My brother is a psychopath. He’s bipolar, and when he tried to stop me from marrying my fiancé, he broke his own leg. Later, I was murdered—betrayed by my fiancé and my best friend, who had plotted together to kill me. On the day of my funeral, while I lay six feet under, they celebrated, laughing and planning how to spend my inheritance. My brother, with his broken leg and all, chased them across the globe like a man possessed. Covered in blood, he dragged their severed heads back to my grave. He cradled my corpse, his fingers brushing my hair, and whispered softly: “Don’t worry, kiddo. Your big brother’s always here.” Now I’ve been given a second chance. When my fiancé wrapped his arms around me and asked me to drug my brother’s water, I shoved that disgusting man away. “What’s wrong with my brother?” “He’s just a little too good at loving me.” “Lila, all you have to do is pour this into your brother’s drink.” “He’d never suspect anything from you.” “This stuff could knock out an elephant. Once he’s out cold, I’ll take you away tonight. Sound good?” His fingers lightly pinched my wrist as he spoke, but my mind wasn’t on him at all. My gaze wandered past him to the shadows beneath the swaying branches of the hawthorn tree outside. There stood my brother. Dressed in a white button-down shirt, a chef’s knife hanging loosely in one hand, he stood at the door, his expression dark and unreadable. His eyes locked onto the two of us.
When I fully realized I had been reborn, I was already being dragged back into the house by my brother. In his left hand, he still held the knife. His right hand fumbled by the doorframe for something—probably rope. Not finding any, he yanked off his own tie and used it to bind my wrists. “You’re not seeing Josh again.” Josh. My fiancé. The man who had just asked me to drug my brother. I stayed quiet, watching as my brother meticulously tied the knot. He even padded the tie with a bit of cloth so it wouldn’t chafe. “Liam,” I called softly, grabbing at his fingers. He froze for a moment. In my past life, I couldn’t even stand to touch him. My gesture now threw him off for a second or two. Then his hand pressed over my mouth. “Shut up.” “If you so much as beg for that bastard, I’ll kill him myself.” In my previous life, this was how the rift between us began. I was blindly in love with Josh, never realizing that he and my best friend were working together to kill me for my money. I thought he was my soulmate. I clung to him desperately, even as my brother tried to warn me that Josh wasn’t who I thought he was. But I didn’t listen. Blinded by anger, I lashed out at Liam, yelling things I can never take back. “You’re a freak, Liam! You’re trying to control me like I’m some kind of prisoner!” “Do you know why everyone in the neighborhood avoids you? It’s because you’re a monster!” “I hate you! I hate that you’re my brother! Why couldn’t I have been born into another family?!” I’ll never forget the look in his eyes that day. He stood there, pale and hollow, his sharp features carrying the kind of beauty that felt fragile, like glass about to shatter. He didn’t yell back. He didn’t argue. He simply tied me up, turned, and said in the calmest voice: “Dinner’s fish head soup with tofu.” …My favorite dish.
When I snapped out of my memories, I realized I was already tied to a chair. My brother was in the kitchen, cooking dinner. Yes, my brother is a mentally unstable control freak. But what did he ever do wrong? He simply didn’t know how to love me properly. I zoned out again, only to notice my brother standing in front of me, staring down at me. “What’s wrong, Liam?” I looked up at him with a smile. His voice came out low and hoarse, tinged with hesitation. “Why aren’t you fighting me?” His voice hadn’t always been this rough. It had become like this after years of yelling at construction sites and odd jobs to make ends meet—all for me. “You don’t have to tie me up, Liam,” I said gently. “I’m not going to run anymore.” I’ll stay by your side. I’ll help you heal. But he just stared at me coldly. “Can’t fight you into submission, so now you’re trying to sweet-talk me?” He didn’t believe me. He still thought I’d run. Turning sharply, he walked away without a second glance. I cleared my throat, letting my voice soften just enough to tug at his heartstrings. “Liam… it hurts.” Three seconds. That’s all it took. He was back in front of me, frantically kneeling down as if I’d lost a limb. “Where does it hurt? Do we need to go to the hospital? I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He reached out, but then hesitated, his hand trembling in midair. I’d yelled at him before, screamed at him to never touch me. Guilt flickered in his eyes. I reached out, letting my fingers run through his soft black hair. His entire body froze like a statue, his expression one of pure disbelief—like he couldn’t process what had just happened. Leaning down, I traced the corner of his eye with my finger. “Liam, this time…” “Let me protect you.”
