Reborn to Ruin My Toxic Husband and Fake Bestie

A marriage of convenience, and my exboyfriend crawled back begging for a second chance.

To prevent this from ruining my marriage with my billionaire husband, my socalled best friend exposed our "affair" to the entire high society.

My exboyfriend, ruined and humiliated, committed suicide. I ended up becoming my husband’s dutiful helper, praised by everyone as the perfect, submissive wife.

My best friend went around bragging that I owed all my success to her. She claimed that without her intervention, I would have been a disgraced, penniless outcast.

She even used her selfproclaimed loyalty to get close to my husband.

But the moment she found out that if I got pregnant, my child would inherit the entire family fortune, her jealousy consumed her.

She pushed me off a cliff. "If I could do it all over again, I’d let you ruin yourself!" she screamed. "Mae, is there really no hope for us?" Hearing that nickname again made me freeze.

It had been so long since anyone had called me Mae. Looking at the man standing in front of me—a man who had been dead for years in my past life—I thought I was dreaming.

In my previous life, during my fifth wedding anniversary gala, my best friend, Vivian, had suddenly staged a scene.

She loudly recounted how she had "saved" me from cheating when my exboyfriend begged for a second chance.

She even kept hinting to my husband that he needed to keep me on a tight leash, implying that a woman like me could slip up at any moment.

What should have been a perfect celebration instantly turned into a public trial. "Maeve Sterling, marrying my son was the biggest stroke of luck for your family," my motherinlaw had sneered in front of everyone. "If you dare do anything to disrespect him, I will make your life a living hell." "Pretty women are always trouble," another guest whispered. "She doesn't know how to appreciate a good man.

She should be locked up at home and taught some manners." "I never thought she was that kind of girl.

She goes to the office every day—maybe she's got her eyes on some other guy there?" Even my husband, Zachary, who knew damn well I was a virgin when we married and who practically inspected my body for marks every single day, stared at me with calculating eyes, trying to spot a sliver of guilt on my face.

But that entire "affair" was nothing but a misunderstanding. Back then, I had only wanted to leave the gala to get some air.

But Vivian had rushed over and grabbed my arm, refusing to let go. "Maeve, you don't blame me, do you? I did it for your own good.

A wild girl like you would never have landed such a rich husband if it weren't for me." "If I hadn't stopped you back then, you would have run off with that penniless loser.

Do you think you’d be standing here in a designer gown today?" "You're just a hopeless romantic.

Without me, you’d be nothing but a disgraced whore." "If I knew you'd act like this, I never would have helped you." Vivian constantly used these guilt trips to paint me as an unfaithful wife.

But back then, Luke and I had only spoken a few words. After I rejected him, our interactions were strictly professional business.

Whenever I tried to argue, Vivian would call me defensive. She’d throw heavily edited, angled photos of us "kissing" in my face, calling me a slut over and over again.

Looking at Vivian's frantic, crazed expression now, I let out a cold laugh in my mind. If it weren't for her, I would have taken over the entire Vance Group by now.

Because she went around spreading rumors about my "loose behavior," I was completely marginalized at the company.

I couldn't access internal resources and was forced to endure my trash of a husband for years.

I decided to stop playing nice. "You really think I don't know what you're doing, Vivian? If you want my husband, just go after him. What's the matter?

Can't compete with his side chicks, so you have to project your insecurities on me?" "Zachary already promised me.

The moment I bear his child, all the company assets will belong to us." For years, Vivian had stayed single.

Her career was a joke, but she was always hovering around Zachary, wearing lowcut tops and throwing herself at him.

Too bad for her, Zachary’s rotation of supermodel mistresses was endless. He didn't have time for a plain Jane like Vivian.

My words made Vivian's face twist in rage. "A bitch like you doesn't deserve Zachary!

I'll make sure you never have his baby!" I tried to shake her off, but she grabbed me with manic strength.

During our struggle on the edge of the mountain resort, Vivian, in a fit of rage, pushed me off the cliff. I fell to my death.

Our romantic mountain anniversary had turned into a fatal fall. "Mae? Why aren't you saying anything?" Luke's anxious voice brought me back to reality.

I could hear the genuine concern in his voice. Back when we were dating, he wanted to have a special name just for me. So, he took the "Mae" from Maeve.

He was the only one who called me that. Had I really been reborn? Just then, I heard the faint click of a phone camera.

