1 After luring me abroad, Randall O’Neill held a lavish engagement party with his first love back home. I saw it on a stranger's phone—him, taking her hand, slipping my wedding ring onto her finger. The guests were buzzing with surprise. "So she's the one Mr. O’Neill truly loves!" Randall just smiled, a silent confirmation. Then, he announced he would offer the legendary stallion, Obsidian, as a betrothal gift to his new fiancée. Seeing this, a calm smile touched my lips. My heart, weary and heavy, simply teleported back across the ocean. What Randall didn't know was that I came from a thousand years in the past, here only to repay a debt to his family. And Obsidian, the legendary stallion? He was my companion, my steed. I had given him to Randall as a gift on the day we registered our marriage. Now, watching their fingers intertwine, a profound exhaustion washed over me. A promise that spanned a millennium, shattered in a single moment. It was time for Obsidian and me to go home. ... Randall probably never imagined I could teleport, faster than any airplane he could charter. By the time I returned, his proposal to Isabelle had been a resounding success. Photos of their blissful moment still scrolled across the grand screens of the hotel ballroom. I was sitting in the office of the Keeper of the Veil, the guardian of time travel, watching it all unfold. The Keeper, Silas, was trembling. "My lady," he stammered, "are you sure? Perhaps Mr. O’Neill has a reason for all this… a difficult situation…" I pointed a slender finger at the giant screen outside the window, at the intimate photos of the happy couple. "Are you suggesting I'm blind, Silas?" He shook his head frantically, trying to placate me. "But Mr. O’Neill gave explicit orders to have everything restored to normal before your return! He still cares for you, my lady, he does—" I raised a hand, cutting him off. My voice was sharp as ice. "A mere Keeper," I said, "after a few days as Randall O’Neill’s assistant, have you forgotten your place and your duty?" In truth, I knew exactly what Randall was doing. Isabelle was his childhood sweetheart, a dream from his youth. Now that she was back, they had a silent understanding. This was their chance to give their "missed connection" a perfect, storybook ending. This engagement party was their gift to themselves. He had coaxed me into taking a trip abroad precisely to keep me in the dark while he and Isabelle carried on with their sordid affair. He wanted to give her a love that was bold and public, while I remained his secret, hidden wife. But I saw it. And I would not tolerate impurities in my love. If Randall chose her, then he could have nothing to do with me. Silas, shaking, processed the paperwork and stamped my release. "The full reversal process will take seven days," he informed me. I slammed my palm on the desk, shattering it into splinters. "Seven days is too long. You have three." I turned and left without another word. Behind me, I heard Silas stamping his feet in frustration. "Oh, Mr. O’Neill, what have you done? You foolish, foolish man! It's over now. You can live with your regret." Once outside, I teleported to a high vantage point, a spot with a perfect view of the hotel where they were celebrating. The guests had all departed. Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of the presidential suite, I saw Randall and Isabelle, their gazes tangled, electric. They were wrapped around each other. After several glasses of champagne, Isabelle had gone limp in his arms. I saw a flicker of conflict in Randall’s eyes, but it passed. His hands slid around her slender waist, and he carried her upstairs. Even though I knew it was over, I picked up my phone and called him. "Randall," I said, my voice light, "where are you? Do you miss me?" His voice was thick with guilt, trembling slightly. "Cathy! Of course I'm at home. I miss you so much. I wish I could fly to my beautiful wife's side right this second." A cold smile touched my lips. Oh, really? Then let me grant your wish. "Then come pick me up. I'm at the airport." Randall shot to his feet, glancing at Isabelle, who was now stirring on the bed. His brow furrowed. "Cathy, isn't your flight supposed to land tomorrow night? Why don't you head home first? I have to leave right now, the office just called an emergency meeting." "Alright," I said, and hung up. A chill seeped into my very bones. I had given him a chance. He chose Isabelle. The moment he hung up, Randall frantically ordered his subordinates to take down all the public screens and begin damage control. On the bed, Isabelle let out a soft moan. Randall turned, a fond look on his face as he gently pulled the covers over her. She had been faking it, of course. Seeing her chance, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Without