A moment before the flames swallowed me, I saw my husband and my best friend locked in a smiling embrace. He said, “Serena, you deserve to die.” When I opened my eyes, I was back the night before my wedding. This time, I had their car rendezvous filmed in advance and set it to play on a loop on the wedding screens. In front of all the guests, I played the recording. “Once Serena is dead, the inheritance will all be ours.” The two who drove me to my death in my past life, one went bankrupt, the other went to prison. The ex I’d abandoned came to me at last. “Now that you’ve had your revenge, can you turn and look at me?” My new husband placed a hand on my back. “Honey, has the baby been bothering you today?” Serena’s POV I was reborn on the night before my wedding. One moment I was drowning in fire, the next I was surrounded by wedding gowns.. In the mirror, my twenty-two-year-old self stared back.. The man I would marry tomorrow would, in three years, conspire with my best friend to burn me alive. They would steal my legacy and hound my mother to her death. The wedding dress was so white. A pity it would soon be stained with my blood. I picked up scissors and cut from the neckline to the hem. Fragments scattered all over the floor. Ethan Chapman, Claire Sullivan. This time it’s your turn to go to hell. My phone rang. It was Ethan. “Serena, tomorrow you’ll officially be my wife. Are you nervous?” I kept cutting the wedding dress. “Nervous,” I said. “Nervous about how to make your death look good.” He laughed on the other end. “There you go again. Get some sleep. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow.” The call ended. I looked at the mirror. At thirty, I had fine lines around my eyes. Now this face was smooth and full. So young. Young enough to still believe in love. The door opened. Claire walked in wearing a nightgown, holding a glass of milk. “Serena, have some milk to help you sleep.” She placed the glass on the vanity, her eyes drifting to the jewelry box beside it. “Are you wearing this pearl set tomorrow? It’s beautiful.” In my previous life, she had asked the same thing. I told her if she liked it, she could borrow it. She took it and never returned it. Later I learned that on that day, she wore my pearl necklace while fooling around with Ethan in the lounge before the wedding. “No.” I closed the jewelry box. “My mother gave it to me. I don’t lend it out.” Claire’s smile stiffened. “Why are we drawing such lines?” She reached out to pull me. “Starting tomorrow, we’ll be family.” I dodged. “Claire.” I looked into her eyes. “Ethan came to see you last night, didn’t he? At 2 a.m., downstairs at your place, right?” Her face turned pale instantly. “You-how did you…” “The second button on his shirt was missing.” I said,”Your stitching is very distinctive. I recognize it.” The air froze for a few seconds. Claire backed up and bumped into the vanity. The milk glass tipped over, white liquid spreading across the wedding dress fragments. “Serena, let me explain…” “No need to explain.” I crouched down and picked up the largest piece of the wedding dress. “The wedding tomorrow isn’t happening anyway.” She ran. I sat back down in front of the mirror and opened my phone’s photo album. The photos were taken by someone I hired the day before yesterday. Ethan and Claire kissing in a car. Very clear. Clear enough for both families to see. At 3 AM, I called the wedding company. “Mr. Lee, I’m changing the video for tomorrow’s screen. I’m sending you the new one now.” “Miss Williams, it’s so late…” “I’ll triple the payment.” “I’ll handle it right away!” After hanging up, I called my mother’s attending physician. “Dr. Walker, please stay with my mother at the wedding tomorrow. She has a bad heart and may need emergency care at any moment.” “Don’t worry, Miss Williams. I’ll be there the entire time.” After finishing these tasks, dawn was breaking. I looked at the pale light outside the window and remembered the day I died in my previous life. It was also dawn. Ethan poured gasoline on me while Claire held a lighter. They said, Serena, go die. The instant the flames licked my skin, I thought of my mother. She lay in the hospital after a stroke, not yet knowing her daughter was dead. I wiped away tears with a piece of the wedding dress. I couldn’t cry. Not this time. At six, the makeup artist arrived. She saw the fragments everywhere and screamed. “Miss Williams! The-the wedding dress…” “Get another one.” I said, “Any style. Something simple.” The makeup artist applied my makeup trembling. At seven-thirty, Ethan called again. “Serena, I’m on my way. Wait for me.” “Okay.” I said, “I’ll wait for you.” Wait for your complete ruin.
