The 99th Chance I Gave You Chapter 01

The 99th Chance I Gave You Chapter 01

How much had my husband once loved me?

Back then, just to marry me, Nathaniel proposed 99 times.

On the 100th time, his persistence finally moved me.

I became Mrs. Fenton, the woman everyone in London envied.

On our wedding day, I gave him 99 forgiveness vouchers.

We agreed that as long as those forgiveness vouchers hadn’t run out, I would stay by his side.

In the 5 years we were married, every time he went out to keep his first love company, he used 1 forgiveness voucher.

When he used the 97th forgiveness voucher, my husband suddenly realized I had changed.

I no longer cried or made a scene.

I no longer begged him to stay.

When he lost control over that junior secretary who loved playing innocent, I only asked quietly, “If you’re going to be with her, can I use 1 forgiveness voucher?”

The man froze, then softened for once.

“Fine. I’ve only used about 60 anyway. Use it if you want.”

I hummed in acknowledgment and let him leave.

What he didn’t know was that this was the 97th forgiveness voucher he had used.

And we only had 2 forgiveness vouchers left.

In 5 years of marriage, Nathaniel and I had never had children.

Today was Fenton Group’s celebration gala after landing the East Docklands redevelopment project.

It was also the 9th day since Nathaniel and I had agreed to start trying for a baby.

But when Nathaniel Fenton’s secretary, Sylvia, knocked over the champagne tower, splashing champagne all over Mr. Lloyd and ruining the freshly signed documents on the table, Nathaniel Fenton’s first reaction was to shield her behind him.

Then he looked at me without hesitation.

“Eleanor, go explain this to Mr. Lloyd.”

I froze, unable to believe it.

Mr. Lloyd frowned, his tone already cold.

“Mr. Fenton, the person who made the mistake wasn’t your Legal Director.”

Tears quickly welled in Sylvia’s eyes. She gently tugged at Nathaniel’s sleeve, as if she were the one being wronged.

Nathaniel patted her hand tenderly, then turned his gaze on me, cold now.

“You’re the Legal Director. Handling this kind of situation is your job.”

“Go apologize to Mr. Lloyd and tell him it was your oversight.”

“And drink that glass of champagne. Prove this doesn’t need to become a bigger issue.”

He had forgotten we were trying for a baby.

Or maybe he simply didn’t care.

Low murmurs rose around us. Every look that landed on me was full of pity and humiliation.

Everyone knew it wasn’t my fault.

Everyone could also see that Nathaniel was determined to protect Sylvia Hayes tonight no matter what.

I wanted to refuse, but Nathaniel seemed to have expected that.

Across the crowd, he silently reminded me.

“Forgiveness voucher.”

Back then, to marry me, Nathaniel proposed to me 99 times.

I rejected him 99 times.

I thought he would eventually give up.

But on the 100th time, he called over all my family and friends. In front of everyone, he looked at me solemnly and said, “Eleanor Hart, I choose you in this lifetime.”

“If you still say no today, I’ll come again tomorrow.”

“I’ll keep waiting until you’re willing to marry me.”

His persistence moved me, and I said yes.

On our wedding night, I personally made 99 forgiveness vouchers.

I thought that as long as those forgiveness vouchers still existed, we could always find our way back to each other.

For the first 3 years, Nathaniel Fenton treasured them.

He didn’t use a single one.

Until Sylvia Hayes appeared.

In just 2 years, he used 96.

Now, it was the 97th.

I held that glass of champagne, my fingertips turning faintly white, and forced myself to walk up to Mr. Lloyd.

“Mr. Lloyd, I’ll take responsibility for tonight’s mistake.”

Mr. Lloyd glanced at me and sighed.

“Mrs. Fenton, this wasn’t your fault.”

But I only smiled, tipped my head back, and drank the whole glass of champagne.

Out of the corner of my eye, Nathaniel Fenton was lowering his head to adjust Sylvia’s coat over her shoulders. His voice was so gentle it hurt.

“Silly girl, be more careful next time. Don’t scare yourself like that again.”

Sylvia held his hand, smiling as if nothing had happened.

“I know, Mr. Fenton. You’re so good to me.”

Right.

He was so good to her.

The champagne belatedly burned down my throat, choking my eyes red.

It was fine.

I told myself.

There were only 2 left anyway.

After the celebration gala ended, I walked toward the passenger seat like I always did.

The second my hand touched the door, the lock clicked shut.

Nathaniel rolled down the window and looked at me coldly.

“Call an Uber home. I just had the car cleaned.”

“You smell like champagne.”

It was as if he had forgotten where the champagne smell on me had come from.

The disgust was written plainly on his face. He didn’t even bother hiding it.

If it had been before, I probably would have rushed to explain that it had only been an accident, that the smell wouldn’t linger long.

Or I would have stood on the curb with red eyes, asking him why he had made me clean up Sylvia’s mess.

But this time, I only smiled and nodded.

“Okay. Be careful on the road.”

Nathaniel’s hand paused slightly on the steering wheel.

Instinctively, he looked at me.