While I had been with Lucian Harrison for five years, he married my stepsister, Gwen Stevens.

He said, "Nate Stevens, there's no future for us. Love between two men isn't widely accepted. By marrying Gwen, we'll always be family."

Later, we were in a car accident. He rushed towards Gwen like a maniac, carefully lifted her into the ambulance, and didn't even glance at me the entire time.

As for me, I suffered a brain hemorrhage and died on the spot.

When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn.

At that moment, Lucian had me pressed against the wall of the playground, his gaze deep, saying, "Nate Stevens, let's be together. Let's face all the rumors of the world together. I love..."

"Sorry, Lucian, I have someone I like, and it's not you," I said.

1

Lucian and I were high school classmates. I was the model student in everyone's eyes, excelling in both academics and character, while he was the troubled youth my mom always warned me to stay away from.

I was good at studying, liked to read quietly, minded my own business, and didn't talk much. Before my parents divorced, our family was relatively happy. That was until my father was seduced by another woman, and Gwen's mother brought her into our home, and my mom was kicked out.

Lucian was outspoken and bold. He couldn't stand things he didn't like, and he wasn't afraid to confront people or fight when he felt it was necessary. He was always at the bottom of the class academically, but he never worried about his future because he came from a wealthy family. He was the favorite child, spoiled and pampered all his life.

We originally had no interaction until Lucian's father personally asked our homeroom teacher to find a quiet and diligent student for him, hoping it might improve his studies.

In our class, I was the quietest and most determined student.

Thus, I became Lucian's deskmate.

Lucian said to me confidently, "Hey, we're deskmates, let's look out for each other. I won't study, but I won't disturb you either. We'll keep to our own business and not bother each other."

I nodded in agreement.

During that time, my parents were fighting the most about their divorce. My mom was constantly in tears, and her health was deteriorating from the stress. I was powerless. I wanted to study hard, get into a good university, and take her away from this city so she could be happy every day.

Later... I did get into a good university, but because of Lucian, my mom tried everything to force me to break up with him. I refused, and she called me a freak and cut ties with me. By the time I died, I hadn't seen her again.

I didn't know when Lucian started paying attention to me. Maybe it was because he saw me as pitiful, going to class on an empty stomach. He started helping me, sometimes bringing me a can of milk or a breakfast sandwich

He would say, "Our new maid made too much breakfast. Lucky for you."

Teenage boys were full of pride. I would rather skip breakfast than accept Lucian's charity. At that time, I saw it as him pitying me.

Lucian was so frustrated and had no choice but to propose that I tutor him for a fee. I repeatedly refused, but Lucian was persistent, and eventually, I had no choice but to agree.

After that, my breakfast was always warm.

Perhaps it was around that time that I developed a kind of vague, inexplicable affection for him. Even at the time of my death, I never thought love between two men was shameful.

Love was a powerful thing. It gave someone the courage to face anything, as long as the person was worth it.

But Lucian wasn't worth it.

The memories flashed before my eyes... I remembered Lucian's youthful enthusiasm, but also his coldness when he pushed me away, and his cowardice when he chose to retreat.

I was reborn.

It just so happened that the moment he confessed to me for the first time coincided with the party after our high school graduation party.

Lucian pulled me to the school playground. The summer night was filled with stars, and the sound of insects chirping filled the air. Everything felt so real.

"Nate, I'm talking to you." Lucian's handsome lips were pressed into a line, his emotions tense, saying, "Nate, let's be together. Let's face all the rumors of the world together. I love..."

"Sorry, Lucian, I have someone I like, and it's not you,"

I interrupted Lucian. Driven by youthful impulsiveness, he pulled me into the whirlwind of emotions, and in the end, I suffocated by it, drowning in the chaos alone.

And he, he withdrew decisively and cleanly.

In this life, I wouldn't be swayed by uncertain love. I wanted to live well and make up for what I once lacked.

"What, what did you say?" Lucian's eyes were full of disbelief, saying, "I don't believe it, I don't..."

2

I sneered and said, "Lucian, why would I like a man?"

