Category: English

1 Twenty-two years. That’s how long we’d been inseparable, my childhood sweetheart and I. And finally, I was getting what I’d always dreamed of: a proposal from Ethan. Our friends, ecstatic, threw us a party, goading us to interlock arms for a celebratory toast. I shyly raised my glass, moving closer to Ethan. But the man who had only ever been gentle with me suddenly shoved me away. Hard. I crashed to the floor, the shards of my champagne flute slicing into my palm. Ethan just stared down at me, his eyes cold as he spat, “Have you no shame?” Later, on my way home from the hospital, I walked in on a scene that seared itself into my memory. There was Ethan, pinning his old flame, Lila, against the mattress of what was supposed to be our marital bed, his voice a low, desperate murmur. “Come back to me. Just say you’ll come back, and you’ll be the only one I marry.” Watching them, so intimately entwined, a bitter regret washed over me. I had made a terrible mistake. To save myself from another, deeper humiliation, I decided to run. I would disappear on our wedding day. But after I left, the man who had so casually offered my place to another woman lost his mind, tearing the world apart to find me. “Candi, that overseas training program you mentioned… is the spot still open?” I stood under the sickly yellow glow of a streetlight, my voice tight as I fought to keep my emotions in check over the phone with my boss. Candi paused, confused. “It is. Why are you asking? I thought you were getting married.” The breath I’d been holding finally escaped me. “Not anymore. Is the spot still mine if I want it?” “Of course! You’re the best I’ve ever mentored. I’d be thrilled to have you,” she said, her voice filled with a warmth that almost broke me. The moment I hung up, the dam burst. Sobs wracked my body, each one a tremor of pain. The conversation I’d overheard in our—in his—apartment played on a loop in my head, a slow, torturous dissection of my heart. After a long while, my emotions subsided, leaving me aware of the dress I was wearing. It was a size too small, a beautiful gown that now felt like a cage, squeezing the air from my lungs. I found a late-night clothing shop and changed out of it. It had been custom-made for me by Ethan. I’d loved it, despite the fact it never quite fit. As the sales clerk watched with a regretful look, I shoved the gown into a nearby trash can. It was astonishing, the sense of liberation that came from shedding something that didn’t fit, something I had endured for far too long. Just as I stepped out of the shop, my phone buzzed. It was a notification from the security camera I’d installed in the apartment to keep an eye on the renovations. A camera had been disconnected. After a moment’s hesitation, I reconnected it. The feed flickered back to life, and there was Lila, sauntering around the bedroom in the lingerie Ethan had bought for me. The very set I’d been too shy to ever wear. It looked, I had to admit, perfect on her. Her fingers trailed mockingly over the wedding photos of Ethan and me that lined the wall. The camera quality was sharp enough to capture the derisive smirk on her face. “If I hadn’t come back, would you really have married her?” she purred. Ethan didn’t answer. Instead, he began pulling the photos from the wall, tossing them carelessly into a corner of the closet. Lila smiled, settling back onto the bed. Her bare foot traced a line up Ethan’s calf. “You staged this whole grand proposal just to get my attention, didn’t you? If you’re going to keep playing the strong, silent type, I might just leave again.” “Don’t you dare,” Ethan growled, the fire in him finally erupting. He pushed her back into the mattress, his gaze fierce and possessive. Lila just giggled, her arms snaking around his neck to pull him down. “I knew you could never forget me.” Her voice was a triumphant whisper. “Tell me, is Anna genuinely that naive, or is she just playing dumb? The clothes you bought her were all my style, in my size. The wedding ring has my initials engraved on it. Even the design of this apartment is the one I told you I dreamed of. And she never suspected a thing.” Ethan said nothing more. He just kissed her, and they fell into a desperate, tangled embrace. Boom. A firework exploded across the sky. But my own world had gone silent, a deafening roar in my ears. All this time, I thought he was just careless, forgetful about my size. My hand trembled as I pulled the ring from my finger. Using my phone’s light, I searched its smooth surface. And there, on the inner band, were the tiny letters: L.S. In that instant, all the strength drained from my body. I couldn’t even hold onto the ring. It slipped from my grasp, falling through a sewer grate with a series of metallic clinks. Each tiny sound was a hammer blow against my heart. No wonder he’d acted so strangely at the karaoke bar when Lila showed up. No wonder he hadn’t cared that he’d hurt me. I was just a stand-in. A placeholder until the real star of his life decided to return. What a joke. I was the one who had been by his side for twenty-two years. I was the one who had supported him tirelessly for the eight years it took to build his company from nothing. And in the end, I was nothing more than a substitute for the one person in the world I despised. Their kiss ended, and Lila stroked his cheek. “Ethan, my love,” she murmured. “On your wedding day… will you run away with me?” “You mean…” Ethan’s eyes lit up. He gently brushed his finger over her nose, and they shared a conspiratorial smile. I shut off the screen and started to laugh. A ragged, broken sound that made passersby turn and stare. My heart felt like it had been crushed under a great weight, an agony so profound it was paralyzing. The cruelest part wasn’t being Lila’s replacement. It was knowing the man I loved had been plotting to humiliate me all along. Ethan, you are truly ruthless. 2 I sat on a roadside bench for a long time, until Ethan and Lila finally emerged from the building. When he saw me, Ethan’s arm, which had been wrapped around Lila, instantly dropped. “You’re back? Why are you sitting out here? It’s filthy.” His face was a mask of disgust, and he didn’t seem to notice my swollen, red-rimmed eyes. My gaze drifted to Lila, and he instinctively moved to shield her, a protective gesture that was painfully familiar. It was the same way he used to shield me from Lila when we were kids. Now, our roles were reversed. A bitter smile touched my lips. Before I could speak, Ethan launched into a hurried explanation. “Don’t get the wrong idea. Lila had a bit too much to drink, so I just brought her back to rest for a while. She felt bad about it and insisted on leaving as soon as it got dark. I was just worried about her going home alone, so I offered to walk her.” The man who never bothered to explain himself to me was suddenly a fountain of excuses, all for Lila. He felt like a stranger, not the person I’d spent twenty-two years of my life with. I took a deep breath, my voice laced with a sarcasm I couldn’t hide. “If she really had any sense of propriety, she wouldn’t have gone home with another woman’s fiancé. And in case you haven’t noticed, it’s the middle of the night.” Caught in his lie, Ethan’s face flushed with anger. “Anna, Lila is your sister, for God’s sake. What are you trying to imply?” Her sister? My eyelashes fluttered. He dared to call the person who had stolen everything from me my sister. Had he forgotten what Lila did? Because of her mother, I was swapped at birth and spent seven years being abused by strangers. When my real parents finally found me, Lila’s lies and manipulations turned them against me, ensuring I never felt a shred of their love. She and her mother took everything, but that wasn’t enough. They were the reason my hand was permanently damaged, shattering my dream of becoming an artist. I would never forgive Lila. And I would certainly never call her my sister. “She is not my sister,” I retorted, my voice shaking with rage. “She’s the daughter of a kidnapper, a monster.” My defiance was met with a sharp slap across the face. “Anna, that’s enough! Apologize to Lila. Now.” “No.” I stared into his eyes, my nails digging so deep into my bandaged palm that the wound reopened, staining the gauze red. The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my chest. The boy who used to get teary-eyed if I so much as scraped my knee had just struck me. For Lila. From behind Ethan, Lila shot me a triumphant smirk before her expression melted into one of fragile vulnerability. She tugged on his sleeve. “It’s okay, Ethan. It’s my fault. I never should have come here. Please, don’t fight because of me.” Ethan’s hand closed over hers, and his gaze on me turned to ice. “Anna, what happened back then was her mother’s doing. It had nothing to do with Lila. It’s been years. Why are you still holding onto it with such petty resentment?” I almost laughed. “That’s rich, coming from you, Ethan. You saw the scars all over my body. You saw this hand,” I held it up, “the hand that can no longer hold a paintbrush. And you call this being petty?” His face tightened, his public defense of her shattered. “Just look at yourself,” he snarled, his voice stripped of all its former warmth. “So bitter and sharp-tongued. It’s no wonder your own parents can’t stand you.” With a final, forceful push, he shoved me aside and walked away, his arm once again protectively around Lila. I stumbled back, my spine hitting a lamppost with a sickening thud. The pain left me doubled over, gasping for air. It was the third time he had laid a hand on me in a single day. When we were ten, Lila had used her own body to frame me, making my parents think I was a violent, hateful child. I had cried for days, and a ten-year-old Ethan had been the one to comfort me. His childish voice still echoed in my memory. ‘You’re wonderful, Anna. If they can’t see that, they’re blind. I see it. I’ll always, always choose you.’ I didn’t know then that his words would take root in my heart, growing there for two decades. And now, he was telling me that no one could ever love me. That “no one” included him. The words that had once been my salvation had transformed into a volley of poisoned arrows, all aimed directly at my heart. 3 I dragged my exhausted body back to the new apartment. A text from Candi came through with my flight information. It was scheduled for ten days from now—the morning of my wedding. My eyes fell on the little decorative robot on the counter, its face a cheerful, smiling screen. The large numbers on it displayed the countdown to our wedding. Now, it was a countdown to my escape. How fitting. It felt like destiny. Ethan came home to find me re-wrapping the bandage on my hand. His eyes flickered with something—maybe guilt?—when he saw the injury. He sighed, sinking to his knees in front of me. He gently unwrapped the gauze and began dabbing the cut with antiseptic. “You know, the reason I’m nice to Lila is for your sake,” he began, his voice low and reasonable. “It’s been so many years, and you still can’t get over the hurdle with your parents. We’re about to get married, and you have no family to attend, hardly any friends. You can’t even scrape together a group of bridesmaids.” I pursed my lips, saying nothing. He knew my story better than anyone. He knew every cut, every bruise, every betrayal. He had seen my parents choose Lila over and over until my heart was shattered. He had supported me when I finally cut them off. I wasn’t without friends; he knew that. They were just married, with families of their own. We were the ones who had waited, because he wanted to establish his career first. I had waited for him, my twenties slipping away without a single word of complaint. And now, he was the one bringing it up, the one who found me lacking. The boy who once held me and whispered, ‘You only need me,’ had been swept away by the river of time. A sharp sting on my hand made me flinch, and I tried to pull away. He held on tight, giving me a look of gentle rebuke before bringing my hand to his lips and blowing softly on the cut. “Such a big girl, and you still can’t handle a little pain. What would you ever do without me?” I watched his performance of feigned tenderness and started to question everything. Were all those years of warmth and care just a role he was playing, a part he’d become lost in? And was I the only one who had truly believed the script? “I was going to ask earlier,” he said, “why did you change? Where’s the evening gown?” “It was ruined. I threw it out.” I had no desire to talk, but he seemed oblivious, chattering more than he had in years. After tossing the used cotton swab, he put away the first-aid kit, lecturing me as he went. “I apologized to Lila on your behalf for tonight. From now on, you need to think before you speak. Stop dragging up the past.” I watched his back as he walked away and let out a soft, hollow laugh. “Ethan, there is no ‘from now on’ for us.” “What?” He turned, a flicker of awareness in his eyes, but I had already looked down, busying myself with my phone. Back in the bedroom, the half-empty wall was a stark reminder of what had happened. The lingerie lay discarded on the bed. I picked it up and tossed it under the frame. Even so, the bed felt contaminated, filthy. The thought of them tangled on these sheets, their desperate, passionate embrace… A wave of nausea rose in my throat, and I retched, right there on the bed. Ethan emerged from the bathroom and saw the mess, his brow furrowing in annoyance. “What’s wrong with you? Normal people find a trash can or a toilet when they feel sick. You just puke on the bed?” Seeing the ghastly pallor of my face, he softened his tone. “Well, looks like we’ll have to sleep somewhere else tonight.” He opened the closet to find a fresh set of sheets, accidentally knocking over the picture frames he’d stashed in the corner. They crashed to the floor, glass shattering everywhere. Guiltily, he bent to pick them up. “A couple of the photos fell down earlier,” he explained, avoiding my eyes. “I was afraid they’d break, so I took them all down. Guess I ended up breaking one anyway. You should secure the nails better when you hang them back up.” I gave a noncommittal hum and took the clean sheets from him, heading for the guest room. Ethan rubbed his nose, sighed, and resignedly began to clean up the mess. 4 I woke in the guest room to the sun high in the sky. Ethan hadn’t come to find me last night, and for the first time in a long time, I had slept soundly. Stretching, I walked into the living room and saw a plate of breakfast on the table with a note beside it. Anna, I’m off to work. Don’t forget to eat. Be good! The same old tenderness, the same old care. Except now, it didn’t fill me with happiness. With my new perspective, the gesture felt tainted, part of a larger deception. I scraped the food and the note into the trash can without a second thought. Just after I finished my own breakfast, the robot assistant chirped a schedule reminder. I’d completely forgotten. Today was the day we were supposed to go to the wedding planner to choose my gown and finalize the decor. Apparently, Ethan had forgotten too. I dismissed the notification and spent the next two hours on my phone, methodically canceling every order for our wedding decor. I packed up everything that had already been delivered and arranged for it to be returned. What couldn’t be returned, I threw away. Piece by piece, I erased myself from this apartment, just as I was erasing my love for Ethan from my heart. Soon, there was no trace I had ever lived in this house that was never truly mine. I was holding a beautiful, expensive photo album, about to burn it, when his call came. “Anna, we were supposed to try on wedding dresses and look at venues today. Why didn’t you remind me?” “I forgot, too,” I said flatly. There was a long silence on his end. He clearly hadn’t expected that answer. Finally, he told me to get ready and that he was waiting downstairs. When I finally ambled down, I saw Lila was in the car with him. She was in the passenger seat, and she smiled at me as if nothing was wrong. I quietly opened the back door and slid in. Both of them flinched. Ethan’s eyes met mine in the rearview mirror several times before he started making excuses. “I thought, since Lila has such great taste, we could ask for her help. It’ll make things go faster. And, uh, she gets carsick, so I let her sit up front.” I nodded and turned to look out the window. In a few days, I would be on a plane to another country, for who knew how long. I might as well enjoy one last look at this city. A flicker of movement in my peripheral vision caught my eye. Ethan was squeezing Lila’s hand. She squeezed back, and they engaged in a silent, playful tug-of-war. I closed my eyes and feigned sleep until we arrived. At the wedding planner’s office, as the designer pulled up the venue mockups, Lila plopped herself right down in the chair next to the computer. Ethan stood beside her, leaning in close. They murmured to each other, pointing at the screen, looking for all the world like a happy couple planning their future. I sat on a sofa across the room, feeling no desire to fight for my place. It was only after they had made all the decisions that Ethan seemed to remember I was there. He saw me on the sofa, looking completely detached, and his mood soured. “Why are you sitting so far away? Come over here and help.” I glanced at the screen. “I’ve seen it,” I said with a serene smile. “What you two picked out… it’s perfect.” Something in my tone must have set Lila off. She bit her lip, her face crumpling into a mask of hurt. “This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have come.” With that, she bolted from the office. Ethan started to chase after her, but he stopped as he passed me. “I went to all this trouble to get Lila to help you, and this is how you act? What is your problem?” he hissed. “Fine. You can pick everything out yourself now.” I couldn’t take the injustice anymore. I shot up and grabbed the back of his shirt, pulling him up short. He stumbled, nearly crashing into the glass door. I met his furious gaze with a calm of my own. “What exactly,” I asked, “is it that I’m doing wrong?” He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He just shook my hand off and stormed out after her. The designer looked at me with pity. “Ma’am,” she asked gently, “would you like to choose a different theme? And for the dress… you don’t need them. You should pick what you like.” I gave her a grateful smile. “No, what they chose is fine. As for the dress… let him decide.” When I got home, I picked up the beautiful photo album again. This time, without a flicker of hesitation, I tossed it into the fireplace.