I turned my head and saw Vivian holding her phone, looking flustered. It seemed I had traveled back to the very day Vivian accused me of cheating.

Just as I was about to stand up, the previously angry Vivian suddenly threw her phone onto the ground and stomped on it hard.

She rushed over and grabbed my hands. "Maeve, don't worry! I will protect your love. Just run away with him. Go!" "I won't stand in your way this time.

Live your life, chase your happiness. Love conquers all!" She patted her chest, promising over and over that she would keep our secret.

Watching her walk away with a triumphant smirk, Luke pointed at his head and muttered, "Is your friend crazy?

What is wrong with her?" I took a sip of my iced coffee and shrugged. "Who knows?" "But starting today, don't come looking for me anymore.

Our partnership needs a change." Luke looked shocked. "Don't tell me you actually fell for that jerk Zachary?" I let out a dismissive laugh. "Are you kidding?

It's a marriage of convenience. I married him to take down his family empire from the start." However, I was highly curious. Had Vivian been reborn too? How did she die?

Luke opened his mouth to speak. I cut him off instantly. "If I were you, I wouldn't waste my breath right now.

Have you forgotten how your family went bankrupt?" My voice was icecold. The playful smirk vanished from Luke's face. He clenched his fists. "Of course I haven't forgotten.

Zachary Vance stole our formula and framed our factories for using toxic materials. He drove my dad to jump off a building." "Don't worry, Mae. I was just joking earlier.

Before Zachary pays for what he did, I won't get in your way." Luke's shoulders slumped. He looked like a kicked puppy, miserable and abandoned.

He didn't have any of the arrogant confidence he used to have. If I didn't know what he had been through, I’d think he was a completely different person.

We were both too proud in our past lives, refusing to bow to one another. Our clashing egos had torn our relationship apart.

Every argument had felt like a blade carving into our hearts. Once we broke up, it was truly over. I never recycle trash. The "affair" Vivian kept screaming about was a total joke.

Zachary had ruined Luke's family, and his eyes were now set on mine. Our marriage was merely a stalling tactic.

I had approached Luke for a partnership so we could work together from the inside out to take down the Vance family. But that idiot Vivian had ruined everything.

Zachary had locked me down, monitoring my every move, and went after Luke even harder. Eventually, under Zachary’s traps, Luke disappeared from high society completely.

I deeply regretted ever calling Vivian my friend. I had initially kept her around to distract Zachary, but my own cleverness had backfired.

This time, without that fool interfering, our revenge would go much smoother.

The moment I stepped out of the café, Vivian ran up to me, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Have you two planned your escape yet? Don't worry, I won't let Zachary find out.

I'll handle him." "I always knew you two belonged together. Don't forget how beautiful your past was. Follow your heart, Maeve!

I'll take the fall for whatever happens next!" The malicious joy in her eyes was glaring. I smiled, stepping forward to give her a tight hug. "Thank you, Vivian.

You're the only one who truly understands me." That evening, when we returned to the Vance estate, Zachary was waiting, his face dark with suspicion.

Before he could raise his voice, Vivian eagerly stepped in to cover for me. "Oh, Zachary, we just went shopping! What could possibly happen?

You work so hard, you should really rest. Don't worry, I'll take good care of Maeve.

Men like you should focus on conquering the business world." "I'm so jealous Maeve landed such an amazing husband.

I guess I'm just not that lucky." Vivian’s thinly veiled flirting brought a smirk to Zachary’s face.

His predatory eyes swept over her intentionally lowcut neckline. "Since you're Maeve's friend, you're my friend too. Don't worry, Vivian.

I'll find a good man for you." "Oh, thank you, Zachary!" Vivian walked closer to him, patting my shoulder as she whispered, "See?

I told you I wouldn't interfere with your life this time. Since you hate this marriage, let me suffer in your place." Her hypocrisy made me want to throw up.

I turned around, went into my room, and locked the door. Did she really think I couldn't see through her?

She just wanted to use me as a stepping stone to climb into Zachary’s bed and become the next Mrs. Vance. But Zachary was a monster.

If she fell into his trap, she would be utterly destroyed. In my past life, even after we married, Zachary never stopped playing around.

His cheating was public knowledge in our circle.

If my body hadn't been covered in ugly scars, making him completely lose sexual interest in me, I probably would have caught some horrible disease from him.

The only reason he married me was because I had saved his mother from a horrific car crash, which left me with those scars.