I meant it. This time, Josh and that so-called “best friend” of mine, those two despicable people, wouldn’t get away with anything. They had no right to stain my brother’s hands with their filth. “Lila, didn’t I tell you to drug your brother yesterday?” Standing next to the convenience store, Josh shoved his hands into his pockets, his brows furrowed in frustration. In my previous life, I’d been so obsessed with him it was like I’d been cursed. He treated me like a puppet, always bossing me around because he knew I’d do whatever he asked. “If you don’t knock him out tonight, don’t expect me to help you run away.” In my past life, I’d listened to him. I’d slipped the drug into my brother’s drink. But for some reason, Liam had woken up halfway through. He’d fought through the haze, stumbling after me despite barely being able to stand. I could still remember the sound of his body tumbling down the stairs, the sickening crack of his leg breaking. His eyes had been so red that day, as if they were bleeding. Even lying on the ground, he’d reached out for me, still trying to stop me from leaving. “Don’t go! Come back! They’re bad people!” His voice, already ruined, had been raw and broken as he begged me: “Trust me. Your brother will never lie to you.” “Not even if it kills me.” But back then, I’d thought he was just a lunatic trying to trap me in his twisted little world. Josh probably thought his threat would send me into a panic. But I didn’t even blink. Instead, I glanced at him with calm indifference and asked, “This drug… it won’t kill him, right?” Before Josh could answer, my “best friend” Danielle conveniently appeared, sauntering over with a popsicle in hand. “Oh, Lila, don’t overthink it. Just use enough to knock him out. That’s all.” She smiled sweetly, but her words dripped with venom. “Besides, your brother’s a total scumbag. He deserves it.” A scumbag? A “scumbag” who, in my last life, hunted you two down across continents to avenge me? A “scumbag” who dragged his broken body to make sure justice was served for the sister who never even trusted him? You think I don’t know my own brother? I looked up at them, my heart burning with hatred so deep I could barely contain it. I wanted nothing more than to tear them apart right there and then. But not yet. I glanced down at the bag of powder in my hand, my mind already working out a plan. Patience, I told myself. Not yet.
“You went to see Josh again, didn’t you?” The moment I walked through the door, I was pulled into his arms. His sharp nose brushed against my neck as he inhaled, his breath light and shallow. My brother always smelled faintly of hawthorn flowers, a scent that clung to him like it was a part of his soul. Under the dim light of the lamp, Liam’s face looked almost ghostly pale. His features were striking, carved out like ink spilled on white paper—beautiful, but fragile, as if the slightest touch might shatter him. “I wasn’t—” I started. “Shut up.” He cut me off roughly, his knuckles brushing against my shoulder blade. The unfamiliar sensation sent a shiver down my spine. But this time, I didn’t pull away. It suddenly struck me that Liam was like a stray dog, desperate and cautious, making sure the broken little doll he’d picked up still belonged to him. I smiled faintly, reaching up to brush the messy strands of hair falling into his face. And then I froze. He was burning up. “Liam, you’re running a fever,” I said, my voice trembling as I steadied him. He looked worse than usual, his face drained of color, his body clearly struggling. Yet he still stood there stubbornly, his eyes fixed on me. “You promised you’d be back by six,” he rasped, his voice cold and hoarse. “I had to wait for you.” … The clock was already nearing nine. It hit me like a punch to the gut: I’d completely forgotten the time because I was so caught up in my own mess. Even with his fever, even knowing I’d forgotten, Liam had waited for me. He always waited for me. He collapsed onto the couch, his exhaustion finally catching up to him. His eyes widened slightly when he saw me heading to the kitchen. Because for the first time in my life, I was making him dinner.