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The hospital’s new resident Gloria claimed to see prophetic live comments. During surgery, she announced: “Dr. Reed will slip in one minute, severing the artery. The patient will die.” A minute later, my scalpel slipped. The patient bled out. When grieving relatives arrived, Gloria warned colleagues: “In thirty minutes, the father will stab Dr. Reed – half an inch left of her heart.” Thirty minutes later, the blade pierced my chest at the predicted spot. As my fiancé Mark rushed me to surgery, Gloria sighed: “They’ll find Evie’s pregnant during the operation…and the baby isn’t yours.” The pre-op scan confirmed her words. Mark swore he’d never touched me, breaking our engagement as I hemorrhaged. I died abandoned on the operating table. Gloria became legendary. When I reopened my eyes, it was her first prophetic day again. Gloria’s voice was a shot of panic in the sterile calm of the OR. “Dr. Reed, stop! You have to stop the surgery, you’re going to kill him!” The entire medical team froze. “Gloria, what are you talking about?” the head nurse snapped. “The patient’s life is on the line. This is no time for jokes!” But Gloria’s face was a mask of unnerving confidence. “I’m telling the truth. I can see comments—they predict the future!” She held up a hand as if to read from it. “If you don’t believe me, I’ll read them to you.” “‘In one more minute, Dr. Reed’s hand will slip. She’ll sever the patient’s artery, causing a massive hemorrhage, and the patient will die.’” Every person in the room stopped moving, their eyes snapping to me. In that same instant, a wave of vertigo washed over me. I stared down at the scalpel in my hand, a disbelieving tremor running through me. I was… reborn. But before the reality could fully sink in, a shriek shattered the silence. “His artery is severed!” the head nurse cried, her face pale with panic. “Massive hemorrhage! We’re losing him! Get cross-matched plasma, now! Prep for emergency resuscitation!” Her voice yanked me back to the present. I stared in horror at the blood pooling in the patient’s chest cavity, the crimson tide rising with terrifying speed. “Evelyn, what the hell are you doing?” one of the other surgeons demanded, his voice thick with fury. “You’re the lead surgeon! How could you be so careless? Do you have any regard for this man’s life?” I bowed my head, my hands moving on instinct, suturing the wound with frantic precision. I didn’t have time to argue. But inside, my mind was a raging storm. How? The second I realized I was back, I had gripped the scalpel with all my strength. I made sure it wouldn’t slip. So why did it happen all over again? Why was his artery still cut? The operating room descended into controlled chaos, but Gloria remained perfectly still. She stood to the side, shaking her head with an air of tragic pity. “It’s no use,” she said softly, just loud enough for everyone to hear. “You can’t save him.” “The moment Dr. Reed’s scalpel cut the artery, the prophecy of the comments was fulfilled. This patient was destined to die. No one can change that.” As if on cue, the heart monitor shrieked. A long, piercing beep echoed through the room, signaling what we all knew was coming. His heart rate had dropped to zero. Just as Gloria had predicted, the patient on the table died from blood loss, our resuscitation efforts utterly futile. A heavy silence fell over the room. The other staff stared at the still body, their faces a mixture of disbelief and shock. “But… why?” one of them murmured, re-checking the vitals. “The sutures were immediate, the bleeding was controlled, the plasma was a perfect match… He should have stabilized.” Instinctively, their gazes shifted to Gloria. In that moment, her credibility was forged in the crucible of our failure. They believed her. Gloria let out a somber sigh. “The future shown in the comments is immutable. Once a prediction comes to pass, the entire chain of events is set in stone. There’s no escaping it.” Her eyes, filled with a calculated worry, landed on me. “Dr. Reed, the patient is gone. There’s no point in looking for another reason. The simple fact is, your hand slipped. Instead of trying to find excuses, you should probably be thinking about how you’re going to explain this to his family.” She then addressed the room. “Everyone, let’s not just stand here. We all need to write our incident reports.” Her words were a cold splash of reality. The patient had collapsed from a sudden heart attack at work. His family lived out of state and were on their way, expecting to hear news of a successful surgery. They would be here any minute. The team dispersed, a cloud of grim duty hanging over them as they left to document the tragedy. Gloria cast one last look at me, a subtle shake of her head, before turning to leave as well. I remained rooted to the spot, a cold sweat breaking out across my skin. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. I know I held that scalpel steady. So how was his artery still severed? Was Gloria right? Was the future truly unchangeable? While the others wrote their reports, I locked myself in the operating room, replaying the events for hours. Eventually, the family arrived, their faces etched with the fatigue of a long, frantic train journey. The first thing they saw was their son’s body, his face a waxy, lifeless white. A gut-wrenching cry tore from his mother’s throat. “My boy! Oh, my baby boy! You were just on a video call with us last night! You said you were coming home for the holidays… How can you just be… gone?” “Open your eyes, son, please! Look at us! We’re here, Mom and Dad are here to see you…” The parents’ sobs were like a physical blow. Even the most hardened nurses around me were wiping away tears. My own throat felt tight enough to choke me. In all my years as a surgeon, I had snatched countless patients from the jaws of death. I couldn’t have lost one to a simple slip of the hand. It didn’t make sense. As I struggled for an explanation, the father’s grief curdled into rage. He rounded on us, his eyes blazing. “Which one of you was his surgeon? My son was supposed to be fine! You said it was a ninety-percent success rate! You will give me an answer, or so help me, you’ll pay with your lives!” He scanned our faces, a predator seeking his prey. One of the nurses, hoping to placate him, began to recount what had happened in the OR. The moment he heard I was the lead surgeon, that my hand had slipped and caused the fatal hemorrhage, his entire demeanor shifted. He spotted the name tag on my white coat: Dr. Evelyn Reed. His eyes locked onto mine. He shoved through the crowd and stormed towards me, yanking me forward by the collar of my coat. “You’re Dr. Evelyn Reed? You’re the one who killed my son!” His face was a mask of pure hatred, a mirror image of the one I remembered from my past life. And with his rage came Gloria’s perfectly timed, panicked cry. “Oh no! The comments! They’re saying the father is about to pull a knife and stab Dr. Reed! The blade… it’s aimed for the left side of her heart.” Her words hung in the air as the father began to drag me by my collar toward the hospital exit. He was strong, his grip like a vice. I couldn’t break free. The other staff, hearing Gloria’s prediction, started to move forward to intervene. But the father suddenly ripped a sharp paring knife from his pocket. “You doctors… you don’t care about a single life!” he roared, his voice cracking with pain. “My son was healthy! How does he just die during surgery? I don’t care anymore! Today, one of you worthless butchers is going to pay for what you did!” He pressed the cold steel of the knife against my throat, dragging me backward toward the entrance. The chill of the blade was a ghost of a memory, a phantom from my previous death. In my last life, it had played out just like this. He had dragged me outside, and in the ensuing struggle, he had driven the knife straight into my chest. This time, I could have run. I could have left the hospital before he even arrived. But if Gloria was right, if the future was truly unavoidable, then running would be pointless. He hauled me out into the open air of the hospital entrance. The medical staff followed, forming a nervous semi-circle. Gloria stood among them, her voice a placating balm. “Sir, we are all devastated by your son’s death, but he can’t be brought back. You can’t blame us for what happened. Dr. Reed is a wonderful, moral doctor. She’s saved countless lives. Your son’s death was a tragic accident.” Her words were like gasoline on a fire. “Shut up!” the father screamed. “She’s one of you! Of course you’d defend her! It was my son who died, not yours! You talk like it’s nothing!” He was sobbing now, tears streaming down his face. “He was my only child! He just graduated college! He was only twenty-five! Twenty-five years old, and he’s gone!” He brandished the knife, forcing everyone to back away. Once they were at a safe distance, the pressure on my neck eased slightly. But before I could even draw a full breath, his voice dropped to a venomous whisper in my ear. “Evelyn Reed. You incompetent butcher. You killed my son. Now you’re going to pay for it with your life.” In a flash of movement, he whipped the knife away from my throat and lunged, aiming directly for my chest. I saw the glint of the blade coming for the left side of my heart and twisted my body, trying to dodge. For a split second, I thought I’d made it. But it was as if the blade had a mind of its own, correcting its course in mid-air. His other hand shot out, clamping down on my shoulder, and he guided the knife with chilling accuracy into the exact spot Gloria had predicted. Why? I dodged it! Why did it still hit me in the exact same place? The searing pain sent my world blurring at the edges, and I didn’t have time to think. As I staggered back, hospital security, who had been circling around, finally saw their opening. They tackled the father from behind, wrestling him to the ground. “Let me go! Let me go!” he shrieked, struggling against them. “You murderers! You killed my son! I’ll kill you all!” Ignoring his crazed screams, my colleagues swarmed around me. “She’s bleeding! Get her to an OR, now!” “Where’s the gurney? Someone get a gurney!” Within seconds, a stretcher appeared. As they lifted me onto it, I could still hear the father’s curses and threats. While they rushed me back inside, their voices were a low hum of awe and fear, all directed at Gloria. “Gloria, your comments… they’re unbelievable.” “You predicted everything, down to the exact spot. It’s… terrifying.” Gloria basked in their reverence, a flicker of smug pride in her eyes before she masked it with humility. “Of course,” she murmured. We finally reached the surgical ward. Just like last time, my fiancé, Mark, came running, his face a mess of panic and fear. “Evie!” he cried, his eyes red-rimmed. “I heard you were stabbed! How bad is it? Are you okay?” I tried to speak, to tell him something, but Gloria beat me to it. She placed a gentle hand on Mark’s shoulder, her expression dripping with pity. “Mark… there’s something… I don’t know if I should say.” “What is it?” Mark demanded, his voice strained. “If it’s about Evie, just say it!” The surrounding staff fell silent, their attention fixed on Gloria. Under the weight of their gazes, she glanced at me, then shook her head sorrowfully. “Aigh, I really didn’t want to be the one to say this. Evie’s my mentor, she brought me into this hospital… But what she’s done… it’s just… I saw another comment, and I can’t believe it…” “Gloria, spit it out!” Mark snapped. “Yeah, stop drawing it out,” a colleague added. “Dr. Reed needs surgery. We don’t have time for this!” Finally, Gloria spoke. “Alright, but you all forced me. Don’t blame me for being the one to tear them apart.” She turned her pity-filled eyes to Mark. “When they get Evie into surgery,” she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “don’t be surprised if they find out she’s pregnant. And, Mark… the baby isn’t yours.”

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It was the third year of my marriage to Marcus Kane. He was thirty-five. I wasn’t even twenty-one, just a senior in college. I was still debating whether I wanted to be a stay-at-home wife when I overheard him chatting with a group of his high-powered friends. “Sophie has nothing going for her but her youth,” he said, his voice casual. “Compared to her, Isabel is so much more sophisticated. I’m starting to regret this marriage. Keeping a young girl on the side costs pennies compared to this. A divorce now would be a massive financial hit.” The next day, I handed him the divorce papers. When he saw the clause stating I would walk away with nothing, a long sigh of relief escaped him. He even put on a show of magnanimity. “I’ll give you twenty million,” he said. “Consider it compensation.” I smiled and refused. “I’m still young. I can afford to play.” He didn’t know that my brother was Alex Thorne, one of the most powerful men in the city. For years, Marcus had only managed to climb into the inner circle of the elite thanks to my brother’s support. By divorcing me, his losses were only just beginning. 1 For my senior year internship, I decided to go to Marcus’s company. I wanted to be able to sneak a few more glances at my handsome husband every day. As a low-level intern, I kept such a low profile that even Marcus didn’t know I was there. I didn’t want to be a distraction or cause him any trouble. Sometimes, I’d overhear the other interns gossiping about him. I’d listen intently, but never joined in. “Mr. Kane is so hot. Thirty-five is a man’s prime.” “Too bad he’s married. And to some unknown young girl, apparently.” “Ugh, why can’t I be that lucky…” When I was eighteen, Marcus had pursued me with a singular focus. On our very first date, he told me he was looking for a wife, not a fling. He gave me the ring right then and there. I met his intensity with my own. We dated for a year and then got married. It was impulsive, intoxicating, sweet, and blissful. He gave me a fantasy romance beyond my wildest dreams. The love of a powerful CEO was direct and overwhelming, a force of nature that swept me off my feet and left me completely disoriented. If I hadn’t come to intern at his company, I might never have discovered his secrets. Isabel. Marcus’s executive assistant. She was stunningly beautiful, a classic, sophisticated woman. She often accompanied him on business trips and to client dinners. She had her hand in every aspect of the company; in some ways, she knew it even better than he did. Before they learned of his marriage, everyone in the company assumed Isabel was the true boss’s wife. I’d even hear the veteran employees, who had been with them from the start, complaining in the cafeteria. “Mr. Kane must be blind, having a goddess like Isabel by his side and not cherishing her.” “And after she quit her senior position at that publicly-traded company just to be his assistant.” “Just you watch. Once the passion fades, he’ll divorce that girl and end up with Isabel.” The rumors were everywhere, but I never let them bother me. After all, the passion between Marcus and me was reignited every single night. That is, until a company dinner where Isabel, drunk, confessed her feelings for Marcus in front of everyone. It wasn’t so much a confession as an ultimatum. She asked him if he had any feelings for her. Marcus was silent for a long time. Isabel pressed him again. “If you don’t have feelings for me, why won’t you approve my resignation letter?” Marcus’s face was grim. He finally answered with a single word. “Yes.” Then, he looked at her, his gaze full of a deep, complicated emotion. “I do have feelings for you. I can’t lose you, so I can’t sign your resignation. Is that okay?” Isabel smiled. She drained a glass of liquor from the table, grabbed her purse, and walked out. The air in the room was thick for two seconds. Then Marcus chased after her. The only people at that dinner were the old guard, the ones who had built the company with Marcus and Isabel. I wasn’t there. But a bubbly girl I’d become friendly with, Jenna, loved gossip. She’d filmed the whole thing and sent it to me privately. Jenna texted me: 【Do you think something’s going to happen between Mr. Kane and Isabel tonight?】 I replied: 【Probably not… I hope.】 【They’re grown adults, they’ve known each other for years, they have this deep connection, they’ve been drinking, and she just confessed… and you think nothing will happen?】 I typed back, my fingers firm: 【Marcus is married. He should have some self-control. Besides, Isabel doesn’t need to be a homewrecker!】 【You have a point. But we’ll know for sure tomorrow if something happened.】 