Chapter 1
A Farewell After Being Reborn
âSince youâre in such a hurry to die, why donât you just stab yourself and end it? Why go to the trouble
of jumping off a building and causing a scene?â A manâs voice rang out. It was filled with contempt.
âI wanted to stabââ Suddenly, Sage Joyner found that something was wrong with what Ian Holcomb
had said. When had she jumped off a building?
âYouâre finally awake, Mrs. Holcomb.â The housekeeper, Wanda May, came over with a glass of water
and some pills. âDoes your head hurt? The doctor said you have minor symptoms of a concussion and
prescribed some medication for you. Do you want to take it now?â
Sage didnât answer. She found that she was lying on a bed in a spacious bedroom. From the
furnishings, it seemed to be the master bedroom at the Holcomb residence.
She hadnât seen the inside of this place since being sent to a mental institution two years ago. Could
Ian have suddenly brought her home?
No, something was wrong.
Sage was certain sheâd stabbed herself in the heart. Even if sheâd made it out alive, there was no way
she hadnât undergone surgery.
She looked down at herself. There werenât any injuries on her chest! Instead, her head and wrist had
been wrapped in gauze.
Ian frowned at her, taking in her expression as it morphed from suffering to shock. His patience ran out.
âFind yourself a taller place next time if you still wanna jump off buildings. Throwing yourself off the
second floor isnât gonna kill you!â
With that, he strode out of the room.
Sage couldnât be bothered about him. She continued to check the rest of her body. After spending two
years at the mental institution, sheâd become gaunt and haggard. But now, her skin was flawless,
smooth, and supple.
Her arms and body were also free from the wounds and bruises the carers and patients at the mental
institution had inflicted on her.
âMrs. Holcomb, Mr. Holcomb was only saying that because he was angry.â Wanda thought she was
saddened by Ianâs words and tried to console her. âCouples donât bear grudges against each other. As
long as you talk to him properly, Mr. Holcombââ
âWhat day is it today, Wanda?â Sage interrupted urgently. She was still reeling from what had
happened.
Wanda gave her a confused look. âItâs Ms. Shekdotterâs birthday. You heard about Mr. Holcomb
celebrating her birthday for her, so you called him to come home â¦â
Sage didnât have time to explain despite knowing Wanda had misunderstood her. She quickly glanced
around and grabbed her phone from the bedside table. The date was three years ago!
Suddenly, she recalled something. She shot out of bed and ran to the conservatory. As expected, it
was a mess. Thereâd been all sorts of expensive flowers inside, but now, all that was left of them were
bald stems.
Three years ago, Sage had been enraged upon hearing that Ian wanted to celebrate Ivy Shekdotterâs
birthday with her. And when sheâd heard about him buying flowers for Ivy, sheâd trashed the
conservatory in a fit of rage.
The shards of ceramic had cut her on the wrist. Sheâd ignored the pain and jumped from the second-
floor balcony. Though the bushes beneath had cushioned her fall and prevented her from breaking any
limbs, sheâd still knocked her head against the bricks around the bushes and had fainted on the spot.
So ⦠sheâd gone back three years in time?
âWhy are you in the conservatory again, Mrs. Holcomb? There are ceramic shards everywhere; please,
donât do anything rash again!â
Wanda was afraid of Sage kicking up a fuss again and followed her, wanting to talk some sense into
her. âMr. Holcomb cares about you. Thatâs why he returned after hearing that you were injured ⦠Mr.
Holcomb!â
Sage looked up when Wandaâs tone turned nervous. Ian wasnât the only one walking toward them. Ivy,
dressed demurely, was with him. They stood shoulder to shoulder before her, looking like a match
made in heaven.