a moment's hesitation, Randall loosened his tie, unbuttoned his shirt, and their bodies became a mess of tangled limbs. Watching them, I couldn't say I wasn't hurt, but a greater sense of release washed over me. After centuries of wandering, my heart longed for my family from a thousand years ago. Now, finally, I could go home. The sight of their carnal embrace disgusted me. I had no interest in watching the rest. I turned and went back to the house Randall and I had shared. As I was packing the few things I had left there, a picture message arrived on my phone. It was from Isabelle. It showed her and Randall, locked in a passionate kiss, her body covered in love bites. Along with the photo came a single, taunting sentence. "Cathy, has he ever been this wild with you? Two boxes of condoms are already empty." A sharp pain lanced through my heart, but I was never one to take an insult lying down. I sent back a photo of my own. "I don't know about Randall, but I've certainly seen the pictures of you getting wild with that muscle-bound trainer in Europe." Message sent. I could just imagine Isabelle, sleepless and frantic all night. It was wonderful. I slept like a baby. 2 The next day, after clearing out my room, I went to the stables to retrieve Obsidian. Obsidian was more than a horse I had brought from the past; he was family. He had once saved Randall's life when he'd nearly been thrown from another horse. Randall had always doted on him, even building him a private, state-of-the-art stable. But I was sorry. I could part with everything else, but not Obsidian. I was taking him back to our time. Our family was waiting. The moment I teleported to the stables, I heard his cry of pain. I rushed inside, and the sight that greeted me made my blood boil with rage. Obsidian was chained, and Isabelle—holding a barbed whip she'd gotten from who-knows-where—was lashing him relentlessly. Her eyes were filled with a vicious cruelty. Every strike was meant to maim. "You ugly beast! You think you're worthy of being my wedding gift? One day, I'll throw you and that bitch of a master out of here!" she shrieked. "That pathetic bitch dared to threaten me with a photo? I've already had all the evidence destroyed. Let's see how she threatens me now!" Obsidian screamed in agony, his glossy black coat split open, blood pouring from the wounds and pooling on the pristine grass in a shocking, crimson puddle. The scene drove me to the brink of madness. I flashed over to Isabelle, grabbed her, and delivered a series of sharp, stinging slaps. She shrieked in terror, her viciousness vanishing the moment she saw my face. She immediately began to beg. "Cathy! What are you doing here?! No, I'm sorry, please, don't hit me!" I sneered and raised the whip, ready to bring it down on her. But it never landed. Randall caught it mid-air. The second Isabelle saw her protector, she burst into theatrical, tear-streaked sobs. "Randall, save me! Cathy's gone crazy! She's trying to kill me with this whip!" Randall, who I hadn't seen in days, didn't even spare me a glance. He rushed to Isabelle's side, comforting her. "Don't be afraid, I'm here now. She won't dare to touch you." Finally, he looked up at me, his voice a block of ice. "Cathy, what is the meaning of this?" I pointed a trembling finger at Obsidian and told him exactly what Isabelle had done. Isabelle panicked, her sobs growing louder. "Randall, darling, I didn't mean to! It was Obsidian, he was being disobedient, he kicked me in the stomach! I just lost my temper and hit him a few times, I didn't realize I'd grabbed the wrong whip… I really didn't mean it…" It was the most ridiculous excuse I had ever heard. But Randall believed her. He lifted Isabelle's shirt to look at her stomach. Sure enough, there was a faint red mark. He turned his cold glare on me. "Cathy, Obsidian is just an animal. So what if Isabelle hit him? It wouldn't matter if she beat him to death. How can you compare a beast to a person? You shouldn't take advantage of my affection for you to attack Isabelle. Apologize to her. Now!" My heart shuddered. Obsidian had saved his life, and now he was calling him a beast. