I Reincarnated Just to Protect My Husband’s True Love

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I Reincarnated Just to Protect My Husband’s True Love

NovelShort Hoàn thành
HotRejectedBillionaireRevengeBetrayal

In the fifth year of my marriage to Hunter Levine, the boss of the Black Phoenix Gang, two of the women he kept on the side, his "sugar babies," found themselves pregnant. He gave me a single order: '...

Chương (5)

第1章

In the fifth year of my marriage to Hunter Levine, the boss of the Black Phoenix Gang, two of the women he kept on the side, his "sugar babies," found themselves pregnant. He gave me a single order: 'Take care of the mother and child. If anything went wrong, my entire family would be buried with them.' The moment those words hit my ears, my vision went black, and I passed out cold. This was the third time I'd been forced into the role of nanny. In my first life, everyone in the gang said his feelings for Christy Winters were unlike anything they'd ever seen. I dragged Christy to the hospital for a blood test. Sure enough, she was pregnant. I cared for her diligently until the day she went into labor. I didn't even have the chance to ask Hunter for a reward or claim credit before his men knocked me out and dragged me away. Seven days of brutal torture followed. I bled out and died right there. It wasn't until the end that one of his men casually mentioned that Hunter's true love had never been Christy. And because I hadn't taken proper care of the mother and child, they both died on the operating table. In my second life, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I watched as Hunter personally placed his most prized wristwatch on Patricia's wrist. I acted fast, putting together a hundred men to protect her around the clock, and humbled myself, even becoming her personal caregiver. But when Patricia Morgan went into labor, Hunter stormed in, furious. He shot through my temple, then gouged out my eyes. "You can't even recognize faces," he snarled. "Then these eyes of yours are useless. Trish and the child are dead. Go die with them. In your next life, don't just grow a pretty face, grow a brain!" Thinking back to the events of my previous lives made my head spin. I nearly died from the sheer anger. He was already calling her Trish. She held the baby really tight, with a fiery look in her eyes. If it wasn't Patricia, who could it possibly be? —— When I didn't respond immediately, Hunter's patience, what little of it he had, finally ran out. He pulled out his gun, cocked it, and slammed it onto the table with a sharp, metallic noise. "Lily, I'm talking to you," he said coldly. "If your ears are deaf, I'll happily replace them for you. Don't forget who you are. If you're not even worth this much, your whole family can join you in the afterlife." I was furious and terrified, but I had no right to lose my temper with him. All I could do was swallow my humiliation and play the part of the fragile, pitiful wife. "Honey, you're being too harsh," I said softly, deliberately lowering my voice and forcing a hint of sweetness into it. I lifted my gaze to him, my lashes trembling just enough to seem fragile. "Your other woman is pregnant. I'm your wife. Can't I be sad for a moment?" I pressed a hand lightly to my chest, taking a shallow breath as if still shaken, my eyes glistening as I looked at him again. "Look," I added quietly, my voice barely above a whisper, "you scared me so badly my heart is still racing…" I still didn't know who that woman was, so I changed tactics and gently probed. But as I set his gun on the table and pressed my hand to my chest, he slapped it away. "Enough with the act," he said impatiently. "We're just business partners. Don't tell me you've actually fallen for me. If I weren't worried about my enemies going after them, do you think I would've married you and kept you as a shield? Fine to play pretend outside, but at home, when it's just the three of us, I suggest you know your place." Tears fell from my eyes on cue. Then, I slipped off my coat and leaned closer, only to get kicked hard in the stomach. "Get lost," he snapped. "Just looking at you disgusts me. Did you hear me? I only give orders once." I cursed inwardly, realizing I had no talent for using seduction as a weapon. However, I couldn't simply ask him directly who he wanted me to take care of. First, the villa was under constant watch by his men, but there was always the risk of enemies sneaking in. Hunter was overly cautious. He never talked about anyone important at home or revealed his weaknesses. Second, if I asked again, it would be clear I hadn't been listening before. That would only make him angrier, and the result would still be the same: death. Wiping my tears, I looked up at him with red eyes and tested the waters. "All right," I said quietly. "I'll arrange for two maternity nannies and twenty men to stay with Christy. If anything happens, they'll be there to protect her, and she'll be taken care of."

