I Went Back and Set Him Free

I hated my husband most in the moment he died for me, swallowed by the flames. Right before he took his last breath, he tore our marriage certificate in half, his eyes burning red. "If there's another life," he said, "I'd rather we never met." My whole body went rigid. Only then did I understand—he blamed me. Ten years ago, his childhood sweetheart and her family had been exiled. She had begged him for help. But that day, he'd gone with me on a trip and missed the chance to save her. And for ten long years, he held that grudge against me. After my husband's death, the world turned on me. Even my in-laws, who had always cared for me, looked at me with pure disgust. "If not for you, Russ wouldn't be dead. We wish you'd never been born!" I couldn't bear it anymore. I ended my life. I never expected that when I opened my eyes again, I would be back on the day Russ Williams came to propose. This time, I would do exactly as he wished. I would give everyone what they wanted. Chapter 1 Russ Williams stood there with a dark, unreadable face. In his eyes, there wasn't even the slightest trace of joy about our upcoming marriage. "Kathy Olson, my parents took you in out of kindness and raised you to adulthood. I never thought you'd repay them with betrayal by scheming to marry me. Let me tell you this: even if we do get married, don't you dare expect me to love you." I stared at him, dazed, taking in his younger face, and then the servant waiting by the door to measure me for my wedding clothes. Only then did everything click into place. I had been reborn ten years into the past. At this moment, Russ's childhood sweetheart's family hadn't met disaster yet. She hadn't thrown herself into a lake in despair after finding no one to help her. Thankfully, everything could still be changed. The bitterness from my previous life rose in my chest. I forced back my tears and looked straight at him. "I know your heart belongs to someone else. Don't worry, this time, I'll make sure you get what you want." Russ's eyes widened in surprise, then he let out a mocking laugh. "You'll make sure I get what I want? And how exactly? Everyone in the capital already knows we're getting married." "I treated you like a real sister," he continued sharply. "I looked after you in every way. But you twisted the truth in front of my parents. If not for you, why would they make things so hard on Cadence?" With that, he stood angrily, flicking his sleeve, and went to the window. He gazed out toward Cadence Bree's home, his long fingers stroking the emerald pendant she had given him. I stayed silent for a long moment. Then I walked to the servant waiting at the door and recited Cadence's measurements. After that, on the wedding invitations, I replaced every instance of the bride's name with Cadence's. When I finished, my gaze fell on the emerald bracelet on my wrist. I couldn't help but lose focus for a moment. It had been a gift from Russ ten years ago. Ten years ago, when my parents died in battle, I had been nearly torn apart by my own relatives. Russ had appeared like a divine soldier descending from the heavens, saving me from disaster. He begged his parents to take me in and stayed by my side every day. His mother and father often joked that I was his little tail. Russ never got annoyed—he would just gently pat my head. When the servants in the estate mocked me for being an orphan, he didn't hesitate for a second before punishing them harshly. "Kathy is my sister. If any of you dare bully her again, it'll be off with your heads!" He kept his promise and took good care of me. Whether it was an outing in spring or a banquet in the palace, he always accompanied me. Everyone in the capital knew I was Russ's only weakness. In the naivety of youth, my feelings for him grew until they were completely out of my control. His parents noticed everything. They approved of us, nudging us together every chance they got. I had believed—truly believed—that he felt something for me too. But what happened in my last life made everything painfully clear: I had never been the one in his heart. Chapter 2 Thinking of all this, I let out a long, quiet sigh, dismissed the servant, and turned to Russ nonchalantly. "Russ, we still need matching pendants for the wedding. Let's go to Axie Jewelers and take a look." Russ drew his gaze away from the window and looked at me, his eyes sharp and bone-chillingly cold. "Just finished measuring your dress, and already you're eager to buy matching pendants? Kathy, are you really this anxious to marry me? Well, bad timing, because I have an appointment with Cadence today. You can go alone if you want to." I forced the bitter ache in my chest down. "Since you have an appointment, go see her first. We'll meet at the entrance at sunset. That way, your parents won't notice." Russ froze, his eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion. "Why are you so… considerate today? In the past, if Cadence's name came up, you'd make a scene. What's changed? Do you think that now we're getting married, she's no longer a threat?" I let out a bitter laugh, but before I could answer, Russ had already turned and left. I followed him out, circling the streets until nearly sunset, before heading toward the Williams estate. I didn't see Russ, but instead ran straight into his parents, Gordon and Linda Williams. With the wedding approaching, here I was, out shopping for wedding things alone with my maid. They immediately understood. Linda stepped forward, her hand warm around mine. "Kathy, that brat is making you suffer again! Trust me, after a man marries, he'll change. "He's just stubborn and reserved. Look—he even had Axie Jewellers attendants bring several pendant options. See which one you like. A wedding is a big deal—you must choose carefully. "I've always hoped the two of you would be happy. Don't worry, I will make sure you marry into our family in style!" They all assumed Russ and I had feelings for each other, just that he was stubborn and reserved. But