Cutting Off My Fiancé After Rebirth

After being reborn, I deliberately avoid every possible connection with Zachary Lawson. When he enrolls at Prestwick University, I choose to study abroad in Norell instead. When he comes all the way to Norell looking for me, I travel even farther, moving from place to place as a war correspondent. Years later, I return home hand in hand with the person I love to have our wedding. Zachary is stopped outside the venue, his eyes red-rimmed. "Why don't you love me anymore?" Chapter 1 Natalie's Point of View Zachary Lawson and I grew up together. Our families were evenly matched, and we were childhood sweethearts everyone admired. Everything changed in our senior year of high school, when a transfer student named Vivian Larson joined our class. She seemed delicate but surprisingly strong, and Zachary couldn't help but feel the need to protect her. Three months later, Zachary said, "Natalie, let's call off our engagement. Vivian needs me. She can't survive without me." I couldn't accept it and made such a scene that everyone found out about it. In the end, Zachary was placed under house arrest by his family, while mine used their influence to transfer Vivian to a better school in another city. Yet a month later, Vivian jumped to her death after enduring relentless bullying at her new school. When Zachary found out, it was as if his soul had died with hers. He stopped speaking and refused to eat. Overwhelmed by love and guilt, I left everything behind to stay by his side. I spoke to him gently each day, fed him bite by bite, and begged him to keep living. Two months later, after mapping out our entire itinerary, I took him to the snow-capped mountains he had longed to visit. When the first rays of sunlight broke through the clouds and lit up the mountain peaks, the golden glow seemed to reach the emptiness in his eyes. He slowly turned his head and looked at me for the first time in ages, a gentle smile forming on his lips. "Natalie, thank you for everything you've done." At that moment, I thought that I had lifted the shadows from him and brought back the young man I once knew. Later, we got married and had a pair of adorable children. But when the children were ten years old, I fell seriously ill and was paralyzed in bed. I couldn't even turn over on my own. That very day, Zachary walked into our home holding hands with Vivian, the same woman who was supposed to be dead. I never expected she would still be alive. What broke me even more was that my own children ran happily into her arms, cheerfully calling her "Mom". I trembled in shock, unable to utter a single word. Zachary looked down at me, his gaze cold and cutting. "Your children died the day they were born. These two are Viv's and mine. You were nothing more than a nanny who raised them for over a decade. "You destroyed Viv's life and mine. Your family abused their power and drove her to despair. Even though you repulse me, I forced myself to marry you just for this moment." He took a deep breath and said coldly, "You won't be alone. Your parents will join you soon. Everyone who separated Viv and me will pay. None of them will get away." After I died, he manipulated the system to have both our parents sent to prison, where they later died under suspicious circumstances. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day he confessed that he liked Vivian. Chapter 2 After school, the classroom was completely empty, which made Zachary's voice sound unusually loud to me. "Natalie, I truly like Viv," he said. Zachary held Vivian's hand and gently guided her to stand behind him. I came back to my senses and looked at the two of them. Their faces were still youthful, and for a moment, I felt disoriented. My throat tightened. I said nothing and simply lowered my head to pick up my backpack from the floor. My hands trembled slightly, and I failed to zip it closed despite several attempts. Zachary looked at me. His tone remained cold and unyielding. "If you want to cry, then cry. I'm not going to give in." Vivian suddenly dropped to her knees with a thud, her voice shaking with sobs. "I'm sorry, Natalie. This is my fault. I shouldn't have appeared in Zach's life. If you want to hit me or yell at me, I'll accept it all." I didn't look at her and kept my eyes fixed on Zachary. Seeing her on the floor, Zachary immediately helped her to her feet and held her protectively. "It was my fault for not understanding my own feelings," he said. "I only ever saw you as a younger sister, Natalie." Even though I had lived through all of this before, I still couldn't accept his words. Every morning, he would bring a warm cinnamon roll—my favorite—on our way to school. On rainy days, when my beloved shoes got dirty, he would crouch down without caring about appearances and wipe them clean. Then he would carry me on his back as he walked. Even after years of people teasing us by calling me his fiancee, he never once