第2章

Hunter fiddled with the handgun he had just bought overseas, clearly amused by it. He didn't even bother to lift his head. "Mm." I was confused. It was clear that Christy wasn't the woman he wanted to protect, so why had he agreed to my proposal so easily? His voice broke through my thoughts, flat and indifferent. "And then?" I hesitated for a moment, gathering my thoughts. "Then..." I finally said, "I'll arrange for four more maternity nannies to take care of Patricia. She's out in public with you more often, so the risk is higher. I'll also assign fifty men to stay with her. Do you think that'll work?" He nodded, barely acknowledging my words. "Do as you see fit." "But Christy's health isn't great," he added, his voice colder now. "Nothing can happen to her. Resources are limited. Figure out how to allocate them wisely." "And one more thing," he continued, his tone turning sharp. "No one else can know that you are protecting her." Hearing those words again, exactly like in my previous life, almost pushed me to the edge. So biased toward Christy, yet she still wasn't the one. I opened my mouth, about to test the waters, maybe hint at whether he had a new woman, when his phone rang. When he saw the caller ID, the normally stoic man's face softened unexpectedly. He answered, and Christy's voice came through, sounding sweet but demanding. "Hunter, am I disturbing you? I've got some good news!" Hunter smiled indulgently, but what he said next took me by surprise. "I'm busy right now. Let's talk later." Christy immediately sounded upset, her tone turning petulant. "Hunter, how can you brush me off like this? Don't tell me you've got someone new again?" I naturally leaned in, despite myself, to overhear. Although I rolled my eyes at her immaturity, the words still put me on edge. What man would admit to having a new woman so openly? Sure enough, Hunter dodged the question. "Don't overthink it," he said calmly. "You're enough for me. Be good. I've really got something to take care of. We'll talk later. My men are calling me over." Christy, with a woman's terrifying sixth sense, immediately sensed that something was wrong. "No, wait. You're not at the gang's headquarters at all! It's so quiet there, how could that be?" she demanded. "Hunter, you said you'd only ever love me!" Hunter's sigh was audible, his voice dropping into coldness. "Christy, I'm only going to say this once. You don't have the right to control me. I'm hanging up. If you need anything, talk to my men. Don't bother me again today." Before she could say anything else, he hung up and turned his gaze to me. "Anything else?" 'Was he serious?' I asked myself. At a time like this, provoking him would be suicide. My heart skipped a beat, but I quickly plastered on a smile, trying to play my part. I handed Hunter a cigarette and lit it for him. "No, I'll make the arrangements right away." Once Hunter left the house, I followed closely behind. If he was this cold toward Christy and so secretive, refusing to let anyone know, then he must have been going to see his new woman. This time, I couldn't afford to make a mistake. I followed him all the way to a private club. His men had already cleared the place out. The main hall buzzed with quiet, efficient energy, everyone moving in perfect sync. I hid behind a pillar, watching as Hunter gave instructions. "Remember, when I raise my hand, turn on the lights. The moment she agrees, start the music." "The Harry Winston ring I asked you to get—has it arrived? She loves that one. Before I leave the country, I need to give her a surprise." His subordinate nodded repeatedly, his posture respectful. "Don't worry, Boss. Everything is prepared just like you said. We're just waiting for her to arrive." "But, Boss," the man hesitated, "you'll be overseas for more than half a year. What if she misses you?" Hunter let out a quiet sigh. "There's no choice. Everything's set up over there. I have to go." His voice became more serious, almost resigned. "She's pregnant right now, so I can only entrust her to Lily's care. I promised her that after this, I'd wash my hands of everything and let her live a peaceful life."