I didn’t understand what she meant by “we’ll know for sure tomorrow.” But a moment after I closed her chat window, the answer came to me. A message from Marcus. He said he wouldn’t be home tonight. A last-minute work thing. A tremor went through my heart. I immediately called him. At first, he didn’t pick up. I called again, and again. Finally, he answered. “Hey, baby. My phone was on silent, I didn’t hear it. What’s up?” I fought to keep my voice steady, my nails digging into the flesh of my palm. “Honey, are you really not coming home tonight?” “Yeah, it’s a team dinner, everyone’s here. I can’t get away. Please understand, baby.” I bit my lip, forcing myself to ask the next question. “Are there any women there?” He paused, then chuckled. “No. When did you start checking up on me? Want me to video call and prove my innocence?” As he was speaking, I heard a soft, rustling sound. The distinct sound of a crisp dress shirt rubbing against hotel sheets. In the past, when our love was a fever, that was a sound I heard often. “Hnngh…” A low grunt escaped his lips on the other end. In that single, fleeting moment, all the turmoil in my heart vanished. After three years with Marcus, after countless nights of passion, I knew exactly what that sound meant. It was the sound of a man trying to suppress a wave of pleasure. A detail he probably wasn’t even aware of himself. Perfect. I didn’t even have to stop him from cheating. The deed was already done. I gave a bitter laugh. “No need for a video call…” I was afraid it would burn my eyes out. “You have fun. I’m going to sleep.” My heart felt like a pile of cold ash. I was about to hang up when Marcus spoke again, his voice now a low, raspy drawl. “Baby, we just closed a huge deal tonight. Starting tomorrow, the team’s going to be in overdrive. I’ll probably be working very late for a while. You don’t have to wait up for me for dinner.” Working in overdrive. Or getting “overdrive” with Isabel. To me, it no longer mattered. 2 The phone call ended. I didn’t sleep a wink. I arrived at the office with dark circles under my eyes. My brain was still a blank fog when Jenna sidled up to me, eager to continue last night’s gossip. “Something definitely happened between Mr. Kane and Isabel last night.” I frowned slightly. She continued, “Mr. Kane’s shirt was all wrinkled this morning, and… he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. That means he didn’t go home at all, right?” I nodded, not having the energy to praise her keen eye. “And Isabel was late this morning,” Jenna went on, “When she came in, she was practically glowing. You know how she’s usually all business? Today she was like a different person.” “A different person how?” I asked. She thought for a moment. “Brighter, sexier, almost… purring. See for yourself.” I looked up. I saw Isabel walk in, wearing a tight, form-fitting dress that hugged her curves. I’d seen that dress before. I had been shopping with Marcus when I spotted it. They didn’t have my size, so I paid for it and asked the clerk to ship it to Marcus’s office when it came in. Apparently, the shipment had arrived. But the recipient had changed. Isabel was in a great mood. She walked in and asked what everyone wanted to drink, her treat. The office erupted in cheers. I sat in my corner, a bitter cocktail of emotions churning in my stomach. I tried to lose myself in work, but it was useless. I drifted through the morning in a haze. At lunch, I was eating takeout at my desk when Isabel walked into Marcus’s office carrying several bags of exquisite-looking food. She went in. And didn’t come out until the afternoon. When she finally emerged, it was late, almost time to go home. Beside me, Jenna made a tsk-tsk sound. “The world these days,” she sighed. “Of all the men Isabel could have, she had to go for a married one. Little Chang, whose desk is closer to the office, said that as soon as Isabel went in, she threw herself into Mr. Kane’s arms. They nearly turned the office into a hotel room!” With that, Jenna sent me a photo that Chang had secretly taken. Isabel was sitting on Marcus’s lap, feeding him. The look on their faces, their posture… it was painfully intimate. “I can’t imagine how heartbroken Mr. Kane’s wife would be if she saw this,” Jenna whispered with a sigh. Across from us, our manager, Mr. Davies, frowned. “They’re two consenting adults. What business is it of yours?” Jenna didn’t catch his meaning and added playfully, “You’re right. She’s definitely the ‘mistress’ in this love story!” Mr. Davies was not amused. He slapped a thick binder on Jenna’s desk. “Since you’re so free, you can finish this. You’re not leaving until it’s done.” Jenna’s face fell. I quietly sent her a message: 【Mr. Davies and Isabel go way back. He’s definitely on her side. You should probably avoid comments like that in the future.】 Jenna replied with a string of crying emojis. I tried to console her: 【Don’t worry, I’ll help you with it. We’ll finish it quickly and I’ll treat you to lobster rolls after.】 She cheered up immediately. That evening, after we had finally finished our extra work and were about to leave for dinner, Mr. Davies called out to us again. “You’ve worked hard. Let’s all go out for a late supper.” He didn’t give us a chance to refuse. He led us to a restaurant near the office. After dinner, he herded us to a karaoke bar. We were reluctant, but we had no choice. As interns, we had no power. We found a dark corner and started playing a game on our phones, getting completely absorbed. We didn’t even notice the private room slowly filling up with more people. Until I heard a familiar voice. I looked up and saw Marcus, holding court in the center of a group of industry bigwigs. At first, they talked about projects. Then, the conversation drifted to their personal lives. Kids, wives, in-laws… and of course, mistresses. “I saw Isabel’s post on social media,” one of them said. “Something about soulmates finally getting together. What’s up? Did you finally wise up and claim her?” My ears perked up. Marcus’s voice was calm. “You guys don’t understand the situation that day. I had no choice. Isabel was forcing my hand. If I didn’t keep her, she was going to quit. You know how important she is to the company. The company can’t run without her. And… you could say I can’t run without her.” “But is Isabel willing to be the other woman? Marcus, be careful you don’t play with fire and get burned.” “Yeah, man, we all saw how much effort you put into marrying that little girl. Forget about whether you can keep your side piece happy, what if your main squeeze finds out? All hell would break loose.” “Not necessarily,” another chimed in. “If Isabel herself doesn’t mind, what right does the little girl have to complain?” “She’s been coddled by Marcus for years. Do you really think she could handle going back to a normal, ordinary life? Even if she found out, she wouldn’t dare make a move. She’ll cling to the ‘Mrs. Kane’ title for dear life. At least it guarantees a life of luxury.” They went back and forth, but the consensus was clear: as long as Marcus could keep Isabel happy and quiet, the one at home wouldn’t dare cause a scene. They even congratulated him on successfully having his cake and eating it too. Jenna’s face was scrunched up in disgust. She leaned over and whispered, “So gross.” Then she added, “I mean, what Mr. Kane is doing is scummy, but they’re not wrong. That girl hasn’t even graduated, right? No family connections, no career of her own… making a scene would only hurt her. What do you think…?” I nodded. “She won’t make a scene. In this day and age, everyone wants to be civilized.” Everything can be discussed calmly. Even divorce. Just then, Marcus put down his glass and spoke. “Yeah,” he said, “Sophie has nothing going for her but her youth. Compared to her, she’s not as sophisticated as Isabel.” “But Isabel has a proud streak. I don’t know how long she’ll be willing to put up with this. I’m starting to regret this marriage. Keeping a young girl on the side costs pennies compared to this. A divorce now would be a massive financial hit.” So, that was it. He was worried about the financial loss. After all, we were legally married. A divorce meant I would get half of his post-marital assets. Fine. I would give him what he wanted. I would walk away with nothing. But he would have to bear the consequences of my departure. 3 The party finally broke up. Isabel came and collected a very drunk Marcus. I watched from a distance as they embraced, their mouths locked together. Perhaps they had been holding back for too long. The moment they got into the car, it began to rock violently. I silently filmed the entire scene. Then, I called my brother. “Hey, little sis! What’s up? What’s got you calling me so late?” The sound of my brother’s voice touched the softest part of my heart. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. A single tear escaped, then another, until they were streaming down my face. “Kiddo, what’s wrong? Are you crying?” I was sobbing too hard to speak. My brother immediately asked where I was. I mumbled an address. Half an hour later, he was there. I was huddled on a curb, shivering. He took off his jacket, draped it over my shoulders, and sat quietly beside me. “Where’s Marcus?” “He’s cheating on me.” My brother froze, his jaw tightening. “Where is he? I’ll kill him.” I grabbed his hand and shook my head. “Don’t. It would only dirty your hands.” My brother stomped his foot on the ground in frustration, but it wasn’t enough to quell his anger. He asked me, “Are you going to divorce him?” I nodded without hesitation. “Is there any chance it’s a misunderstanding?” I showed him the videos and photos on my phone. I didn’t have to say a word. My brother had already made his decision. He immediately took out his phone and made several calls. The first was to his lawyer friend, asking him to draft a divorce agreement for me. The second was to all the suppliers connected to Marcus’s company. He instructed them to cancel any newly negotiated but unsigned contracts, not to renew any expiring ones, and to revoke all discounts on existing contracts, charging full market price from now on. After he finished his calls, my brother took my hand. “Come on, let’s go home.” I shook my head, tears still clinging to my eyelashes. “Before we go home, I want to move out.” My brother didn’t hesitate. He drove me to the house Marcus and I shared. It was a house Marcus had bought. I had no sentimental attachment to it. But I had lived there for three years, and I never thought I would leave like this. “If you want this house, I’ll get you the best lawyer to make sure you get it.” “No, brother. Anything that’s been touched by Marcus… it just feels dirty to me now.” 4 After moving out of the villa, I decided to wait for Marcus to contact me before I laid my cards on the table. Unfortunately, a week passed. He hadn’t even noticed I was gone. He would just send me a daily text: 【Working late again tonight. Don’t wait up.】 But in reality, I saw him and Isabel together every day. Jenna, after her “mistress” comment, was being targeted by our department manager. She was buried under a mountain of work. I couldn’t bear to see her suffer alone, so I stayed late with her every night. When we were working late, we could often hear the soft, decadent sounds that drifted from the CEO’s office. Jenna couldn’t help but complain. “Mr. Kane is so cheap. He won’t even spring for a hotel room.” I gave a wry, bitter smile. “Maybe doing it in the office… adds to the atmosphere.” Passing by, I couldn’t resist. I recorded a few of their more… explicit encounters on my phone. I had a feeling they might come in handy later. I spent the rest of my internship diligently working alongside Jenna. When it was finally over, she told me she wanted to stay on. “It’s hard to find a job out there. And even though I can’t stand Mr. Kane, a girl’s gotta eat.” I wished her luck. She asked me if I wanted to stay. I told her I just wanted to get my internship certificate and get as far away from this toxic place as possible. I never expected that at the last minute, I would be stabbed in the back by my own friend. I was the only intern in our group who didn’t receive a passing evaluation. I was furious. I demanded an explanation from my department head. He simply said it was Isabel’s decision. I thought Isabel must have found out who I was and was targeting me on purpose. I never imagined that Jenna would be the one to confess. “That day… I don’t know who overheard me call Isabel a ‘mistress.’ The word got out, and all this overtime we’ve been doing… it wasn’t from Mr. Davies. It was Isabel targeting us. I was a dead woman, but because you stayed with me and worked late every night, I…” Jenna was sobbing uncontrollably. “I really need this job. I’m not as pretty as you, or as smart as you. So I went to Isabel… and I told her that you were the one who called her a mistress.” “I thought… I thought she would just not offer you a job. I never thought she would refuse to even give you your internship certificate. It’s my fault… I’m so sorry…” I laughed. A laugh born of pure rage. Partly at my friend’s betrayal. But mostly at Isabel, for abusing her power for personal revenge. “It’s okay. I forgive you. Stop crying. Thank you for being my friend during this time. I wish you all the best in the future.” With that, I picked up the folder I had been preparing for a long time and turned to leave. Jenna grabbed my arm, her eyes full of pleading. “The thing with Isabel…” My voice was flat. “Don’t worry. I’ll take the blame for this.” Then, I lifted my head and shouted to the entire office. “She, Isabel Thorne, is a mistress! Why is that so unspeakable!” Instantly, everyone in the office froze, their heads swiveling towards me. Their eyes were wide with shock. And I, holding my failing internship report, marched straight into the conference room. At that moment, all the senior executives and department heads were in their morning meeting. My arrival was clearly unwelcome. The executives frowned, their faces showing their distaste for this impertinent young girl. It was true. In the three years I had been married to Marcus, not a single person in his company knew what Mrs. Kane looked like. Not even Isabel. In the entire room, only Marcus showed a flicker of surprise when he saw me. But he didn’t speak. It was Isabel, the meeting’s moderator, who spoke first. She tilted her head back, her beautiful, sophisticated face a mask of disdain and impatience. “What could possibly be so important that it has to be now?” I didn’t hold back. “Isabel, is it because I called you Mr. Kane’s mistress that you’re deliberately sabotaging me and refusing to issue my internship certificate?” The others in the room looked at Isabel, their expressions shifting to surprise. Isabel froze, likely shocked that a mere intern would be so bold. She narrowed her eyes. “So you know. Then why bother coming in here to ask?” Denying it was pointless. The rumors had already spread throughout the company. To shut people up, she had to make an example of someone. And in her eyes, I was the perfect sacrificial lamb. I met her gaze, my voice rising. “I’m sorry, Isabel. I shouldn’t have said you were Mr. Kane’s mistress!” Isabel’s face flushed with a hint of embarrassment, but she held her ground, crossing her arms and looking down her nose at me. “It’s too late for apologies now!” I looked at Marcus. His face was dark, clearly displeased. But what did he have to be displeased about? He was the one who had lost face first. I sneered. “Oh, it’s not too late. I’m going to set the record straight for you right now!” I pulled open the door behind me, my voice climbing higher and higher. “Of course Isabel isn’t Mr. Kane’s mistress! In the old days, to even be a concubine, you had to be formally brought into the family, you had to bow to me, the primary wife! A woman with no formal acknowledgement is just a side piece! She wouldn’t even be allowed in the family mausoleum!” My declaration made Isabel’s face turn shades of green and white. The others in the room finally realized who I was. As did Isabel. All eyes turned to Marcus. He was seething with rage. In our year of dating and three years of marriage… this was the first time I had ever seen him truly angry. “Have you made enough of a scene?!” How could it be enough? I wanted to be civilized, too. You people didn’t let me! “I have only one demand. Give me my internship certificate!” Marcus’s chest heaved with fury. He was still trying to defend Isabel. “Internship evaluations are determined by the department heads. You shouldn’t be coming to Isabel. You should be talking to your direct supervisor.” Isabel was visibly shaken, but hearing Marcus defend her gave her a sliver of courage. “Yes… that’s right. I’m just Mr. Kane’s assistant. I don’t have the authority to make decisions about interns.” What a pair of fakes. One more pathetic than the other. This was his company. Issuing an internship certificate was a matter of a single word from him. By saying this, he was making it clear that my feelings, my face, meant nothing to him. He was more concerned with protecting Isabel’s image in front of his employees. The moment he spoke, I understood. Marcus had never, not for a single moment, intended to be on my side. Fine. I met his eyes, and without a shred of hesitation, I said, “What if I trade my divorce agreement for it?” I pulled out the papers and laid them on the conference table. I added, “I’ll waive all claims to my share of his assets in exchange for that piece of paper. You’re not losing a thing.”