I’ve always been good at cooking. In my past life, I’d bent over backward trying to impress Josh, making him elaborate lunches and dinners to win his approval. But for Liam? I’d never bothered. If anything, I’d sneer at him, mock him for how little he had. It wasn’t until much later that I learned he’d kept the half-eaten sandwiches I threw away, holding onto them like treasures. The shrimp and scallop porridge simmered perfectly on the stove. When it was ready, I blew on a spoonful to cool it down and held it up to his lips. Liam stared at me, suspicion flickering in his eyes, as if I’d laced the food with poison. “Are you going to eat or not?” I asked calmly. Reluctantly, he bit down on the spoon, his gaze dropping, strangely obedient. It was hard to believe that these were the same arms that, in another life, had severed the heads of Josh and Danielle in a fit of vengeance. “Liam,” I said softly as he ate, “have you ever thought about our future?” He paused, watching me carefully. “I’m about to graduate,” I continued. “Your job’s unstable. Why don’t we sell the house and move to the coast? “I want to open a flower shop.” In my past life, I’d never included Liam in my plans. If anything, I’d told him to get lost. But he was the one who raised me. The one who sacrificed everything for me. “Don’t you like flowers, Liam?” I asked, leaning closer. “You always smell like hawthorn…” Before I could finish, his hand darted out, gripping my chin firmly. His calloused fingers brushed against my lips, rough but deliberate. The way he looked at me made my breath hitch. His eyes were raw, burning with a possessiveness he didn’t bother to hide. “What are you trying to say?” “Coast, flowers… Are you planning a getaway?” His voice was low, almost a whisper. “Don’t lie to me, Lila. Please.” The way he said my name, like it was something sacred, made my chest ache. “You know as well as I do,” he continued, his voice trembling, “that the first thing you’d do in a new place… is leave me behind.” … He wasn’t wrong. In my past life, that’s exactly what I would have done. Liam was like a wounded animal, scarred from years of betrayal. No matter what I said now, he’d see it as another trap, another way to hurt him. We stared at each other in the quiet room, the tension thick and suffocating. “Prove it,” he said finally, his voice steady but his eyes pleading. “Prove what?” I whispered. The lights flickered once, twice, and then went out, plunging the room into darkness. And in the darkness, Liam showed me exactly how he wanted me to prove it. I collided with his chest, his hands catching me by the waist. He was burning. His fevered body radiated heat as he let out a low, guttural sound. Before I could react, his fingers tilted my chin up, and his lips crashed against mine. His mouth was scorching, his fingers trailing down the back of my neck, leaving fire in their wake. I felt like I was melting, my senses overwhelmed by the intensity of his touch. He wasn’t just kissing me; he was claiming me, tearing down every wall I’d ever built between us. And then, in the middle of it all, I found myself gripping his shirt, kissing him back. Liam froze, his breath faltering before he pressed his forehead against mine, his voice breaking in the silence. “Just like this,” he whispered. “Don’t leave me, Lila.”
I finished washing the last of the dishes in the kitchen. Liam was in the living room, but I couldn’t bring myself to face him. I was stalling. After all, we’d just done something I never thought I’d do—not in this lifetime or the last. I’d always known Liam’s feelings for me weren’t purely familial. We weren’t related by blood, but the way he looked at me… it was like he’d been holding himself back for years. He wanted me, but he’d never dared to act on it. How do you face someone after that? Even after living two lives, I didn’t have the answer. But as I stood there thinking, Liam walked in like nothing had happened. “Thirsty?” Before I could respond, he cornered me at the sink, holding a steaming mug of milk. He pressed it to my lips. I had a habit of drinking milk before bed, but it was obvious this cup had already been his—the faint imprint of his lips lingered on the edge. I took a sip, my lips brushing the same spot his had. “Good girl.” He ruffled my hair like I was a child. “Liam,” I called softly. He raised an eyebrow. “You need to work on your kissing skills,” I teased. “What?” His laugh was low and disbelieving. “I said—” Before I could finish, he bent down and kissed the corner of my mouth, quick and unexpected. “…!” I grabbed his tie, pulling him closer. “Liam, now do you believe me?” I asked, my voice steady. “I’m not running anymore. I’ve given myself to you completely—” But he didn’t say anything. He just stared at me, his expression unreadable. “I’ve opened myself up to you—” Suddenly, my head started to spin. The room swayed, and I blinked up at him, confused. No… The milk. Liam cupped my face, his calloused thumb brushing over my eyelid. I couldn’t move. My limbs felt heavy, and my thoughts grew hazy. His voice sounded distant, like it was coming from the other end of a tunnel. “You did well this time, Lila.” “But you shouldn’t have left the drug so close to the top of your bag.” “It fell out earlier.” “You almost managed to kill your brother.” … No. He misunderstood. The drug wasn’t meant for him. I’d kept it to have it tested, to gather evidence against Josh and Danielle. But Liam thought I’d planned to use it on him. He thought everything I’d done tonight had been some grand performance to lull him into a false sense of security. I tried to speak, to explain, but my body wouldn’t obey me. My eyelids grew heavier and heavier, until I couldn’t keep them open anymore. The last thing I heard was Liam’s voice, quiet and bitter. “You hate your brother that much?” “Lie to me once, lie to me twice… when does it end, Lila?”