第3章

I was so overwhelmed with excitement that tears almost spilled from my eyes. This time, I was certain I hadn't gotten it wrong. For Hunter, someone as unhinged as him, to talk about "washing his hands of everything," the woman he was referring to had to be the most important person in his life. As the minutes ticked by, my heart rate quickened, and anticipation built with each passing second. Then, the chime rang. A graceful figure stepped through the door. The moment their eyes met, they collided into a passionate embrace, their lips meeting without hesitation. I was stirred up even more than Hunter himself. Unable to resist, I leaned forward, desperate to get a clear look at her face. But as I did, my foot slipped. In an instant, Hunter whipped out his gun and aimed it directly at me. "Who's there?" he barked. "Get out of here!" One of his men grabbed me by the collar and threw me down in front of them. As I looked up, despair hit me like a freight train. How could it be… Christy? Hunter's expression darkened, his voice cold as ice. "I told you to do what I asked," he said. "Instead, you followed me? You want to die?" Christy, just having accepted a $50 million ring, smiled so broadly she could barely keep her mouth closed. Yet, she was still in the mood to plead for me. "Hunter, darling, it's okay," she said sweetly. "Let's just forget this. Maybe there's been some misunderstanding." "Thank you for the surprise," she added, her voice lowering coyly. "I thought you'd forgotten my birthday…" Then, with a dramatic pause, she added, "I'm pregnant!" The fierceness in Hunter's face vanished instantly. He leaned in and kissed her forehead softly. "I'll never forget your birthday," he whispered. "You're the most important person in my life. Thank you for the surprise. I'm so happy." I shut my eyes in despair, unable to stomach another word. Making up an excuse about having something to do, I quickly fled the scene. Back in the car, I replayed everything in my mind. Following him like this was far too risky, so I arranged for someone to buy a small listening device with GPS tracking. While Hunter wasn't paying attention, I slipped it into the clothes he planned to wear the next day. He was leaving the country in just two days. This was my last chance. Before Hunter came out, I had already sneaked into the guest bedroom and pretended to be asleep. Five years of marriage, and we'd never once shared a bed. He didn't suspect a thing. The night passed, and the next day, the listening device finally caught some activity. "I'm just playing along with them," his voice came through softly. "How could you not know who's in my heart?" He continued, "I promise, once the child is born, I'll hand over my business. We'll travel the world together, and I'll fulfill all the promises I made to you, okay?" "You're jealous of Christy?" he chuckled lightly. "That ring of hers is fake. I swapped it out for the real one. I'll give it to you when I see you tomorrow. If she hadn't gotten pregnant at the same time, I'd have really worried about our enemies targeting you. But now it's perfect—a ready-made scapegoat." Hearing the tenderness in his voice when he spoke to the woman on the phone, so different from how he treated Christy, made my blood boil. I jumped out of bed, every instinct telling me: This time, I would finally get my answer. Hunter skipped breakfast and left the house. I immediately followed, monitoring his location on my phone all the way to a seaside villa. When he parked, I quickly contacted my subordinates and instructed them to stand by. At the same time, I hired ten maternity nannies, paying a hefty sum. Since Hunter valued her that highly and I had died twice for her, I believed everything would go smoothly this time. The villa's entrance was too far away for me to see clearly, but through the listening device, Hunter's voice came through distinctly, low, intimate, and brimming with barely restrained excitement. "Is the baby okay?" he asked urgently, his breath uneven. "Did the people Lily sent to protect you arrive?" There was a brief pause, as if he were listening to her answer. Then his tone softened. "I'll be gone for half a year. If anything happens, listen to her. She's not very capable, but she'll protect you with everything she's got." His voice dropped even lower, tender enough to make my fingers curl. "Be good. When I get back, I'll divorce her and be with you, openly and properly." At the end, his words turned almost into a sigh, heavy with longing. "Trish… I miss you so much."

第4章

The moment I heard the name Patricia, all sense of reason disappeared. My mind was flooded with a single, overwhelming thought: 'I could finally survive. I had found her at last.' The two of them entered the villa. A moment later, Hunter appeared on the second-floor terrace, entirely focused on a phone call. I didn't hesitate; I quickly slipped into a maternity nanny's uniform and headed for the door, my mind racing. I had to find out who this woman was—the one Hunter valued most. More urgently, I needed to find out who had caused my death twice before. Footsteps approached from inside. "Who is it?" a voice called out. I raised my voice, trying to sound confident. "Mrs. Levine sent me to help stabilize the pregnancy for the young lady!" "All right, please wait a moment!" The lock clicked open, and I froze for a moment. I pressed my nails into my palm to stay calm. Instead of the woman I was expecting, I came face-to-face with Hunter's cold, piercing look. My vision swam. I almost fell then and there. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, his voice like ice. "Who told you to come?" A surge of courage hit me. I straightened up, pushed past him, and stepped inside. "I'm just here to do the job you assigned me," I said, forcing confidence into my voice. "To personally take care of this—" Before I could finish, I slapped my own mouth hard and quickly corrected myself. "Miss Patricia," I added quickly. "I came specially to check on her, to make sure the people I assigned are doing their jobs properly." My voice trembled, and my words barely held together. All the excitement I had felt moments ago vanished into nothing. He had called her Trish. The person he wanted protected was Patricia. So why…why did this Patricia have to be her? The thoughts spun in my mind, and despair almost overpowered me. I wished I could fall apart and cry right then. But reality wasn't about to pause for me. Hunter's expression turned icy. A sinister smile twisted his lips. "Lily," he said slowly, his tone darkening. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. You even dare to push me now? I gave you a task. Instead of doing it, you came running here to look for Patricia. Don't tell me this is about reminiscing." He moved closer with every word, and I backed away, panic surging in my chest. "N-no, that's not it," I stammered. "I just wanted to check if Patricia's maternity nannies were doing their job properly! I've already sent people to handle the other task. You can ask them if you don't believe me!" I grabbed my phone to show proof, but with one quick move, he knocked it out of my hand. "You only get one chance," he said coldly. "And you've already used it." "Lily, you're testing my patience." His voice dropped even lower, his words laced with warning. "You're still lying to me, even now." He gestured to his men. "Take her downstairs. Let her see the surprise I've prepared for her." I was dragged downstairs to the basement. A large screen flickered to life, showing a video. My heart stopped. My parents were suspended above a ship's deck, bound and helpless. Their faces were wracked with fear as they faced the very real threat of death. "Lily, save us!" my mother sobbed. "Your father and I don't want to die! Please, come save us!" Below them, the dark sea churned fiercely, shadows of sharks circling beneath the surface, their eyes locked on their prey, waiting for the strike. Hunter gently raised his hand. I lost control. Without thinking, I rushed forward. "No! Don't!" I screamed. "I really did it! I've already started the work you gave me! Please, don't hurt them!" I was nearly hysterical. "If you don't believe me, ask anyone! I'll stake my life on it! That person—she will absolutely be safe!" Hunter studied my bloodshot eyes, recognizing the desperation and certainty on my face. Finally, he reluctantly believed me. He knew I wouldn't risk my life lightly because the one thing I cared about most in this world was my miserable existence. He took out his phone to contact the gang. Upon hearing confirmation that I had indeed reallocated many men and spent a fortune hiring ten maternity nannies, his expression softened just a little. "Your parents will be home safely tonight," he said, his voice a little more relaxed. Then, his gaze hardened again. "Lily, you know my methods. If anything happens to her, the one who dies won't just be you."

