He Wanted My Bestie Reborn Me Said YES—So Why Regret Chapter 01
All because Jessica Sterling had sent back one final transmission before she vanished on that deep dive. “I want to go home.”
Ethan Prescott took her place as the scuba expert and spent five years searching that stretch of ocean.
Until he, too, met with an accident.
As his wife, I was tracked down by the executor of his estate.
“Mr. Prescott revised his will fourteen times with multiple codicils.”
“The final version states that all his assets go to you, but you must ensure he and Jessica Sterling are buried side by side in the same cemetery plot.”
At the funeral, crowds came to pay their respects.
“Such a shame. They were so well matched—truly made for each other.”
His parents sobbed and cursed me to my face.
“If it weren’t for you, they’d have been together long ago. None of this would have happened.”
Staring at their side‑by‑side portraits, I thought about that will revised fourteen times.
The one clause that never changed was the joint burial plot.
And I was mentioned only once, in the opening line of the final codicil.
No matter how hard I tried to catch up to them, I could never write myself into their ending.
After the funeral, I got into a car accident by sheer chance, and woke up back before Jessica’s scuba disappearance.
Seeing the two of them walking ahead of me, I let out a long breath.
This time, I wouldn’t stand in their way anymore.
—
Noticing I’d fallen behind, Jessica turned and waved, her voice bright.
“Meredith, hurry up!”
Ethan stood beside her, wearing the blue resort shirt I’d picked out for him.
Yet somehow it perfectly matched her blue‑and‑white sundress.
I realized this was right after the island trip before our wedding.
Quietly, I pulled my jacket closed, hiding the yellow dress underneath that clashed with everything.
Jessica called out again, coaxing.
“Come on—we’re going to the safari park!”
Ethan gave her a fond smile.
Then he looked back at me, impatience creeping into his eyes.
He’d completely forgotten.
This trip was supposed to be our long‑awaited getaway.
I’d booked the flights and hotel a year in advance, worked six months of overtime to squeeze out a single week of vacation.
But after barely half a day to ourselves, Jessica had shown up uninvited.
Our romantic escape turned into another trio outing.
When I finally caught up, Ethan ruffled my hair.
“What’s with you today? You look drained.”
I kept my face blank. “Nothing. Just the sun.”
He didn’t press. He turned back to Jessica to study their itinerary.
They both loved planned, structured lives—even travel had to be mapped out to the last detail.
Listening to them debate the schedule, I suddenly said, “I want to go back.”
Ethan cut me off out of habit. “Meredith, don’t mess up the plan.”
Then he paused, startled by his own words.
I’d always been the type to wander and explore on a whim.
I could never squeeze into their carefully laid plans, and now I couldn’t even speak up.
I turned and walked away. Ethan grabbed my arm.
“What’s gotten into you today? We agreed yesterday to follow Jessica’s plan—it’s better.”
His grip was firm; I couldn’t pull free.
A wave of helplessness washed over me.
In Ethan’s eyes, Jessica’s way was always best.
College applications, job hunting—even buying groceries—he’d take her advice.
And now this trip, because of her itinerary, he’d scrapped every plan I’d made.
He kept pressing, his tone growing sharper.
I yanked off my sun shirt.
“I have UV allergy. Can I go now?”
My bare arms and neck, unprotected by sunscreen, were swollen and red.
Ethan jerked his hand back. Jessica gasped.
“How did I not know about this? It looks terrible.”
I gave a bitter smile.
I’d never had this allergy before.
But two hours of following Jessica’s breakneck itinerary had done this.
“We finally made it all the way here… how could this happen?” Jessica’s voice drooped with disappointment.
Ethan frowned deeply, then suddenly scooped me into his arms.
“You go to the safari park. I’ll take her back to the B&B.”
I froze. “I can get back on my own.”
But he just chuckled softly. “Forget it. Don’t make me worry.”
Watching Jessica left behind, I felt a jolt of disbelief.
For once, I wasn’t the one being left out.
At the B&B, Ethan went out to find medicine.
I followed to say thanks and overheard him on the phone, his voice warm and soothing.
“Don’t worry about her. Go enjoy yourself—weren’t you excited about that safari park? Don’t let this ruin your fun.”
When he turned and saw me, he faltered.
“Why aren’t you resting?”
I dropped my gaze and gave a hollow laugh.
Still fooling myself, even after a second chance at life.
“Go find Jessica. I’m fine here.”
He clutched the medicine box. “Meredith, don’t be like this. I’m your boyfriend.”
“I mean it. I’m okay.”
He studied me for a long moment. When he saw no anger in my face, he set the box down gently.
“Then take your medicine.”
I nodded.
“I’ll bring you back some coconut water.”
His tone instantly lightened. He left without worry.
But that night, he didn’t come home.
And I saw him on the local news—with Jessica.