denied it. Yet in the end, he said I was only like a sister to him. I nodded and forced a smile. "Alright, let's call off our engagement. Be good to her. I'll explain everything to my parents." Zachary froze for a moment. He clearly hadn't expected me to agree so readily. His voice softened slightly. "Don't worry. I'll still treat you the same way I always have." He reached out to wipe my tears, but I gently dodged his hand. "There's no need for that," I said. I wiped my face on my own. "I'm not feeling well today, so I'll head home first." Chapter 3 I practically ran out of the school building. It was only after I rushed into the car waiting to take me home that my racing heart gradually calmed down. My phone started buzzing in my pocket. It was a call from my sister, Judith Hooper. Judith's bright, eager voice rang through the phone. "Natty! How's it going? Have you considered what I told you last time? "Your grades are so good. It'd be such a waste to stay in the country and study that lousy finance major. Come to Norell and study media instead. Just think of it as keeping me company. What do you say?" As I held my phone, the image of Mom's old box came to mind. It was neatly filled with records of the brave work she had done as a journalist. When I was little, I loved flipping through those notebooks and believed that Mom was the bravest person in the world. Influenced by her, I fell in love with journalism and resolved to study media. But because Zachary wanted to study finance at Prestwick University, I changed my own academic plans just to stay by his side. I interrupted her relentless persuasion. "Judy." My voice was still hoarse, but it rang unusually clear. "I've made my decision. I'm going to Norell." The other end of the line fell silent. After several seconds, Judith asked in disbelief, "Really? Are you sure? What about Zachary? Can you really leave him?" Zachary? I lowered my gaze to the empty water bottle in my hand and suddenly recalled what had happened earlier that morning during recess. My throat had felt unbearably dry, but the water dispenser at school was broken, so I couldn't get any water. Yet I saw Zachary carefully pass his water bottle to Vivian and say softly, "Drink slowly. It's hot." At the time, I had been preoccupied with reviewing the mistakes I had made in my exercises and hadn't given Zachary and Vivian a second thought. Now, that image overlapped with the memory of the young man who had always noticed my needs first and immediately stood up to get me water. The care that had once been mine alone was now for someone else. I spoke into the phone, my voice soft but resolute. "He likes someone, so I won't get in the way." After saying that, I ended the call and shoved the empty bottle into my backpack. When I got home, I told Mom and Dad about my plans to study abroad. They were overjoyed at the news and immediately began making arrangements for my departure. They then told me that with my grades, I could start studying abroad as soon as I graduated from high school. There were three months left until graduation. I suddenly felt a weight lift off my chest. In just three months, Zachary and I would have nothing to do with each other anymore. Chapter 4 The next day, I woke up early, deliberately avoiding the time Zachary would usually come by to pick me up for school. By the time he entered the classroom, I had already begun previewing today's lessons. Vivian followed him in, munching on my favorite cinnamon roll. As Zachary and I locked eyes, he looked a bit awkward and explained, "I heard from your driver that you came early. I was planning to bring it over for you, but Viv was hungry." I calmly lowered my head again and flipped through my book. "It's fine." He walked over quietly. "Don't be upset over this. Do you want me to go and get you another one?" He still thought that I was the hot-tempered girl from before, but I had already lived an entire lifetime. I simply shook my head. "I'm not angry." It was just a cinnamon roll. I could buy plenty for myself. With that thought, I took out the cinnamon roll I had kept untouched in my drawer and ate it right in front of him. Vivian, who had been standing behind him with a hint of smugness, froze for a moment. Seeing me do that, Zachary let out a small sigh of relief. "Looks like I won't need to bring you cinnamon rolls anymore." As he spoke, he pulled out a notebook from his backpack. "You've been struggling in math lately. I stayed up late organizing the key points for you. Here, take a look." Zachary's notes were far more detailed than before, organized so clearly that even a fool could follow them. He had probably done it out of guilt. I handed the notebook to Vivian and smiled gently. "I think you could use this more than I do." Vivian's eyes were red-rimmed. "Natalie, are you trying to provoke me? I know that I'm not as good at math as you are, and I also know that Zach has always made math notes