When Love Was Gone in a flash

Jude and I spent most of our lives together. We had both a son and a daughter and walked hand in hand all the way to our golden wedding anniversary.

When Jude was gravely ill and near death, our son asked him if he had any final wishes.

After I die, bury me together with your aunt, he said. That is my only wish in this life.

Everyone was stunned, exchanging glances and looking at me with pity.

I nodded and agreed, Lets do as he says.

People laughed at me, saying that after all these years of serving my in-laws, supporting my husband and raising our children, I still couldnt win my husbands heart in the end. I had become a joke.

But what they didnt know was: if there were a next life, I would still never marry Jude.

When I opened my eyes again, we had been reborn, back to the day of the wedding.

As expected, Jude ran away, leaving me behind to face everyone's judgment and scorn.

But I didnt feel humiliated. On the contrary, I felt relieved.

My gaze slowly turned toward the man in the suit standing in the corner.

Yosef, I said, Im short one groom. Would you be willing to take his place?

As soon as the words left my mouth, the entire room fell silent.

Even the man who had been tilting his head back, drinking in silence, froze mid-motion, stunned. He looked up sharply, disbelief in his eyes.

What did you just say?

A faint redness lingered at the corner of Yosefs eyes and a flicker of light danced in his gaze as he looked at me.

In front of all the guests, I smiled and walked firmly up to him.

I said I want to marry you. Do you want to marry me?

Yosef stared at me in a daze, his lips trembling slightly from the surge of emotion.

Before he could respond, Jude's mother grew anxious and rushed forward, grabbing my hand to try and persuade me.

Leona, good child, I know that brat wronged you today, but Ive already sent someone to bring him back. Hes just immature, acting out of foolishness.

Dont worry, she added. As long as I'm here, the bride can only be you. Dont act on impulse or marry someone else just out of spite.

I smiled and gently withdrew my hand.

Deyna, forcing a relationship that isnt meant to be wont lead to happiness. I was never set on marrying Jude to begin with. You should just let them be.

In my past life, it wasnt that I didnt know the woman Jude had always loved was my younger sister, Femma.

But Femma had dated several boyfriends, had three abortions and had ruined her health.

The doctor said shed never be able to have children again.

When Deyna heard that, her face immediately darkened. She was firmly opposed to the two of them being together.

But the marriage alliance between our families had been arranged long ago.

Jude and I had grown up together as childhood friends and I had secretly loved him since I was a child. So naturally, the marriage fell to me.

In our past life, everyone said we were a rare, loving couple who made it all the way to our golden anniversary.

But whether it was truly a happy marriage, only the two of us knew the truth.

Out of our sixty years of marriage, we spent fifty-five living apart.

Jude resented me.

Even the day I was in the hospital struggling through a difficult labor, he never showed up, not even once.

Every year on our childs birthday, he would spend the whole day at the cemetery.

He often drank himself into a stupor and in his sleep, he always called out Femmas name.

At first, I believed love could grow with time and past wounds could be forgotten.

But year after year passed and it wasnt until Jude and I had become a bitter, resentful couple, that I realized that it was never that simple.

Now that I finally had a second chance, I would choose to let him go and free myself as well.

When Deyna saw Yosef and me holding hands, her face turned pale with urgency.

Leona, youve long been the daughter-in-law Ive recognized. How can you marry someone else? Ive never been able to stand Femma and her fake sweetness. I dont care what reason she had for calling Jude away today, but I will never allow him to bring that kind of woman into this family.

In my previous life, it was on the day of our wedding.

Upon learning that we were getting married, Femma couldnt accept it and jumped into the sea to end her life.

She left behind only a letter and a short video.

Jude, I have no choice but to consider you my brother-in-law, but I love you. I truly can't bring myself to say it out loud.

I really envy my sister. She can win your heart without even trying, while my luck always seems to fall just a little short.

Jude, if there really is a next life, let me be the one to marry you.

But because Deyna couldnt stand her fake, manipulative behavior, she thought Femma was being overly dramatic and attention-seeking.