Zachary was a bastard, but he had a shred of filial piety. When I proposed a strategic marriage, he agreed to marry me as a favor to his mother.

But when Vivian started spreading rumors about my affair, Zachary’s toxic possessiveness flared up. He demanded absolute purity from me while he ran wild with other women.

Every time I came home, he would inspect me like a piece of meat. "You waste that pretty face of yours," he had sneered, tracing my scarred skin. "You look like you're covered in centipedes.

If you hadn't saved my mom, I wouldn't even look at you. But if you ever dare betray me, I'll have my guys throw you to the dogs on the street." "You're a dirty girl, Maeve.

Does it excite you when I look at you like this? I wouldn't touch you with a tenfoot pole.

If your little friend hadn't told me, I wouldn't believe anyone could actually desire a body as hideous as yours.

The moment you strip, any man would run away screaming." "Cover yourself up.

You make me sick." My lie to Vivian about my future child inheriting the entire Vance fortune was just bait.

The Vance family wanted nothing more than to drain my family's assets; they would never leave a dime to my child. I lay on my bed, scrolling through my phone.

Thanks to my knowledge of the future, Luke had already successfully infiltrated Zachary’s company. I took a deep breath. Everything was going according to plan. As for Vivian...

I couldn't wait to see how long she could keep up her little act.

The next morning, Zachary came home looking exhausted, smelling heavily of cheap women's perfume. I pretended not to notice, preparing his bath and clothes.

He patted my head in satisfaction. "Don't worry, Maeve. No matter how many women I play with outside, you'll always be my wife. I'm just letting off some steam.

You can't expect me to look at your scarred body without throwing up, can you?" "In a few years, we'll do IVF and have a kid.

My family won't treat you badly." While he was in the shower, I picked up his phone, unlocked it, and scrolled through his Snapchat history with Vivian.

Their messages were incredibly flirtatious. Vivian, playing the "concerned best friend," kept digging for information about me. “Zachary, why did you leave so early last night?

Don't worry, we were just chatting. Maeve isn't the jealous type.

Not like me... if I had a man like you, I'd never let him out of my sight.” “Zachary, I know you're upset about Maeve's exboyfriend coming back.

They were the golden couple in college. But don't overthink it, I'm sure Maeve loves you now.” “Maeve seems a bit cold to me lately. Did I do something wrong?

She always seems to be texting someone secretly.” Zachary hadn't taken the bait yet, simply replying: “She's just busy with work.

Don't worry about it.” I smiled coldly and put the phone back.

Once Zachary finished dressing, I wrapped my arms around his and pouted. "Zach, my college class is having a reunion tonight.

Come with me." Zachary hesitated, but seeing my puppydog eyes, he finally nodded. We drove to an upscale club downtown.

I had purposely chosen this venue to give Zachary and Vivian the perfect opportunity to hook up.

Sure enough, it didn't take long for Vivian to show up, using the excuse of wanting to talk to me.

She wore a revealing designer dress and heavy makeup, practically begging for attention.

When she saw me still standing glued to Zachary’s side, a flash of pure jealousy shot through her eyes. She dragged me to the restroom. "What are you doing?

Aren't you supposed to be running away with Luke? A woman shouldn't be greedy, Maeve.

You can't keep one while clinging to another." I raised an eyebrow. "But you know Zachary will never agree to a divorce." Vivian gripped my arm eagerly. "Don't worry about that!

I will help you get your freedom tonight." "I've checked on Luke. He's completely broke and has nothing left. If you abandon him now, he has no reason to live.

Can you really be that heartless?" "I know you're not a golddigger, Maeve. Your family is already rich enough, why do you care so much about the Vance money? Follow your heart!

If you betray Luke now, I'll be the first to call you out." I didn't reply.

Back in the main room, our classmates started talking about Luke's return, joking around. "Maeve, you can't just dump Zachary for some penniless ex.

Don't ruin our boy Zach’s reputation." In my past life, Vivian had stood up at this exact moment, pointing a finger at me in front of everyone. “Don't worry, everyone!

I'm keeping a close eye on Maeve. You have no idea—she was practically eating her exboyfriend's face off the other day. It was so disgusting!

If I hadn't stepped in, she would have run off with him and probably ended up in some cheap motel.” She had described the scene in graphic detail, making everyone look at me like I was a piece of garbage.

Zachary, furious and humiliated, hadn't listened to my explanations. He had kicked me into a corner and smashed a champagne bottle over my head.