Serena’s POV The wedding venue. The banquet hall for five hundred people was full. Relatives and friends from both sides, business partners, media reporters. Ethan’s family ran a building materials business and wanted to use this wedding to build their reputation. I walked into the hall on my father’s arm. Ethan stood at the end of the red carpet, suit impeccable, smile gentle. In my previous life, I was deceived by this smile, thinking he was the right person. When I reached him, my father placed my hand in his. Ethan squeezed tight. “Serena, you look beautiful today.” He said in a low voice. The officiant began reciting his lines, asking those old clichéd questions. Ethan looked at me, his eyes shining. Such good acting. My turn came. The officiant said, “Miss Serena Williams, do you take Mr. Ethan Chapman to be your husband?” The entire hall fell silent. Everyone looked at me. I took the microphone, my fingers ice-cold. “Before I answer,” I said, “I’d like everyone to watch a video.” Ethan froze. So did the officiant. The backstage staff, following my instructions from last night, cut the music and turned on the big screen. The first photo appeared. In a car, Ethan and Claire were kissing. The timestamp read three days ago. The entire hall erupted. “What-what is this?” Ethan’s father stood up. The second photo. A hotel corridor, Ethan with his arm around Claire’s waist entering a room. The third photo. Morning, Claire coming out of the same room, wearing my pearl necklace around her neck. My mother in the audience clutched her chest. Dr. Walker immediately stepped forward, and the two bodyguards I had arranged also moved behind her. “Serena, these are AI-generated! Someone is trying to frame me!” Ethan tried to grab the microphone. I dodged. And clicked on the last photo. It was from last night, a recording from Claire in my room. “Ethan said once we get Serena’s money, he’ll dump her… Her mother’s health is so bad, just upset her a bit and she’ll die, then the inheritance will all be ours…” Claire’s voice in the recording was clear and piercing. The entire hall fell deathly silent. Ethan’s face went from red to white to blue. He looked at me like I was a stranger. “You-you bugged me…” “What else?” I returned the microphone to the officiant. “Wait for you to burn me alive?” Ethan looked like he’d been struck by lightning, stumbling back two steps. I turned to face the guests. “The wedding is canceled. Sorry for the spectacle.” After speaking, I walked off the stage. Ethan tried to grab me but was blocked by the bodyguards. His father was cursing him, his mother was crying. Claire had slipped away at some point, her seat empty. When I reached the door, I looked back. Ethan still stood on stage like a ridiculous statue. Guests were whispering to each other, some holding up phones to record. Getting into the car, the driver asked where to go. “Home,” I said. “My parents’ home.” The car drove away. I leaned my head against the window, finally starting to tremble. Not from fear, but excitement. So this is what revenge felt like-like liquor burning down my throat. My phone vibrated. I answered. “Serena.” It was Adrian’s voice, the only person who had helped me in my previous life. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” I took a deep breath. “This is just the beginning.”