So she stopped Jude from responding and insisted on going ahead with the wedding.

No one would have thought that Femma really did jump into the sea.

By the time the wedding was over, her body had already been pulled from the water, cold and lifeless.

But this time...

Jude couldn't bear to watch her die with his own eyes.

The moment he received the video from Femma, his eyes turned bloodshot and he rushed out without hesitation.

If this had been in my previous life, perhaps I wouldve felt wronged and heartbroken.

But after living through two lifetimes, not only was I calm, I even let out a long sigh of relief.

This time, I would choose the groom I wanted to marry.

Yosef, if you want to marry me too, then come up here. Today, this wedding belongs to the two of us.

Yosef smiled and held my hand tightly. He said, Alright.

The whole venue instantly erupted.

Judes group of close friends exchanged glances from below the stage, unable to hold back from texting him.

[Bro, I think youve really messed up this time. Your brides about to marry someone else.]

Wasnt it said that Leona was hopelessly obsessed with Jude? That she was head over heels and insisted on marrying him no matter what? How come the groom just changed?

And of all people, she picked that notorious playboy crown prince, Yosef.

Could it be that Jude ditching the wedding made her mad, so she randomly grabbed some guy to get revenge?

As they watched Yosef and me, hand in hand, walking toward the wedding altar, whispers spread like wildfire among the guests.

Yosefs hand trembled slightly as he held mine, his head lowered a bit.

I knew why they were talking.

Yosef had always carried a bad reputationnot only did he frequent all kinds of exclusive clubs, he was constantly involved in scandals with actresses and female celebrities.

His reputation had long been tarnished in the social circles.

Even the most prominent socialites refused to marry him.

There were even rumors that his chaotic private life had led him to contract HIV.

But I knew that wasnt the real him.

Leona, are you acting on impulse?

The man beside me suddenly withdrew his hand.

Yosef lowered his voice and asked me, If youre using me to regain face, Ill help you. But... dont destroy your own happiness for the sake of anger.

I looked at him with a twinge of pain, about to offer some comforting words when suddenly, someone rushed in.

With one powerful kick, the hotel door was flung open.

Leona, stop fooling around! You cant just change the groom like that! Hurry up and come over here!

My dad must have heard the news and rushed over in a hurry.

When the guests saw my dad, they all stood up in respect, some even stepping forward to flatter him.

But his face was filled with anger, his gaze stern as he fixed it on me.

What are you standing there for? Didnt you hear what I said?

Yosef furrowed his brows slightly, even softly urging me.

Go on, dont make your dad uncomfortable.

I stood still, unmoving.

When I was younger, I had always been afraid of this expression on his face. Every time he showed it, I would instinctively become obedient.

He asked me to give my favorite toy to Femma and I would obediently comply.

He told me to give up the room with the best lighting for Femma to live in and I would quietly pack my things and move out.

Even when he told me to marry Jude, I would accept without hesitation and try on the wedding dress.

I even studied various management skills, preparing myself to be a suitable Mrs. Zeller.

But now, I wanted to rebel for once.

Dad, I want to marry Yosef.

I heard my voice rise calmly, surprising even myself.

"You can say whatever you want, but this time, I want to choose my partner for life."

Suddenly, a heavy slap landed on my face, the sound echoing throughout the wedding hall.

The entire room went silent.

"You unfilial daughter! If you dare marry Yosef today, Ill pretend I dont have a daughter!"

I calmly raised my head to look at him and suddenly smiled. "Fine, lets sever our father-daughter relationship."

No one expected it.

The well-behaved Johnson Familys daughter would actually say such reckless words.

My dads face turned pale with anger, his chest rising and falling violently.

"Leona, you would rather sever ties with your father for this good-for-nothing? It seems Ive spoiled you too much, letting you become so reckless!"

Since my mother passed away, my father remarried and they had the precious Femma. It had become quite normal for him to hit me.

His hand raised in anger again, ready to strike my face. But before it could reach me, a strong, knuckled hand grabbed his wrist.

