere between them.

Lucas suddenly turned and saw me, freezing completely.

"Anna... what are you doing here?" His eyes were panicked.

Willow saw me too. The tears in her eyes instantly disappeared, replaced by a challenging look.

"I have stomach pain. I came to get some medicine," I pointed at myself.

"Are you... how are you?" Lucas stood up, looking flustered.

"Nothing serious, just an old problem."

"You go ahead with what you're doing. I'll head home after I get my prescription."

I didn't give him any chance to explain and turned to leave.

I knew my unhesitating departure would make them even more convinced that I was still that jealous but helpless Anna Sullivan.

The day I signed the house sale contract and received the full payment, the weather was beautiful.

I transferred the money to a bank card, then went to school to complete my leave of absence and study abroad procedures.

That weekend, a mutual friend organized a bar gathering and invited me.

I knew Ethan and the others would be there.

To avoid raising suspicion, I agreed.

In the private room, everyone started playing Truth or Dare.

After a few rounds, Willow suddenly shook the dice in her hand and suggested with a smile: "Let's play King's Game! Whoever draws the king can order any two people to do anything!"

The suggestion immediately got everyone's approval, including Ethan and Lucas.

Sure enough, in the first round, Willow became the king.

She announced her command: "I order Number 2 and Number 5 to recreate the classic bow embrace from Titanic!"

After she spoke, everyone started checking their cards.

I opened my palm. Number 2.

And Ethan, frowning, revealed his Number 5 card.

The room erupted immediately with whistles and cheering.

"Anna, this is your chance!"

"Ethan, don't just stand there, give her a hug!"

I was pushed by the crowd onto the coffee table, not knowing what to do with my hands and feet.

Ethan was pushed in front of me, his face full of unwillingness.

Lucas was still laughing nearby: "Ethan, hurry up, don't keep everyone waiting. Anna, spread your arms."

I stiffly spread my arms and closed my eyes, not daring to look at Ethan's expression.

I didn't wait for an embrace. Instead, a strong force came from behind.

It was Willow. She hugged me from behind with a laugh, shouting to Ethan: "Ethan, look, isn't this the same?"

The moment she grabbed me, my foot slipped and I fell backward uncontrollably.

A loud bang. I crashed heavily to the ground, the back of my head hitting the hard corner of the coffee table. The pain made my vision go dark.

Drinks and fruit on the table tipped over from the impact, pouring ice-cold liquid all over me.

The world went silent for a second.

Then I heard Ethan's undisguised mocking laugh.

Ethan didn't even glance at me. He just said to someone nearby: "What a buzzkill."

Lucas only frowned slightly. "Anna, how could you be so careless? It's just a game."

Not one person came to help me up.

All their attention was focused on Willow, who had pushed me and now had red-rimmed eyes.

Ethan immediately pulled her to his side, comforting her gently: "It's okay, it's not your fault. She just didn't stand steady."

The sharp pain from the back of my head spread through me as I lay on the cold floor, soaking wet and utterly disheveled.

Without a word, I got up from the floor and walked out of that noisy room.

In that moment, I was only grateful I'd already sold the house and completed my study abroad procedures.

Only three days left until I could leave.

The third day was my birthday.

Perhaps because of the bar incident, Lucas sent a text: "Anna, happy birthday. Tonight at 7 PM, Cloud Summit Restaurant. I booked the best table for you. See you there."

Soon after, Ethan also sent a text: "Happy birthday. Willow didn't mean it last time, don't take it to heart. We'll celebrate together tonight."

Looking at these two messages, I felt nothing.

Consider it a final goodbye.

I replied "okay" to both.

That evening, I took a cab to the restaurant.

Still that window seat with a view overlooking half the city's nightscape.

This scene was identical to my previous life.

On this day in my previous life, at this very place, wearing the dress he gave me, they left before we even ordered, called away by Willow's phone call.

I waited from seven o'clock until the restaurant was about to close. They never came back.

Calls went unanswered. Messages unreturned.

The pitying looks from other diners, the hesitant inquiries from waiters, made me uncomfortable all over.

Until I saw a photo on a friend's social media.

In the photo, she wore a princess dress, holding a cake and smiling. Ethan and Lucas stood on either side of her, looking at her adoringly.

The caption read: "Grabbed two knights last minute to eat cake. Sure, it's not my birthday, but who says you can only eat cake on birthdays!"

So my birthday meant less than her impromptu celebration.

"Anna? What are you thinking about?" Lucas's voice pulled me from my memories.

Lucas and Ethan had arrived and sat across from me.

The food was quickly served. No one spoke. The atmosphere was stiff.

Lucas raised his glass first: "Anna, I was wrong the other day. I'll punish myself with a drink. Happy birthday."

Ethan also rarely dropped his stern expression, though his eyes remained complicated.

Just then, Lucas's phone rang.

He glanced at the caller and immediately answered, his voice changing: "What? How could she suddenly faint? Which hospital?"

He hung up and looked at me apologetically: "Anna, I'm sorry. Willow... she fainted from acute hypoglycemia. She's at the hospital now. I need to go check on her."

Before I could speak, Ethan had already stood up, coat in hand, saying to Lucas: "Let's go together. One person might not be enough."

Just like in my previous life, they abandoned me for Willow once again.

Lucas assured me: "Anna, you eat first. We'll come back as soon as we settle her in. Very quickly!"

They hurried out. The door to the private room closed, shutting out the noise outside.

The world instantly quieted.

I looked at the table full of food and didn't wait a single second longer.

I grabbed my coat and called the waiter.

"Check, please."

Walking out of the restaurant, the night wind hit my face. It was cold, but I felt more clearheaded than ever.

I took out my phone and blocked and deleted both Ethan and Lucas's contacts.

This time, I wouldn't wait anymore.

I hailed a taxi and went straight home.

When I opened the door, the house was empty.

Except for a few suitcases for my grandmother and me, there was no trace of life lived here.

I took off that dirty dress and threw it straight into the trash without thinking.

Along with that dress, I threw away the last bit of feeling I had for Ethan Rivers.

I walked into my grandmother's room. She was already asleep, breathing steadily.

I tucked in her blanket and kissed her forehead.

Grandma, this time I'll take you away from this place that broke your heart.

In the latter half of the night, I barely slept.

I checked and rechecked the documents and luggage, making sure everything was perfect.

At dawn, I woke my grandmother.

"Grandma, we're going to a faraway, wonderful place. Okay?"

Though my grandmother's memory was a bit fuzzy, she loved me most.

She looked at me and nodded with a smile: "Okay. Wherever Anna goes, Grandma goes."

The morning light at the airport shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows. It was warm.

I held my grandmother's hand, walking step by step toward the boarding gate.

Goodbye, Ethan Rivers.

Goodbye, Lucas Knight.

And Willow Hayes.

May your love last forever.