Serena’s POV My mother lay in her bedroom on oxygen. Her face was pale. “Serena, those photos… are they real?” “Real.” I sat by the bed, holding her hand. “Mom, I’m sorry. I kept it from you for so long.” Tears fell from her eyes. “That boy… he seemed so honest…” “Appearances don’t represent a person’s character.” My father stood in the doorway smoking, ash falling to the floor. “Good thing Serena found out early.” The doorbell rang. Our housekeeper went to answer it and soon ran back in a panic. “It’s Ethan… holding a huge bouquet, kneeling at the door!” My father started to go drive him away, but I stopped him. “I’ll go.” At the door, Ethan really was kneeling there, holding ninety-nine red roses. His hair was messy, his tie crooked, his eyes bloodshot. “Serena.” His voice was hoarse. “Let me explain.” “Explain what?” I leaned against the doorframe. “Explain how you and Claire planned to kill me?” His whole body trembled. “I didn’t! Those recordings were fabricated! That bitch Claire is framing me!” “Oh?” I smiled. “What about the photos? Fabricated too?” He couldn’t answer. His lips trembled. “Serena, I was wrong. I was really wrong.” He held up the flowers. “Give me one more chance. I love you, I only love you…” I took the flowers. His eyes brightened for a moment. Then I threw the entire bouquet on the ground. My high heels stepped on them, crushing those delicate petals. “Are you worthy?” That sentence made him collapse to the ground. Some neighbors were peeking from behind their windows. I raised my voice. “Ethan, return the three million your mother borrowed from my mother by tomorrow. Otherwise, see you in court.” “Three million? That-that was an investment…” “Investment?” I crouched down to meet his eyes. “Investment in that shell project at your father’s company? I’ve checked the books. The money went into your personal account.” His pupils contracted sharply. “How did you…” “How did I know?” I stood up, looking down at him. “Because I’m not the Serena I used to be. Get lost. If I see you again, I’ll report you for harassment.” Security came. Two burly men dragged Ethan away. He kept calling my name, each cry more pitiful than the last, like a stray dog. I closed the door. My father applauded behind me. “Well done.” He said,”Now that’s my daughter.” My mother came out of the bedroom, eyes still red but smiling. “Serena has grown up.” My phone vibrated again. This time it was Claire. I answered and put it on speaker. “Serena, I had no choice! Ethan threatened me! He said he’d expose my past if I didn’t help him-” “Your past what?” I cut in. “The time you stole your roommate’s wallet in college? Or when you cooked the books at your last job?” Silent. “You…you looked into me?” “A passing glance,” I said. “By the way, isn’t your mother’s birthday coming up? I’ve prepared a big gift. Remember to check it.” I hung up and messaged my private investigator. “You can proceed. Send the stuff to her house.” Claire’s biggest weakness was her parents. They cared most about face. I was curious what their reaction would be if they knew their daughter stole, was a mistress, and wanted to kill someone. So looking forward to it.
Serena’s POV Claire came the next afternoon. Her eyes were swollen like walnuts. As soon as she entered, she tried to kneel. “Serena, I was wrong… I really know I was wrong…” I sat on the sofa drinking tea, not letting her sit. “What were you wrong about?” “I shouldn’t have been with Ethan… shouldn’t have been greedy for his family’s money…” She cried, face covered in tears. “But I really didn’t want to hurt you. Those words were all forced by him…” “Really?” I put down my teacup. “So when you stole my mother’s jewelry, was that forced by him too?” She froze. The day before yesterday she came to my house to “apologize” and snuck into my mother’s room when I wasn’t paying attention. She thought I didn’t know. But there were cameras in every corner. “What… jewelry… I don’t know…” I opened my phone and played a video. In the footage, Claire tiptoed to open the jewelry box and stuffed the jade bracelet and diamond necklace into her bag. Smooth movements. Clearly not the first time. “This is theft.” I said, “The amount exceeds five hundred thousand. That’s ten years or more.” Her legs gave out and she really did kneel. “Serena! Please! I’ll return it! I’ll return it right away!” “Already returned,” I smiled. “I sent the video to your father. He just called, said the items have been returned. Also, he told you to get out of the house and never come back.” Claire’s face lost all color. Her father was a university professor who valued reputation above all. In my previous life, Claire married a rich second-generation, and her father bragged about it everywhere. Now? His daughter was a thief, a mistress, an accomplice to murder for money. “Serena… do you have to be so heartless…” “Heartless?” I stood up and walked to her. “Compared to what you planned to do to me, this is heartless?” She looked up at me, her expression changing from pleading to resentment. “You will pay for this.” “I’ve already paid.” I said, “Now it’s your turn.” Claire was dragged out. She cursed me, damned me, her voice shrill like a ghost. Didn’t matter. I’d been a ghost before. Why would I fear the living? My phone rang. A text from the bank. Ethan’s family had returned the three million, with an attached message. “Serena, the money’s returned. Can we meet?” I replied, “We can meet. Bring evidence of your embezzlement. See you in court.” No response after that. In the evening, Adrian came. He brought a fruit basket, saying he was visiting my mother on behalf of his mother. “How is your mother doing?” I invited him in. “She’s okay. Just hearing about your situation made her blood pressure spike.” He looked at me. “Are you okay?” “Do I look like I’m not?” He shook his head. “No. You look like you’re going to war.” We both laughed. That was Adrian-didn’t say much, but always hit the mark. In my previous life, to help me investigate Ethan’s accounts, Adrian was beaten by people Ethan hired. Two broken ribs. I visited him in the hospital. He said it was nothing, just take care of yourself. “Adrian,” I said. “Thank you.” “I haven’t helped yet. What are you thanking me for?” “Thanking you for helping me in my previous life.” Only after the words left my mouth did I realize something was wrong. But he wasn’t surprised, just looked at me deeply. “If there really was a previous life,” he said, “then I’ll help you in this life too.”