Lucian's face turned pale as if he hadn't expected I would reject him. His lips trembled, saying, "We clearly... you were so good to me. You prepared water for me, medicine for my injuries, and explained problems to me. You..."

"You paid for it. I was just your part-time tutor, Lucian. I'm also a guy. Love between two men isn't widely accepted. I'll pretend today never happened. Take care of yourself," after saying that, I pushed Lucian away and left with large strides.

The night wind howled past my ears, echoing Lucian's once cold and indifferent words. He said, "Nate, what can I do? My parents threatened to kill themselves; Nate, I can't bear to see you love someone else; Nate, you can only love me in this life, but I must carry on the family line..."

A bitter laugh escaped me.

Tears had unknowingly filled my cheeks, and I found myself standing in front of my mom's rented apartment.

Julia Stevens opened the door and was taken aback when she saw me, asking, "Nate, come in quickly."

"Mom, I'm sorry." I hugged her tightly and said.

In my previous life, after I died, my soul remained trapped in this world, and I saw my mother kneeling regretfully at my grave, saying she was wrong. She wished only for my happiness, regardless of other people's judgment. She was my strongest support, yet she had never truly supported me. She took her own life right in front of my grave.

"Silly boy, it's not your fault at all. It was your father's mistake," Julia comforted me gently for a long time.

From that day, I stayed with my mom. In my past life, I was accepted into a prestigious school in Celestia, but I chose to repeat a year to stay with Lucian. Despite that year, Lucian's grades remained mediocre, and eventually, his family sent him abroad. My family couldn't afford to send me overseas. That year, our entanglement was endless, and my grades plummeted.

Not to mention the prestigious universities from back then, I didn't even meet the cutoff for a good university, barely managing to get into a second-tier one. My career was equally unremarkable, while Lucian went abroad to study and came back with his path in life already paved for him.

When he appeared before me, he was already the CEO of his company.

What a bitter and helpless reality.

Fortunately, I had a chance to start over. I didn't regret my past love, but I regretted that love made me abandon my dreams, leaving me as someone who could only cling to Lucian for survival.

After receiving my acceptance letter, I started working to save for tuition. I planned to take my mother to Celestia, rent her a place near the school, and find her a job that wasn't too tiring.

Once in college, I could use my memories from my past life to start a business and support my mother.

One day, after finishing work, it was already past midnight. I dragged my exhausted body home.

I enjoyed walking home at night, relishing the real sensation of the night breeze against my face.

A black SUV pulled up in front of me.

I looked up and my heart skipped a beat. Lucian stepped out of the car and grabbed my wrist.

Lucian held on tightly, and even though we were evenly matched in strength, I couldn't break free from his grip at that moment.

"Lucian, let go!" I commanded coldly.

"You came back, didn't you? Nate, you came back too, didn't you?" Lucian's voice trembled as he asked.

I felt like I had been struck by lightning. Lucian had been given a second chance at life too!

Lucian suddenly pulled me into a hug as I stood there in a daze. He said, "Nate, I've missed you so much, I've missed you so much!" he cupped my face and kissed me, the familiar sensation and warmth returning to me.

3

I suddenly awoke and slapped him across the face.

Lucian staggered back a few steps from the slap, saying, "Nate..."

I looked at him coldly and said, "Since you know I've been given a second chance at life, what right do you have to come looking for me? Have you forgotten how I died?"

Lucian clutched his head in agony, saying, "Nate, no, I wasn't..."

"You cared about Gwen carrying your child. What am I? Just like a dog you kept, who would crawl to you at a beck and call, groveling without self-respect." I spoke each word deliberately, tearing my pride apart and trampling it underfoot.

"Nate." Lucian knelt on the ground, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he could only call my name softly after a long pause.

In the past, his deep eyes would have captivated me, but now, they only made me feel disgusted.

I stepped past him, and as Lucian cautiously reached out to grab my sleeve, but I sidestepped and quickened my pace, then broke into a jog, and finally a full sprint. Lucian! I never wanted to see you again in this lifetime!

In the cramped rental room, I thought I would be sleepless, but I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

The next morning, my mom prepared breakfast as usual. We sat down at the dining table when an unexpected guest arrived.

