My Husband's Second Life Started With My Best Friend

My name is Greta Ellsworth.

In my past life, my best friend, Poppy McKellen, and I both married into the Lockwood family. They are a prestigious household with a long-standing legacy in alternative medicine.

Poppy marries the eldest son, Bruce Lockwood, while I marry the younger son, Owen Lockwood.

Poppy gives birth to three children with Bruce. They each grow up to be prodigies in medicine.

Meanwhile, I have only one daughter with Owen—Wendy Lockwood. Sadly, Wendy struggles with even the most basic math and isn't very bright.

Owen's pride takes over, and he is left feeling utterly embarrassed.

Years later, I take Wendy to a medical symposium. When she shyly whispers, "Dad," the crowd erupts in laughter.

Enraged and humiliated, Owen stabs Wendy to death. Before I can react, he turns my way and strikes me down as well.

When I open my eyes again, I realize that both Owen and I have been reborn.

I take in the scene of our families' matchmaking event once more. This time, Owen reaches for Poppy's hand and says, "I like you. Will you marry me?"

The Lockwood family was a renowned name in alternative medicine.

One day, they decided to host a lavish banquet, inviting distinguished figures from the medical world as well as the elite of Jewel Creek. The event also served as a public matchmaking event.

My family, the Ellsworths, had been practicing medicine for three generations. Unfortunately, our private hospital had recently fallen into trouble. As such, I came to the banquet hoping to seek the Lockwood family's assistance.

As the memories of my troubled marriage from my past life returned, a wave of bitterness settled in my heart.

The two sons of the Lockwood family stood at the very front, surrounded by an intrigued crowd. Their presence was commanding, radiating both confidence and charm.

Nearby, two socialites whispered among themselves.

"Owen has such a calm and gentle air about him. He really seems like a total sweetheart."

"Bruce has the looks, but he definitely comes off as more distant."

"It's not just that he's distant. Bruce is downright cold. I've heard he's incredibly skilled in medicine, but if he doesn't like someone, he won't even treat them.

"Owen, though, is the complete opposite. He's so warm and kind to every patient. If I were looking for a husband, I'd choose someone as kind-hearted as him!"

"But I heard that Owen is an illegitimate child..."

"Who cares about that at this point? He's already been officially accepted by the family, hasn't he?"

Beside me, my best friend, Poppy McKellen, couldn't hide her excitement. She gripped my hand tightly, her gaze locked on Owen Lockwood.

When their eyes briefly met, she quickly looked away, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Meanwhile, a cold, mocking smile tugged at my lips.

In my past life, I, too, had fallen for Owen's charming facade.

My grandfather, father, and older brother were all doctors, and I had followed their path.

Thanks to my skills, I earned the nickname "Magic Healer" in Jewel Creek.

It was my reputation and appearance that made Owen choose me as his fiancee.

Around that time, I also discovered that Poppy had feelings for him.

But that same night, she drank too much and ended up in Bruce Lockwood's bed.

A month later, she discovered she was pregnant. With her fate sealed, she had no choice but to marry Bruce instead.

After I tied the knot with Owen, life was blissful for a while. He was everything everyone said he would be—caring, gentle, and thoughtful.

At the time, I couldn't have been happier to have found such a wonderful husband. Little did I know that he would eventually become the source of my pain in the second half of my life.

Not long after Poppy's marriage, she gave birth to three healthy sons.

My father-in-law, George Lockwood, couldn't stop smiling with pride, calling Poppy the ideal daughter-in-law. He even gave her a million dollars as a gift.

As for me, I couldn't conceive at all.

Gradually, Owen began to change.

He grew more and more impatient with me, his temper flaring over the most minor things. He became particularly sensitive whenever our lack of children was mentioned.

He blamed me for the problem and forced me to take one supplement after another. On top of that, he insisted that I endure a series of grueling acupuncture sessions.

To ensure I focused solely on conceiving, he even made me quit my job at the hospital and stay at home.

It seemed as though he had forgotten that I was a doctor. If I hadn't managed to get pregnant by now, surely I would know how to assess my own health.

It was clear that the real problem was with him.

For years, I had tried countless treatments. Despite damaging my body in the process, I still couldn't conceive.

I was unable to bear the pain any longer. I wanted a divorce, hoping he'd find someone who could give him the family he always wanted.

But when I brought it up, Owen simply scoffed. "After all the time and effort I've put into you, do you honestly think you can just walk away?

"The only reason I married you was for your medical talent. Did you really think I loved you? It turns out you're useless. What good are your skills if you can't even bear a child? You're nothing but a waste!"

Just like that, we had a fierce argument, and I eventually collapsed.

When I woke up next, I found Owen sitting beside my bed.

With a warm smile, he told me I was pregnant. He seemed like his old self again, doting on me with care and concern.

After ten months, I gave birth to a daughter, Wendy Lockwood. Unfortunately, the happiness of her arrival was short-lived.

Poppy's three children soon began formal training in alternative medicine. It didn't take long before they were hailed as medical prodigies, praised by both teachers and family alike.

Around the same time, George retired and passed on the majority of the Lockwood family's business empire to Bruce.

Meanwhile, Wendy struggled to grasp even the most basic of mathematical problems and was often seen as falling behind.

Owen completely snapped. He screamed at me, calling me worthless for not giving him a son. In his fury, he threw me out of the house and took everything away from me.

Nonetheless, I didn't feel wronged. Instead, I felt a sense of relief and chose to live independently with Wendy.

One day, we attended a medical symposium. When Wendy saw him, she nervously called out, "Dad."

Of course, the crowd couldn't hold back their laughter and teasing remarks.

Owen's face turned red with embarrassment. That very day, he stormed into our home and stabbed Wendy to death.

"This idiot's the reason I can't hold my head up in public! Just die already!" he exclaimed.

With every last bit of strength I had, I shoved him away, desperate to get Wendy to the hospital.

But Owen had lost all control by then. His face twisted with fury as he attacked me from behind.

In my final moments, I clutched Wendy's lifeless body close to mine. The warmth slowly drained from my blood, and darkness began to close in.

I never could have imagined that I would be reborn, let alone find myself back on the very day of the banquet.

A wave of hatred surged through me, causing my fingers to tremble.

I locked eyes with Owen, my gaze cold and unyielding. To my shock, I watched him walk straight toward Poppy.

A chill ran down my spine, and in that moment, it all became clear to me.

He had been reborn as well.