Serena’s POV Ethan started desperately trying to win me back. Sending gifts to my company every day. Hermès bags, Cartier watches, Tiffany necklaces. Gift boxes piled up at the reception desk. The secretary asked how to handle them. “Donate them.” I said, “Donate them to a girls’ education fund under ‘anonymous benefactor.’” “Should we… get a receipt?” “Yes, with Ethan’s name and company address.” The secretary went out holding back laughter. That afternoon, the local evening paper’s society section ran a thank-you letter. “Thanks to anonymous Mr. Chapman for donating luxury goods worth two million dollars to help one thousand girls return to school…” The accompanying photo showed the mountain of gift boxes. The reporter photographed it well-it came across as satirical. Ethan’s call came immediately. “Serena! What do you mean!” “Helping you do charity.” I said while flipping through files. “What, you’re unwilling?” “Those were for you!” “Once you gave them to me, they’re mine. Do I need your permission on what I do with them?” He was breathing heavily on the other end. I could imagine his face red and neck thick. “Serena, don’t go too far! If you push me, it won’t be good for you.” “Great.” I laughed. “I’m waiting.” The call was slammed down. The next day, an even bigger gift box arrived. This time it was a complete ruby jewelry set. The certificate read: Burmese pigeon blood red, total weight fifty-eight carats. The secretary’s eyes went wide. “Miss Williams, this… donate this too?” “Donate it,” I didn’t even look up. “Oh, contact the media. Hold a donation ceremony. Make it grand.” The ceremony was three days later. Even the TV station came. I handed the jewelry box to the foundation director. A reporter asked why I was donating such valuable items. “Making the best use of things,” I said. “Jewelry worn on a person is decoration. Converted to money to build schools, it can change many people’s destinies.” The news aired that evening. Ethan’s mother saw the program, had a heart attack from rage, and was rushed to the hospital. Ethan’s father called to curse me, saying if anything happened to his wife, he wouldn’t let it go. “I’ll pay the medical bills,” I said. “Consider it atonement for Ethan.” His father roared over the phone. After hanging up, Adrian messaged me. “You’re playing too big. Be careful they retaliate.” I replied, “Let them try. I’m waiting.” A week later, Ethan was suspended from his company pending investigation. Someone anonymously reported his embezzlement with solid evidence, even forged contract copies sent to the board of directors. He blocked me downstairs at my company. “You did this.” “Evidence?” I crossed my arms looking at him. He had lost weight, eyes sunken, unshaven. The elegant man from before was gone, only wretchedness remained. “Serena, how did I wrong you? Just because I slept with Claire? What man doesn’t cheat?” “Cheat?” I laughed out loud. “Ethan, do you still think I’m only doing this because you cheated?” He froze. “Then-then what else could it be…” I leaned close to him, speaking in a voice only we could hear. “Because you wanted to burn me alive.” He backed away like he’d seen a ghost, hitting the wall. “You-you’re lying.” “Last September. Twenty liters of gasoline. Paid in cash at the pump. The station still has the footage.” I let the words hang. “Shall I have it pulled up for you?” His mouth opened, but no sound came out. “Then there are your messages with Claire. ‘Once Serena’s dead.’ ‘The inheritance, ours.’ ‘Her mother won’t last long.’” I continued. “Would you like me to go on?” Ethan collapsed to the ground. Eyes bulging like they might pop out. “Impossible… you couldn’t possibly know…” “I know more than you imagine.” I turned to leave. “Ethan, this is nothing. Wait. The good show is still coming.” Getting in the car, I watched him in the rearview mirror. He still sat on the ground like a puddle of mud. My phone vibrated. Adrian sent a photo. It was Claire, getting drunk at a cheap bar, being held around the waist by a man. Caption: “She’s trying to get your father’s company’s business secrets. Be careful.” I replied, “Let her look. I’ve dug a pit waiting for her.”
