Back in 1 year:
"Arrghhhhh!"
I jumped up because I could no longer breathe, it felt as if my heart and lungs were being pulled out of my chest and I was clawing at my throat trying to find the words that wouldn't come out in the hospital but then I realized I wasn't wearing a gown and I wasn't lying on a thin mattress, I looked down at my hands and they were smooth with no scars or bruises and I was actually wearing my own clothes which were a bit wet from sweat so I folded them and looked around and realized I wasn't in the hospital at all. I was standing in the middle of the new house Adrian got for our first anniversary and it felt like my brain was spinning because I knew I had just died while watching my husband and his mistress laugh at me, I touched my stomach and it was flat and empty and I touched my face while thinking "this isn't a dream," and then I saw my phone lying on the floor.
I picked it up and opened it and my heart nearly stopped when I saw the notification bar because it showed 3:30 PM on April 11 2023 which was our anniversary day and the exact day my nightmare started, I stood there dusting my body and I ran inside thinking "maybe my phone is bad," but when I opened my laptop it showed the exact same date and time. I realized I really went back in time to the day Adrian told me he had a surprise and I knew it was the day he brought his mistress Victoria home and told me she was his cousin, I felt this rush of energy because God had answered my prayers for a second chance and I knew I wouldn't mess it up this time.
I waited because I remembered a notification would come in at 3:35 PM and then boom the email sound went off and I knew it was my father because in my previous life I had sent him a stupid text bragging about how Adrian was successful and rich now even though they disowned me for him. I opened the mail and my father sent a message which read, "I don't care if he is successful or not, but I just responded to you to let you know that the offer still stands for the contract marriage, you should come back before you regret it." I remembered how I told him back then that I wouldn't regret it and how wrong I was, I remembered him crying over my dead body while Adrian and Victoria smiled and I remembered my sister Haley standing there after being missing for ten years so I knew I had to go back to my family.
I started typing and I texted my father that day saying, "Father, I would regret this so this is now the time for me to come back home, give me one month and I will fix things here and I'll come back to you so prepare the marriage contract because I Harriet Walter will be back to claim what belongs to her." I clicked send and I walked back to the kitchen because I remembered this was the time Adrian always came back from work and I stood by the counter counting one and two until the doorbell rang exactly like I expected. I knew he had the passcode but he never used it because he wanted me to always be the one to open it for him like a servant, so I walked to the door and I remembered how in my last life I ran to it with a smile but this time I was a different person.
I opened the door and the first thing Adrian screamed at me was, "What took you so long?" but I just smiled a fake smile and I responded, "You know I'm trying to make a cake for our anniversary so forgive me," while I looked past him to see if anyone else was there but the porch was empty for now. I stepped back to let him in and he looked at me and Adrian said to me, "Happy anniversary baby," and I just smiled and I responded, "Thank you Adrian," I noticed that in my last life I was the one who said it first but today he was the one talking. Adrian said to me, "I have a surprise for you," and even though I knew exactly what it was I acted like I was shocked and I responded, "Seriously? I love surprises!" Adrian said to me, "Close your eyes and you'll be surprised," I closed them and felt a small bit of joy because I knew I was about to start my revenge.
I smelled a different scent in the air that wasn't mine or his and I knew she was standing there and then Adrian said to me, "You can open now," and when I opened my eyes I saw her standing there , I responded, "Who is this?" acting like I had no clue. Adrian said to me, "You know you've always wanted to meet my family so I thought why not introduce you to Victoria, my cousin," I looked her up and down from her head to her toes and I responded, "Oh thank you so much honey I really appreciate it but she looks pregnant." Adrian responded, "That's because her husband passed away and she is alone," I just acted concerned and I responded, "Oh oh I am so sorry Victoria nice to meet you, you are welcome here and don't worry about anything, just let me know what you need and feel comfortable because this is your house."
I asked her, "So what do you want me to get you, what are you craving?" Victoria responded, "No no no don't worry, Adrian already fed me, I really appreciate it." I smiled because I knew Adrian had fed her with his own body with his dick, I didn't bother saying anything again, I went to sit down in a chair instead of going back to work, Adrian followed me just to scream at me, "Babe why are you just sitting down, I thought you were making the cake!" I ignored him and turned on the television, started watching a show while smiling and he screamed at me again, "Babe I said I'm talking to you, I thought you were making a cake!" I looked at him twice before I responded, "Yeah I was making a cake but since you said your cousin sister already ate why do I have to continue making a cake that no one would eat?"
I remembered how in my last life I was in the kitchen cooking while she offered to help and then went upstairs where I heard loud noises that I was too stupid to realize were them sleeping together, but now I was going to sit and watch them instead. Adrian got angry and he screamed at me again, "Why are you acting this way today?" Victoria responded, "No no no you guys don't have to fight, is it not the cake she started making, I will just make it now and I will prepare it so there is no need for you guys to fight." I looked at Adrian maybe he was hoping for me to say something but I didn't say anything, so he said, "Are you seriously going to do this? You actually called me by my name earlier and you didn't congratulate me on our anniversary and now you want a guest to finish the cake you started, what is wrong with you Harriet?" Adrian raised his voice at me, "What just because you do little chores,doesn't mean you can talk this way to me, I am your husband for goodness sake!" and I responded, "And I am your wife for goodness sake not your slave!"
Victoria responded, "Please stop, I'll make the cake," I just smiled at her and I responded, "Oh thank you very much Victoria you're such a darling, I'll be going upstairs now." I walked away and climbed the staircase slowly while smiling to myself because they weren't going to use me this time, instead I will use them, when I got to the first floor, I hid behind a pillar because I wanted to see them start their lies. I saw Adrian approach Victoria and he held her close to himself as he whispered to her, "Babe don't worry I really appreciate you and I will make her do all the chores from today," and then he pecked her on the lips. Victoria responded, "Don't worry baby I got you," and then she went into the kitchen to start the cake I had abandoned. I twisted my hair into a bun and went into the bedroom to sleep because I was done being a fool, but just as I closed the door my phone vibrated with a message from an unknown number that read, "The Devil you know, is better than the one you don't know."