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The last male phoenix had fallen. Now, the survival of the flock rested on the females, who were forced to drink from the Birthing River to propagate their kind. But I, the one with the greatest potential to conceive an Ancient Phoenix of legend, turned my back on the River. Under the bewildered gazes of my people, I cast myself into the Abyss of Eternal Flame. In my previous life, I had poured my very essence, every drop of my life force, into nurturing the most noble of all phoenixes—a Golden Phoenix. But on the day of its presentation at the Sunstone Altar, it pierced my chest with a single, brutal claw, then flew into the arms of my stepsister, cooing and calling her “Mother.” My stepsister became the revered Phoenix Matron, destined to ascend to godhood, while I was branded a child-thief. My feathers were torn from my body, and I was thrown into the Abyss to burn alive. Even as I died, I couldn’t understand. The Golden Phoenix was my child. Why did it call another its mother? When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I was to drink from the Birthing River. … The waters of the Birthing River flowed languidly before me. It wasn’t until my stepsister, Elara, called my name for the third time that the searing memory of being plucked bare and consumed by fire finally released its grip. “With your power, sister, I can only imagine what kind of phoenix you’ll bring forth! My guess… it will be the Golden Phoenix of old, the most noble of all!” Seeing Elara’s innocent, harmless smile sent a sudden, icy sweat down my spine. The agony of my last life—my child stolen, my name cursed, my body desecrated—was still terrifyingly vivid. With that thought searing my mind, I didn’t hesitate. I stood up and turned to leave. If drinking from this river meant birthing a child that would betray me, then I simply wouldn’t drink. Elara’s expression changed in an instant. She moved to block my path while shouting for the Matriarch. “Mother! Look at sister! What’s wrong with her? Why is she leaving?” The Matriarch appeared before me, her smile as warm and benevolent as ever, but the warmth never reached her eyes. “Lyra, my dear, don’t be willful. Every phoenix must drink from the River and bear young. It is the law of our flock. To defy it is to invite a curse upon yourself.” The current Matriarch of the Phoenix Flock was Elara’s mother—my stepmother, Morgana. My own mother, a magnificent Rainbow Phoenix, had been the previous Matriarch. She had fallen into dark sorcery and perished soon after I was born, leaving me to be raised by my stepmother. After my father’s passing, the few remaining male phoenixes had dwindled, one by one, until none were left. The law requiring the females to drink from the Birthing River had been established by the council of elders. Every one of us had sworn a blood oath: for the future of the flock, we would bear young, regardless of our own standing or power. Furthermore, only the one who birthed the most powerful fledgling would become the next Matriarch. Elara’s bloodline was diluted, her own power weak. She could drink the entire river dry and likely never produce a phoenix of any real note. But I was different. I was of pure lineage, my procreative essence the strongest among all the females of the flock. In my past life, my sole ambition had been to hatch the most powerful phoenix, to become Matriarch and repay Morgana for her years of kindness. Elara and I had drunk from the River at the same time, conceived at the same time, and laid our eggs at the same time. The ancient phoenix tome Morgana had given me said that by feeding the egg with one’s own heart’s blood and using a secret ritual, a Golden Phoenix could be born. I hadn’t suspected a thing. I did as I was told, draining my life force, enduring ten days of agonizing struggle, until finally, a rare and magnificent Golden Phoenix hatched from the shell. Weak and trembling, I carried the fledgling in my arms to the Sunstone Altar, ready to be declared the Phoenix Matron and inherit the title of Matriarch. But then, without warning, the creature in my arms lashed out, its sharp talons tearing through my chest. It then soared gracefully into Elara’s embrace, nuzzling against her and chirping, “Mother.” A fledgling’s bond with its birth mother is instinctual, absolute. No one would ever doubt the child was Elara’s. Elara stroked the Golden Phoenix’s head, her expression a mask of regret as she looked at me. “Sister, how could you be so cruel? To secretly switch my egg with your own! I want to honor the bond we share, but as the new Matriarch, I must uphold the law. You must be punished.” Her words, so seemingly righteous, painted me as a monster. The flock turned on me, their disgust palpable as they swarmed forward, tearing my feathers from my flesh. I lay bloodied on the altar, enduring the scorn of my people. “Disgusting! After all the Matriarch has done for her, she steals another’s child! She has no shame!” “Whoever said Lyra was powerful must be blind. Elara birthed a Golden Phoenix! Her essence is clearly stronger. Lyra was just jealous, she stole it! She’s as vile as her corrupted mother. She should be cast out of the Phoenix Vale!” On the day of Elara’s ascension, I was thrown out, barely clinging to life. As I struggled to my feet, someone seized me and hurled me into the Abyss of Eternal Flame to be burned alive. Even in death, I never understood how Elara had managed to steal my child. Now, looking at the mother and daughter duo frantically trying to stop me from leaving, a plan began to form in my mind. “I just feel a bit unwell,” I said, feigning weakness. “I want to go back and rest. I’ll come back another time.” My stepmother let out a sigh of relief. “Then I’ll have your sister accompany you. You can come back and drink together next time.” I frowned. There were many other phoenixes by the riverbank, drinking the water and birthing perfectly normal fledglings. The river was constantly flowing; the water itself wasn’t the problem. Could it be the timing? Was I not supposed to drink at the same time as Elara? Morgana had been Matriarch for many years; she likely knew secrets of our people that I did not. Perhaps if Elara and I drank together, we were breaking some ancient taboo. “No need,” I said, forcing a smile. “I think I’m feeling better now.” Elara and I went to the river’s edge. I watched as she drank first. Then, shielding my mouth with my sleeve, I pretended to drink, but secretly collected some of the water in a flask to take with me. If the heavens were giving me a second chance, I would not overlook a single detail this time. Back in my chambers, just as in my previous life, my stepmother brought me a collection of potent herbs and that same secret tome on incubation. I accepted them with a smile, but as soon as I was alone, I summoned a brazier and burned them all to ash. I had once believed my stepmother to be the kindest of souls. She always treated me better than her own daughter. Growing up, every rare treasure, every potent artifact, was given to me first. When Elara looked on with envy, I, loving my sister, would share them with her. This always sent my stepmother into a rage, and she would harshly scold Elara. The entire flock praised her for her selflessness. They trusted her completely. And I… I had truly thought of her as my own mother. When she was injured gathering herbs, I, though just a child, had recklessly thrown myself into danger to protect her. I had treated Elara like my own flesh and blood, depleting my own life force time and again to help her advance her power. Only after my first life did I understand. Everything my stepmother had done was simply to pave the way for her own daughter. In their eyes, I was nothing but a vessel. A tool for birthing a legendary phoenix. So, even though I hadn’t figured out the exact nature of the deception, I wouldn’t so much as glance at that tome again. I drank the water from the Birthing River and quietly waited for the changes in my body. The same strange sensation of life coalescing within me returned. I could feel the water flow to my womb, emitting a warm, white glow. This time, I didn’t expend any extra life force, nor did I take any of the herbs meant to strengthen the conception. I let go of my obsession with birthing a Golden Phoenix. Soon, my belly swelled slightly, and I laid a pure white, unadorned egg. I didn’t rush to incubate it. Instead, under the cover of night, I snuck into the flock’s forbidden sanctuary. This was the place where my mother had once lived. After she fell to dark sorcery, the flock deemed it cursed and forbade anyone from entering. My memories of my mother were a complete blank. From a young age, Morgana had told me that my mother was beautiful but restless, that she had abandoned me as a child to run away with a demon lord. My father’s attitude toward me had always been distant. Only Morgana had showered me with unconditional love. So, for my entire life, I had avoided thinking about my real mother, trying to be Morgana’s daughter instead. But the truth was becoming clear: the past was not as Morgana had described it. There wasn’t much left in my mother’s sanctuary, but every single item was connected to me. My childhood toys, my favorite snacks, even the small nest I had slept in as a fledgling. My eyes stung. How could my mother not have loved me? There had to be more to the story. Among a pile of old books, I found an incubation manual. Back in my room, I followed my mother’s instructions. From the egg hatched not a simple phoenix, but a Rainbow Phoenix! Rainbow Phoenixes were even rarer than the Golden ones. And my little Rainbow Phoenix was incredibly powerful; its future would be extraordinary. My own mother had been a Rainbow Phoenix. They were known to be gentler, more intelligent and understanding than the proud, arrogant Golden Phoenixes. This would be a child who was truly mine. My heart swelled with joy. After all my efforts, this child would belong to me and me alone. The Matriarch’s seat was within my grasp! Cradling the still-unopened eyes of my fledgling, I headed for the Sunstone Altar. On the way, I overheard the others talking. “Did you hear? Someone stole Elara’s fledgling!” I stopped dead in my tracks. “Elara’s bloodline is weak. She couldn’t have birthed anything special. Who would steal from her? If anyone’s child was worth stealing, it would be Lyra’s. Her essence is so strong, she might have actually hatched a Golden Phoenix!” “And get this, Elara is going around claiming she hatched a Rainbow Phoenix! That’s hilarious. Rainbow Phoenixes are even rarer than Golden ones!” A cold dread washed over me. Elara’s egg had also hatched a Rainbow Phoenix? This couldn’t be a coincidence. The gossiping flock members saw me and rushed over, their faces alight with curiosity. “Lyra! Has your egg hatched yet? What kind of phoenix is it?” In the distance, I saw Morgana, supporting a distraught Elara, searching frantically. Her eyes lit up when she saw me. I ignored everyone, turned, and ran. I bolted back to my chambers and barred the door. My heart hammered against my ribs. I had to know if the fledgling would recognize me as its mother. I drew a drop of my heart’s blood and let it fall onto the fledgling’s closed eyelids. The little Rainbow Phoenix opened its eyes. It looked at me with no emotion whatsoever. Then, Elara’s voice came from outside my door.

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The video of me slapping the hottest starlet of the moment went viral. Her fans swarmed my socials, calling for my blood, while the rest of the internet grabbed their popcorn. 【Charlotte is a dead woman walking. Everyone knows Stella is dating the Astor heir. She’s going to be blacklisted into oblivion!】 Three days later, the Astor heir himself showed up at my reality show’s set. Everyone watched, salivating for the drama, only to see the golden boy of New York society drop to his knees in front of me. “Mom, I’m so sorry!” 1 I hesitated when the producers of Second Act first approached me. It’s not like I needed the money or was desperate for a comeback. The show didn’t offer me much. That is, until I saw a clip from last season where one of the contestants lost twenty pounds. At forty-five, with a metabolism that had long since clocked out, the battle of the bulge was a daily struggle. My eyes lit up. I slapped my thigh. “I’m in!” 2 Once filming started, I was practically invisible. Among the thirty contestants, or “sisters” as they called us, I was far from the most famous. My career highlight had been a few memorable villain roles years ago—the kind of actress you recognize but can’t name. I never monetized my private life, kept my family background under wraps, and had zero interest in sucking up to the production team. Naturally, no investor was lining up to back me. I didn’t care. I was just there for a celebrity weight-loss camp, after all. I threw myself into training, preparing for each performance with professional diligence, and made a point to stay out of everyone’s way. But trouble, it seemed, had a way of finding me. 3 Her name was Stella. She was the youngest and, by far, the most popular star on the show. At only twenty-three, she didn’t exactly fit the “sister” concept, but the network was determined to help her transition from a cutesy pop-tart persona to something more mature. The show had already boosted her fame, making her the main draw for viewers. But it wasn’t enough for her. She wanted to build a new image—the “fearless, independent woman of the new millennium”—and for that, she needed a foil. A punching bag. She chose me. For our second performance, she picked me for her group and immediately started her campaign of micro-aggressions. During rehearsal, I’d be the first to arrive, yet she’d sigh dramatically and say, “Charlotte, I know you’re on the show, but could you please try to think about something other than your husband and kids for a few hours?” I just stared at her. What the hell? I hadn’t so much as mentioned my husband or son since filming began. Later, at dinner, I’d be picking at a plate of grilled chicken breast, and she’d frown with theatrical concern. “I know pregnancy and childbirth can be tough on a woman’s body, Charlotte, but you can’t just let yourself go!” Again, what the hell? I had abs under my shirt and legs for days—longer than hers, thank you very much. I just didn’t feel the need to flaunt them. Then, during a group chat about the industry, she deliberately singled me out. “You quit showbiz for a man, didn’t you, Charlotte? I could never do that. My life is my own.” I just bit my tongue. Get your facts straight before you run your mouth, kid. My acting career was always a side gig. I left to get my doctorate in the States. I was utterly baffled by her. I tried to ignore her, writing it off as childish nonsense, but she only grew more audacious. One night, over dinner, the contestants were discussing whose life they envied the most. Stella suddenly spoke up. “I don’t envy anyone. But the one person I would never want to be is Charlotte. Such a failure, no sense of self. If I were her parents, I’d regret ever having her!” That did it. She had finally poked the bear. She could insult me all she wanted, but she never should have brought up my parents, who had passed away years ago. I was done being patient. I raised my hand. SMACK! The slap echoed through the room. 4 When the episode aired, the clip of me slapping Stella blew up online and shot to the top of the trending topics. The production team, clearly in Stella’s camp, had edited the footage to make her look like a saint. A shot of me in the hallway practicing a rap verse was deceitfully framed as me video-chatting with my family. They spliced my first day’s clumsy dance practice into the final week’s montage to make it look like I’d made zero progress. My singing was auto-tuned in reverse, making me sound painfully off-key. Their goal was clear: to paint me as the lazy, family-obsessed housewife—the most despised archetype for a female celebrity today. The internet unleashed its fury. 【If Charlotte wants to be a housewife so badly, she should just stay home! Why is she wasting our time on the show?】 【Seriously, I can’t stand these slackers who take the money and do nothing. Get her off my screen!】 【I used to like some of her old roles, but now I see what a failure of a woman she really is. So pathetic!】 Meanwhile, Stella was edited to look like a responsible, long-suffering group leader, earning her a massive wave of sympathy and new fans. When the slap scene aired, they conveniently cut out her vicious comment about my parents, making it seem like I’d lashed out simply because I couldn’t handle her constructive criticism. Stella’s fans went ballistic, plastering my face on mock-up funeral photos and cursing my entire family tree. The general public was just as outraged. 【Charlotte went way too far. Is she bullying a junior just because she’s a veteran? Stella was just trying to help her.】 【Old hags like her are always so entitled. She needs to get out of the industry for good!】 【Oh, she won’t be in the industry for long, trust me. Have you all forgotten who Stella’s boyfriend is? Julian Astor! The Astor heir. She’s messing with him now. She’s finished.】 I’d been scrolling through the comments with bored detachment, but that last one made me pause. Wait, what? My son has a girlfriend? Since when? 5 Just in case it was some misunderstanding, I did a quick search for my darling son’s name: Julian Astor. I shouldn’t have. What I found was a digital tabloid shrine dedicated to his romantic escapades. 【Astor Heir Drops Millions to Win a Starlet’s Smile】 【Julian Astor Buys Film Studio on a Whim to Promote His New Flame】 【Rival Actresses Brawl Over Billionaire Scion Julian Astor】 The best part? The male lead was always Julian, but the female lead changed with every headline. And the latest piece of gossip featured none other than Stella. A paparazzi photo showed them holding hands while shopping, under the headline: 【New York’s Golden Boy Steps Out with It-Girl Stella, Drops $200k on Handbags in a Single Day】 I nearly fainted from rage. So this was why my brilliant son had refused to study abroad, why he’d shown no interest in learning the ropes of the family business. He was too busy gallivanting around town, collecting celebrity girlfriends! I may have been an actress once, but now I was a retired businesswoman, fully occupied with managing family assets and my own fitness regimen. I rarely paid attention to celebrity gossip. This was the first I was hearing of my son’s… extracurricular activities. Fuming, I shot him a text. 【You have a girlfriend and you didn’t tell your mother?】 The little brat replied almost instantly. 【Which one?】 He must have realized how insane that sounded because he deleted the message a second later and sent a new one. 【Oh, you mean Stella? Yeah, we’re dating. I was actually planning to bring her to meet you in a few days.】 His casual tone told me he had no idea his new girlfriend had just been on the receiving end of a slap from his own mother. Nor did he know that her fans were currently roasting me, him, and our entire lineage online. But that figured. My son loved being the subject of gossip; he had no interest in reading about anyone else. I was about to type back, No need, we’ve already met, when a sharp voice cut through the air. “Charlotte, would you please put down your phone? Stop texting your husband and son for five minutes and focus on the rehearsal!” 6 I looked up to see Stella, her arms crossed. Ever since the slap, her hostility had become a constant, simmering presence. She looked for any excuse to pick a fight. Like now. We were on a break. The other contestants were chatting and on their phones too, but she singled me out. A cold smile touched my lips. “And who are you to talk, Stella? You spend more time glued to your phone than anyone here.” It was the truth. Stella was the one constantly texting and disappearing for hours-long, syrupy-sweet video calls. I’d always assumed she was dating some young heartthrob. I never imagined it was my son. Stella’s face darkened. Before she could retort, one of her little followers chimed in. “You can’t compare, Charlotte,” said Vicky, a lesser-known actress who served as Stella’s sidekick. Her voice dripped with condescension. “Stella is talking to Julian Astor. Do you even know who that is? He’s the Astor heir!” I had to bite back a laugh. The little brat who came out of my own body? Yeah, I think I know who he is. At the mention of Julian’s name, a smug, triumphant smile tugged at Stella’s lips, though she tried to feign modesty. “Vicky, stop. I’ve told Julian I want to keep our relationship low-key.” “Oh, Stella, you’re just too humble!” Vicky gushed. “But how can you be low-key when he’s so crazy about you? When he marries you, I bet he’ll throw you the wedding of the century!” The word “wedding” made Stella’s smile widen uncontrollably. But I, standing off to the side, couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “Getting a little ahead of yourselves, aren’t you?” I asked, my tone laced with amusement. “Have you even met his parents?” You haven’t even met me, and you’re already planning on marrying into the Astor family? Over my dead body. My question made Stella’s face fall. “What’s that supposed to mean, Charlotte?” she snapped. “So what if I haven’t met his parents yet? He told me he’s taking me to meet his mother very soon!” That announcement captured the attention of every woman in the room. Even the A-listers, who had previously ignored our little feud, couldn’t help but look over. “For real?” Vicky gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in exaggerated shock. “He’s taking you to meet his mother? Oh my God, I heard she’s the legendary heiress of the Astor family, one of the most powerful women in New York! Is it true?” “Yes, yes!” another contestant chimed in, leaning closer. “I’ve heard the stories about Julian’s mom too. She’s incredibly private. No one’s ever gotten a picture of her face, and nobody even knows her full name. Just that she’s the ultimate blue-blooded beauty!” Stella’s chin lifted with pride as she adopted the tone of a seasoned insider. “Of course. Julian told me all about her. She’s the only daughter of the Astor family, a true New York princess in her day. And not just that—while the Astor Corporation has a board of professional managers, she’s the one who really calls the shots. She isn’t just a pretty face with a trust fund; she’s brilliant. A PhD in Finance from an Ivy League school. She made a killing on Wall Street before coming home to take over the family empire. She’s a true icon for women.” A chorus of envious sighs filled the room. I felt a blush creep up my neck. I had no idea Stella held me in such high regard. It almost made me feel bad for slapping her. She was still going. “Basically, Julian’s mom is my idol. She is, without a doubt, the most perfect woman in the world!” This was getting to be too much, even for me. I couldn’t help but clear my throat and mutter, “Well, it’s not that dramatic.”