As the alcohol drenched me, Vivian had rushed over to "help," but ended up ripping my clothes, exposing my scarred body to the entire room.

The gossip shifted from me cheating to me being a scarred, deformed freak who couldn't even keep a lover.

But this time, Vivian stood up and yelled at the crowd: "Maeve would never do that! She believes in true love! And so what if she sacrifices everything for love?

You people are so narrowminded. Love is the most beautiful thing in the world! You wouldn't understand." Vivian tried to pull me forward. "Tell them, Maeve.

What's more important, a lifeless marriage or true love? A marriage without love is just a prison!

No matter what, I support your pursuit of happiness." She went on and on, completely oblivious to the fact that Zachary’s face had turned black.

His voice was dangerously low. "So, in your eyes, that loser is better than me?" Vivian, completely lost in her own fantasy, blurted out, "Of course he is!

They were so sweet back in college. He picked her up every day, bought her meals...

Maeve, don't worry, I'll protect your love!" The moment the words left her mouth, Zachary swung his leg and kicked her straight to the ground. "You bitch!

You're actively trying to cuckold me? I'll kill you!"

Vivian instantly panicked. She crawled over and grabbed Zachary’s leg. "Zachary! Please, I misspoke! Maeve would never cheat on you, I swear!

You're so powerful, she wouldn't dare leave you." "If she ever tries to run, you should beat her! Beat her to death!" Even now, she was trying to redirect the violence onto me.

I stood up, giving her exactly what she wanted. "You're right. I do want a divorce.

Luke is back, and I'm leaving with him." "No one can stop me from being with the man I love." Vivian’s eyes lit up.

She scrambled to her feet and stood in front of me, shielding me. "Zachary, I know you love her, but her heart belongs to someone else.

Don't hold onto a woman who doesn't love you!" I wrapped my arm around Vivian's. "Thank you, Vivian.

You're my only true friend." I looked around at the crowd, declaring loudly, "Even if I die here today, I won't submit to you.

Luke is the only one I love, and I am running away with him!" Zachary was shaking with rage. He lunged forward, raising his fist to strike me.

But before his fist could land, Luke appeared. He caught Zachary’s fist midair and shoved him back violently. "Don't you dare touch my woman! Mae doesn't love you anymore.

Love has no boundaries!" Zachary pointed a trembling finger at Luke. "You broke loser, what the hell are you doing here?" Luke flipped his hair back coolly. "In a relationship, the one who isn't loved is the real intruder.

You're just a legal placeholder, Zach." "You... you..." Zachary choked on his rage. The bystanders quickly tried to intervene. "Maeve, don't be stupid. This guy has nothing.

You'll starve if you leave with him." "His dad literally committed suicide. What can he give you?

Kneel down and beg Zach for forgiveness!" "Vivian, talk some sense into your friend!

Love doesn't pay the bills!" But Vivian puffed out her chest, lecturing them right back. "What do you know? A life without love is just a slow death!

Maeve is my friend, and I support her. Is wanting love a crime?" "I swore I wouldn't interfere in their relationship anymore. Whoever Maeve wants to be with is her choice.

Let her go!" "I warn you all, don't interfere with their destiny, or karma will get you!" Luke chimed in smoothly. "Exactly! Even Vivian gets it. Our love is invincible.

What do a bunch of soulless gossips like you know?" "Even if I have to dig through trash or work construction, I will support my Mae." Watching him play his part so well, I slipped my hand under his arm and pinched his side as hard as I could.

He winced in pain but kept his protective stance in front of me. In our past life, because of Vivian’s rumors, I had become a social pariah, a disgraced golddigger.

I was blacklisted from every social circle, insulted wherever I went. Meanwhile, Vivian played the saint who "saved" me, claiming she was the reason I still had a roof over my head.

Luke’s undercover status had also been exposed. To protect my reputation and safety, Luke had willingly walked into Zachary’s trap.

He took all the blame, claiming he had drugged and manipulated me. Our entire plan to destroy the Vance family had been shattered because of his foolish sacrifice.

He was still the same idiot. Suddenly, Vivian threw her arms around Zachary, pinning his arms. "Run, guys! I'll hold him back!

Go chase your happily ever after!" Luke and I exchanged a quick glance, both amused by her stupidity. I stood there, letting the crowd shout insults at me. It really wasn't fair.

Why did this brainless idiot have to be reborn too? But then again, thank god she was still this stupid.