The Obsessive Cheater's Redemption

My name is Emily Lynn. After death, I came to the Underworld, only to be forced into marriage by Caleb Jones. He was the man who haunted me for half a lifetime in my past life; at this moment, he gripped my wrist so tightly I feared he might crush the bones. The red candles flickered, ashes of joss paper scattering over my robes. Caleb's voice, laced with obsessive possessiveness: "Emily Lynn, even here in the Underworld, you can only be my wife." I gently pulled my wrist away, my tone flat: "Caleb, I have already forgotten what happened in life." He raised an eyebrow, eyes full of provocation: "Forgot? You seem surprisingly indifferent." I lowered my gaze, glancing at the candle wax pooling on the ground, and fell silent. This bridal chamber in the Underworld was exceedingly plain; besides us, only two Underworld Officers waited silently in the corner. Caleb Jones stepped closer, a cold aura enveloping him: "Aren't you curious why I insist on holding our wedding here, in the Underworld?" "Not curious." I answered bluntly. The tangled loves and hatreds of life had already vanished the moment I drew my last breath. Caleb's expression darkened, clearly unprepared for my indifferent tone. He was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke: "Mia Scott, do you still remember?" I lifted my eyes to him, my gaze calm and unruffled: "Remember, your perfect love." In a past life, Mia Scott was the thorn that stood between us; for her, he wounded me again and again until I was shattered beyond repair. "Aren't you angry?" Caleb Jones pressed, a hint of expectation in his voice, as if hoping I would break down. "Angry about what?" I countered. "Angry that my heart belongs to her, angry about the wrongs I owe you from a past life?" He closed in step by step, nearly pressing his face to mine. I shook my head lightly. "Those things are in the past; there's no use bringing them up again." Caleb Jones froze, the obsession in his eyes slowly giving way to confusion: "Emily Lynn, what exactly is wrong with you?" A barely noticeable trace of panic slipped into his tone. "Nothing much." I turned and headed toward the side chamber. "The wedding ceremony is over. I want to be alone for a while." Behind me, Caleb stood rooted to the spot, his expression unsettled. The side chamber in the Underworld was cold and damp. Sitting by the bed, my mind was clear—his probing and provocations could no longer stir even the slightest ripple within me. The debts from my past life must be settled now, in death. Not long after, Caleb Jones pushed the door open, carrying a bowl of pitch-black medicinal broth. "Drink this." "What is it?" I didn't take it. "A calming soup from the Underworld; it helps lessen the intrusion of yin energy." His tone softened slightly. I took the bowl and drank it in one gulp; the bitterness spread over my tongue, but the cold chill on my body did ease considerably. "You don't have to be kind to me." I handed back the empty bowl. Caleb Jones's fingertips brushed my hand unintentionally, then he pulled away sharply, as if burned. "I'm not being kind to you—I just don't want anything to happen to my wife here in the Underworld." I closed my eyes and leaned against the bed, no longer responding to him. Caleb Jones remained silent for a long moment before quietly slipping away. I knew clearly he wouldn't give up so easily, but no matter what he did, we could never return to what we once were.