Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 473: It just popped up

The night slipped away with the couple falling asleep in each other’s embrace, warmth wrapped around warmth, the world reduced to slow breaths and steady heartbeats.

It was the incessant ringing of her phone that shattered the peace.

Anna groaned, her face burrowing deeper into Daniel’s chest as if hiding would make the sound stop. It didn’t. The phone kept ringing—persistent, unforgiving, borderline criminal.

"Damn it," she muttered, voice thick with sleep.

Daniel stirred beneath her, eyes fluttering open just as she reached out blindly, fingers closing around her phone. He watched through half-lidded eyes as she squinted at the glowing screen, irritation etched across her face.

She answered without even glancing at the caller ID.

"Whoever you are," Anna said hoarsely, voice dripping with murderous intent, "I am going to haunt you for the rest of your life."

Daniel: "..."

He went still, clearly intrigued.

Caller: "..."

Anna waited a second, already preparing to hang up.

Then the voice on the other end screeched.

"Haunt me all you want," Kevin yelled, "but if you don’t show up right now for the dress fitting, you’ll be wearing jeans and a top to your film’s premiere!"

There was a beat of stunned silence.

Anna jolted upright as if struck by lightning.

"What?" she gasped.

Her sleep vanished instantly, terror flooding her expression as the words finally sank in. Her mouth parted, eyes wide, color draining from her face.

"Oh my God," she whispered. "Oh my God."

Daniel, on the other hand, leaned back against the pillows, one arm folding behind his head, entirely too relaxed for a man witnessing impending disaster. A slow, entertained smile curved his lips as he watched her unravel.

"Anna," Kevin continued, sounding close to tears himself, "you have twenty minutes. Twenty. The designer is already threatening to leave."

"I’m coming!" she shouted, scrambling out of bed so fast she nearly tripped over the sheets. "I’m on my way—don’t cancel, don’t panic, don’t let anyone touch the dress—just—just breathe!"

Daniel bit down on his lip to keep from laughing.

Anna ended the call with shaking fingers and stood frozen for half a second before chaos erupted.

She stumbled back, nearly colliding with the bedside table, then rushed toward the wardrobe, yanking it open with unnecessary force.

"Where are my clothes?" she demanded the empty room, frantically tossing hangers aside.

Daniel turned his head lazily, thoroughly enjoying the show. "You know," he drawled, "this is a very dramatic way to wake up."

She shot him a look that could have killed.

"This is not funny!" she snapped, hopping on one foot while trying—and failing—to pull on a pair of flats. "I have a premiere. A premiere, Daniel."

"You said you’d haunt someone," he replied calmly. "Seems fair that fate is haunting you back."

She groaned in frustration, abandoning the shoes altogether and grabbing the first halfway-decent outfit she could find.

"I can’t believe I overslept," she muttered, running around the room like a storm. "Why didn’t you wake me?"

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "You were sleeping very peacefully. Also, you threatened the caller with eternal haunting. I was curious where that would go."

She didn’t dignify that with a response.

Grabbing her phone again, Anna bolted toward the bathroom, nearly slipping on the rug as she skidded to a stop.

"I swear," she said over her shoulder, already yanking the bathroom door open, "if I miss this fitting, I will actually haunt someone."

Daniel chuckled, propping himself up on one elbow as he watched her disappear inside, the sound of drawers opening and items clattering echoing through the room.

"Take your time," he called out innocently. "You’ve got... what was it? Twenty minutes?"

"Daniel!" her voice screeched from inside the bathroom.

His laughter followed her.

***

Anna had no idea how she managed to drive like a responsible adult and reach the boutique in under twenty minutes. She barely remembered the traffic lights, the turns, or whether she had obeyed any laws of the universe along the way.

All she knew was that the moment she stepped inside and saw Kevin staring at her with wide eyes and an impressed tilt of his head, her shoulders finally sagged in defeat.

"That was... quick," Kevin said slowly.

Anna bent forward, hands braced on her knees, panting like she had just completed a marathon she never signed up for.

"Did you run all the way here?" Kevin added, deadpan. "Because you’re breathing like you just outran fate."

Anna twitched her lips. "I would appreciate it if you didn’t narrate my near-death experience."

Before Kevin could respond, a blur of movement rushed toward her.

"Big Sis!" Betty cried. "Oh my God, you’re sweating so much!"

She shoved a glass of water into Anna’s hands with the urgency of someone saving a life.

"Here, drink. Quickly."

Anna stared at the water like it had personally betrayed her. "I would rather have a full breakfast with carbs, protein, emotional support, and maybe a therapist," she muttered, forcing a smile before gulping it down. "But thank you. This will keep me alive. Barely."

Kevin snorted. "Drama queen."

Once Anna’s breathing returned to something resembling normal, the trio moved into the dressing area. The space was bright, elegant, and filled with fabric bags, mirrors, and assistants moving around with purpose.

This was it.

The dress fitting for her film’s premiere.

The day had finally arrived—the moment she had dreamed of for years. Endless auditions. Rejections that stung more than she admitted. Long nights memorizing scripts, doubting herself, convincing herself not to quit.

And now... her work was about to be shown on the big screen.

A quiet sense of pride washed over her.

She had done it.

"Alright," Kevin clapped his hands, breaking the moment. "Let’s see if this dress lives up to the hype. If it doesn’t, I will personally fight the designer."

"Please don’t," Anna said weakly. "I don’t have the energy to bail you out."

Betty giggled as assistants disappeared behind the curtain with the garment bag. Anna stood there, suddenly very aware of her heartbeat.

Excitement tangled with nerves, tightening her chest.

"Oh my God, Big Sis—look at this."

Betty’s exaggerated gasp yanked Anna out of her spiraling thoughts. She turned instinctively, already bracing herself for drama—but the second her eyes landed on what Betty was holding, her brows drew together sharply.

The humor drained from her face.

"What... is that?" Anna asked slowly.

Betty stood frozen near the mirror, phone clenched in her hand, eyes wide—not playful, not teasing this time. Pale.

Kevin, sensing the shift, straightened. "Why do you look like you just saw a ghost?"

Betty swallowed and held the phone out. "It just popped up. Everywhere."

Anna took the phone.

And felt the floor tilt beneath her.