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Apologize? Fine. On one condition: we get a divorce." At the mention of divorce, Randall flew into a rage. "Cathy, have you not caused enough trouble? You want a divorce over something so trivial? Can you stop being so unreasonable?" "Unreasonable? Why don't you check the security cameras? Then we'll see who's being unreasonable!" At the mention of cameras, Isabelle, who had been enjoying the show, went pale. "Randall, darling, I'm fine, really. Please don't fight with Cathy because of me…" She made a show of trying to stand, looking faint. Randall immediately rushed to support her, his glare fixed on me. "Cathy, Isabelle is being the bigger person here. I don't want to argue with you. Go home and think about what you've done." He then helped Isabelle walk away. As they reached a safe distance, she turned and flipped me the middle finger. I turned back to Obsidian, unfastening his chains. I whispered in his ear. "My brave boy, want to get some revenge?" Obsidian understood. He let out a powerful neigh and shot forward like an arrow, closing the distance to Randall and Isabelle in a heartbeat. With a single, powerful kick, he sent them both sprawling, face-first, into the mud. I clutched my stomach, doubled over with laughter. Randall glared at me, his face a mask of fury. Isabelle, however, was more cunning. Her eyes rolled back in her head, and she collapsed in a dramatic faint. Randall panicked. He made a huge scene, rushing her to his family's hospital. I stroked Obsidian's neck as he trotted back to me, sighing. "Well, my boy, I think we might be in a little trouble." 3 When the test results came back from the hospital, an exhausted Randall called me. "Cathy, look what your beast has done. The doctor said Isabelle was kicked in her womb. She'll never be able to have children. This is your fault. Come to the hospital and apologize. If you beg, maybe she'll forgive you for my sake." My hand holding the phone trembled slightly. Obsidian was incredibly intelligent. He would never have truly harmed her. Besides, even I, an outsider, knew that Isabelle had spent years planting her own people throughout Randall’s hospital network. Forging a medical report would be child's play for her. When I arrived at the O’Neill Family Hospital, a group of doctors glared at me with contempt. "How can another woman be so vicious? Forcing her animal to attack like that." "Please. Everyone knows she's just jealous that Ms. Isabelle is Mr. O’Neill's first love." I ignored them, my gaze fixed on Randall, who was silently feeding Isabelle a spoonful of medicine. He hadn't told anyone about our secret marriage, and it was clear he had no intention of clarifying things now. I remembered my father’s words about the life debt. I could tolerate being nameless, but Obsidian was my line in the sand. An apology was out of the question. But I was willing to offer compensation. "Randall," I said, my voice steady, "this entire incident began because Isabelle attacked Obsidian first. She was the one in the wrong. However, I am willing to give her this hospital as compensation—" Before I could finish, Isabelle's face went white. She pouted, tears welling in her eyes. "Randall, darling, she's cursing me! Who wants a hospital as compensation? I just want that beast dead! Or I want its stomach cut open!" Isabelle screamed hysterically, and Randall wrapped his arms around her, soothing her. "Okay, okay, Isabelle, don't get excited. I promise you, darling, whatever you want…" A cold laugh escaped my lips. "Randall, if you dare touch a single hair on Obsidian's head, I will make you and Isabelle pay a price you cannot imagine." Randall stood up, his fingers digging into my arm as he leaned in, his voice a venomous hiss in my ear. "Cathy, what do you have to threaten me with now? Have you forgotten that after we married, you signed all of your shares over to me? You're not the Vice President of O’Neill Industries anymore!" He smirked. "Be a good girl. Be the wife behind the man. Don't talk back to your husband." His words were like a snake's poison. I looked up at his triumphant face, and my heart turned to ice. Was this truly the descendant of the man who saved my grandfather? How could he be so selfish, so utterly repulsive? Seeing the dawning realization on my face, Randall smiled. Isabelle, too, looked satisfied. The medical staff in the room snickered. But I simply pulled out my phone. "Hello, Linda," I said into the phone. "Issue a corporate directive. Effective immediately, Ms. Isabelle is blacklisted from all O’Neill Industries subsidiaries and affiliates. Anyone who dares to employ her or work with her is to be terminated, no exceptions." Randall stared at me in disbelief. He lunged forward, snatching the phone from my hand and smashing it on the ground. "Cathy, are you insane? It's just a horse! Do you have to be so malicious?" He grabbed my wrist, his voice a growl through clenched teeth. I grinned. "Randall, have you forgotten? Obsidian saved your life. Without him, you would have broken your neck and died during that riding lesson years ago. You wouldn't even be here to be such an ungrateful bastard." Randall fell silent. He let go of my hand, looking helplessly at Isabelle on the bed. Finally, he turned back to me. "Cathy, this is the last time. If Obsidian dares to hurt anyone again, I will not be so lenient." His tone shifted, becoming cold and official. "However, I will be sending out a memo. From this day forward, you no longer have any say or decision-making power in the company. To compensate Isabelle, I will be appointing her to your former position as Vice President, and she will join the core management team." At this, Isabelle's eyes lit up with joy. The doctors and nurses in the room immediately began congratulating her. I just laughed, looking at him as if he were the biggest fool in the world. Did Randall really think I had made a real phone call? They didn't realize it, but in that moment, I had completely and cleanly severed myself from O’Neill Industries. 