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In my past life, my sister and my fiancée joined forces with my best friend to destroy my company. As I collapsed in the pouring rain, bankrupt and broken, they stood by his side, laughing without restraint. “Look at you, Landon,” they sneered. “You’re like a pathetic stray dog.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the project bidding conference, three years in the past. Back then, when my company was just a startup, my sister and fiancée had warned me not to leverage our family connections. It wouldn’t be fair to the others, they said. Then, they turned around and handed the project to my best friend on a silver platter, all for the price of a smile. Reborn, I watched them manipulate things behind the scenes, just as they had before, to gift my project to him. And in that moment, the last vestiges of hope in my heart died. When they found out I was leaving the country, they set off a night’s worth of fireworks to celebrate finally being rid of me, the burden. But three years later, at the Aethel Group’s bidding conference, I walked onto the stage as the CEO’s husband. And as I began to speak, I saw their eyes turn red. 1 I never expected the first familiar face I’d see after returning to Sterling City would be my former best friend, Cole Evans. “Cole Evans, CEO of Zenith Corp. At eighteen, he entered Sterling City’s top university with outstanding grades. After graduating, he built his company from scratch, becoming one of the business world’s rising stars in just three short years…” On the first floor of the Sterling Grand Tower, a screen between the two elevator banks looped a highlight reel of his achievements. Three years had changed him. The timid, insecure boy from the countryside was gone, replaced by a man exuding a certain aristocratic air in his custom-tailored suit. Money, it seems, can truly mold a man. Today was the Aethel Group’s project bidding conference. The lobby was already swarming with reporters. I tried to ignore him, to mind my own business, but he approached me. “Landon? Is that really you? I almost didn’t recognize you.” “You suddenly left for overseas three years ago. I thought you were never coming back!” Cole’s voice was loud, loud enough for the reporters gathered in the distance to hear every word. I could feel their inquisitive gazes landing on me. “…Holt family… heir…” “…Ziegler engagement… Ivy…” “…Proposing… win her back… no…” Fragmented whispers, deliberately lowered, drifted into my ears. I glanced at Cole. He feigned ignorance, continuing, “Why didn’t you give a heads-up you were coming back? Could it be that you heard…” He cut himself off, feigning a slip of the tongue. “Landon, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” His panicked apology was a masterclass in misdirection, expertly guiding the onlookers to the wrong conclusion. A bold reporter was already shouting a question. “Mr. Evans, we hear that both Sierra Holt, the chief designer at Holt Jewels, and Ivy Ziegler, the Ziegler family heiress, are planning to propose to you. Is this true?” “Mr. Evans, if Miss Holt and Miss Ziegler both propose, who will you choose?” Cole dodged the question. “Ah… those are just online rumors for now. I hope everyone can be rational. Besides, Sierra and Ivy are both wonderful people. We’re just very good friends.” The elevator arrived. He gave a slight bow. “My apologies, but I have to give a speech at the Aethel Group’s conference. I need to go up and prepare.” He then turned to me with a friendly smile. “Landon, are you heading up?” I hesitated for only a second, and that was all it took. The reporters, getting no answers from Cole, turned their sights on me. “Mr. Holt, we heard you were pursuing Miss Ziegler before you went abroad. Did you come back because you heard she was planning to propose to Mr. Evans?” “We hear Miss Holt is your sister. Mr. Holt, would you be okay with Mr. Evans becoming your brother-in-law?” “If Miss Ziegler really does propose to Mr. Evans, what will you do? Will you try to stop it, or will you offer your blessing?” Their eyes were like those of starving wolves, their quickened breaths filled with greed and urgency. Reporters rarely care about the truth; they only care about the story. I knew if I didn’t respond, the internet would be flooded with speculation about my return within the hour. An image of a certain someone who got jealous easily flashed through my mind. I waved a dismissive hand at Cole. “In that case, I’ll go on ahead.” Just before the elevator doors closed, Cole’s lips curved into a sneer that only I could see. I looked away, turning to face the reporters. I was about to pull out my invitation when a sharp voice cut through the air. “Landon Holt, who let you come here?” “Are you planning to steal Cole’s project again, just like you did three years ago?” The cameras swiveled. My ex-fiancée, Ivy Ziegler, was striding toward me, her long legs accentuated by a tight miniskirt, her face a mask of fury. 2 “Three years ago, and now again.” “Landon, will you ever stop?” I frowned at Ivy’s accusation. “What are you talking about?” The woman who had once promised me a lifetime together now looked at me with pure disgust. “Everyone in Sterling City knows Aethel Group wants to work with Cole on this. Why else would you suddenly come back from overseas if not to steal his project?” Aethel Group wanted to work with Cole? That was news to me. My eyes flickered with surprise, which Ivy mistook for guilt. The disgust in her eyes was now tinged with contempt. “Do you think you can still use the Holt family name to bully Cole whenever you want?” “Aethel Group isn’t some small-time local company. They don’t care about your family background. If you don’t want to humiliate yourself, you should leave. Now.” I pulled out my invitation and waved it in her face. “Sorry, but I was invited to this conference. You have no right to tell me to leave.” “Don’t push your luck…” Ivy was about to threaten me when the reporters’ whispers seemed to spark a realization. Her expression shifted to one of utter disdain. “Landon, I told you, our engagement is over. Can you please stop harassing me? Whatever happens between me and Cole, it has nothing to do with you. We are never getting back together.” “You’re overthinking it. I’m only here for the conference. I’m married now. I’m not interested in who you end up with.” I didn’t lower my voice. The explanation was less for Ivy and more for the reporters. The crowd quieted, but Ivy just scoffed. “Landon, is this really necessary? Do you think lying about being married will make me anxious? Let me tell you, playing hard to get won’t work. I couldn’t care less if you’re married or not.” “I know.” I nodded and stepped into the newly arrived elevator. As long as the press didn’t print lies, I didn’t care what Ivy believed. Just as the doors were closing, she slipped in beside me. The doors shut, sealing us in the small space. “Alright, what will it take for you to leave?” she asked, her face grim. A ghost of a smile played on my lips. “You have that little faith in Cole?” “How could you possibly compare to him?” she sneered. “After Cole signs with Aethel, I’m going to propose to him, right here. I’m afraid he’ll get the wrong idea if you’re around.” I replied with four, emotionless words. “Congratulations.” “Can you just stop this? I know you’re jealous, but you can’t force feelings. This act is not good for either of us.” Her voice was tired, with a hint of condescension, as if she were doing me a favor. “Look, if you leave right now, I’ll personally see to it that Ziegler Corp gives you two projects.” I shook my head coolly. “I don’t need them.” Her tone soured. “I just don’t want Cole to be upset. You should take the offer while you can. Otherwise, you might end up with nothing.” I didn’t respond to anything else she said. By the time the elevator doors opened, her face was flushed with anger. She stormed out, tossing a final command to the woman waiting by the door before stalking off on her high heels. “Control your brother.” I looked at the woman—my own sister, Sierra—and cursed my luck. I had planned to ignore her, but as I stepped out of the elevator, she grabbed my arm. Sierra dragged me to a secluded corner, her eyes cold. “What are you doing here?” “Bidding,” I said flatly. “Nonsense. Go home, now,” she snapped. “Are you planning to steal Cole’s project again, just like three years ago?” 3 Sierra’s words were almost identical to Ivy’s. I looked up at the person who was supposed to be my closest living relative and felt a bitter irony. That project three years ago was a joint venture between the Holt and Ziegler corporations. It wasn’t large, but for a startup, it was a golden opportunity. Thinking I had an inside track, I went to Sierra to ask for it. She shot me down immediately. When Ivy heard, she came and gave me an earful. They said it wasn’t fair to the small, self-made companies. I didn’t understand. Business is about resource integration. I had the ability to complete the project, and I had the connections. Why couldn’t I use them? Later, I found out why. It was for Cole, who was also competing for the same project. One moment, Sierra and Ivy were warning me off; the next, they were dispatching their own professional teams to help Cole perfect his proposal. When I was on the verge of winning by a single vote, they personally joined the review panel and cast their votes for him, handing him the victory. When I confronted them, they were full of self-righteous justifications. “Can’t you have some empathy? You have the Holt and Ziegler corporations to fall back on, but Cole has no choice but to succeed. Since we’re in a position to help, of course we should.” In my past life, I hadn’t accepted it. I exposed them publicly, causing Cole to lose the bid. I continued to oppose him at every turn. To get back at me for him, Sierra and Ivy joined forces to attack my company, driving me to bankruptcy even before Cole. As I was cornered by debt collectors, with nowhere to turn, the two people who should have been my closest allies stood by Cole’s side, mocking my pathetic state. I lost consciousness in the pouring rain. When I woke up, I was back at that bidding conference, three years earlier. Watching Sierra and Ivy join the panel at the last minute to cheat for Cole, just like before, my heart died completely. I liquidated my company. The night they threw a celebration party for Cole, I boarded a plane and left the country alone. In three years, they never contacted me once. Yet the moment I returned, they were on guard, terrified I would harm their precious darling. Even with the memories of two lifetimes, a dull ache spread through my chest. I looked at Sierra with reddened eyes and repeated the same words she’d used on me three years ago, before that first conference. “I’m not participating in this bid as a member of the Holt family. You have no right to make me leave.” I shook her off and turned to go. But two bodyguards suddenly appeared and blocked my path. I turned back to Sierra. Her expression was placid. “If Cole wins this project, his company can go public at least two years ahead of schedule. I can’t let you ruin his chance.” If a company’s representative doesn’t show up, they automatically forfeit the bid. She had supported Cole for three years, yet she still had no faith in his abilities. She still had to resort to cheating to help him. And this was the man who had caused my two closest relatives to betray me, time and time again. I wanted to laugh, but it felt too tragic. I wanted to ask Sierra what she even saw in him, but the thought was tasteless. A lifetime of death stood between us. There was no possibility of reconciliation. “Sierra, do you really think these two can stop me?” Her brow furrowed. “What did you call me?” “Hah.” I gave a short, sharp laugh and turned toward the bodyguards. “Stop him,” Sierra commanded. The two muscular guards lunged at me. As their hands reached for my shoulders, I lunged forward, arching my back as my hands shot out, fingertips aimed for their exposed armpits. They quickly changed their tactic, pressing down, but I drew my hands back to my chest, straightened my back, and used the momentum to lean forward, driving my elbows into their chests. Thump, thump! The guards staggered back. I moved behind them, and before they could regain their footing, I struck each of them in the back, creating distance as they stumbled. Our positions were now reversed. As the two guards steadied themselves and prepared to charge again, I took a step back, positioning myself in full view of a security camera. “Stop!” Sierra quickly called them off, her expression a complex mix of emotions. “When did you become so strong?” I gave her a silent look and walked toward the conference hall. Yes, when? Life abroad was much more dangerous than at home. I was getting robbed several times a month, far more than the average person. If I hadn’t learned to defend myself, I would have been dead long ago.

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1 After his first love died, Anton hated me for ten years. I tried everything to win his affection, but all I ever got was a cold sneer. “If you really want to make me happy, Grace,” he’d say, “why don’t you just die?” His words were a knife in my heart, yet when the burning rafters of our home came crashing down, he died saving me. He lay in my arms, and with the last of his strength, he pushed my hand away. “Grace,” he whispered, his voice a ghost of a breath. “If only I had never met you…” At his funeral, his mother’s sobs were accusations. “Anton, my boy, it’s all my fault. I never should have forced you to marry her. If I had just let you be with Evelyn, would things have been different today?” His father’s glare was full of venom. “He saved your life three times. Why do you only bring him disaster? Why wasn’t it you who died?” Everyone, including me, regretted our marriage. In the end, I went to the top of Starlight Point, the place where lovers make wishes, and threw myself from the edge. I woke up ten years in the past. This time, I would sever all ties with Anton. This time, I would give everyone the ending they wanted. 2 “You’ve really outdone yourself, Grace. Using your parents’ dying wish to force my family’s hand. Making them pressure me into marrying you. Do you really think this will make you happy?” The voice was deep and cold, a ghost from a past I thought was gone. I blinked, my vision clearing, and stared at Anton. He stood before me, young and defiant in a sharp, tailored suit, a world away from the broken man he would become. This was eighteen-year-old Anton. I had really gone back. Suppressing the knot of grief in my throat, I drank in the sight of him, alive and whole. “You don’t want to marry me because the one you truly love is Evelyn. Isn’t that right?” Anton let out a bitter laugh. “What if it is? Are you going to step aside?” “Yes,” I said, my voice firm. My parents had been national heroes, diplomats who died in a bombing overseas. In recognition of their sacrifice, the government had granted me a special boon—a state-sanctioned marriage contract, blank and waiting for a name. I could marry anyone I chose. Or, I could use it to arrange a marriage for someone else. He stared at me, then a cynical smile twisted his lips. “You used the contract to pressure me. My parents are forcing me. Our marriage is a done deal. How exactly are you going to ‘step aside’ now?” “Grace, I don’t have time to play your games. Go back to the registrar’s office and file the damn contract. I’ll wait for you here.” He turned away, leaning against the cold stone wall of the government building, the disgust in his eyes a physical blow. For two lifetimes, I had loved Anton. He had saved my life twice, acts of reckless bravery that I mistook for secret affection. I had naively used my parents’ legacy to marry him, only to learn too late that his heart belonged to another. My decade of love had been his decade of torment. In my past life, I had spent years performing acts of charity, bartering my own life force in mystical rites, all to earn him a chance at rebirth. Before the end, a spiritual guide had warned me, “Within twelve hours of his second chance, you must resolve his three greatest regrets. Once it is done, you must leave immediately.” “From then on, your paths will diverge. He will no longer be fated to die at thirty. You will both find your own destinies.” “But rebirth always has a price, my child. Be certain you are willing to pay it.” As long as Anton could live, I was willing to pay any price. I went back inside and amended the contract, formally requesting the union of Anton McGaw and Evelyn Lin. I knew his three regrets. He had written them in his private journal. Regret not fighting my parents’ arrangement. Regret marrying Grace. Regret not being able to save Evelyn. Now, his first regret was fulfilled. I walked out with the official document and handed it to him. He looked at me with contempt, as if I were a predator who had finally cornered her prey. He reached to open it. I placed a hand over his. “Wait until tomorrow,” I said, offering a gentle smile. “It’ll be a surprise.” He glanced at me, his voice laced with scorn. “Pathetic. Today, tomorrow—it’s still a marriage to you, isn’t it? What’s wrong with you today? Are you that deliriously happy you finally trapped me?” I was happy. Because I was finally seeing you alive again. I smiled. “I think you’re the best person in the world. Anyone who marries you will be incredibly happy.” “Let’s go,” he snapped, turning away. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought he was blushing. On the ride back to his family’s estate, the car passed a street bustling with nightlife. I overheard a group of girls talking excitedly. “Tonight’s the Perseid meteor shower! They say if a couple watches it together from Starlight Point, they’ll be soulmates for three lifetimes!” A memory pierced through me. In my past life, I had heard the same thing and eagerly begged Anton to take me. He had looked at me with that chilling, mocking expression. “Isn’t one lifetime of you enough? Now you want to haunt me for three?” “It’s a stupid superstition, a ridiculous fairytale for fools. If you want to believe it, fine, but leave me out of it.” Even now, the memory of his cold eyes made me shiver. I quietly closed the car’s privacy screen. But this time, Anton spoke, his tone unexpectedly neutral. “You want to go?” “I can take you to Starlight Point tonight. It can be my apology for not being able to attend the memorial for your parents after the wedding.” I looked up at him, surprised. It was both unexpected and completely in character. Anton had always been like this—a cruel tongue hiding a soft heart. He didn’t love me, but he had still risked his life for me three times. The first, when I was attacked by muggers, he took a knife to his right arm protecting me. The hand that was once skilled enough to hit a target a hundred yards away could never hold a bow again. The second, when I contracted a deadly virus, he climbed a treacherous cliff face to find a rare herb to save my life, nearly breaking his leg in the process. The third, during a fire at the embassy, he died saving me. Anton was perfect in every way. He just didn’t love me. I knew that after today, we would have no future together. Even if we watched the meteor shower from Starlight Point, the legend wouldn’t apply to us. Still, I suppressed the hot tears welling in my eyes and gave him a smile so bright it felt cheap. “Okay. Let’s go see the meteors together.” 3 Halfway there, our car was stopped. It was Evelyn’s personal assistant. She said Evelyn was suffering from a terrible migraine and wanted to see Anton. He frowned at the news and immediately got out of the car. “Evelyn’s not well. I have to go see her. You go back to the estate. I’ll meet you at Starlight Point tonight.” I nodded. “Okay.” He looked at me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “You used to hate it when I went to see her. What’s changed?” I opened my mouth, but he cut me off with another sneer. “Right. We’re about to be married. I guess she’s not a threat to you anymore.” He walked away, never seeing the desolate smile on my face. I never tried to stop him from caring for Evelyn. I only intervened once, when I discovered she was having an affair with a married government official. I tried desperately to keep Anton away from her, to protect him from the inevitable scandal. But he never knew. After she died, he grieved her loss for a decade. If I had to choose, I would rather see him with her and happy, than see him tormented and dying for me. My first stop was the passport office to arrange my travel documents. Then, I returned to the McGaw estate. Mrs. McGaw had prepared a feast, a table laden with all my favorite dishes. As I always did, I took off my white fur-trimmed coat and draped it over her shoulders. “It’s cold, Amelia. You need to take care of yourself.” She beamed at me, her face alight with joy. “Grace, you’re always so thoughtful. Quick, let me see the marriage contract! I’ve waited so long to finally call you my daughter.” Mr. McGaw, noticing I was alone, bristled with anger. “That boy didn’t come back with you again? The contract is finalized, and he still doesn’t know how to cherish you? When he gets home, I’ll give him a piece of my mind!” Their genuine affection was a bittersweet ache in my chest. They had raised me after my own parents died, giving me a home, giving me their love. I had always been the dutiful, obedient daughter. But this time, I had to betray their hopes. I looked at them, my voice heavy. “Arthur, Amelia… I’m not marrying Anton.” “I’m leaving for the coast tomorrow. I won’t be here to look after you anymore, so you must promise to take good care of each other.” Amelia stared, her smile faltering. “Your parents died serving this country. You grew up here. This estate is your home. Where would you go?” Her eyes filled with alarm. “Is it because of that Lin girl? Did Anton hurt you? Is that why you’re calling off the wedding?” “Don’t do this, Grace. He has feelings for you, I know he does. He risked his life for you twice! Every year for your birthday, he spends months searching for the perfect gift. I know you love him too. You learned to cook for him, you massage his hand every night to ease the pain. You would be so happy together!” “Besides, that Lin girl is trouble. We can’t let her win. Please, don’t leave out of anger.” In my past life, they had said the same things. In the end, I lost my husband, and they lost their son. We all lived with a lifetime of regret. I gently wiped a tear from her cheek. “Amelia, you can’t force love. Anton’s heart belongs to someone else. It’s wrong of me to force him to marry me.” “Last night, I had a dream. I dreamt that he and I were married. But he wouldn’t see me. He worked himself to the bone, driving his body into the ground. He wouldn’t eat the food I made for him, wouldn’t let me care for him when he was sick. He told me that the pain I brought him was greater than any happiness. He even… he even died at thirty, saving my life.” The words were a physical pain, making it hard to breathe. Amelia was stunned. “But… that’s just a dream, Grace. Anton wouldn’t…” I sniffled, forcing a smile. “Dreams can be warnings, Amelia. I want him to live a long life. It’s better that we’re not husband and wife.” “He’s a man of privilege, but he’s never truly been free to make his own choices. At the very least, he should be able to choose who he marries.” I knelt before them and bowed my head to the floor three times. “My travel papers are ready. Please, grant me this one wish. I will never forget your kindness. I will repay it for the rest of my life.” Arthur’s lips thinned. He helped me to my feet. Amelia, wiping her tears, pressed a thick stack of bills into my hand. “If this is what you’ve decided, then I will respect your choice. But remember, no matter what happens, this will always be your home.” My own tears finally fell, and I hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Amelia.” By cutting my ties with Anton, the tragedy of our past life would never happen. He would live a long life. His parents wouldn’t lose their son and grow to hate me. This time, everyone would have a happy ending. The second of his regrets was fulfilled. Now, only one remained. That evening, I went to Starlight Point. The scenic overlook was crowded with couples, all there to wish for a shared destiny. “Grace.” A familiar voice cut through the crowd. I turned, my heart leaping, only to see Anton’s thunderous expression. He grabbed my wrist, his eyes blazing with a furious, crimson light. “You know how much I despise people who abuse their power. I didn’t escort you home, so you ran to my parents and tattled, making them humiliate Evelyn. She tried to kill herself, Grace. She took poison. Are you satisfied now?”

