The first blow after making it ashore, and it’s to the heart. Edward Brooks had seen posts about this online, even witnessed it happening to others, but never thought it would be his turn.

He looked at the woman across from him. Dressed in a white dress, long black hair, light makeup—she looked like a blend of pure and elegant.

Her name was Paulina Roberts. A beautiful name. They’d been together for five years. Edward had loved her deeply, so much that he followed her to her hometown.

But he never expected that their love, once so full of promises, would be so fragile.

They sat across from each other, a job notice sitting silently on the table—it was her new appointment to the county committee office.

Paulina finally spoke, her voice calm but firm: “Edward, I don’t know how to put it gently, but I’ve been thinking about this for a while. We’ve been good, but I need to consider reality. You’re a small-town cop, not even from here, no connections. This is probably as far as you’ll go...”

“I get it. Last year when we took the civil service exam, you got in first and didn’t leave me behind. You even supported me financially. I do appreciate that. But you're too simple. After work, all you want to do is cook for me. You have no ambition, no drive. And honestly, why do you think the department sent you to some backwater post?”

“If you were at least in the county offices, I might’ve stayed. But this is the countryside… I want someone with money and connections. Even if we got married, we’d end up divorced or worse.”

“I’m sorry…”

Edward gazed at her. That familiar face now seemed like a stranger’s. After graduating, he’d followed her here. Last year, he passed the exam, started working, earned money, and continued supporting her prep. They’d even met each other’s families, with wedding plans forming.

Then, just two days ago, she landed the county office job.

Today, she wanted out.

It was laughable, really. Just three days since she got that post.

Her position in the county committee office meant she’d be close to the higher-ups. Promotions would come fast. If she caught a leader’s eye and became someone’s secretary, her future would be blazing bright.

Compared to that, Edward was blunt and didn’t play the game. He ended up on the wrong side of a superior and got reassigned to a rural precinct.

In his past life, after Paulina dumped him, Edward had spiraled. He lost motivation at work, drank heavily, messed up on duty, and ended up with a record. He stayed a nobody in the force until his death.

Meanwhile, Paulina went on to marry the son of a member of the county political committee. Not exactly a meteoric rise, but steady power and status.

“Don’t you think you’re rushing this?” Edward finally spoke. His voice was a little rough, low but magnetic.

She once said she loved his voice most. But this time, she didn’t even flinch. “Dragging it out won’t do either of us any good. I admit I’m being realistic, maybe even selfish.”"I'm doing this for your own good. A clean break is better than dragging this out. Ending it sooner will be better for you in the long run... You’ll find someone better someday."

Edward Brooks let out a long sigh. "Alright. I'm okay with it."

"Edward, you and I—we’re just not going to work. It's pointless to keep holding on... Wait, what did you just say?" Paulina Roberts paused midway through her prepared speech, only just realizing what he had said.

She had spent the whole day trying to figure out how to phrase things so he'd take it well. She’d expected him to beg, to argue, maybe have a meltdown or even lash out. What she never saw coming was for him to accept it... just like that.

It almost felt like he was the one dumping her.

"I said I’m okay with it," Edward repeated, calm and unbothered. He stood up, ready to leave.

"Wait, Edward—" Paulina shot to her feet as well.

He glanced back, a flicker of worry in his voice. "You're not getting cold feet now, are you? Thought this was your idea."

"You—" she was speechless, eventually waving him off. "Fine. Do whatever you want."

That seemed to lift a weight off Edward’s shoulders. Without another word, he walked briskly out of the restaurant and headed home. It wasn’t really “home” — not his hometown, at least — but he had bought a place here after planning to settle down with Paulina. Now? That plan was clearly out the window.

Standing in front of the mirror, Edward stared at his reflection. Youthful, a bit naive, but undeniably attractive. In today’s world, he’d totally qualify as a heartthrob. No belly fat, and while he didn’t have a sculpted eight-pack, there were definitely six solid abs.

Hell, a guy like this could walk into a luxury lounge and easily land a spot in the VIP crowd.

“Edward Brooks, you've been given a second shot at life. Time to make it count. There are peaks out there waiting to be climbed, new views to be seen. Don't waste this chance.” Those words echoed in Edward’s mind like a vow as he stared himself down in the mirror.

Back in the day, a single act had flipped Qi Tongwei’s life on its head, earned him a legendary second wind. Edward had once stood at a similar crossroad.

That chance came with Catherine Daniels — his classmate, whose uncle just so happened to be the Chief Prosecutor.

Back in school, the signs that Catherine liked him weren’t hard to spot. Edward had noticed. He just didn’t act on them. His heart had been completely wrapped up in Paulina back then.

Even later, when he got in trouble at the county level and got kicked down to this rural patch, Catherine actually called him to offer help... and he turned her down.

Now, holding his phone in one hand, Edward found himself hesitating. Should he give Catherine a call? Maybe invite her to dinner, try reconnecting?

Paulina wasn’t wrong about everything. Reality was, without other opportunities, getting demoted and shipped off like this probably meant being stuck in the countryside for good.

Just as that thought circled in his head, his phone buzzed. It was Terence Scoggins, his supervisor.

"Edward, you're off duty in the county today, right? We’ve got a notice from HQ. The 4.15 case is being reopened. We need to check out the Spring Garden Complex. Meet us at the main entrance. We’re heading over now."

The 4.15 case — oh, Edward remembered that one well. It happened last spring.

An elderly couple had been working their field near the river, soaking up the sun and enjoying the blooming season. That’s when they noticed a suitcase by the riverbank. They got curious, opened it... and found a body inside.

Scared stiff, the couple called the police immediately.