for you. Are you handing me these notes in front of him because you're upset that we have feelings for each other?" Tears streamed down her face as she spoke. I hadn't expected her to break down so quickly. Zachary stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Vivian, trying to comfort her. "I know that you're mad, but please don't make things difficult for Viv. She's physically weak and can't handle this," he said. I almost laughed. How had I never noticed how blind Zachary could be before? Vivian tugged at him and shook her head repeatedly. "Don't argue with Natalie because of me. This is indeed my fault. Maybe my own insecurities made me misunderstand her." Zachary frowned. Before he could speak, I decisively spoke up. "I'm sorry. It's my fault. I didn't realize that it would hurt you." Zachary was stunned. Even Vivian opened her mouth, only to swallow the rest of her words. She clearly hadn't expected me to say that. I looked at Zachary and pressed the notebook into his hand. "From now on, don't come looking for me all the time. I don't want Vivian to feel uncomfortable." After saying that, I returned to my seat and immersed myself in my studies again. Zachary remained standing there, unable to recover from the shock for a long while. Chapter 5 Perhaps my words had some effect, for Zachary stopped seeking me out. But that only lasted for a few days. After that, he insisted on handing me his notes and would sometimes stubbornly stay behind to walk me through exercise questions. "Aren't you going to Prestwick University with me to study finance? You're still not very good at math." For once, I didn't argue back. After all, in his eyes, I was still that girl who followed him without hesitation no matter what he did. Perhaps in this new life, even if we couldn't be husband and wife, we could still be friends. Yet whenever I grew tired from studying and looked up, I caught Vivian glaring at me. One month before the SATs, I walked out of the school gates and headed to the bookstore across the street to buy some reference books. Zachary rushed toward me, holding Vivian in his arms. Her face was pale, and her clothes were stained with blood. Before I could react, he had already blocked my path. "Natalie Hooper!" His voice was heavy with suppressed fury. "Do you really hate her so much that you hired someone to beat her up outside the school?" I froze and looked at Vivian in his arms. Her eyes brimmed with tears. One side of her face was swollen, and her gaze was filled with fear as she looked at me. I frowned, a wave of absurdity washing over me. "I have no idea what you're talking about," I said. "You have no idea?" Zachary let out a cold laugh. Some students nearby began turning to look at us. "When those girls slapped her, they clearly said that Ms. Hooper told them to teach her a lesson. Who else would resort to such dirty tricks if not you? So your good temper was just an act after all," he said. I looked at Vivian as she sobbed. "Natalie, I'm so sorry… I shouldn't have taken Zach from you." As she spoke, her body trembled even more violently. I looked at Zachary and said calmly, "I didn't do it. I wouldn't stoop to using such methods." "Where's the proof? Who would believe you?" Zachary asked. He wouldn't listen to my explanation at all. Vivian's tears and accusations had completely clouded his judgment. He paused for a moment, as if making up his mind. Then he spoke slowly, his tone icy. "Viv, hit her back, just like they did to you." Those words hit me like a punch to the gut. I stared at Zachary in disbelief. I couldn't believe he was asking Vivian to hit me. Growing up, not even my parents had ever hit me. Vivian seemed startled as well. She shook her head frantically. "I can't do that, Zach. How could I—" "Go!" he shouted. He gently pushed Vivian in front of me, then grabbed my arms tightly. "She owes you this. As long as I'm here, no one will ever hurt you again." More and more students gathered around, their whispers like the buzzing of mosquitoes. Under everyone's gaze, Vivian appeared even more helpless and fragile. She looked at me, her tears flowing harder. Her hand trembled slightly as she raised it. She finally seemed to make up her mind. She closed her eyes and swung her hand with force. A sharp slap rang out, and a burning pain spread across my face. She didn't hold back, hitting me hard enough to make my ears ring. I tried to struggle, only to be met with Zachary's painful grip as a warning. But when he saw blood running from my nose, he froze for a moment. He seemed surprised by just how strong Vivian was, and his gaze flickered briefly. Yet when he saw Vivian collapse onto the ground, shaking uncontrollably after hitting me, he immediately released me. He held her tightly in his arms. "It's alright now." He looked at me. "If you apologize properly right now, I'm still willing to tutor you. We can still go to Prestwick University together. Haven't you