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A new reality show about a billionaire family is the latest viral hit. During a live broadcast, someone brought me up. My mother, her arm wrapped around the fake heiress, Chloe, accused me of being a pathological liar. My brother, Sonny, his voice laced with ice, added, “She’s nothing but trash.” My childhood friend, Peter, frowned. “A vicious, ungrateful viper,” was his assessment. Then Chloe, in her sugary-sweet voice, intervened. “Mom, Sonny, Peter, please don’t say that about my sister. Why don’t we invite her on the show? I’m sure she’s seen the error of her ways by now.” They fell silent. The live-stream comments, however, exploded with excitement, demanding they go find the real heiress immediately. Everyone wanted to see what kind of monster Jodie Ashford was to be so universally despised. Finally, Sonny lifted his gaze, his expression unreadable. “Fine. Do whatever you want.” And so, the entire production, a massive entourage, set off to find me. I floated in the air, a silent ghost tagging along. I was curious. Where on earth could they possibly find me? 1 A crowd of people swarmed in front of a dilapidated old building. The corners of the lot were overflowing with garbage, a buzzing cloud of flies and roaches feasting on the rot. The crew from the show couldn’t help but pinch their noses against the stench. I did a slow loop in the air, grateful I couldn’t smell a thing. Just then, my mother, Sonny, and the others stepped out of their luxury cars. Dressed in limited-edition couture, they were a stark, shimmering contrast to the squalor around them. The live-stream chat filled with confusion: 【Wait, the real Ashford heiress lives in a dump like this?】 【That dress Chloe’s wearing could probably buy this whole building.】 Someone chimed in with an explanation: 【You guys didn’t see the news? Three years ago, Jodie Ashford killed her own father and ran away from home.】 【What? She’s that horrible? The Ashfords should never have taken her back in the first place.】 【Yeah, I heard about her. A real piece of work. Nothing like Chloe, who has Sonny Ashford and the medical prodigy Peter protecting her.】 The discussion was heating up. My mother pulled out a silk handkerchief, holding it to Chloe’s nose to block the smell. Then she turned to Sonny. “Go get Jodie to open the door.” Sonny took a single step up the crumbling concrete stairs, then froze. He’d realized he had no idea which apartment was mine. I’d actually told him before. But at the time, he was too busy consoling a tearful Chloe to pay any attention. But then I heard a low voice from behind him. It was Peter. “201.” I wasn’t surprised. Of everyone here, Peter knew me best. Sonny shot Peter a surprised look before continuing up to the second floor. There was no doorbell. The great Sonny Ashford, CEO of Ashford Corp, was reduced to pounding on a rusty metal door. A long, long time passed. No one answered. I tilted my head, watching Sonny. His face was hardening, a cold mask settling over his features. “Silly brother,” I whispered in his ear, though he couldn’t hear me. “Obviously, no one’s home.” He just kept knocking, a stubborn, repetitive rhythm. I found it fascinating. Normally, his patience with me wore thin in seconds. He would have stormed off by now, spitting, “Such a lack of manners,” over his shoulder. The viewers in the live stream were getting restless. 【Is she not home? Why don’t they just call her?】 【Who knows if they even have her number? Look at Sonny, he didn’t even know the apartment number.】 【I heard Peter grew up with Jodie in a group home. Now he’s a medical genius with a spotless reputation. If even he talks about her like that, she must be truly terrible.】 【I was so ready for the drama of Jodie joining the show. The real vs. the fake heiress, it would’ve been epic.】 Then, another comment: 【This place looks sketchy as hell. Isn’t anyone worried something might have happened to her?】 This was a live broadcast, so the people on set could see the comments scrolling by. “Maybe… maybe my sister saw the show and left ahead of time,” Chloe said, her head bowed as if in deep sorrow. “She doesn’t want to see us. When she left, she blocked all of our numbers.” “It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me…” “This has nothing to do with you! She’s the ungrateful wretch!” Sonny had stopped knocking. His voice was cold, sharp with a hatred that seemed to cut through the air. “She’d better hope she can hide for the rest of her life.” I had heard those words, or ones just like them, too many times while I was alive. I didn’t want to hear them again. I drifted away from them, watching as they conferred with the production crew, finally giving up on their plan to invite me. Only when they began preparing for the next segment did I float back. 2 Just as everyone was about to get back into their cars, a woman in flashy, cheap clothes emerged from the building, yawning. She was halfway down the stairs when she saw Sonny’s face. She stopped, turned back, and threw him a sultry look. “Hey handsome, looking for me? It’s only two hundred.” I blinked, drifting in front of my brother to get a better look. Well. He was undeniably handsome. As I recalled, women had always flocked to him like moths to a flame. When had Sonny Ashford ever been subjected to such a humiliating offer? His face instantly darkened. “Get lost.” Several of his bodyguards moved forward, their expressions menacing. The woman flinched, about to run. “Wait,” Chloe called out, stopping her with a gentle smile. “Excuse me, have you seen the woman who lives here?” she asked, gesturing to the door of my old apartment. The woman glanced at the door. “Oh, her?” she said with a dismissive smirk. “She’s got good business. Always a few men with her at a time.” After she spoke, a dead silence fell over the scene. Chloe was the first to react, covering her mouth with her hand, the very picture of shocked innocence. “Oh my god. My sister… how could she do something like that?” My mother clutched at her chest, her face pale with rage. “What a disgraceful, filthy creature!” she seethed. Chloe immediately rushed to her side, helping her back toward the car and rubbing her back to calm her down. “That bastard!” Sonny finally processed the words, his initial shock turning into incandescent rage. “As an Ashford, how dare she?!” The force of his anger made me shrink back. I didn’t understand why he was so furious. Hadn’t he always told me I was born low-class, unworthy of the Ashford name? Why did it suddenly matter to him now what I did? The internet, of course, went into a frenzy. The comments flew by in a blur: 【What the hell, Jodie is a… a prostitute?】 【What a disgrace to the Ashford family. If only Chloe were their real daughter. She’s so pure and innocent.】 【Can we just move on? I don’t want to hear another thing about this person. It’s disgusting.】 But some offered a different perspective: 【Could this be a misunderstanding? Chloe isn’t always right. Peter grew up with Jodie, maybe he knows her better?】 At the mention of his name, everyone on set turned to look at Peter, waiting for his verdict. I floated over to him, waiting too. Peter simply lowered his gaze, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. “I never thought she’d sink so low.” He sided with Chloe, condemning me. He affirmed that yes, with a character like mine, I was capable of such a thing. A wave of murmurs went through the crowd. Sonny’s hands clenched into fists, the veins on their backs standing out like cords. Chloe, having settled my mother in the car, hurried back to his side. I stared at Peter. This boy, three years younger than me, whom I had once treated like my own brother. I thought I would be used to it by now. But my heart still ached with a familiar, numbing pain. When we were kids, bullies used to pick on him. I always stood in their way. Once, my arm was broken protecting him. Another time, I nearly lost an eye. But none of that seemed to matter as much as the simple umbrella Chloe had handed him on a rainy day. From that day on, whatever Chloe said, whatever she did, he defended her. She said I stole the class funds, so he testified against me, getting me ostracized by my classmates and disciplined by the school. Chloe fell down a flight of stairs when I was nearby, so he pushed me down a flight of stairs in return. And now, this. He knew. He knew the truth. When we were clinging to each other for survival, we lived in this very building. That flimsy metal door did nothing to block out the sounds from next door. He would cover my ears with his small hands, his jaw clenched in hatred. “Jodie, don’t listen. Don’t be scared. When I make money, we’ll move away from here.” We did eventually move. He got a big, beautiful house. But the sister in his heart was no longer me. It was Chloe. “Mr. Ashford, I’ve found the young miss’s number.” 3 Sonny’s assistant’s voice snapped me back to the present. I was a little surprised. My brother had actually sent someone to find my number? That was so unlike him. The resources at his command were usually reserved for Chloe and Chloe alone. I floated closer to him. He was frowning, staring at the number scrawled on a slip of paper in his hand. His face was a mask of conflict. Was he hesitating? Struggling with what to say to his disgraceful sister? Impossible. I shook my head. I knew better than that. The only times Sonny had ever called me were to demand I apologize to Chloe, or to vent his own frustrations… “Jodie, you have three minutes to get to Father’s memorial tablet and kneel.” The seconds ticked by. Sonny just stared at the number, unmoving. I was getting antsy for him. The live stream was, too: 【What’s he thinking? Just call already! Confront her!】 【They said they haven’t spoken in three years. Maybe it feels awkward?】 【CALL HER! Get her on the show so we can see how awful she really is.】 【I bet she won’t have the guts to show up. She burned her bridges with the Ashfords.】 The show’s director, growing desperate, cautiously approached his biggest sponsor. “Mr. Ashford, if you’d please…” Sonny silenced him with a single glare. The director scurried away, but not without a flicker of triumph on his face. He had seen it. Sonny’s phone screen now read: Dialing… Everyone held their breath. Only I wasn’t nervous. I was bored, looking around. After all, there was no way that call could connect. I was a ghost. How could I possibly answer a phone? But in the next second, the call connected. A voice on the other end said, “Hello?” I jumped in shock. But I quickly composed myself. My brother, on the other hand, was stunned into fury. He practically choked on the words. “Who is this?” “Where is Jodie?” 4 “This is your daddy!” The person on the other end seemed to hesitate for a second before snapping back. Sonny, after a moment of shock, regained his composure. “You must be her friend, Maya. She always did love running with gutter trash like you.” “Put Jodie on the phone.” I looked up, surprised. I didn’t think he’d even remember Maya, my best friend from before I returned to the Ashfords. I thought he never paid any attention to my life at all. Maya’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Well, well. I thought the great Sonny Ashford was calling because he’d finally grown a conscience. Turns out you’re just as cold-blooded as ever. Is this how all you rich folk are?” Sonny didn’t rise to the bait. He calmly slipped on the jacket his assistant handed him. “Miss Maya,” he said with a faint, chilling smile, “I doubt you could find a more cold-blooded person on this earth than your dear friend, Jodie.” “Right, right. The kindest person in the world is your precious, two-faced fake sister, Chloe. There, are you satisfied, Mr. Ashford?” Maya was clearly furious now, her words tumbling out in a rush. “You build her up, fund this trashy show, and you want to drag Jodie through the mud as a prop? Don’t you think you’ve hurt her enough? It’s disgusting!” She paused, as if catching her breath, then added, “If you ask me, Jodie wasn’t cold-blooded enough. She should have just watched you get kidnapped all those years ago!” Sonny’s pupils contracted. His knuckles, wrapped around the phone, turned white. I felt a jolt of memory, a dizzying pull back to the year I was taken. My brother, sneaking me out of the house to play without our parents’ permission. A tall man grabbing him, trying to drag him into a van. I had clawed and bit at the man until he yelped in pain and let go. I kept screaming, crying, finally drawing the attention of passersby. Realizing he’d been spotted and that grabbing Sonny again would be too difficult, the man had simply shoved me into the van and sped off. I was four years old. My brother was ten. Sonny’s face became a thundercloud. “Who do you think you are, speaking to me like that?” he snarled. “I’ll say it one more time. Get Jodie. On. The. Phone. Now.” “Oh, that’s right! You’re all so high and mighty! Us poor folk aren’t worthy of speaking to you!” Maya was clearly terrified of Sonny, but she gritted her teeth and pushed on. “You want to talk to Jodie? Maybe in your next life!” Maya, you fool! Why are you provoking him? I was frantic, wanting desperately to stop her, but it was useless. I could see Sonny’s face had become so dark it looked like it was carved from obsidian. My heart twisted for Maya, terrified of what he might do to her in retaliation. I knew what that was like. It wasn’t pleasant. And Maya was just an ordinary person; she stood no chance against my brother. Strangely, Sonny took a deep breath and, for once, didn’t retaliate. Just then, Peter suddenly spoke up. “Let me try.” 5 Sonny tossed the phone to Peter, his face a mask of stone, and walked away. Peter caught it, his tone familiar and easy. “Maya, it’s been a while. Can you put Jodie on?” Maya, Peter, and I had all grown up in the same group home. Once upon a time, we were an inseparable trio. There was a long silence on Maya’s end before she finally spoke, her voice hollow. “Well, if it isn’t the rising star of the medical world. What’s it been, a few years? Have you already forgotten how to call the person who worked her fingers to the bone to put you through school ‘sister’?” Peter’s lips curved into an unconcerned smile. “Maya. Sister. Is that better?” “Was I asking you to call me that?” Maya exploded. “Peter, has your conscience been completely eaten by dogs?” The smile vanished from Peter’s face. His expression cooled. “Maya, my patience is limited.” “Where is Jodie?” “You want to see her?” Maya’s tone was strange, almost eerie. Peter’s lips thinned, but he said nothing. Maya let out a short, sharp laugh that grew louder and more unhinged. “You want to see her now? Isn’t it a little late for that? Where were all of you before?!” Still, Peter didn’t answer. Maya’s laughter died down. When she spoke again, her voice was quiet and steady. “Jodie? Oh, she’s probably… been reincarnated into a better family by now.” The call was on speaker, the volume turned up for the show. The entire set, including the crew and the thousands watching the live stream, fell into a profound silence. My heart leaped into my throat. So, it’s finally out. Before I died, Maya was the only one by my side. She handled everything afterward. She had already borne so much for me. It was probably for the best that she let it all out. I just didn’t know how my mother and brother would react. I lowered my head, unable to look at any of them. After what felt like an eternity, a low chuckle broke the silence. 6 I turned. It was my brother. He was laughing. “You went through all that trouble just to say that?” Sonny said, slipping his hands into his pockets, utterly convinced he had uncovered the truth. “Jodie put you up to this, didn’t she.” It wasn’t a question. “She really is something else.” Peter’s head was bowed, his hair obscuring his eyes. “A person that selfish… she wouldn’t die before she’s done ruining people’s lives,” he said, his voice laced with scorn, as if the flicker of panic in his eyes moments before had been a mere illusion. I bowed my head, helpless. Of course. Peter probably wished I would just drop dead. “That’s right, I was just messing with you! So what?” Maya’s voice suddenly turned manic. “Jodie is happier than she has ever been since she left you all! Did you really think she liked living in that toxic wasteland of a family? She was sick of it! Why is it always you people who get to summon her and dismiss her whenever you please? You want to find her? Then you can crawl over here yourselves!” Maya spat out an address and, without waiting for a reply, hung up. Everyone stared at each other. The director and camera operators exchanged nervous glances, but no one dared to move. They just kept the cameras rolling. Sonny stood frozen, his expression impassive, but the veins on the back of his hand were a web of angry blue. Peter remained with his head down, his thoughts a mystery. “Go. We’ll go right now. Let’s see what kind of game this little liar Jodie is playing!” The furious voice came from behind them. My mother, leaning carefully on Chloe’s arm, strode forward. “And bring the family register,” she commanded. “The Ashfords have no such person in their family!” Chloe froze, then turned to the camera, her face a mask of pitiful pleading. “Sister, I know you’re watching. Please, I’m begging you, stop making Mom and our brothers angry. It’s not too late to admit you’re wrong.” My grandmother’s intent was clear. She was going to disown me, live on this show, in front of the whole world. In a hundred years, the Ashford family had never had such a disgraceful child. Sonny’s expression shifted through a storm of emotions. Finally, he spoke. “Jodie, you’ve gone too far this time.” “It’s time you learned a lesson.” Hearing that, I silently floated into one of the cars. And I silently cursed myself. Jodie. How could you still hold out any hope that your brother would protect you?

