Rebirth: She changed her faith and Loved her husband and Son dearly

Sophia gasped as her eyes flew open, her breath coming in ragged gulps. Her chest burned with the phantom pain of betrayal, her mind echoing with the mocking laughter of Lucas and Jessica. The memory of her death—Jessica's smug smile, Lucas's cold eyes, and the knife plunging into her chest—was vivid, seared into her consciousness.

But this…this wasn't death.

She blinked rapidly, her heart hammering as she scanned her surroundings. The harsh sunlight filtered through lace curtains, casting warm, familiar patterns on the walls. The luxurious bed, the expensive furniture, the faint scent of lavender in the air—it was her bedroom. The one she had shared with Ethan before she tore her family apart.

Confusion and disbelief collided within her. How could this be? She remembered her last moments so vividly—Lucas's sneering words ringing in her ears. "You were nothing but a pawn, Sophia. All we wanted was your money." Then darkness. And now...this?

She scrambled out of bed, her legs unsteady beneath her. Her eyes fell on the clock on the nightstand, its ticking unnervingly loud in the stillness of the room. 3:15 p.m. The date beneath it flashed: March 15, two years ago.

Her breath hitched as realization dawned.

"No," she whispered, her voice trembling. Her legs carried her to the desk in the corner, where a small calendar sat. Her fingers flipped through the pages frantically until she found the date. It matched the clock. March 15. The day she had walked out of her husband's life, leaving Ethan and Daniel behind for Lucas and Jessica's lies.

Tears pricked her eyes. How was this possible? Had she been given a second chance? Or was this some cruel trick by fate?

Sophia stumbled to the mirror, gripping its edges as she stared at her reflection. Her skin was flawless, untouched by the stress and bitterness that had aged her over the last two years. Her eyes, once dulled by guilt and regret, were clear. She looked like herself again—before the betrayal, before the tragedy.

Her mind raced. If this was real, then Ethan was at the Civil Affairs Bureau right now, waiting for her to finalize their divorce. Her heart clenched. In her previous life, she had rushed to sign the papers, eager to leave her husband and son behind for a man who had only used her. She had seen Ethan's pain that day, the heartbreak in his eyes as he quietly let her go. She hadn't cared then.

But now she knew better.

Sophia straightened, determination surging through her. This time, she would make things right. She wouldn't let history repeat itself. She wouldn't let her selfishness destroy her family again.

She quickly changed into a simple dress, forgoing her usual meticulous routine. There was no time to waste. Her hands trembled as she brushed her hair back into a ponytail, her mind racing with the steps she needed to take.

As she rushed downstairs, the house felt eerily quiet. She paused for a moment, her eyes landing on the family portrait hanging above the fireplace. Ethan stood tall and composed, his arm around her shoulders, a rare smile on his face. Beside him, little Daniel beamed, his tiny hand clutching hers.

Guilt clawed at her chest. How had she been so blind? She had traded this—her family, her happiness—for lies.

Sophia tore her gaze away and grabbed her car keys. She had to reach the Civil Affairs Bureau before it was too late.

The drive felt agonizingly long, every red light and slow-moving vehicle testing her patience. Her thoughts swirled, a chaotic mix of fear, hope, and desperation. She had no idea how Ethan would react to her sudden change of heart. Would he believe her? Or had she already pushed him too far?

Finally, she arrived. The sleek, modern building loomed ahead, its glass facade reflecting the bright morning sun. Sophia parked hastily and hurried inside, her heels clicking against the polished floors.

Her eyes scanned the waiting area, and there he was—Ethan.

He sat in one of the chairs, his posture rigid, his expression unreadable. His tailored suit fit him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and lean frame. He looked every bit the successful businessman, but Sophia could see the tension in his jaw, the flicker of pain in his blue eyes.

For a moment, she hesitated. What if he rejected her? What if her chance to make amends was already gone?

But then she remembered the way he had held her hand on their wedding day, the way he had kissed her forehead and promised to love her forever. He had meant it. She knew that now.

Summoning her courage, Sophia stepped forward.

Ethan glanced up as she approached, his brows furrowing in confusion. "You're late," he said, his tone neutral.

Sophia's heart ached at the coldness in his voice, but she couldn't blame him. She had brought this upon herself.

She took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around the papers in her hand. "Ethan," she began, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "I can't go through with this."

His eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across his face. "What are you talking about?"

Sophia set the papers down on the table between them. "I made a mistake," she said, her voice trembling. "I didn't see it before, but I see it now. I don't want this divorce. I don't want to lose you."

For a moment, silence hung between them, heavy and suffocating. Then Ethan leaned back in his chair, his eyes searching hers. "Is this some kind of game?" he asked, his tone sharp.

Sophia shook her head. "No games," she said softly. "Just the truth."

She saw the doubt in his eyes, the walls he had built to protect himself from the pain she had caused. But she also saw something else—a glimmer of hope, buried deep but still there.

"I'll prove it to you," she promised. "Whatever it takes, I'll prove that I mean it."

Ethan didn't respond immediately, his gaze flicking to the papers on the table. After a long moment, he stood, slipping the papers into his briefcase. "You've got a lot to prove, Sophia," he said, his voice cool but not unkind.

Sophia nodded, her heart pounding. "I know."

As he turned and walked away, she felt a surge of determination. This was only the beginning. She had a long road ahead of her, but she would walk it, no matter how difficult, to earn back Ethan's trust and rebuild their family.

This time, she would not fail.