第5章

My parents were finally lowered from the deck. The moment their feet touched solid ground, they clung to each other, breaking down in tears. Down in the basement, I started crying uncontrollably. The weight of everything felt overwhelming. Nearby, Hunter stood to the side, on a phone call. It sounded like the gang had caught a spy sent by their enemies. "There's no need to ask me about this kind of thing," he said coldly. "Deal with it. Cut off his head and send it over. Tell them it's a gift from me, Hunter. Anyone who dares oppose me, I'll make sure they die without a whole corpse." Before he hung up, a high-pitched, distressed scream echoed from the other end of the line. Cold sweat trickled down my back. In that moment, I once again realized that my life was hanging by a thread. When Hunter said something, he always followed through. I don't know how I made it home. The moment my parents saw the state I was in, their eyes reddened in unison. "Lily, what on earth happened?" my father asked shakily. "Why would that madman from the Levines suddenly kidnap your mother and me?" Tears ran down my face. I knew I couldn't hide it any longer. Trembling, I told them everything—the truth about my first two lives. After hearing how their daughter had died twice, they were consumed with guilt. My father kept slapping himself. "It's all my fault," he cried. "If I hadn't been scammed back then, you wouldn't have had to meet that lunatic from the Levines just to pay off debts! Lily, I failed you… I'm so sorry…" My mother, still sharp despite the situation, shoved my father aside. "That's enough! What's the point of saying this now?" she snapped. "If you can't help, at least don't make things worse!" "Lily," she continued urgently, "who exactly is the person he wants you to protect? Have you figured it out yet? There's no time left. If it really comes down to it, we'll fake our deaths and escape overseas. I refuse to believe he'd still be able to find us!" As her words fell, my father's hands trembled as he pulled back the curtain. On the glass of the opposite window, two red dots glowed ominously. One was centered on my father's forehead. The other rested squarely over my mother's heart. I closed my eyes in despair, replaying Hunter's words over and over in my mind. 'Patricia. Open and legitimate. Just playing along…' No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make sense of the connection. I pushed my parents aside and went into my room alone. When I opened the listening app, something caught my eye. It was a new audio file I'd missed. It had been recorded at night, and Hunter had been at home, just a wall away. I'd never suspected anything. I tapped to play it. All I could hear were the intimate, breathless sounds of a man and a woman. No words, just sounds. No clues. And yet, I froze. So that was the truth. No wonder I'd been wrong every single time. I shot to my feet, clutching my phone, dialing as I ran downstairs. "Hello?" I barked into the phone. "Everyone, return the way you came. Operation cancelled. Stand down." The day of that woman's delivery arrived before I knew it. I reserved a room at a hotel across from the hospital and set up binoculars to observe every movement. When I saw Hunter dash into the hospital without hesitation, I couldn't help but smile mockingly. 'Your demand has been fulfilled. Just don't regret it later.'