My Master's Wife

At Jerry Green's funeral, I held Stella Shaw tightly in my arms; her fingernails dug into my wrist, drawing blood. "Daniel Lynn, you madman!" Her voice was hoarse, eyes burning with boundless hatred. I stared into her reddened eyes, filled with nothing but bitterness. For thirty years, I treasured her like a jewel by my side, yet she still yearned for Jerry Green, resting beneath the tombstone. Until I was bedridden with kidney failure, she suddenly appeared and signed the kidney donation consent without hesitation. On the day the surgery succeeded, she sat by my bedside, barely able to breathe, and said, "In the next life, don't come looking for me." "I want to live purely, spending a lifetime with Jerry." "In this life, I have been too tainted." When she left, I grasped her cold hand tightly. It wasn't until the medical staff carried her away that I finally came to my senses. Later, I drove aimlessly along the road; when I opened my eyes again, the smell of disinfectant had vanished. Before me was the redwood desk in Jerry Green's study, and on the calendar, the date was marked one year before his death—I had been reborn. This time, I told myself, I must let go. Clutching the edge of my clothes, I stood before Jerry Green and said, "Master, I want to join that secret experimental mission." Jerry Green's fountain pen paused. He looked up, brow slightly furrowed. "Why the sudden change of heart? Didn't you say before that..." "The mission demands strictness; no one is more suitable than me." I interrupted him calmly, "I just can't let you risk it yourself." Jerry Green's surprise gradually faded. He patted my shoulder with a gentle smile: "Good kid, you've grown up and taken responsibility." "Since it's decided, then prepare yourself." I lowered my eyes, my fingernails digging into my palm. So hypocritical—in my previous life, I deliberately injured my leg to dodge this mission. I immediately turned and pushed Jerry Green inside. The radiation there could wear a person down completely. Jerry returned coughing up blood less than half a year later. Since then, Stella Shaw's gaze toward me has been nothing but hatred. Who will take on the mission you just mentioned? A familiar voice came from the doorway. I looked up to see Stella Shaw standing there. She wore an off-white dress, her hair pinned up in a bun—just as she was in my previous life. But the look she gave me was void of its usual warmth, replaced only by deep disdain. My heart jolted sharply. Could it be that she had been reborn too? "Who do you think is suited to go?" I tugged at the corner of my mouth, deliberately replying with a question. Stella Shaw paused for a moment, then sneered coldly, "That mission is so dangerous—how could Jerry's body possibly endure it?" "You are his most capable disciple. Besides you, who else is there?" "Are we really going to let him risk his life personally?" I watched her urgently defend Jerry Green and suddenly smiled inwardly—she truly returned with memories intact. The tangled scenes from my past life surged back all at once, and her dying gaze pierced me like a needle. Forget it, perhaps this is for the best. Since she also wants to avoid the fate of our previous life, I should let go completely. "Alright." Looking into her eyes, I spoke each word clearly, "As you wish." Back in the room, I pulled out paper and pen and began sketching the design for the protective suit. In my previous life, I never visited that Base, but after Jerry Green returned, his lungs deteriorated—the doctors said it was from prolonged radiation exposure. This time, I must protect myself at all costs. The desk lamp's light fell on the paper as the pencil tip repeatedly refined the structure of the protective layer. Suddenly, the door was slammed open, and a gust carried Stella Shaw's presence into the room. Before I could react, a sharp slap struck my face, fiery pain radiating from my cheek to my ear. "Jerry Green was vomiting and having diarrhea. The doctor said it was food poisoning!" Her voice trembled, her eyes red-rimmed with anger. "Did you do it?" I covered my face but looked up, meeting the hatred in her eyes—just as it had been when she called me a madman in my past life. "It wasn't me." My voice was low and steady, suppressing the storm within. "I never did such a thing." She sneered coldly and snatched the blueprint from the table. "If it wasn't you, then who? You said you'd go to the Base for him, but behind his back, you were sabotaging him!"