Yosef stood there, his face cold, not a word spoken as he shielded me behind him.

"If you dare hit her again, try it."

He gritted out through clenched teeth and I felt my eyes redden.

No one had ever protected me like this before.

Everyone wondered why I would marry Yosef, the good-for-nothing playboy.

But only I knew.

In my past life, the day I was in labor, it just happened to be Femmas memorial day.

Both my husband and father, too absorbed in their own grief, rushed to the cemetery to be with the ones they cared about most.

No one paid any attention to whether I lived or died. Even the doctors issued a critical condition notice.

I made dozens of phone calls, but each was met with impatient rejections.

Only Yosef went mad, pulling medical resources from the next city and miraculously saving my life, pulling me back from the brink of death.

Later, when Jude made enemies in the business world, they set fire to the Zeller Family villa.

I woke up in the middle of the night, choking on smoke, my leg trapped under a burning cupboard.

I held my two crying children, desperately pleading with Jude to save us. But he ignored me completely, rushing into the study to save Femmas memorial portrait.

It was Yosef who rushed over like a madman again.

He charged into the sea of fire without hesitation, carrying my children out one by one, then came back for me.

Just as the roof beam was about to collapse, I screamed at him, "Yosef, get outnow!"

But it was too late. The fire engulfed him. The last thing he left me with was a reassuring smile, as if telling me not to be afraid.

From that moment on, I had my own first love. too.

He gave his life for me.

It was only after his death that I realized just how deeply he had hidden his love for me.

So this time, I wanted to protect him too and choose only him without hesitation.

My father was so furious that sparks seemed to fly from his eyes. Leona, Im asking you one last time. Are you sure you want to choose this man?

"Yes." I nodded.

My father let out a cold laugh. "Good, good, very bold of you. I just hope you won't regret it later!"

He threw those words at me and stormed off.

Many guests who usually fawned over him also followed and left.

Deyna sneered with her usual passive-aggressive tone. "Leona, this marriage of yours is bound to be cursed. But if you change your mind and still plan to marry Jude, Ill still accept you as my daughter-in-law."

I ignored everyone. I simply held Yosef's hand and walked up the stage step by step.

I told the officiant, The wedding can begin.

Most of the guests who had ties with the Johnson and Zeller families had already left the venue.

Only a few friends remained seated, but I still smiled with relief as Yosef and I completed the final part of the ceremony.

From this moment on, I am your wife. Yosef, through sickness and health, through wealth and hardship, we are one.

Yosef smiled and embraced me. He gazed at me deeply and with utmost sincerity, spoke a single word. Okay.

After the wedding, Yosef had me move into a riverside villa registered under his name.

To get our marriage certificate, I needed to return to the Johnson Family home to retrieve my ID card.

Just as I arrived at the building, a red sports car suddenly sped toward me.

Before I could react, Jude yanked my arm and forcefully shoved me to the ground.

Are you blind? he snapped, glaring at me coldly with a sneer tugging at his lips. Didnt you cut ties with the Johnson Family already? What are you doing back here?

I replied calmly, Im here to get my ID card and register my marriage.

Judes expression froze instantly. He stared at me in disbelief. What did you say? Are the rumors outside are true? Youre really going to marry that good-for-nothing playboy?

Before I could respond, Femma, dressed in a bright red dress, came jogging over from the sports car.

Oh no, Im so sorry, Leona! I didnt see you standing there just now and I almost hit you. Its all my fault. Dad just bought me a new sports car and I got a little too excited to handle it properly. You dont mind, right?

Her tone was filled with smugness and flaunting.

I turned to glance at the red Porsche, then looked down and chuckled softly.

"I don't mind."

After all, all these years, living in the Johnson household felt like I was just an outsider taking shelter.

I had long gotten used to the days where my father and stepmother showered all their affection on Femma.

Back then, when I needed to go for an internship and asked for a basic nanny car to get around, my dad flatly refused.

