章節 2: 10 Years

Thea is embarrassed by everything she has done in her life. The most painful part, however, was learning that she had lost the most loving husband in the world due to her greed for power and wealth. She now has nothing.

Thea hugged herself as she broke into tears and dropped her head. The door burst open at that precise moment, startling Thea in her bed.

She noticed a woman in her late 40s standing at the open door wearing a professional tailor, white long sleeves, and a black skirt below her knee; her attire resembled that of a sophisticated woman, and she held a bouquet of flowers.

The woman entered the hospital room, completely unaware of the pair of eyes watching her every move. She placed the flowers on the corner table near Thea's bed, completely unaware that the woman in bed was already awake.

The woman glanced in Thea's direction, catching eye to eye with Thea's watery eyes; ever since Thea awoke from a coma, she's been having an emotional breakdown over her situation, and now a woman staring at her with bewildered eyes, as if she saw a ghost.

Thea was also perplexed because the woman in front of her is her long-time nanny, Anne, who died when she was kicked out of the mansion before reaching the age of 30, and whose death is still unknown. But, according to Thea, she died because of her.

Still staring at Anne, realizing that this woman was her late nanny, her already moist eyes flowed heavenly as her hands trembled.

Anne was perplexed as she staggered her footstep backward; it was her first time seeing her young miss in this state of confusion; Anne was used to seeing Thea with a strong and powerful aura, and Anne knew that her young miss would not show anyone her weak side, which was the total opposite of her appearance today, raising concern on Anne's already horrified face.

"Young Miss, are you okay? Is your body in pain?" Anne gulped before carefully tapping her shoulder. Thea only glances at her, but Anne's action makes Thea cry louder.

"A-nne,"

Anne flinched in fear.

Thea was shocked; she had a lot of questions in her head, and the guilt of looking at her nanny's face triggered the pain; her last memory of Anne is her cold body inside her coffin, and recalling the painful memory of her nanny made Thea cry even harder.

Thea is still perplexed as to why Anne is still alive. She believed she could finally move on with her life. 'Is this a nightmare? She clenched her teeth and felt pain. Or perhaps this is hell, but Anne is a good person, as opposed to me, a sinner. She was perplexed. Her face was still hidden between her palms.

Thea let out a hoarse voice. "A-nne, a-m I d-ead?"

Anne's face flushed as she heard her words, and she let go of Thea's shoulder.

"Wait here, young lady,"

Anne bolted out of the room, returning with several doctors and nurses.

This makes Thea anxious about how meticulously the doctors and nurses examined her condition. This is strange given how they treated her prior to her coma.

The doctors and nurses are touching her cautiously, as if she were a porcelain doll, in contrast to the horrible treatment she received during her comatose state.

Thea was quietly trying to take in her surroundings. Something didn't make sense to her. She glanced at Anne, who had a worried expression on her face. What puzzled her was how Anne had referred to her earlier and Anne's physical appearance.

'Why is Anne addressing me as Young Miss, and why does she appear so much younger?

'But her thought was cut off by the Doctors' words.

"Young miss, your body is in a state of shock due to a sedative we used earlier, but aside from that, your body has already fully recovered; just make sure to avoid drinking alcohol for at least a month to cleanse your body; other than that, there's nothing to worry about. I'll ask one of your servants to process your discharge paper," the doctor said sternly.

Thea was taken aback; she had only recently awoken from a coma and was now being discharged immediately, though she made no complaint.

But she had a strange feeling when the doctor told her to stop drinking alcohol; why had he said that? She gave up drinking for nearly 5 years after being released from prison.

"Doc, how come the alcohol is still detected in my body after I stopped drinking 5 years ago?"

The Doctor, Nurse, and Anne were dumbfounded when they heard their young miss speak as if nothing had happened.

"Young Miss, you need to rest for now because the sedative in your body is still in function, which may confuse your memory; I'll take my leave so you can have your peaceful time," the doctor said hurriedly.

