Proposal Day Heist: Eloping With the Enemy

In the two years since we got married, my husband, Kieran Zucker, has pampered me like a princess every day. However, I want to escape from him because he's an extreme control freak. I've been forced to behave exactly like a living doll, and I can't leave his sight for a single second lest he deprive me of dinner. I've run away from him 16 times, but he's accurately predicted my location and dragged me back every time. I've eventually been driven to desperation and slit my wrists in search of liberation. When I next open my eyes, I find that I've actually been reborn back on the day Kieran proposes to me. This time, I resolutely turn him down and decide to escape far from him with his arch-enemy, Scott Quinlan. I assume that I'm finally free of Kieran, but then I discover Scott having a friendly conversation with him… Chapter 1 My name was Linda Green, and I was a trainee nurse from Harlan Town. I took my own life a minute ago because I couldn't endure how my husband, Kieran Zucker, controlled my life possessively, but the heavens decided that I should be reborn. I gazed at Kieran, who was currently proposing to me. Even if I'd been reborn, I still felt a chill run down my spine. After marrying him in my previous life, he'd certainly done as promised and pampered me as if I were a real-life princess. Not only did I not have to work, but I also got to wear new clothes that he prepared for me every day. He would personally cook every meal for me and watch as I ate them, then carefully kiss my forehead in reward. For the longest time, I considered myself the happiest woman in the world. Later, I started gaining more and more weight from how much he fed me, but the sizes of the dresses he prepared for me never changed. When I couldn't stand it anymore, I increased the dresses' waistline measurements by an inch. As a result, he suddenly yelled angrily at me for disobeying his commands. His actions started becoming more like those of a researcher than a husband. I assumed it was because he'd spoiled me that I'd begun feeling a sense of distance between us. Humans were emotional creatures, after all, to say nothing of my dearest husband. In the following months, I obediently followed Kieran's every word. I wore the dresses he prepared and ate the nutritious meals he made. He never seemed to need to work. Sometime later, I brought up my desire to work with him. It would be too late to think of working once we ran out of money. Kieran changed after that. I could no longer leave his sight for a second lest he rain down a flurry of blows on me. It was only then that I realized everything he did for me wasn't out of love but an extreme, perverted obsession with control. Yet, I couldn't bring up divorce with him because I would definitely be answered with his fists. So, I instead put on my most comfortable nightgown and leaped from the window to initiate my first escape attempt. The first time I ran away, Kieran caught me before I even stepped through the villa's front door. In addition to a beating, he even "rewarded" me with three days of confinement in an isolation room and nine days of starvation. I didn't give up, though. I began my second escape attempt, then my third… until I eventually worked my way up to my 16th attempt. I cut myself off from the internet, turned off my phone, and discarded it. I even attempted to find refuge in a stranger's house. I thought my plans were flawless, but he would always show up right on time just when I'd begun settling into my new place and take me away by force. When I mustered my courage to ask for a divorce, he instead replied, "No! You'll always be mine. My prettiest doll." I completely gave up and took my own life in the bathtub on a most ordinary afternoon. I thought death would grant me freedom, but the heavens made me live a second life instead. It was just as well, as I also wanted to see how he would react if I got together with his most hated nemesis, Scott Quinlan, in front of him. As such, I walked up decisively to Scott and confessed, "I like you, Scott Quinlan." "Huh?" Scott asked dumbly, clearly taken aback by my confession. Chapter 2 I took Scott's hand before everyone's eyes without waiting for his reply, upon which he evidently started panicking. On the other hand, Kieran, who had proposed to me, was extraordinarily calm. It was as if his brain had shut down. However, he soon came back to his senses and used all his strength to drag me away from Scott. He glared threateningly at me. "Do you have any idea what you're doing, Linda? You're my fiancee." The look in his eyes was extremely similar to that of my past life. It was the same look he had when he lifted his hand against me every time he foiled my escape and dragged me back home. I couldn't help but feel a chill run down my spine. I tried my best to break out of his grasp, yelling, "I didn't accept your proposal, which means I'm still not your fiancee! Let go of me, Kieran!" Kieran asked in a low yet aggressive tone, "Are you sure? I bought everything you're wearing! If you leave me, what will you have left?" I had to admit that even before I accepted Kieran's proposal, he had been buying me clothes and jewelry. I was dressed in his gifts from head to toe. Even if I told him I didn't want the gifts, he would convince me to accept them. I always assumed he was a gentleman, considering how he always maintained a respectful distance from me. However, it seemed he'd already decided that I was his personal doll from the moment he started pursuing me. His next words shocked me yet again. "If you dare take my gifts off and return them to me, I'll let you go!" It turned out I'd long become the canary in his gilded cage. More and more passersby gathered around us, gossiping about me. If not for the fact that I had experienced Kieran's violent streak and desire for control in my previous life, I would've actually been convinced that I was the one who wanted to have the cake and eat it too. As I hesitated, Scott walked up to me and tossed me a large bag