My father, along with Gwen and her mother, knocked on our door.

"What are you here for?" I asked coldly.

"Hey, Nate, Dad heard you've been accepted into college and he came to pick you up. We have prepared a graduation banquet for you," Gwen said with an innocent and sweet smile.

In my previous life, she had also whispered to me with feigned purity, "Nate, you see, Lucian and I are true love. You're just a worthless toy for him."

"No need." I shut the door firmly before my dad could speak.

"Nate, is this how you talk to your father? What are you so arrogant about? Do you believe I won't give you a penny for college?" my dad shouted from outside.

My mom was so upset she was on the verge of tears. She bit her lip, holding back the pain, saying, "Nate, don't let your emotions get the best of you." Saying this, she moved to open the door again.

I grabbed her arm and spoke coldly to the door, "Fine, you don't have to pay for my tuition or living expenses. Every month, I'll post on social media showing how I earn my tuition from working. As long as you're not afraid of being gossiped about by your relatives and friends, feel free not to give."

In my previous life, every time I asked for living expenses, I was humiliated by my dad and Gwen's mom, who said it was disgraceful for a grown man to ask them for money. They'd mock me that I couldn't even get a little pocket money after sleeping with Lucian for so long, and so on.

They humiliated me even more after Gwen married Lucian.

"You, you dare!" My dad said angrily.

"What wouldn't I dare? I recorded everything you just said. I'll post it directly on social media. I have all our relatives on Whatsapp and Facebook," I replied bluntly.

"Nate!" My dad was furious, and soon after, I received a transfer of a hundred thousand dollars.

Then I saw my dad's social media post, "Providing my son with four years' worth of living expenses and tuition."

I chuckled. How amusing, a few words for a hundred thousand dollars. Why not took it? With this money, my mom and I could improve our lives. Besides, it was what he owed us.

I accepted the money promptly and replied on social media, "Thanks to the dad who found a mistress and kicked us out of the house."

My dad cursed for a while, but we didn't respond, so they left in a huff.

4

I stood by the window watching them leave and said, "Mom, let's pack up and leave tonight."

"So soon?" My mom was taken aback, then sighed, saying, "We've offended the Stevens family too much. It's indeed risky to stay here. I'll start packing."

I asked my mom to stay home and pack, reminding her not to open the door to anyone. I went to my workplace and explained my situation to my boss, who was kind and didn't make things difficult for me. He settled my wages and even gave me an extra five hundred as a congratulations for getting into a good university.

After thanking him, I left and bought some food and drinks to come back.

That evening, my mom and I went to Celestia. I settled her in a rental near the school, bought a computer, and set up an internet connection. Using my memories from my previous life and the money my dad gave me as capital, I started an e-commerce business, with my mom helping with shipping and handling customer service.

Four years passed in the blink of an eye.

By the time I graduated from college, I had bought a house and a car in Celestia, becoming a successful senior in the eyes of juniors, and I wasn't short of admirers.

Every time my mom saw girls approaching me, her eyes would light up. I knew she wanted me to get married and have kids.

But the emotional entanglement with Lucian in my previous life was too deep. Even though I had let him go, I still couldn't accept any girl's feelings. I feared wasting someone's life.

Over time, rumors about me started to spread, suggesting I liked men, even though I had never been involved with any.

Eventually, the rumors reached my mom.

"Mom, I'm just busy, I..." I hurried to explain.

"Nate, I know. Whoever you choose to be with is your right. You can like girls or boys; it doesn't mean you're bad. You can choose to live with someone who makes you happy," my mom said, tears streaming down her face as she spoke.

I was shocked, "Mom!"

"Nate, I know you got a second chance at life too. After you died in my previous life, I regretted it so much and wanted to kill myself. If I hadn't held you back, you wouldn't have suffered so much. Lucian wasn't the right person, but you'll meet the right one. I'm your mom; I should support and love you unconditionally. In this life, I just want to keep you safe," she sobbed.

I stepped forward and hugged her tightly. "Mom, we'll be okay."

With no worries from my mom, I no longer needed to compromise. I worked hard and spent time with her whenever I could, and before I knew it, another six months had passed.