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Eight years ago, to protect Lily, I fought a long and bitter war with a man named Anthony. Even though she was a mute, I ignored my family’s vehement objections and married her anyway. Eight years later, our house was on fire. I risked my life to save her, but to protect a wooden doll that looked unnervingly like Anthony, she shoved me back into the inferno. “Lily, just pretend to be mute. Just for me, okay? He’ll definitely fall for you.” “Okay.” That single recording, saved in a folder on her computer labeled “My Love,” plunged me into an icy abyss. All this time, what I thought was love at first sight had been a meticulously planned deception. Looking at her now, still refusing to speak, still covering for Anthony, a sharp, unrelenting pain seized my heart. But on the day I finally decided to leave her, I received a strange phone call. “Leo… don’t… don’t leave me. You’re all I have…” It was the seventh day of my hospital stay, and Lily still hadn’t come to see me. I stared blankly at the exquisitely crafted wooden figure in my hands, at the hauntingly familiar face carved into it, and felt my heart plummet into a frozen cavern. No one knew that face better than I did. After all, I had fought him for so long to keep Lily by my side. Before I could put the doll down, the door to my room burst open. It was Lily. She looked at me, her expression frantic, her brow furrowed as her gaze darted to the doll in my hands. Her look was an accusation, with no hint of concern for my bandaged, recovering body. “Leo! Why did you take this? Do you have any idea how long I’ve been looking for it?” Panting, she signed at me with furious speed, desperate, guttural sounds escaping her throat as she lunged to snatch the doll from my grasp. So, it was for the doll. Of course. Otherwise, she would have already taken it to see Anthony, to celebrate his birthday. She wouldn’t have wasted her time coming here. A doctor who had just walked in was stunned by the scene. I held on tight, my grip unyielding, but she was strong enough to yank me bodily from the hospital bed. I teetered on the edge, about to fall. “Hey! What are you doing?!” a nurse shouted. I looked at Lily, still wrestling with me, and a bitter, self-mocking smile touched my lips. I let go. She got the doll, and I crashed to the floor. Damn, that hurt. But the physical pain somehow dulled the ache in my chest. Lily froze, staring at the doll in her hands. A flicker of panic crossed her face. She glanced at me as if finally remembering I was there, and reached out a hand to help me up. I flinched away, shifting my body to avoid her touch. Her hand hung in the air for a moment before she awkwardly pulled it back. The doctor, furious, began to reprimand her for agitating a patient, but fell silent when he realized she was mute. “Don’t be upset,” she began to sign, her movements slow and pleading. “Let’s just forget this happened, okay? I promised you, I’ll make you a new one…” “Get out!” I didn’t wait for her to finish her pathetic pantomime. I grabbed the water glass from my bedside table and hurled it at her. That laughable promise, which once might have meant something, now only filled me with disgust. “Lily, where’s my gift?” As we stood in a tense stalemate, a new voice cut through the air. Anthony stood at the doorway, a smug look on his face as he watched Lily. Then, feigning surprise, he turned to me. “Well, if it isn’t Leo. Look at you. It’s been years. What a mess you’ve become.” The sound of more voices drifted in from the hallway. My old colleagues, the people I used to work with, were all filing in behind him. They stared, wide-eyed, at the pathetic sight I made on the floor. “Can’t you see? Anthony planned this,” one of them whispered, not quite quietly enough. “Poor Leo. What a tragedy, falling for a backstabbing viper like her…” And just like that, it all clicked into place. I looked at Lily’s pale face. Her hands trembled as she offered the doll to Anthony, the hopeful, eager light in her eyes telling me everything I needed to know. Liars. All of them. Anthony snatched the doll, then tossed it aside with a look of disgust. He immediately turned his attention back to me, mocking my current state, seizing every opportunity to show how much better he was doing. I was no longer the cheerful crusader I’d once been. “All of you, get out!” I roared. I closed my eyes, shutting out their false words of comfort and pity, and told the doctor to call security and have them all removed. “I don’t want you to keep being deceived.” I was at home, groggy and still healing, when the text message arrived. It was from Claire, a friend I hadn’t spoken to in years. Attached was a full audio file. In the recording, I heard Anthony’s low, indulgent laughter, and then the soft, mumbled sounds of a voice I knew better than my own—Lily’s. “Lily, if you get together with him, I’ll accept your gift.” “We grew up together, and he’s so into you. Just do this one favor for me, okay? It’s not like you’re losing anything.” “Okay. I promise.” My heart grew colder with each word. Listening to that soft, feminine voice—a voice I had never heard—I didn’t even realize when the tears started streaming down my face. For eight years, she hadn’t spoken a single word, all because of a request from Anthony. As the recording played on, the coldness seeped deeper into my bones, colder even than when she had abandoned me in the fire. So, from the very beginning, her love for me had been a lie. I stared at the wedding photo hanging on our wall, remembering the vows we’d exchanged. With a guttural cry, I hurled my phone at the frame, shattering the glass into a thousand pieces. Lily walked in at that moment and jumped, startled by the scene. But her expression quickly hardened, confident that I would, as always, be the one to back down and comfort her. But I just sat there on the sofa, silent. “Today was an accident,” she signed, her hands moving tentatively. “I really did want to see you. How’s your hand?” She seemed unable to bear the silence any longer. But I kept my head down, refusing to look at her. She was performing a one-woman show to an empty audience, her hands aching but too afraid to stop, that same pathetic, pitiful look on her face. “If you can’t speak, then don’t make those grating noises. I can’t stand to hear them.” My voice was ice. Lily froze, her face a mask of shock. The hand she had reached out to tend to my wound snapped back as if burned. I had never used her muteness against her, never thrown it in her face. This was a first. The thought that the person I had loved for over a decade could be so repulsive made me shut my eyes in disgust. “Mark, I’m coming back to the studio,” I said into the phone later. “As for Lily… I’m done.” “Boss, you’re finally back! You’re finally letting go of that woman?” Mark, my lead designer, looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes, but he was practically vibrating with excitement. His face soured, though, when I mentioned Anthony. I looked around the studio, at the awards on the shelves and the design blueprints on the walls. It felt like I was seeing them from a lifetime away. For all these years, I had poured everything into Lily, completely forgetting the man I used to be. Anthony and I had grown up together, and we’d despised each other from the start. I couldn’t stand the way he bullied Lily, who couldn’t speak up for herself. The day I saw him force her to go out and buy him something in a torrential downpour, something inside me snapped. I stormed over and grabbed her hand. “Are you an idiot? You’ll do anything he says? What, are you mute or something?” But then I looked into her wide, rain-slicked eyes, and my heart skipped a beat. I cursed under my breath and wiped the rain from my face, annoyed at myself for forgetting she really was mute. Lily just stared at me, not with irritation, but with a quiet curiosity. She nodded obediently and offered me a gentle smile. I never forgot that moment, not even after we were married for years. I gave up my own dreams, my own ambitions, to build a world for her. And now, to realize it was all a scam from the beginning, a game Anthony used her to play to get back at me… I sighed and shared a look with Mark. A real smile, for the first time in a long time. “I’m not leaving again,” I said. “This time, I’m here to stay.” Getting back into the rhythm of work was exhausting but fulfilling. My mood would have been perfect, if not for the sight of Lily waiting for me outside the studio. “Why won’t you come home?” she signed, her eyes filled with a convincing, weary sadness. I ignored her, just as so many others had ignored her in the past. I turned away, leaving her standing there, and started talking to my colleagues. People stared at her, their expressions a mixture of confusion and pity. They couldn’t understand what the mute woman wanted. Someone even wondered aloud if she was a beggar. I glanced at her clothes, torn and scuffed from a fall, and felt nothing. I used to be the one to jump to her defense, my heart aching for her. Not anymore. I wasn’t going to be the fool in this play. “Leo, old friend. How about a reunion? And you too, Lily.” Anthony had appeared out of nowhere, a teasing glint in his eye. I frowned and looked at Lily. Her eyes went wide, and she frantically waved her hands, trying to signal that she hadn’t been the one to call him here. “Sure, why not,” I said. Just then, my phone buzzed with another message from Claire. The information within made my blood run even colder, but I kept my expression neutral. “Anthony,” I said, a slow smile spreading across my face. “Your girlfriend will be there too, right?” The reunion was packed. Not just the three of us, but a crowd of our old friends and classmates. They joked about my “grand romantic gesture” back in the day, how the star-crossed lovers had finally ended up together. “But wait,” someone piped up. “Didn’t Lily used to have a thing for Anthony?” The ill-timed question silenced the room. All eyes turned to us, hungry for drama. What a show, I thought, looking at Lily. How long are you going to keep up this act? “I don’t care who she likes,” I said, my voice light, letting out a small laugh. “Because I’m done with this mute. She’s just a fool who plays with blocks of wood.” The crowd went dead silent. For years, they had mocked me for being with Lily, calling me a “white knight” with a savior complex. Lily had always hidden behind me while I fought her battles. This was a new dynamic. Lily stood there, humiliated, and looked to me for help as the whispers and snickers started. What was she looking at me for? I turned my gaze to Anthony. He was pointedly ignoring her too, a look of irritation on his face. I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. “That’s not right,” I said, my voice dangerously soft. “As I recall, Anthony had feelings for Lily, too. Maybe we should let Jenna hear some of your sweet nothings. Or maybe she’d like to see the wooden doll Lily has been saving for you for years.” A collective gasp went through the room. This was better than they could have hoped for. Beside me, Jenna’s face, which had been impassive until now, turned thunderous. “What did you say?” she demanded, turning on Anthony. “You and that… that mute. You haven’t been in contact, have you? And what’s this about a wood carving?” I sneered, watching Anthony’s face drain of color. I deliberately pulled out my phone, making a show of finding the audio file. “What do you think you’re doing! Don’t you dare try to frame us! Everyone knows you’ve always been jealous of me! You married a mute carpenter, and now that you can’t compete, you’re trying to ruin my life!” Anthony, completely unhinged, lunged at me, acting as if he had no idea what recording I was talking about. The moment his hands grabbed my collar, Lily, who had been sitting frozen, shot to her feet. With a strength I didn’t know she possessed, she tore us apart. Her face was a mask of anxiety as she checked the red marks on my neck, her hands flying as she asked if I was okay. I dodged her touch with a click of my tongue, turning away coldly. Lily tried to reach for me again, but Jenna, now incandescent with rage, kicked her hard in the back of the leg. Lily crumpled to her knees. “So that’s why,” Jenna snarled, towering over her. “That’s why Anthony suddenly invited you two. It was always about you, wasn’t it? You pathetic mute, still trying to climb the social ladder?” The others now openly jeered at Lily. She had always been the aloof, untouchable artist, protected by me. The polite respect they’d shown her was a facade. Now, their eyes were filled with nothing but contempt. “Still playing the high and mighty princess…” someone sneered from the crowd. Listening to the taunts, watching her get hit without being able to even cry out, a small, dark part of me felt a sliver of satisfaction. “My apologies. Have I come at a bad time?” A new voice cut through the noise. The crowd turned to the door. “Quite a party.” It was Claire. I raised an eyebrow, not surprised. I gave her a nod of thanks for the intel she’d sent. But Claire’s gaze was fixed on Lily, on the floor, and her expression was one of disappointment. Claire rarely attended these kinds of events, so her arrival immediately shifted the room’s focus. The gossip was forgotten as everyone flocked to suck up to the wealthy heiress. “Don’t be angry, Leo,” Lily signed desperately, pulling at my sleeve now that the attention was off her. “That’s all in the past. My heart is only with you. I only love you. Just let go of this feud with Anthony.” Still for Anthony. Even now, she couldn’t tell me the truth. I watched her frantic pledges of loyalty and found them utterly ridiculous. I forced a smile and nodded, my heart finally, completely dead. In her joyful eyes, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around Lily. “It’s over now. It’s really and truly over. Goodbye, Lily. I’m just heading to the studio for a bit.” Lily hugged me back tightly, nodding hard, but she wouldn’t let go. “I don’t know why,” she signed slowly, her hands trembling, “but I have a feeling you’re not coming back.”

