I'll Leave if You Don't Want Me

My mother is gravely ill and needs a million dollars for surgery. I run all over the city, desperately trying to borrow the money.

Just when I'm at my breaking point, my childhood friend shows up, holding a check for one million dollars.

His condition? He wants to marry me.

Everyone's waiting for me to say yes, but I calmly refuse.

Because in my last life, even after I married him, my mother still died. Her surgery failed.

Later, I accidentally overhear a conversation between him and a doctor.

"Christopher, you sabotaged the surgery just to transplant Alice's mom's kidney into Jennifer? Was it worth it? If Alice finds out, you’re done."

"I just want Jennifer to live. And honestly, marrying someone like Alice? My life is already over."

That's when I realize our entire marriage was nothing but a carefully woven lie. He did it all for the woman he truly loved.

"Don't worry, Alice. As long as I'm here, Ms. Morgan will get better soon. I'll take care of both of you."

I looked up and met Christopher Hudson's eyes, which seemed filled with concern.

That was the gaze that fooled me so perfectly for five whole years in my past life and cost my mom, Bethany Morgan, her life.

Around us, the other patients and their families started cheering. "Say yes! Say yes!"

Christopher and I had grown up together. We shared an unspoken affection that lasted over a decade.

If he hadn't fallen for Jennifer Crane, a college girl he was sponsoring, we might have been married by now.

When he proposed to me in my past life, I was deeply moved. At the time, I thought I still mattered to him.

After we got married, however, I realized I had just been a pawn in his grand plan. He stayed celibate for Jennifer the entire time.

I tried everything to please him and did my best to hold that marriage together. I never expected the whole thing to be a lie from the start.

In fact, he had Mom killed just to give Jennifer a kidney. The emotional blow was too much for me. I ended up in a car crash and died just like that.

However, fate gave me another chance and sent me back to the very beginning of it all.

This time, all I wanted was to save Mom and stay far away from those two "soulmates".

Presently, I reached out a hand.

Christopher thought I was taking the check from his hand. His lips curled in triumph.

Against his expectations, I pushed it back to him the very next second. "No. Marriage shouldn't be rushed. Two people who don't love each other won't find happiness."

His smile froze. "Alice, what do you mean? I'm serious. After all these years, don't you know how I feel about you?"

"I don't need this. Take your money back. I'll figure things out on my own."

Christopher sighed and shook his head, looking heartbroken.

"Alice, why are you being so stubborn? There's nothing between me and Jennifer."

I lowered my gaze, hiding the sarcasm that hid beneath.

If there was truly nothing between them, why was he willing to murder for her? Why did he marry someone he didn't even love?

I asked coldly, "Can you stop seeing her from now on, then?"

Christopher hesitated for a moment. Just as he was about to answer, a nurse burst into the room in a panic.

"Dr. Hudson, the VIP patient is demanding to see you."

Christopher instinctively took a step toward the door, although he tried to appear calm.

"There's a patient asking for me. I'll check on them first. Think about what I said. Ms. Morgan's condition can't wait."

He rushed out without waiting for my reply.

He always cared about his image. His panicked reaction just now could only have been because of Jennifer.

In my past life, I was so worried about Mom that I never realized Jennifer was being treated in the same hospital.

I followed him quietly and stopped at the door of a VIP ward, which happened to be slightly ajar. I could see Jennifer lying on the bed inside, face pale as a sheet.

"Chris, stop worrying about me. I'm dying from kidney failure. Just let me go."

He held her carefully, his voice soft and gentle.

"Don't say that, Jennifer. I've already found a donor. Just hang on for two more days. For you, I'm willing to marry a woman I don't love and spend the rest of my life with her."

Jennifer reached up and touched his face, her eyes brimming with tears.

"No, Chris. Don't sacrifice yourself like this for me. I want you to be happy. It doesn't matter even if I die."