The doctor didn't want to stay too long because he was afraid the young miss of La Roche would throw a tantrum in his hospital; rumors say she was an arrogant spoiled heiress, but looking at her now, it appears the rumor is untrue, but he doesn't want his hospital to be dragged down because of some unwanted rumors circulating the lady.

While the doctor was gone. Thea was still perplexed as to why he said that. After the doctors and nurse had left, she looked at Anne, who was busy preparing the food.

"Are you truly Anne?"

"Y-es, my l-ady, do you have any needs?"

Thea shook her head, staring at Anne from head to toe, realizing that the way she spoke and acted to her made Thea realize that this situation seemed familiar to her, as if it had happened before.

Something is wrong, Thea held her throbbing forehead as her eyebrow knitted in confusion. She pondered.

"Anne, why am I in the hospital?"

She was baffled by what the doctor said earlier to add it up, she was suspicious about the luxurious room, which she knew she could never afford, she didn't have any money with her after she was released from prison, and the most important is Anne's younger appearance as if everything seemed familiar to her.

Anne cast a glance at her young mistress, fearful that she would throw something at her.

"Young Miss, you were admitted here because you passed out due to overdrinking, and the butler and madam suggested sending you to the hospital,"

What Anne said perplexed Thea.

Hearing Anne's response, Thea immediately looked at her hand, which was slim and slender, unlike the roughed one she had. She touched her hair, which was no longer short but was long and shiny dark brown hair, as she continued to touch her nose, eyes, lips, and body. Then she had a moment of clarity. Thea's hands began to quiver, and tears formed in the corner of her eyes, ready to fall at any moment.

"A-anne, could you please give me a mirror?"

Thea took the mirror with hands outstretched; she doesn't believe in fairytales or a higher power, but Thea was hoping for a miracle to happen to her. She gulped and dropped the mirror on her lap in surprise, not wanting to say anything.

"I returned to the past!" she exclaimed in shock, touching her soft smooth cheeks.

"You're saying something, Young Miss?" Anne asked, puzzled. But Thea ignored her words and instead asked.

"Anne, how old am I today?"

Anne tilted her head, dumbfounded by Thea's question. "Young Miss, you're already 25 years old, you celebrated your birthday yesterday," she trailed off, looking at Thea, wondering if she would continue, seeing as Thea appeared to be deep in thought.

"Young Miss, the reason you overdrank yesterday was because of your 25th birthday celebration," Anne continued. "Is everything okay? Should I call the doctor again? You seem paler, young miss?"

Thea waved her hand away from Anne as she slumped in bed, exhausted, staring at the ceiling, gathering her thoughts.

'So it's true, I went back in time, and to be exact, I went back 10 years before all the accidents. Is this a miracle? 'Did the higher power feel sorry for a sinner like me?' Thea wondered.

Thea's body began to shiver as she covered her mouth with both hands and silently cried out in delight. She felt so fortunate to be able to return to the past and finally redeem herself.

"Erick," Thea said as the realization dawned on her.

Thea pondered. If she celebrated her 25th birthday yesterday, it only means that she will meet her fiance tomorrow. Her ex-husband, Erickson Warton.

'I will not let you escape my grasp, Erick. I will splurge you with my affection. I will not trade you for anything in this lifetime because we will be together forever with our family. I'm going to make you fall in love with me! 'Thea make a promise.

Thea was aware that Erick had a new woman in his life prior to her regression. But now that this isn't starting to happen, Thea vows to herself that she will win the heart of the man she used to despise. She knew her decision was selfish for Erick, but having another chance to experience love with the man she truly loves is something Thea will accept selfishly even if it means going to hell.

'To Erick's future wife, I sincerely apologize, but this time I will live my life without regret and build my own happy family with Erick,' Thea thought as she balled her fist in determination.

Thea's face lit up with a sweet smile as she remembered the man she loves.

"Erick"