But as long as Femma asked, he gave one luxury sports car after another without even blinking.

It was then that I fully understood a saying. Once there's a stepmother, even your biological father starts acting like a stepfather.

"I'm just here to grab a few things."

Just as I turned to leave, I hadnt taken more than a few steps when a bucket of cold water came crashing down on me from above.

Jude burst into loud laughter.

Femma covered her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh, but still put on an innocent face.

"Leona, everyones saying you're going to marry that playboy Yosef. He has AIDS, doesnt he? You probably got infected too. Im just disinfecting you so you dont bring anything back into our house."

I caught the taunt in her eyes and stared at her coldly.

But she wasnt done. She took a few steps closer, like she wanted to press her luck.

Honestly, I really dont get what youre thinking, she sneered. Jude chose me. Even if he ran away from the wedding, that doesnt mean you should pick a man at random just for prides sake, right? You have no idea how messy the private life of someone like Yosef is.

Youre really going to sleep with him after marrying him? Just thinking about all the messy things hes done with so many women before. Doesn't that disgust you?

I couldnt help but sneer in return. I maybe worry about your own man instead.

Yosef ruined his own reputation on purpose just to fend off unwanted admirers.

He might have a bad name, but in his whole life, hes never touched another woman.

But Jude was not like that.

In our previous life, it seemed like we were married for sixty years. But ever since I gave birth to our pair of children, we began living separately.

He could never forget Femma, his so-called first love. Every few days, he would bring home young girls who looked like her to spend the night. He even flirted in front of me on purpose.

To me, there was nothing filthier than Jude.

Suddenly, I had a wicked impulse. I lowered my voice and leaned in toward Femma.

Femma, the man beside you is just someone Ive already played with. If you dont believe me, theres a red birthmark on his right thigh. Ive seen it countless times. Youre treating a rotten cucumber Ive already used as a treasure, dont you find it disgusting?

After saying that, I walked away coldly.

Femmas face instantly turned pale. Furious, she stomped her foot and started arguing with Jude.

Jude, did you lie to me? How does she know you have a birthmark on your thigh? Did you already sleep with her and keep it from me?

Judes face darkened and he flusteredly tried to explain.

No, that was from the previous life I know you wont believe me if I say that. Femma, trust me. I swear I never touched her

Watching them argue louder and louder, nearly breaking into a fight, I couldnt help but laugh.

Serves you right for badmouthing Yosef. Its karma!

Luckily, my dad wasnt home. Once I got my ID, I slipped out quickly.

Before leaving, I didnt forget to pick up a bucket of cold water and dump it on Femma.

Seeing her drenched like a drowned rat, I smiled gently.

My good little sister, now I forgive you.

You stop right there! With a darkened face, Jude chased after me.

For the first time, he left Femma behind and ran after me instead.

Leona, are you really sure about this? Dont think you can play hard to get and make me change my mind. Ive already decided, in this lifetime, the only person I want to marry is Femma. No one can replace her.

I gave a faint smile and turned to offer my blessing.

Then I wish you two a happy marriage and a lifetime together. Hurry back to your wife. Stop following me.

Judes face darkened, but he still stared at me.

Leona, I already told you, stop playing games. Femma is pure and kind, not as scheming as you. Im warning you, dont hurt her. Even though we were married for decades in our last life, you should know I never loved you, so I advise you to

Got it. I waved him off, a little impatient. If youre so worried, Ill leave Bostom with Yosef in the future. Youll never see us again.

There was a moment of silence behind me, but I couldnt be bothered to argue with him anymore.

My mind was filled with the image of going to register the marriage with Yosef and just thinking about it made my steps feel lighter.

As soon as I ran out of the Johnson residence, I heard two honks behind me.

The car window quickly rolled down. It really was Yosef who had come to pick me up.

Honey, get in the car.

I smiled and got into the passenger seat. Why are you here? I thought you hadnt finished handling things at the company.

Yosef took a two-month leave from his company just to go on our honeymoon together.

Even though the company was his, he still went through the formal procedures.