I knew the truth. His behavior was only out of habit and guilt. In my last life, even without Cadence, we could never have been equal partners in marriage. He had treated me well, yes, but it was the care of a brother, nothing more. I carefully chose the finest pendant for his future wife. No sooner had the Axie Jewelers attendants left than Russ's personal servant came running in, holding a letter. "Since you've chosen the pendant, from now on, you will behave as the lady of the Williams estate. Don't interfere in my matters." A wave of sorrow struck me. I held back tears as I instructed the servant, "Please tell him I understand my place. He needn't worry." The servant was about to leave when Linda stopped him. "Wait. Where is that rebellious boy?" The servant trembled. "The Young Master… is at the Bree residence." Gordon exploded with rage. "That insolent boy! Sneaking off to see Cadence again!" "Kathy, don't be upset. I will take care of this for you. When he comes back, I'll make sure to break his legs!" Gordon's words had barely fallen when the manager of the Williams family shops came running up in a panic. He reported that Russ, to smooth relations for Cadence's father, who was under investigation, had given away multiple shops and even money. The intensity of his actions spoke for itself. Gordon was livid, and Linda frowned deeply, patting my hand gently to comfort me, fearful I might be upset. Watching their concerned faces, I couldn't help but feel my eyes grow wet. Ever since my parents had passed, they treated me as their own. Knowing my heart was bound to Russ, they endlessly found ways to create chances for us. Chapter 3 Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried, Russ and I were never meant to be. I thought for a moment, then knelt before Gordon and Linda. "I'm sorry I've been unfilial and caused you worry. You've always treated me as your own. I know it, but matters of the heart can never be forced. "We both know that Russ's heart belongs to Cadence, and that he feels only brotherly affection for me. In that case, I'm begging you to fulfill his wish. "I've already decided to head to Socalli City to live with my mom's family. Please allow Russ his happiness!" Linda gently helped me to my feet, her voice full of concern. "Kathy, don't be stubborn. We've seen how he's cared for you all these years. He just doesn't understand his own feelings. Don't be angry. When he returns, I'll make sure you get justice. "Think about it—if he didn't care for you, why would he have knelt, begging us to take you home in the first place?" Gordon let out a resigned sigh. "The Bree family schemes and plots. They'll fall eventually. Russ is only being fooled by Cadence; he'll see the truth soon enough." "And besides," Linda added, "Socalli City is so far away. How could we trust you to go alone?" They spoke earnestly, trying to persuade me to change my mind. They didn't know that in my past life, I had followed their wishes, carrying hope in my heart as I married Russ—and it had ended in tragedy. This time, I would not repeat the same mistakes. I led them to Russ's separate residence and pointed to a large chest. "These are all the gifts I've given him over the years. He hasn't looked at a single one—they've all been tossed in here. "And yet, the little sugar figurine that Cadence casually bought? He treats it like a treasure. It's clear he doesn't love me. "Gordon, Linda, forgive me for no longer wanting to deceive myself. If you can't bear to part with me, then accept me as your adopted daughter. This way, the affection of both our families is honored, and Russ can have what he desires." Seeing my resolve, they let out a long sigh and gave up on trying to persuade me. Linda pressed a stack of money into my hands, repeatedly telling me to take care of myself. I held her hand and smiled through my tears. "Godmother, please don't tell Russ about this yet. I want it to be a surprise." Back in my room, I tucked the money into a box. Then, I had my maid bring out all the gifts Russ had ever given me. Since I had decided to let go, it was time to deal with them once and for all. We carried the chest to the backyard, and I lit a firebrand. Flames roared up. Suddenly, Cadence appeared from nowhere. Without a word, she grabbed my hand and slammed herself hard against the wall. Before I could react, Russ arrived just in time and struck me sharply across the face. "Kathy! What are you doing?! Cadence is only here to thank our family for our help!" My cheek burned and swelled. I stared at him, stunned. Cadence's eyes were brimming with tears. "I knew you were about to be married. I only wanted to congratulate you in person. I never expected… that you would hate me so much you'd attack me…" Russ's expression darkened instantly. His eyes blazed with fury. "We aren't married yet, and you're already acting like the lady of the house? Not only did you stir up trouble, you even laid hands on Cadence! Kathy… why have you become like this? "And did you… smear the Bree family's name today, bringing disgrace to Cadence's father?" I stared at him, stunned, as if I were seeing him for the first time. Chapter 4 "I don't know what happened. The Bree family's affairs have nothing to do with me, and I never said a single bad word about Cadence in front of Gordon and Linda. I told you I would help you. I never go back on my word," I said. Russ frowned. His sharp gaze landed on the chest, recognizing several of the things he'd given me over the years. Even the portrait he'd drawn for me was half‑burned. His face darkened even more. "What are you doing? Trying to play some push‑and‑pull trick on me? I'm telling you—no matter what you do, I will never like you. Your petty theatrics only make me sick. And if anything happens to Cadence, I swear I won't let you off!" He swept past me, holding Cadence—her forehead bruised from hitting the wall—and dragged me along as he rushed to a side room. On the way, she fainted in his arms. In my past life, Cadence had no one to rely on