of clothes. He'd just bought them, so their tags were still attached. "Go and change into them. There's no need to be afraid!" Scott's tone was neutral, but there was anger in the glare he leveled at Kieran. It took me a long while to react. "Thank you." Kieran grabbed my arm as I was about to leave and asked in disbelief, "Are you planning to go against me, Linda?" Scott kicked Kieran to the floor. "My girlfriend doesn't need to set herself against someone like you!" I had only met Scott a few times when having dinner with Kieran's friends, and we had never even exchanged a word. Scott was very handsome, though he was always stern and seemed to wear a perpetual scowl. He could make even the most casual white T-shirt look good on him. He was one of the rare well-groomed people in my social circle, so I always regarded him as an unattainable existence. As such, I was pleasantly surprised that he had no objection to being my boyfriend and was now standing up for me. By the time I changed into the new clothes, Kieran had already left, and Scott was standing alone on the road. I couldn't get rid of Kieran no matter how much effort I put in, yet Scott had done so easily. It showed that picking him in this life had been a good choice. Chapter 3 After getting together with Scott, I asked him to take me to a place where no one knew us, using the excuse of preventing any harassment from Kieran. This time, I changed phones and swapped out my SIM card. I even had a fake identity card made and moved into a new city under that identity. Kieran completely disappeared from my life for a long time. I lived happily together with Scott. Although we hadn't built up an emotional foundation, Scott and Kieran were two completely different people. Scott fully respected me. I could wear whatever clothes I liked, eat whatever food I enjoyed, and position myself however I preferred. The only similarity between them was that Scott didn't need to go to work either. He would have fun alongside me every day. I couldn't resist asking him, "Why don't you have to go to work, Scottie?" Scott, who was holding me in his arms, was visibly startled. He hesitated to reply. Perhaps because I'd been traumatized by Kieran in my previous life, I was afraid to infuriate Scott, so I hurriedly added, "I-I don't mean to urge you to go out and work! I've only asked out of curiosity!" Scott didn't speak for a long time. Then, he suddenly reached out toward me. I reflexively shrank back and braced myself for a beating, but he simply ruffled my hair instead. "How will I earn the money to support you if I don't work, silly?" he asked affectionately. I was surprised that he hadn't hit me, but then I acknowledged that there weren't many twisted people like Kieran in the world. Scott treated me so well, yet I was actually comparing him to a devil like Kieran. I proceeded to ask, "In that case, how do you find the time to work when you're with me every day?" "Come on. I'll show you," he said. Scott stood up, took my hand, and led me to the computer in his study. The computer was displaying an array of real-time data. There were at least a few hundred data columns of varying sizes on the screen. This was probably Scott's job. I was very interested in the title of the data array. "Women's studies?" "That's right. I'm an investor behind a women's studies research institute. The researchers bring in a lot of profit, and I can earn dividends without going to the institute myself," explained Scott. He shut off the computer before putting his arms around my shoulders. "Isn't it nice that I can spend every day at home with you, Linnie?" he asked in confusion. I smiled. "It is! Of course it is!" What was not to like about a wealthy and handsome boyfriend who could make money without leaving the house? I gently pushed him away and ran into the kitchen with a smile. "I'll cook for you!" It was Scott's birthday today, and I wanted to make him a unique birthday cake. I flipped open a cake-making tutorial book and followed the instructions step by step, carefully portioning the ingredients. At first, I thought that with my cooking skills, I didn't even need to read such tutorials. In fact, I could probably teach these master chefs myself. However, Kieran never once let me cook or touch anything oily in the two years I was married to him. It was as if I were really a doll who couldn't take care of myself. As a result, my cooking skills had grown rusty. Soon, I mixed the batter, greased the pan, and put the mixture in the oven to bake. Then I started whipping the cream before pouring it into a piping bag. A few hours later, I finally completed the one-of-a-kind birthday cake. However, it looked rather empty on top, so I figured it might be missing a few cherries. As I was leaving the house with my purse to buy some cherries, I saw Kieran at the door. To be precise, I saw Scott and Kieran standing face-to-face at the door, smiling happily at each other. Weren't they arch-enemies? "How's Linda been recently? Has she made any fuss?" Kieran asked Scott in the most easygoing tone I'd ever heard from him. He'd certainly treated me very well back when I first got married to him. He would speak to me very gently, but it never felt genuine. Yet, he sounded so natural as he spoke to Scott today. Just then, Kieran noticed me. "Linda?" Chapter 4 I reflexively ducked into my room as quickly as possible. I probably hadn't been spotted. Kieran's sudden appearance here, coupled with his tone and expression while speaking to Scott just now, made me feel inexplicably panicked. It looked like I hadn't escaped him this time either. As his frightening and extremely threatening face from my previous life came to mind, I opened up my suitcase and started packing hastily. I wanted to escape, and this time, I would escape alone. "Why are you packing your things, Linnie?" Scott abruptly came into my room and was confused to see me in the middle of packing. He didn't seem shocked, though—he was putting on an act. I replied cautiously, "N-Nothing much. After I was done baking the cake, I