always wanted us to move out? By that time, we could even buy a house near campus—" I looked at Zachary and suddenly laughed. "Prestwick University? You can go there with Vivian. I won't be going." Chapter 6 Did they seriously expect me to play nanny for them again like I did in my previous life? They could dream on. With that thought, I rushed forward and slapped Vivian hard across the face right in front of Zachary. I stared at them coldly. "Remember this. This is what I actually did." The slap, fuelled by sheer anger, made Vivian's cheek swell instantly. She shook uncontrollably from the pain. "Natalie!" Zachary shouted, his voice thick with disbelief and fury. "How dare you? You can't even be bothered to pretend in front of me anymore, can you?" I took a deep breath, my tone steady. "When was I pretending? I simply hit someone openly, right in front of you. Since I'm going to be framed anyway, I might as well make it real." I bent down and picked up my backpack. After brushing the dust off, I slung it over my shoulder. "Zachary, take Vivian and stay far away from me." I looked him straight in the eye and enunciated each word, "Just looking at the two of you makes me sick." As soon as I finished speaking, I turned around and walked away. Standing behind me, Zachary completely lost his temper. "If you've got the guts, don't contact me again. When we get to Prestwick University, don't expect me to care about you." Who cared? I ignored him. The people around us silently parted to make way. They stared at me, a strange mix of emotions in their eyes, but I paid them no attention. From that day on, my relationship with Zachary became noticeably strained. Even though we were in the same class, I treated him as if he didn't exist. He made several attempts to talk to me, but I ignored him each time. When he tried to make peace with a cinnamon roll, I threw it into the trash in front of everyone. The confusion and irritation in his eyes deepened, and eventually, he began ignoring me as well. Yet none of that mattered to me anymore. The SATs finally came to an end. I walked out of the exam hall into bright sunlight. I took a deep breath. Mom and Dad were waiting outside, their smiles proud and relaxed. Mom wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "How did it go?" "Pretty well." I smiled as I spoke, though all I could think about was my application to study abroad. Even before the SATs, I had already received an offer from a university in Norell. Once my SAT scores were submitted, I would receive the official notice and head to Norell to begin my studies. "That's great. Let's go home. I made all your favorite food!" Mom said. After returning home, I began packing and preparing to leave the country. Chapter 7 There was a delicate box on my desk. Inside were the little trinkets Zachary had given me over the years, along with a thick stack of letters he had written to me. I opened the box and glanced inside. Then I grabbed it without hesitation and tossed it into the trash bin out in the yard. Mom stood at the doorway, staring at me in surprise. "Natty, you—" I dusted my hands and said casually, "They're all useless and should be thrown away." Mom walked over and wrapped me in a gentle hug. "Good. It's time to move on." The days before I was to leave the country passed in a blur. I hung out with friends, spent time with my family, and packed my luggage. I deliberately ignored all news about Zachary and Vivian. All I knew was that Zachary had tried to contact me multiple times, but he had failed each time. His mom told me that he had cried for hours the day he found out that I had thrown away his gifts and letters. He said that he didn't understand why I had become like this and that he regretted it. I had no idea what he regretted, and I had no interest in finding out. All I felt was excitement for the future ahead of me. … The airport was bustling with people. After checking in my luggage, I took one last moment to say goodbye to my parents. Mom's eyes were red-rimmed as she reminded me, "Once you get there, make sure you video call us every day." "Alright, Mom. Don't worry," I replied. Dad gave my shoulder a firm pat. "If you run short on money, just tell me. Don't make things hard for yourself." I answered them one by one, and we talked a while longer. Just as I was going through security, Zachary came running, out of breath. He was stopped outside the checkpoint. "Natalie!" he shouted. He looked like he had sprinted the whole way, his hair slightly disheveled. "Aren't you supposed to attend Prestwick University with me? Why did your parents say that you're studying abroad? Where are you actually going?" There was undeniable panic in his voice, but I paid him no mind. I let him scream and cry behind me until the security guards dragged him away. As the plane took off, I watched the city shrink beneath the window, my mind completely calm. I knew that my new life had finally begun.