When I woke up, my head was pounding. I couldn’t move. Something was tight around my neck and wrists, pinning me in place. Liam had tied me up. “Liam…” My voice was hoarse as I looked at him in exasperation. “You have to let me explain.” … He stood over me, his expression cold and detached. Liam was tall and wiry, his frame almost fragile, like glass that could shatter at any moment. But his strength was undeniable—whether it was in my last life when he dealt with Josh and Danielle, or now, as he handled his “disobedient” sister. His pale fingers brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “Liam,” I said again, more firmly this time. “Shut up.” The command was sharp, his voice rough and frayed. He leaned down, capturing my lips in a kiss that was anything but gentle. His lashes brushed against my cheek, tickling me, but I couldn’t move. Even the softest of his touches felt overwhelming. I wanted to resist—I had to resist—but the moment I tasted him, I couldn’t help but respond. He consumed me completely, his scent, his warmth, his presence crowding every sense I had. But as his lips moved down to my jaw, trailing fire along my skin, the last shreds of my rationality snapped me back to reality. I wasn’t here to let Liam practice his kissing skills. “Liam—” I coughed, breaking the moment. He released me reluctantly, irritation flickering across his face as he rubbed my back. “You choked?” he asked, his voice still laced with anger. “Who’s the one who needs more practice?” His words were accusatory, but I could hear the hurt buried underneath. “I’m not lying to you, Liam,” I said firmly, meeting his gaze. “The drug was from Josh. He wanted me to use it on you.” “I kept it because I wanted to have it tested—to prove what they’ve been doing. That’s all.” “It’s you who doesn’t trust me.” Liam’s eyes narrowed as I spoke, but his expression didn’t soften. Instead, he leaned down, his lips brushing against mine again. I knew then that no matter what I said, my explanations would fall on deaf ears. He didn’t believe me. Frustrated, I pushed him away. He stepped back slightly, one eyebrow raised, a small smirk curling at the corner of his lips. “Oh, so the drug was for testing?” “Not to poison your poor brother?” He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper that sent a chill down my spine. “Lila, are you going to tell me next that everything you’ve done… was for me?” His voice cracked slightly, the vulnerability in his words almost hidden under his cutting tone. “Do you even love me, Lila? Even a little?” I opened my mouth to answer, but the words caught in my throat. How could I explain? In my last life, I’d done everything possible to hurt him. I’d spiked his food with sleeping pills, planted stolen goods on him to get him arrested, and ruined his reputation with our neighbors—all so I could escape him. Half of the awful things people said about Liam were my fault. So how could I convince him to believe me now? For now, I’d have to take a different approach. With a sudden burst of energy, I sat up, grabbed his face, and kissed him. His lips were warm, softer than I’d expected. He froze, his eyes widening slightly, like he couldn’t believe what had just happened. I pulled back, watching as his expression shifted, his eyes filling with something raw and wild. And then he snapped. I didn’t even have time to react before he pushed me back onto the bed, his hand cradling the back of my head to cushion the impact. The mattress dipped under our combined weight as he leaned over me, his fingers lacing through mine as he kissed me again, harder this time. His lips moved to my neck, his voice low and ragged against my skin. “You’re going to be the death of me, Lila.” … In my past life, I owed Liam everything. In this life, I don’t know if I can fix him. But I can promise to stay by his side, even if it means we destroy each other in the end.
