Reborn Rich: The Marvelous William Hudson.

Chapter 4

William kept staring at his young face in the mirror. Then everything came rushing back to him like cold water hitting his skin.

This room. This suit. This day.

He couldn't believe It was his wedding day. The day his whole life turned into a horror movie....

'What the hell am I doing here?' His thoughts raced. 'I thought I was dead.'

'Am I not supposed to be dead?'

At that moment his heart started beating so fast he could hear it in his ears. This couldn't be real. People don't just go back in time, and I still remember everything that happened, every single bit of it. Things like this don't happen.

Immediately William slapped himself hard across the face. The sting burned his cheek. He did it again, harder this time. The pain felt real. Sharp and clear.

He wasn't dreaming.

'Is this some kind of joke?' he thought, looking around the room again.

'Did I somehow travel back twenty years to my wedding day?'

William was still trying to figure out what was happening when the door opened.

“Man of the moment. It's almost time.”

Immediately Benjamin Lane walked in with a big smile on his face. He looked so young. So innocent. Nothing like the cruel man who would spend twenty years destroying his life.

Upon seeing Benjamin, immediately William's whole body went cold. His hands started shaking, but not from fear. From rage.

All those years of watching Benjamin take everything from him. All those nights and day watching, listening to Benjamin with his wife. All that pain and betrayal came flooding back.

Before Benjamin could say another word, William grabbed him by the shirt and slammed him hard against the wall. Benjamin's back hit with a loud thud.

“How dare you, Benjamin!” William's voice came out like a growl. His grip got tighter on Benjamin's shirt.

“I picked you out of the swamp. I treated you like my brother. And you dare sleep with my wife!”

Upon hearing William accusing words Benjamin's heart started beating so fast he could barely breathe. His face went pale as William pressed him against the wall.

“What the hell is wrong with you, William?” Benjamin's voice came out shaky. “What are you talking about? Is this some kind of prank?”

He tried to push William's hands away, but William was stronger than he remembered.

“I came here to tell you everyone's ready for the wedding. How can you accuse me of something like that? what is going on, are you okay.”

But even as Benjamin said the words, his heart kept pounding. Sweat started forming on his forehead.

How did William know? Lydia had been so careful. So secretive about everything they did together. They only met when William wasn't around. They never left any evidence.

Had someone seen them? Had someone told William? Benjamin's mind raced with more panic.

William stared at him with eyes that looked like they were on fire. Blood red and full of hate. William's hands were shaking with anger.

William wanted to smash Benjamin's head right into the wall. Wanted to hear his skull crack. Wanted to watch the life drain out of his lying eyes.

But then William stopped himself,

because he had no proof. Not yet. If he beat up Benjamin right now, Lydia would call the police. She'd say William lost his mind and attacked an innocent man.

They'd throw him in jail. And then Lydia and Benjamin would have everything they wanted without even trying.

There had to be a reason he came back to life. A reason he got sent back twenty years to this exact day. It wasn't so he could throw his future away by fighting these two and ending up behind bars.

Then William forced his hands to let go of Benjamin's shirt. He stepped back and took a deep breath.

“I was just playing with you, Benjamin, I saw something like this on a TV show, and I decided to try it out.”

Then he smiled slowly.

“With the look on your face I guess I'm a good actor.”

The words tasted like poison in his mouth, but he said them anyway.

Benjamin stood there for a few seconds, still breathing hard. His heart was still racing. But slowly, his face started to relax.

Then Benjamin smiled. That same fake smile William remembered so well.

Benjamin reached out and tapped William on the shoulder like nothing happened.

“You scared me there for a second, man.” Benjamin laughed, but it sounded nervous.

“Truly you're a good actor, you must be really excited about getting married to your high school crush. The most beautiful girl in school back then.”

Benjamin's smile got wider.

“What a dream come true.”

William's hands turned into fists again. He wanted to grab Benjamin and throw him across the room. Wanted to make him hurt the way he'd been hurting for twenty years.

But he held himself back. His jaw got tight and his teeth pressed together hard, but he stayed still.

William forced a smile onto his face and nodded at Benjamin.

Benjamin stayed for another minute, talking about the flowers and the guests. Then he finally left, closing the door behind him.

The second Benjamin was gone, William turned back to the mirror.

He still couldn't believe it. Time travel. Going back to the past. These were things that happened in books, TV shows, not real life.

But here he was. Young again. Standing in this room wearing his wedding suit. About to marry the woman who would destroy him.

William had no parents. His mother died when he was born. His father passed away when he was sixteen. That's why Lydia got away with everything. There was nobody to protect him. Nobody to question what she did.

For twenty years, William thought the world was cruel and unfair. Thought life just hated him for no reason.

But maybe he was wrong. Maybe the world had a way of making things right. Of giving people a second chance when they needed it most.

William straightened his tie in the mirror. His hands moved smooth and steady now.

There was no way this wedding was happening. Not today. Not ever.

And besides, Lydia had already set up the car accident for tonight. The one that would leave him broken and helpless for the next twenty years.

But William knew about it now. He could stop it. All he had to do was not get in that car.

If he cancelled the wedding and avoided the accident, his whole future would change. He wouldn't have to suffer like before.

But that wasn't enough, Lydia and Benjamin needed to pay for what they did. For what they would have done. For twenty years of torture and betrayal.

And William was going to make sure they got exactly what they deserved.

Starting right now, William walked toward the door with strong, steady steps.