The whisper of the wind seemed to amplify the gravity of the moment as sirens grew closer in the distance. Christine lay motionless on the ground, her physical pain now rivaling her emotional agony, both unbearable.
That's when she heard voices that chilled her more than the cold rain.
"This was expected," said Gail, his voice as sharp as a blade, staring at Christine's body without a trace of compassion.
Victoria, her expression calculating, stepped closer, her tone as cold as the night.
"We'll tell the police she was startled by a noise and ran into the street. No one needs to know more than that."
Even in her pain, Christine felt a final surge of outrage. How could they be so cruel? But her strength was fading, and the world around her darkened quickly. As the flashing sirens blurred into streaks of color and sound, a final tear mingled with the rain on her cheek.
In her heart, a silent promise: If given a second chance, she'd seize it with every ounce of strength.
But the return to the past didn't happen as she imagined. No blinding light or whirlwind of emotions. Instead, it was as if she'd simply woken up in an earlier moment of her life, transported back in time. Christine opened her eyes, confusion and despair swirling inside her.
The last thing she remembered was the screech of tires and the brutal impact. Yet here she was, breathing, her heart racing. She blinked repeatedly, trying to orient herself.
She was back at her office desk, two months after receiving a promotion. She stood abruptly and glanced around, seeing her husband, Gail, chatting with a colleague. He'd worked here as an analyst early in their relationship.
Christine's heart clenched—relief and panic collided. How was this possible? She'd died… she was certain. Gail, noticing Christine, waved discreetly, trying not to draw attention. Feeling suffocated, Christine rushed out of the building.
The street buzzed with life: car engines, honks, and hurried footsteps created a deafening noise. She scanned her surroundings frantically until her eyes locked onto the date on a digital billboard: the same day, seven years earlier.
"I've gone back in time…" she murmured, barely believing it.
She nearly got hit by a car again but dodged just in time. It was then that Roderick, her millionaire boss, stepped out of his car. He was tall, around twenty-seven, strikingly handsome with dark hair contrasting his fair skin. He'd always shown her kindness, though Christine never noticed.
Seeing her in the traffic, he sprinted toward her. The chaos of cars and noise made the scene frantic. Before she could be struck, he grabbed her, pulling her firmly onto the sidewalk.
"Are you okay?" he asked, breathing heavily, his eyes filled with concern.
Christine could barely speak, still grappling with being alive again and what to do with this second chance. Roderick noticed her state and, though wary of her abrupt reaction, chose kindness.
"Christine, you seem shaken. Take the rest of the day off." He smiled gently, his eyes genuinely worried.
They walked to the sidewalk, and he hailed her a taxi.
Christine arrived home still processing everything. Her mind was a whirlwind. She brewed tea, hoping the warmth would calm her. Sitting at the kitchen table, hands trembling as she held the cup, she wondered if this was all a dream.
Memories of the future flooded back.
Her betrayal by her husband and sister.
She remembered watching TV in the living room when the news reported that her company, Novatech, had become a million-dollar empire.
Christine frowned, trying to organize her thoughts.
"If I remember what's coming…" she murmured to herself, "it means I've traveled back in time."
She blinked, shaking her head.
"No, this is a dream," she said, almost pleading to herself.
She recalled the heat in her fingertips.
The electricity in the air. The portal with supernatural beings.
She had powers.
Now, in this second chance, she'd have to learn to wield them.
She had a mission.
She needed to understand her powers. To discover who that woman was who told her to use them.
She had truly traveled back in time.
Now, armed with future knowledge and this second chance, she began to cry, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the opportunity.
She stood frozen for a long moment, fighting the storm of emotions threatening to drown her. Tears kept falling, but she knew she couldn't surrender to despair. She had to act. To use this chance to change her fate and shield herself from the betrayals she knew awaited.
She took a deep breath, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. Her first step would be to buy time and pinpoint exactly what needed to change.
She glanced at the calendar again. The meeting with Roderick was scheduled for next week. That would be her starting point.
Determined, she picked up the phone and called the office.
"Hello, this is Christine. I'm feeling better. I'll take the rest of the day off, as Mr. Roderick suggested, but I'll be back tomorrow. Thank you."
She hung up and leaned back, her tea now cold. Her mind raced, replaying every crucial detail of the past.
She needed to prepare for the meeting with Roderick. If she could influence Novatech's expansion plans, perhaps she could avoid the pitfalls ahead.
In the days that followed, Christine immersed herself in company documents, studying every plan and report. She needed to be ready.
At the same time, she began watching Gail and Victoria closely. They had no idea she knew the future—and that gave her an edge.
The click of the lock announced Gail's return. Her heart raced.
He walked in and gave her a casual glance.
"Oh, you're here. What's for dinner?"
Christine smiled, feigning normalcy.
"Ah… I forgot to make dinner."
A chill ran through her as she recalled Gail's aggression. But this time, she was ready to confront him.
"Gail, we need to talk."
He frowned.
"I'm tired. What do you want?"
Christine inhaled deeply, weighing her next words.
"I want a divorce."