iam’s cooking was amazing. It would’ve been even better if my hands weren’t tied and he wasn’t feeding me one spoonful at a time. “Liam…” I dragged out his name, trying to sound sweet. The silver spoon paused just before my lips. “Lila.” His tone was calm, indifferent even. “The last time you acted like this, you almost got me arrested.” He was just stating a fact, but under the table, my leg brushed against his. He froze for a moment. A faint blush crept onto his pale face, making him look almost innocent. If I hadn’t been pinned to the bed just hours earlier, feeling him devour me like a starving wolf, I might’ve believed it. “Liam, do you believe in fate?” He didn’t answer, so I continued. “I had a dream last night. A dream about the future.” “In the dream, I married Josh. You broke your leg trying to stop me. Later, Josh and Danielle conspired to kill me.” “You dragged that broken leg of yours halfway across the world, hunting them down to avenge me.” I stared into his eyes, making sure every word sounded as sincere as possible. “So now, I really, really hate Josh.” I poured my heart into those words, but Liam’s expression didn’t change. His beautiful eyes were as cold and reflective as a frozen lake. “Oh, really?” he said finally, leaning in close. His breath skimmed over my neck, sending goosebumps down my spine. “Funny. I had a dream too.” “In mine, my little sister was so desperate to escape me that she made up a beautiful lie.” “She tricked me into believing her, made me think I finally had her… and then she left me behind.” … For a second, I wondered if Liam had been reborn too. Because in my last life, that was exactly what had happened. The night I drugged him, I’d held his face in my hands, promising I’d never leave him. I could still remember the way his eyes had turned red, how he’d clung to my wrist like it was the only thing keeping him alive. “Lila, you won’t leave me, right? You’ll stay, right?” he’d asked, his voice trembling. And then I’d put him to sleep and left him behind. … If that’s what he dreamed, then maybe it wasn’t so strange that he wanted to keep me tied up. I chuckled lightly, and Liam frowned at me. “Forget it, Liam,” I said, my voice soft. “No matter what you do to me, I’ll accept it.”
I swear, this was the last time I’d ever lie to Liam. I turned the shower to the coldest setting and let the icy water wash over me. While drying my hair, I blasted it with cold air, making sure the chill seeped straight into my bones. My health had never been great, so it didn’t take much for me to catch a cold. As soon as I felt the cold settle into my sinuses, I sniffled, knowing I was on the verge of a fever. When I walked out of the bathroom, towel in hand, Liam was sitting on the couch. His dark eyes locked onto me with a piercing intensity. I stumbled toward him, letting out a dramatic “oh no” as I collapsed into his lap. Even though it was sudden, Liam’s arms instinctively came up to catch me. For a moment, I felt like one of those seductive fox spirits from old folklore, luring a scholar into my trap. But Liam’s gaze was steady and unwavering, cold enough to make me shiver. “Go to bed,” he said flatly. “…” I squeezed his thigh, testing his patience. His hand shot out to grab mine, holding it in place. I tilted my head, watching the way his throat moved as he swallowed. “Why are you ignoring me?” “Don’t move,” he warned. His voice was calm, but there was a flicker of something dangerous beneath it. “Go to sleep.” This time, his tone carried a sharper edge, a clear warning. “Liam, I’m so good to you. Don’t you like it?” I whispered, shifting slightly on his lap and brushing my fingers against his throat. His pupils dilated, and a low grunt escaped his lips. He was still holding back. My brother, always holding back. “Fine,” I said, feigning disappointment. “Next time, I won’t be so nice to you.” “After all, Liam, you’re the one who keeps pushing me away.” Before I could finish my sentence, his hand gripped the back of my neck, pulling me forward. His lips crashed into mine, cutting off whatever words I was about to say. Sometimes, I really did feel sorry for Liam. I was the one tied up, but he was the one who was truly trapped. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. “Are you scared, Liam?” I murmured against his lips. He didn’t answer right away. When he finally did, his voice was hoarse. “Yes,” he admitted quietly. “You’re acting so strange, Lila. I’m terrified it’s all a trap.” “But you know what? Even if you dug a pit and stood in front of it, smiling as you told me to jump…” “I’d still jump.” It was the middle of the night, and I couldn’t sleep. My body felt like it was burning up. I got up and knocked on Liam’s door. “Liam… I think I have a fever,” I mumbled, my vision blurry as I looked up at him. For a moment, random thoughts filled my foggy mind—Liam really was handsome. If he’d gone to school like a normal person, I bet a lot of girls would’ve fallen for him. But unfortunately, Liam had given up everything for me. Without hesitation, he scooped me up in his arms. “We’re going to the hospital.” He didn’t even stop to think. His coat was already wrapped around me as he carried me out the door. He pressed his hand to my forehead, and I felt his fingers tremble. I must’ve been really hot. Liam always panicked because of me. He was so perfect in every way, but it seemed like God had given him a weakness—me. His entire life had been ruined because of me.
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