Serena’s POV My father had me join the company to learn. Starting as assistant to the general manager. Every day following him to meetings, seeing clients, reviewing reports. In my previous life, I had no interest in business and left everything to Ethan. He ended up hollowing out the company and left my father in debt. The finance department submitted a report. I spent an afternoon on it, circling over a dozen issues in red pen. “Dad, the cash flow for these projects is wrong.” I pushed the report over. “Officially, it’s for raw material procurement. But the funds were routed through three shell companies. All registered to individuals named Chapman.” My father put on his reading glasses. His expression grew stormier with each line. “These… these were all Ethan’s projects.” “Not just those.” I opened my laptop and called up another file. “Of the seventeen projects he managed from last year to this year, twelve show irregularities. The total discrepancy… is around eighty million.” The office fell into a deep, heavy silence. My father took off his glasses, rubbing his temples. In my previous life, these bad debts gave him a cerebral hemorrhage. He was paralyzed for two years, and finally, hearing on his deathbed that I had died, he passed away. “Call the police,” he said. “Call the police immediately.” “Wait.” I pressed his hand. “If we call the police now, we can’t get the money back. Give me a month. I’ll get the money back, then send him in.” My father looked at me with a complex expression. “Serena, when did you… learn all this?” “Was forced to.” I smiled. “Dad, don’t worry. This time I won’t let anyone bully our family.” I started investigating those three shell companies. The legal representatives were Ethan’s distant relatives, but he was the actual controller. Money left the company accounts, circled through the shell companies a few times, and ended up in his overseas account. Very old-fashioned tactics, but in my previous life I was too stupid to see it. Adrian came to find me with a stack of materials. “Bank statements for these three companies.” He handed me a USB drive. “Got it through a friend at the bank. Complete chain of evidence.” I plugged in the USB and opened the files. Dense transfer records, one by one, shocking to see. “Adrian,” I looked up at him. “Why are you helping me so much?” He was silent for a while. “If I said I dreamed you died, would you believe me?” My fingers trembled. “What dream?” “A long dream.” His voice was low. “In the dream you married Ethan and had a terrible life. In the end… you died in a fire. I wanted to save you, but it was too late.” I looked at him. His eyes were very clean, very serious. “What happened next?” “Then I woke up. Found you hadn’t married yet.” He smiled slightly. “I thought, this time I can’t let you walk that path again.” I couldn’t speak. My throat tightened. “So.” He pointed at the USB. “Use these. Send him to prison.” Three days later, the board held an emergency meeting. As assistant to the general manager, I attended. Ethan came too, sitting next to his father, looking terrible. My father projected the report on the big screen. “Everyone, this is the financial audit report for projects Manager Ethan Chapman handled over the past two years. I’ve marked the problematic areas in red.” The conference room erupted. Ethan stood up. “Mr. Williams, this is slander! I demand a re-audit!” “Fine.” I stood up and walked to the projector. “But before the re-audit, let’s look at this first.” I inserted the USB drive Adrian gave me. Overseas bank records. Shell company registrations. Contracts Ethan had forged. Page after page of irrefutable proof. Ethan’s father collapsed on the spot. The conference room erupted. Ethan’s finger trembled as he pointed at me. “Serena… you’re vicious.” “Not compared to you.” I turned off the projector. “Call the police.” They came and led him away. He looked back once, his eyes like poisoned glass. I simply smiled and gave a small wave. Goodbye. And good riddance.
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