4 Seeing that I had no objection to his decision, Randall let out a sigh of relief. He dismissed the medical staff, then turned back to whisper a few sweet nothings to Isabelle, which made her blush deeply. He pulled me out to the parking garage, his expression and tone instantly softening. He looked at me with deep affection as he explained. "My darling wife, there were so many people there. You have to help me keep up appearances, right?" He continued, "And about Isabelle… yes, she's my first love, that's true. But I also feel sorry for her. Both of her parents are gone. In this whole world, I'm the only one she can rely on. Do you understand?" I smirked, a bitter irony twisting my lips. Randall seemed to have forgotten that in this world, I, too, was all alone. But it didn't matter. After tomorrow, Cathy would cease to exist. I couldn't care less what kind of sordid life he wanted to live with Isabelle. As for our marriage certificate, the Keeper would handle its annulment. After his little speech, Randall made an excuse about having work to do and left. I knew he was going back to Isabelle. Just to be safe, I took Obsidian to the Keeper's sanctuary. With that done, I returned home. The moment I opened the door, I saw Isabelle lounging on the sofa, eating fruit, while Randall massaged her calves. Seeing me, Randall jumped up and began to explain. "Isabelle has nowhere else to go…" I waved a hand, a generous smile on my face. "It's fine. Do you want me to give you the master bedroom?" Randall frowned, but Isabelle, surprisingly, was incredibly polite to me. "Cathy, I'm so sorry to impose. Don't worry, as soon as I find a place, I'll move out. I promise I won't disturb you and Randall." Her sincere expression sent a shiver down my spine. After Randall went upstairs to prepare a room for her, Isabelle sat across from me and began to prepare tea. "Heh," she began with a little laugh. "Randall told me he hasn't touched you yet. He says you're an old-fashioned prude, insisting on a grand wedding before you'll sleep with him. What century are you living in? A woman like you will never be able to hold onto a man." I watched her skillful, practiced movements as she prepared the tea, saying nothing. She placed one cup in front of me, and one in front of herself. I almost laughed out loud. Such a clumsy, pathetic attempt at a setup. Just as we heard Randall's footsteps coming down the stairs, Isabelle suddenly raised her voice, a bright smile on her face. "Wow, Cathy, the tea you made smells amazing!" With that, she drank her cup in one gulp. Randall reached the bottom of the stairs just in time to see it. He was about to praise my tea-making skills when Isabelle suddenly coughed, spraying a mouthful of blood onto the floor. Randall was horrified. He rushed over to her, frantic. Isabelle clutched his shirt, her voice weak. "Randall, darling… I tried so hard to please Cathy, but it seems she still can't accept me…" At that moment, any explanation I could offer would have been pointless. I expected Randall to fly into a rage, to lecture me and protect Isabelle. Instead, he calmly called for an ambulance to take Isabelle to the hospital. Then he walked me back to my room and kissed my forehead. "My love, so much has happened these past few days. You must be exhausted. I haven't made you my special soup in so long. Tonight, I'll make some for you, to help you recover." He turned and went downstairs. I watched his retreating back, an infinite coldness spreading through my heart. If I didn't know what he was planning now, I was no better than a fool. After he coaxed me into drinking the sweet soup, a look of relief flashed across Randall's face. I pretended my consciousness was fading. His soft voice whispered in my ear. "Sleep, Cathy. Sleep now. Don't blame me…" Next, I was carried into a black van. Randall, his face a mask of sorrow, kissed my forehead one last time, finally revealing his true intentions. "Cathy, I know what you're capable of. For Isabelle's safety, I have to do this. Just for a little while. Once you've cooled down, once you've learned to coexist peacefully with Isabelle, I'll let you come back…"
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