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After his first love died, Duke Cassian despised me for ten years. I tried everything to earn his affection, but he would only sneer. “If you truly wish to please me, Eleonora, you should die.” The words were a dagger in my heart. Yet, when the burning rafters of our manor collapsed, he died saving me. As he lay dying in my arms, he used his last ounce of strength to push my hand away. “Eleonora,” he rasped, “if only I had never met you in this life…” At his funeral, his mother, the Duchess, was inconsolable. “Oh, Cassian, it was my fault. I never should have forced you to marry her. If only I had let you marry Lilliana, would things have been different today?” His father, the old Duke, glared at me with pure hatred. “My son saved your life three times. Why do you bring him nothing but disaster? Why wasn’t it you who died?” Everyone regretted that he had married me. Even I did. In the end, I threw myself from the highest window of the Celestial Spire. And I awoke, ten years in the past. This time, I would sever all ties with Cassian. This time, I would give everyone the ending they wanted. 1 “Eleonora, you truly have a talent for it. Forcing my parents to threaten their own lives to make me marry you. Did you think that by wedding me, you would find happiness?” The deep, cold voice of a young man echoed in my ears. I blinked, my gaze fuzzy, and found myself staring at Cassian. He stood before me, dressed in the striking red tunic of the royal guard, his features sharp and untamed. He was different from the man he would become in ten years. This was Cassian at eighteen. I had truly returned. Swallowing the lump of grief in my throat, I drank in the sight of him. “You don’t want to marry me,” I stated, my voice steadier than I felt. “The one you truly want to marry is Lady Lilliana. Isn’t that right?” Cassian scoffed. “What if it is? Are you going to step aside?” “Yes,” I said, my voice firm. My parents had died as heroes on the battlefield, securing the kingdom’s borders. As a reward, the King had granted me a Royal Writ of marriage—a blank contract I could use to claim any nobleman in the realm as my husband. By the same token, I could use it to request a marriage for someone else. He froze for a second, then laughed, a harsh, humorless sound. “You used the King’s writ to pressure me. My parents are forcing me. Our marriage is set in stone. How, exactly, do you plan to ‘step aside’?” He took a step closer, his eyes burning with contempt. “Eleonora, I have no time for your games of cat and mouse. Take your royal writ and go back to the palace yourself. I will wait for you here.” With that, he turned and leaned against the cold stone of the palace wall. The raw disgust in his eyes was a physical blow. In both my lives, I had loved Cassian for so long. He had saved me twice, risking his own life without hesitation. I had mistaken that for a secret love, and with a joyful heart, I had asked the King to grant us marriage. It was only after his true love died that I understood. He had never loved me. My ten years of devotion had been his ten years of torment. In my past life, I had performed countless acts of charity, bartered my own life force with a Seer, all for the chance to bring him back. Before I was reborn, the Seer had given me a warning. “Within twelve hours of his rebirth, you must resolve his three greatest regrets. Once they are fulfilled, you must leave at once. From then on, you and he will walk separate paths. He will not die at thirty because of you. You will both find your own destinies.” “But rebirth always has a price, my lady. Be certain you are prepared.” As long as Cassian could live, I feared no price. I sought an audience with the King and petitioned him to issue a new Royal Writ, this one for the marriage of Duke Cassian and Lady Lilliana. I knew his three regrets. They were written in a leather-bound journal he kept locked in his study. “I regret marrying Eleonora. I regret not fighting my parents’ wishes. I regret not being able to save Lilliana.” Now, his first regret was fulfilled. I walked out of the palace, the new edict in my hands, and presented it to him. He looked at me with an expression of pure disdain, as if I were a predator who had finally cornered her prey. He reached to unroll the scroll. I gently pressed his hand down. “Wait until tomorrow,” I said, a soft smile on my lips. “There will be a surprise.” He shot me a look. “How tedious. Whether I read it today or tomorrow, it still says I must marry you, doesn’t it? What is wrong with you today? Are you mad with joy at the thought of finally having me?” I was. I was mad with joy. Because I was finally seeing you again, alive. I smiled. “I think you are the best man in the world. Anyone who marries you will be very, very happy.” “Let’s go,” he grunted, turning away so quickly I might have thought he was blushing, if I didn’t know better. Our carriage rumbled back towards his family’s estate. As we passed the bustling Flower Market, I pulled back the curtain and overheard the chatter of young women. “They say the Maiden Star appears tonight! From the top of the Celestial Spire, you can see a meteor shower that only happens once a century! The legend says that any couple who watches it together will be bound by love for three lifetimes!” I remembered hearing those same words in my past life. I had excitedly begged Cassian to take me. He had looked at me with that chilling, mocking glint in his eyes. “Binding me for one lifetime isn’t torment enough for you? You want three?” he’d sneered. “What a foolish, childish legend. If you want to be taken in by such fantasies, do it alone. Don’t drag me into it.” Even now, the memory of that cold glare sent a shiver down my spine. I quietly let the curtain fall. But this time, a calm voice spoke from beside me. “Do you want to go?” I looked up, startled. “I can take you to the Celestial Spire tonight,” he said, his tone flat. “After we are wed, I won’t have time to accompany you to your parents’ memorial. Consider this my apology in advance.” I stared at him, surprised, yet not. This was Cassian. A viper’s tongue, but a heart softer than anyone knew. He didn’t love me, but he had still given his life to save me. Three times. The first time, we were attacked by brigands on the road. He took a knife to his right arm to protect me. The hand that could put an arrow through a coin at a hundred paces could never again draw a bow. The second time, I contracted the Crimson Fever. He scaled the treacherous Dragon’s Tooth peaks to find the rare Ghost Orchid that would save my life, nearly falling to his death in the process. The third time was the Great Fire at the Royal Keep. He died pushing me from the path of a collapsing beam. Cassian was perfect in every way. He just didn’t love me. I knew that after today, we would be strangers. Even if we stood atop the Celestial Spire and watched the meteor shower of a century, the legend would not apply to us. Still, I pushed down the hot moisture welling in my eyes and gave him a smile so bright it felt cheap. “Yes. Let’s go see the stars together.” 2 Our carriage was stopped halfway. It was a servant from Lilliana’s household. She said Lady Lilliana had one of her terrible headaches and wished to see the Duke. Cassian’s brow furrowed, and he immediately swung himself out of the carriage. “Lilliana is unwell. I must go to her. You go on ahead. I will meet you at the Celestial Spire tonight.” I nodded. “Alright.” He looked at me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “You used to mind so much when I went to see her. A sudden change of heart?” I opened my mouth to speak, but he cut me off with a cold laugh. “Of course. We are to be married soon. She poses no threat to you now.” He strode away, not seeing the bitter, sad smile that touched my lips. I had never tried to stop his fondness for her. The only time I had ever interfered was when I discovered she was having an affair with a high-ranking court official. The evidence was irrefutable. I had tried desperately to keep Cassian from getting entangled with her. But he never knew. After she died, he grieved for ten years. If I had to choose, I would rather see him happy with Lilliana than see him suffer and die for me. My first stop was the city magistrate’s office, where I obtained the documents needed to leave the capital. Then, I returned to the ducal estate. The Duchess had prepared a feast herself, the entire table laden with all my favorite dishes. I reflexively slipped off my white fox-fur cloak and draped it over her shoulders. “It’s cold, Your Grace. You must take care of yourself.” She beamed at me. “My sweet girl, you are always so thoughtful. Now, let me see the Royal Writ! I have waited so long to finally call you my daughter.” The old Duke, seeing I had returned alone, bristled. “That boy didn’t accompany you? The edict has been issued, and he still doesn’t know how to cherish you? When he returns, I will give him a stern talking-to!” Their genuine affection was a painful twist in my gut. After my parents’ deaths, they had taken me in, raised me, given me everything. I had always been an obedient daughter. But this time, I had to betray them. I looked at them both, my expression solemn. “Your Graces, I will not be marrying the Duke.” “Tomorrow, I will be leaving for the Southern Marshes. I will no longer be here to serve you. You must take good care of each other.” The Duchess was stunned. “Your parents died on the battlefield. You grew up here. This estate is your home. Where will you go?” Her voice rose with alarm. “Is it Cassian? Did he mistreat you because of that woman? Is that why you’re calling off the wedding?” “Don’t think like that, my dear. He has feelings for you. He wouldn’t have risked his life to save you twice if he didn’t. Every year for your birthday, he spends months searching for the most unique treasures. I know you love him too. You learned to cook for him, you massage his old injury every day to ease the pain. If you two were to marry, you would be so happy!” “Besides, that Lilliana is a wicked woman. We can’t let her win. Don’t leave just to spite him!” She had said the same things to me in my past life. In the end, I lost my husband, and they lost their son. Everyone was left with a lifetime of regret. I gently wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Your Grace, you cannot force love where it does not grow. I am not the one in Duke Cassian’s heart. I cannot force him to marry me.” “Last night, I had a dream. I dreamt that we were married, but he would not see me. He worked himself to the bone, day and night, until his body was broken. He wouldn’t drink the broth I made for him, wouldn’t let me care for him when he was sick. He said the pain I brought him was greater than any happiness. He even died… died at thirty, saving my life.” The words were a physical pain, making it hard to breathe. The Duchess stared at me. “But… but that’s only a dream, my dear. Cassian would never…” I sniffed, forcing a smile. “Your Graces, dreams can be warnings. I want him to live a long life, even if it means he doesn’t marry me, even if we are not husband and wife.” “He is a man of great rank, but he has so little freedom. I believe, at the very least, he should be able to choose who he marries.” I knelt and bowed my head to the floor three times. “I have my travel papers. I beg you, let me go. I will never forget your kindness. I will repay it for the rest of my days.” The old Duke’s lips thinned. He helped me to my feet. The Duchess, wiping her eyes, pressed a thick stack of bank notes into my hand. “If this is what you have decided, my dear, then I will not stand in your way. But you must remember, no matter what happens, this house will always be your home.” Tears finally spilled down my cheeks. I embraced her. “Thank you, Your Grace.” As long as I cut my ties with Cassian, the tragedy of our past life would not repeat itself. He would live a long life. The Duke and Duchess would not be heartbroken, would not grow to hate me. This time, everyone would have a happy ending. The second of Cassian’s regrets was now fulfilled. I had to complete all three within twelve hours. There was still one left. Would I succeed? That night, I went to the Celestial Spire. Couples were everywhere, come to seek a shared destiny from the stars. “Eleonora.” A familiar voice. I turned, my heart leaping, only to see Cassian’s face, dark with fury. He seized my wrist, his grip like iron, his eyes shot through with red. “You know I despise those who abuse their power. I was gone for a few hours, and you ran to my parents, turning them against Lilliana. They shamed her, humiliated her. She tried to take her own life, Eleonora. Are you satisfied now?” 3 My wrist throbbed, the pain sharp and radiating up my arm. The color drained from my face. In my past life, after Cassian and I were married, Lilliana had tried to kill herself a month later by taking a rare blood-curse poison. Cassian couldn’t find a blood match to create the antidote, and he was forced to watch her die. He had hated me for it, right up until the moment he died himself. But in this life, we weren’t getting married. Why would she still do this? I had been wondering how I would fulfill his third regret. And now, the opportunity had delivered itself to me. I looked at him, my voice calm. “So, you’ve come for my blood to make the antidote, haven’t you?” Cassian froze, clearly not expecting those words. His voice turned even colder. “You think I wouldn’t dare? You drove her to this. It is only right that you atone for it.” He dragged me to Lilliana’s residence. She lay on the bed, her breath shallow, her skin ashen. A physician produced a small, sharp dagger and made an incision on my arm. A fine, sharp pain, and I let out a soft gasp. The physician’s eyes lit up. “The curse reacts! My lady, your blood is a match.” He hesitated. “But to save her, we will need to draw blood directly from your heart. I am not certain your body can withstand such a procedure.” “No!” Cassian’s face paled, his brow furrowed. “Taking heart’s blood is nearly fatal. She can’t endure it. Is there no other way?” The physician looked grave. “Other blood will have a minimal effect. If the Duke is unwilling, then you must prepare for the worst. The lady who gives her heart’s blood may not die, but the one afflicted with this curse most certainly will.” Cassian’s jaw tightened, his gaze fixed on Lilliana’s pale form. I saw the anguish in his eyes. I looked at the physician. “I will do it. Take what you need.” “But my lady,” the physician protested, looking to Cassian for a final decision, “it will severely damage your vitality.” I managed a weak smile. “It’s alright. I can recover. Saving her is what’s important.” Cassian stared at me, his eyes a storm of unreadable emotions. Finally, he grimaced, tore a strip of fabric from his own white tunic, and used it to blindfold me. “I will owe you a debt,” he said, his voice a low growl. “I will repay you.” Then he was gone. The physician began the procedure. The blade pierced my skin. With every fraction of an inch it sank deeper, the pain became clearer, more defined. My mind drifted back. I was eight years old, my parents newly dead. The other noble children taunted me, said I had no one to protect me. Cassian had chased them off. He had ruffled my hair. “Don’t be afraid,” he’d said. “I will protect you.” He had kept his word. Even as he was dying, he had protected me. How could I not love him? But I knew, from the moment I was reborn, I had to sever that love, no matter the cost. As the heart’s blood was drawn, a warm trickle of blood escaped my own lips. The pain was a white-hot agony, and I collapsed, the world going dark. In the haze, I heard his last words from our previous life. “Eleonora, if only I had never met you in this life…” Tears streamed from under the blindfold. I smiled a faint, weak smile. “Cassian… this time, I will not chain you to me.” When I awoke, the sun was bright. I was in a guest room next door. A deep, throbbing ache radiated from my chest. I was alone, too weak to move. I glanced out the window. It was nearly noon. The twelve hours were almost up. I had to leave. Outside, I could hear the maids chattering. “Did you see the meteor shower last night? It was once in a century!” “I did! It was so beautiful! They say if lovers watch it together, they’ll be together forever!” Hearing their happy voices, a pang of regret shot through me. What a shame. To have missed something so beautiful. A short while later, the door opened, and Cassian entered, carrying a bowl of soup. It was the rich consommé from the royal kitchens, my favorite as a child. For a dizzying moment, I couldn’t believe he remembered. He looked at me, his voice softer than I had heard it in a decade. “Does your heart still ache? Should I call for the royal physician? She is out of danger, thanks to you.” I nodded. “Good.” Seeing my pale face, his brow remained furrowed. “I was harsh with my words yesterday. Don’t take them to heart. But Lilliana was an innocent party. You shouldn’t have dragged her into our affairs. Don’t go to my parents with tales again.” His words still stung, but I didn’t protest or try to explain myself as I would have in my past life. I just forced a smile. “I won’t. There won’t be a next time.” He tucked the blankets around me. “I’m sorry I couldn’t take you to see the stars last night. After we are wed, I will accompany you on a trip. I remember you always wanted to see the Southern Marshes. We can go there after visiting your parents’ memorial.” I froze, then gave a small, sad smile. “There’s no need.” “You don’t have to compensate me for last night. I chose to save Lady Lilliana myself.” Cassian looked taken aback, a flicker of something new in his eyes. “I have already arranged for the carriage to leave in five days. Once you have rested, we will depart.” I just looked at him, saying nothing. The bowl in his hands seemed to tremble. The old injury to his arm, the one he’d gotten protecting me, always ached in the damp weather. Even now, just holding a bowl was a strain. A wave of sympathy washed over me. “Do you regret it?” I asked, my voice soft. “Getting hurt like that, to save me?” His expression was calm. “There is nothing to regret. I would have saved anyone in that situation.” My heart sank. My voice was barely a whisper. “And when I had the fever? When you climbed the cliffs for the Ghost Orchid? Would you have done that for anyone?” “Yes.” Of course. I was nothing special. Tears welled in my eyes, but I forced a bright smile. “Cassian, thank you. For saving me, again and again.” “I had no parents. I was so desperate for a family. That’s why I forced you to marry me. My selfishness must have caused you so much pain, so much torment.” But not anymore. He wouldn’t have to abandon the woman he loved for me. He wouldn’t have to suffer for ten years. He wouldn’t have to die at thirty. This time, he would be alright. I thought I saw a flicker of panic in his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but just then, one of Lilliana’s maids rushed in. “Your Grace! My lady is awake, and she is asking for you! She refuses to eat until she sees you. Please, come quickly!” A genuine smile finally broke through Cassian’s grim expression. He glanced at me and stood to leave. “Wait for me here.” “Cassian,” I called out, stopping him at the door. I gave him the most radiant smile I could muster. “I’m sorry. And… I wish you a lifetime of happiness and peace.” He looked startled, a sense of unease clouding his features. “Why are you talking like this? I am just going to check on Lilliana. I will be right back. Eat something. Wait for me. I have something to tell you.” Then, he turned and left. It was almost noon. I forced myself out of bed. The physician came to check on me and left some medicine. I smiled gratefully. “I will take it, thank you, Doctor. And please, could you give the Duke a message for me? Tell him I have left for the Southern Marshes. Tell him to take care, and not to think of me.” After seeing Lilliana, Cassian rushed back to the guest room. It was empty. He called for a servant. “Where is Lady Eleonora? She is not well enough to be out of bed.” Before the servant could answer, one of his personal guards hurried in, his face grim. “Your Grace, terrible news! There was a brigand attack on the road out of the city. Several travelers were wounded, but there was one fatality—a young woman who had just had her heart’s blood drawn. Her name was Eleonora.”

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