and threw herself into the river in despair. This time, with Russ giving her everything he had, she still didn't intend to let me go. Watching him panic over her, circling helplessly, my heart filled with a thousand tiny needles. My gaze dimmed. Fortunately, the doctor said she was fine—just overly anxious these past days, and now overwhelmed, which had caused her to faint. Russ let out a sigh of relief, shot me a vicious look, and said with absolute certainty, "This all started because of you. You'll keep vigil for Cadence tonight. Think of it as your apology." Without waiting for a response, he walked out without looking back. I stayed beside Cadence through the entire night. Not long after dawn, Russ came in carrying a bowl of soup. Seeing how exhausted I looked, his expression softened slightly, despite himself. "Why didn't you rest?" "I'm not tired." "You've worked hard. Go lie down for a while." I never imagined that in this lifetime, I would hear anything comforting come from his mouth again. I got up obediently. My compliance seemed to please him; he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Tomorrow, I'll have someone from the tailor shop come again. The last design for the wedding gown was too plain. Try a few other styles. "And… don't take what I said yesterday to heart. I spoke out of anger. I apologize. "But Cadence is innocent. Don't make things difficult for her because of me, all right?" I looked into his dark eyes. When it came to Cadence, anything I could've explained seemed unnecessary. As for my plan to head to Socalli City, he wouldn't care anyway. I pressed my lips into a smile and said sincerely, "There's no need. As long as I can marry you, it doesn't matter what the wedding gown looks like. "Russ… I wish you a happy wedding." His expression tightened with suspicion, and he opened his mouth—but a movement from Cadence interrupted him. She frowned and slowly opened her eyes. "What happened to me?" At once, Russ forgot I existed. He helped her sit up, dutifully feeding her spoonfuls of the soup. When he finally remembered me, I was nowhere to be found. I had already returned to my own courtyard, quietly beginning to pack my belongings. For reasons I couldn't understand, he actually had his personal servant invite me to Windmere Garden to watch a play. It was "The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate". My favorite. It told of a story of two people in love. Once, I'd shamelessly begged him several times to go with me, but he had always dismissed it with cold disdain. I understood immediately—this was his attempt at an apology. But I was leaving soon. It no longer mattered. Besides, Russ had done so much for me. Taking care of the woman he liked was the least I could do. Chapter 5 I had the servant politely decline. But unexpectedly, he returned, saying Russ would come later to fetch me. With no choice, I had to agree. I waited in the courtyard for a long time, but he never appeared. Rising, I went to the guest room in search of him, only to find him drinking under the moon with Cadence. He watched her with gentle eyes, a depth of intoxicating affection hidden in his gaze. I left silently, alone, and watched The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate by myself. When I returned to my room, my maid told me Russ had been by, leaving a message. He asked me not to take offense and promised he would make up for missing tonight. As I packed my things, I murmured softly, "It's alright. Please tell him I understand. He doesn't owe me anything. I owe him more than I could ever repay." In my past life, even if he had hated me, he would still have protected me. No one could treat me with disrespect under his watch, and he had even died to save me. His debt to me was too great; whatever he asked, I would never refuse. Then, the servant burst in. "Miss! Something's wrong! The Young Master seems to have offended someone from the Bree family and is being pursued!" I didn't hesitate. I grabbed my guards and rushed out. My heart burned with panic. 'Russ, you absolutely cannot be hurt!' When I arrived, I saw a man dressed in black, sword raised, aiming for him. "Russ! Watch out!" I instinctively pushed him aside to block the fatal blow, and my arm was slashed deeply in the process. Russ stared at me, stunned. After the attackers were all defeated, he hurried to my side, bandaging my wound. In his eyes, I saw a depth of meaning I could not immediately understand. "Thank you for today. But never put yourself in danger to save me again. Your safety matters more. And… as long as you don't trouble Cadence, I'll continue to protect you, just like before." I stared at him, astonished. The words I had longed to hear for years finally came to me today. My eyes glistened, but I smiled. "Thank you, Russ." The doctor said we had only suffered superficial wounds; the wedding would go on as planned. I breathed a sigh of relief and instructed my maid to take care of him. But with my own injury, I couldn't travel immediately, so my plan was delayed a few days. On the eve of the wedding, Russ did not come to see me. As the groom, he could not see his bride before the ceremony. Instead, Gordon and Linda had my maid deliver gifts—jewelry and pastries—all chosen by him. I understood their subtle encouragement: that he still had a place in his heart for me. But I knew even more clearly that these were leftovers from Cadence. The finest golden hairpins had long been pinned into her hair. I smiled. On his wedding day, I formally bade farewell to Gordon and Linda and boarded my carriage southward to Socalli City early. … At the wedding hall, seeing that the bride was nowhere in sight, Russ felt an unexpected pang of panic. "Kathy isn't ready yet? Everyone's waiting. She's usually the one most eager to marry me—why is she suddenly slow?" Gordon and Linda were about to respond when a breathless guard burst in. "Sir! Miss Olson's carriage heading northwest has been ambushed by highwaymen. Everyone on the road… has been slaughtered—"