Of course were going straight to the City Hall. Im afraid if I wait any longer, someone else might steal my wife away.

He lazily gazed out the window.

I turned to look in the same direction.

Jude was standing at the door with a dark expression, fists clenched tightly, staring coldly at us.

Right in front of him, I deliberately leaned forward and kissed Yosef on the lips. Honey, lets go.

Yosefs face turned red instantly. He nodded with a smile and in his nervousness, he even forgot to release the handbrake when he hit the gas.

Judes figure was soon left far behind.

Sitting in the car, I casually started playing with my phone. Suddenly, a news notification popped up.

Chairman of Johnson Corporation announces severance of father-daughter ties with his eldest daughter Leona, declaring he no longer recognizes her.

I only glanced at it before calmly putting the phone down.

Yosef, I asked, Im no longer the Johnson Familys eldest daughter. Do you still want me? Do you think Im no longer worthy of you?

He paused, then smiled and gently ruffled my hair. Of course not.

He said we could live a different kind of life together.

Even if it meant working odd jobs or wandering the world, he was willing.

And he promised never to let me suffer.

Looking steadily at Yosefs face, a warm and full feeling quietly filled my heart.

He ruined his own reputation just to fend off unwanted attention from other women, some even spread rumors that he had AIDS.

But I knew the truth.

He had never been in a relationship, never touched another woman in his life.

Every single time, it was him who saved me.

I used to think I was just lucky again and again.

But it wasnt until after Yosef died that her mother, crying, told me, Leona, my son has liked you since he was a child. These past years, he chose never to marry because of you. Have you ever thought about this? Where in the world does good luck come from for no reason? If it feels easy, its only because someone was silently bearing the burden behind the scenes.

Yosef, in this life, I will love you properly. I told myself this in my heart.

Married life was simple, yet blissful.

Every time Yosef came home from work, he would bring me my favorite strawberry mini cakes.

He always worried I might get bored staying home all day, so every few days, hed take me on a road trip to nearby cities.

But then, one night two weeks later, after a shower, I lay in bed getting ready to sleep.

It was nearly 11 p.m., yet Yosef still hadnt come home.

Suddenly, I scrolled across a short video

Suspected Griffin family playboy caught cheating, hotel raid underway, police already involved in anti-vice operations.

An uneasy feeling rose in my chest. I clicked on the comments below...

The comments were full of judgment and insults.

As expected, the world of the rich is beyond our understanding. Didnt he just marry the eldest daughter of the Johnson Family? Their wedding was even trending! And now hes already out messing around?

A dog cant stop eating shit. Even if he married a goddess, hed still find mistresses outside more tempting.

One of the usernames looked very familiar.

The nickname was simply Yos and they even tagged me directly under the video.

Look at the man you chose. Bet you dont even have a place to cry now.

I hesitated for a moment, then quickly changed clothes and took a cab to the hotel mentioned in the video.

Everyone was saying that my husband had cheated.

The police had surrounded the area and the scene looked extremely serious.

I rushed through the crowd without hesitation and when I finally made my way inside, I saw Yosef bare-chested in the hotel.

There was still a woman lying in the bed.

Jude was here too.

"How come you're here?"

"Just passing by."

Jude crossed his arms, looking like he was enjoying the show. "Are you regretting not marrying me now? Leona, your taste is really something. Now you've only been married a few days and he's already daring to cheat behind your back. I wonder how long you'll be able to keep that bastard off. Now I'm really curious. What kind of girl can make Mr. Griffin linger at night?"

His gaze, filled with malicious intent, landed on the bulging quilt beside Yosef.

From time to time, the sounds of a girl crying could be heard.

No need to think to know that inside, there was a woman.

My face turned slightly pale.

I didn't respond to him. I stepped forward and grabbed Yosef's arm. "Tell me, what is going on here?"

Yosef held my hand. "Leona, do you trust me?"

Without hesitation, I nodded.

Yosef seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

The next moment, he pulled the blanket away.