Reborn To Love You

"Claire… why are you acting like this all of a sudden?” “Please… at least tell me the reason.” “We were fine just last week… weren’t we?” Claire Kensley stood frozen. Drake Thompson’s voice echoed in her ears, over and over again, like a broken record. Her heart pounded violently—so hard it felt like it would leap out of her chest. A cold sweat formed on her forehead as her breathing turned uneven. What’s going on…? Just a second ago, she had been lying in bed, casually watching TV. But now— She was standing here. In a familiar place. In front of a familiar man. Her eyes slowly lifted. Drake Thompson. Her husband… from her previous life. “…Am I back?” Her breath hitched. Was this— Rebirth? She stared at him, her mind spinning. This was the man she once believed would make her the happiest woman in the world. Her first love. Her husband. And the man she regretted marrying. Yes. She was reborn. Back in the day she agreed to marry him. Claire looked at him again. Tall. Handsome. Well-built. He exercised regularly, had a great physique, and carried himself with confidence. Anyone would say he was perfect. Even she used to think so. He was gentle in front of her. Respectful. Kind. That was what made her fall for him. But— Boom. Her thoughts stopped at one memory. Their wedding night. A faint, complicated expression appeared on her face. Love could bloom from the smallest things. And just as easily— It could shatter due to trivial matters. She didn’t believe that before. Now? She knew it too well. Others might call her shallow. Or even crazy. But this was her life. “Drake…” Her voice was calm, but distant. “I don’t want to hurt you.” “You’re a good person.” “But you deserve someone who truly loves you.” Drake froze. His eyes trembled. “…You don’t love me anymore?” His voice cracked. For a moment— Guilt flashed across her heart. This was the same man she had chosen before. The same man she married. Because he was kind. Because he treated her well. But now— That wasn’t enough. She couldn’t live a lifetime built on compromise. “I’m sorry.” “Claire… did you ever love me at all?” She fell silent. Did she? Maybe. But not enough. Not enough to spend the rest of her life pretending. She clenched her fists slightly. Her reason… Was something she couldn’t say. Something too private. Too embarrassing. And not entirely his fault. So instead— She chose silence. “I don’t have anything else to say.” She turned around. “Don’t come to me or my house anymore.” “It makes me uncomfortable.” “Let’s just end things here.” “Claire!” Drake’s voice thundered through the parking basement. “At least give me a reason!” “I have the right to know!” She paused. Her back facing him. The words sat at the tip of her tongue— But she swallowed them. Some truths were better left unsaid. “…I’m sorry.” And with that— She walked away. Step by step. Until she reached the elevator. Until she could no longer see him. Until everything went quiet. When she entered her unit, she collapsed onto the sofa. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. She was back. Back in her original world. Not inside the book anymore. Before this— She had transmigrated into a novel. A story about a switched-at-birth heiress. A “fake” daughter raised in wealth— And the “real” daughter who returned. But the truth was far more shocking. The so-called “poor background” of the real daughter— Was actually the most powerful family in the country. And the body Claire occupied— Belonged to someone extraordinary. A hidden genius. A true powerhouse. A master in medicine. A business prodigy. A world-class musician. A hacker. A racer. A strategist. A hidden Big Boss. For three months, Claire lived in her body. Guided by a mysterious system. The system told her: The real owner had left to experience life in another world. And Claire— Was chosen to take her place. Because of her “pure and ungreedy soul.” When everything ended— She would receive a reward. And now— She was back. Was this her reward? Being reborn… Before everything went wrong? Claire let out a slow breath. If that was the case— Then this time— She would choose differently. She would live without regrets.