noticed that my room was far too messy, so I figured I'd tidy up a little." It had taken me a lifetime to understand Kieran while I'd only known Scott for a few months. I couldn't afford to give the game away again. Scott hesitated. "Just now…" I feigned ignorance. "W-What's the matter?" "Nothing! Is the food ready? I'm hungry!" continued Scott. He proceeded to ruffle my hair and flirt with me, pretending nothing happened. "It's in the kitchen! I'll get it for you!" I exclaimed with false enthusiasm. I forced myself to remain calm as I passed him by despite the hammering of my heart. Scott was hiding something! Back in the kitchen, I covered the spot I'd intended to place cherries on with the remaining cream to make it look more like a finished product. Then, I brought it out to Scott. "Happy birthday, Scottie!" I exclaimed, offering him birthday wishes as I usually would. Scott looked very surprised. "So, you were in the kitchen for such a long time because you were baking me a cake?" Scott hugged me gratefully, then took out the expensive jewelry he'd prepared beforehand and stuffed them into my hands. He explained gently, "This is for you! The jewelry I saw on auction yesterday was really beautiful, so I bought it for you." I wasn't surprised, because he had always had a habit of buying me gifts, and he never budgeted his purchases. He only ate a small piece of cake before falling asleep on the table. It was because I'd added sleeping pills to the cake just now. After my experiences in my past life, I no longer trusted any man, especially one as flawless as Scott. As such, I was going to run away this very night. After quickly packing a few essential items, I left through a side door and found a hidden bridge underpass to hide in temporarily. My phone was disconnected from the internet, and I hadn't had the time to get myself fake identity documents. For insurance purposes, I had no choice but to live as if I were in a primitive era. As my phone was turned off, Scott didn't manage to find me. However, after an entire day and night without food, I was painfully hungry. I had no choice but to go looking for food in the dark. Yet, as soon as I came out of hiding, I encountered Kieran. He was dressed entirely in black and spoke in the same tone he'd used back when he'd captured me during my escape attempts in my previous life. "As expected, you're here, Linda!" I clutched my bag to myself and retreated slowly. "We have nothing to do with each other anymore, so why have you come looking for me?" Kieran suddenly grabbed my hand with a fierce expression on his face. "Come back with me! Don't assume you can get rid of me just by throwing yourself into Scott's lap! Yes, don't even think about it!" Just as he was about to drag me into his car, I took out the folding knife at my waist and slashed vehemently at him. Kieran reflexively let go of my hand from the pain. I took the opportunity to run to a police station. As soon as I walked through its doors, an elderly policeman on patrol noticed me. "Who are you?" he asked. "Hello! I'd like to make a police report!" I replied. Chapter 5 It wasn't as if I'd never thought of going to the police in my previous life. The truth was that Kieran always caught me before I could even get to a police station. "Who are you? Where do you live? What report would you like to make?" the elderly policeman asked impassively. "It's—" Kieran suddenly appeared behind me and cut me off. "This is my wife, sir. We simply had an argument, which resulted in some conflict between us. Sorry for the inconvenience!" "No! I'm not his wife!" I explained desperately. "Stop causing a fuss, Linnie. It's far too late at night for that. Let's continue our argument at home, alright?" Kieran asked with false tenderness, looking nothing at all like the devil he had been in my previous life. "Another one kicking up a pointless fuss! It's illegal to make a false report, young lady, so don't go seeking trouble!" the elderly policeman snapped before leaving in annoyance. "Hey! Sir! Please don't go!" I called helplessly after him, grasping desperately at this last straw. Kieran put me on his shoulders and walked toward a black sedan in the distance. "I'd like to see how you're going to get away now, Linda!" Kieran was a martial arts practitioner, so he was well-built. Even though I tried my best, I couldn't free myself from him. I unconsciously started shedding tears of despair. Was I going to fail to escape him in this life as well? How was he able to find me every time? A familiar voice called out from behind me, "Linnie?" It was Scott. I struggled to lift my head and cry out to him for help. "Save me, Scott!" When Kieran saw Scott approaching, he smoothly set me down. Without another word, Scott threw a heavy punch at Kieran that knocked him several feet back. Scott grabbed Kieran by his collar, looking abnormally furious. "Kieran Zucker! Who gave you the guts to come looking for my woman?" I stood to one side. It took me a long time to gather myself again. How did Scott also know I was here? Thanks to my experience from my previous life, I'd cut my SIM card in half, turned off my phone, and put on gloves and socks before leaving the house. I hadn't left a trace. Out of fear of being discovered, I even deliberately crossed a wide river to wash off my scent. Then, I'd hidden in the most inconspicuous underpass I could find deep in the mountains, where signal strength was at its worst. Where exactly had I gone wrong that they found me despite all my efforts? Before I could figure things out, Scott suddenly hugged me tightly. He looked at me with genuine urgency. "You're frightened, aren't you, Linnie?" Kieran had long since disappeared. When Scott saw that I wasn't answering his question, he took off his coat and draped it around my shoulders. "It's really windy outside. Let's go home!" In response, I took out a knife and held it to his neck. "Confess, Scott Quinlan. Who exactly are you? Why didn't you ask me why you passed out after eating the cake? You and Kieran are in cahoots, right?"