Chapter 1

This afternoon, I got a text message from seven years in the future.

The sender was me. Chloe.

I thought it was some new kind of phishing scam and muttered in disgust:

[Scammer, get a life!]

Then the other side sent a photo of an empty bottle of sleeping pills:

[I'm not a scammer, but I am definitely dying. Break up with Julian Vance. Today is the first day he cheats on you.]

[His first love is back in town. Her name is Sabrina.]

I froze.

I was just about to laugh at how ridiculous this lie was—Julian's first love was supposed to be me!

Just then, the front door clicked open.

Julian walked in with a warm smile, leading a girl behind him.

"Chloe, there's someone I'd like you to meet."

"This is Sabrina, my foster sister. She just flew back into town today."

"The guest rooms at my family's estate aren't ready yet, so Sabrina will be staying with us for a bit."

"Make sure to tell the chef to prepare something light and Western tonight. Sabrina just got back from overseas, and I'm worried her stomach might not handle heavy food yet..."

Julian kept talking, but I couldn't hear a single word.

I stared down at the text on my phone, my mind spinning.

"Chloe?"

Sabrina's voice cut in, soft and timid.

She looked at me with an anxious expression:

"Are you okay? You look so pale."

"Am I intruding? Honestly, I could just stay at a hotel..."

Julian immediately frowned at me.

I snapped back to reality and forced a smile.

"Of course not. Julian's sister is my sister. Make yourself at home."

"You two catch up. I'll go check with the chef."

The moment I stepped into the hallway, I furiously texted back:

[Julian told me she's his foster sister, not an ex! Stop lying!]

[Who the hell are you?!]

Five minutes later, a notification popped up.

[I am you. Seven years from now.]

[Tell the chef not to put any black pepper in the dishes. Sabrina claims she is allergic. You and Julian will have a massive fight tonight, but it won't matter. Even without black pepper, it'll be something else.]

I didn't know whether to believe her.

After a moment of hesitation, I still instructed the chef: absolutely no pepper.

At dinner, Julian and Sabrina sat down.

She casually took the chair right beside him—my usual seat.

My steps faltered.

Sabrina looked up at me, smiling with wide, innocent eyes:

"Chloe, did you want to sit here?"

Julian glanced at me, staying silent.

A knot twisted in my stomach, but I swallowed it and sat across from them.

Sabrina flashed me a subtle, triumphant smirk.

Just a few bites in, Sabrina suddenly clutched her throat and started gagging violently.

Julian sprang to his feet.

He wrapped his arms around her, patting her back in a panic:

"Sabrina, what's wrong?!"

She slumped weakly against his chest, gasping for air:

"Pep... pepper. I can't breathe... Did Chloe..."

Julian's face darkened with rage. He turned to me and snapped:

"Are you out of your mind, Chloe?!"

"You knew she was allergic to pepper! Did you do this on purpose to kick her out of the house? How can you be so selfish?!"

I froze, completely stunned.

My eyes stung with tears. How could he accuse me like that?

"You never told me she had an allergy—"

"Stop making excuses! Get out of my way, I'm taking her to the ER!"

Just then, the chef rushed out holding a trash bin and a tablet.

"Mr. Vance, wait! There's a misunderstanding!"

"Miss Chloe specifically instructed us not to use any black pepper. Look, we threw out all the pepper, crushed spices, everything!"

Afraid Julian wouldn't believe him, the chef held up the kitchen security footage.

"We triple-checked every single dish!"

Julian froze, glancing at the screen.

Sure enough, everything had been thrown out right after my instructions. Not a single pinch had been added.

In his arms, Sabrina had miraculously stopped gagging the moment the chef appeared. Her color was already returning to normal.

I stared at her.

"Feeling better already, Sabrina?"

Caught off guard, she realized her act had crumbled and fumbled for an excuse:

"I'm sorry... I guess I was just anxious and had a panic attack."

"Julian, please don't blame Chloe."

Julian looked away from the monitor, looking thoroughly ashamed.

"Chloe, I..."

I knew what he wanted to say.

It didn't matter anymore.

I believed the text from my future self. I needed to talk to her.

"Enjoy your dinner," I said quietly.

"I've lost my appetite. I'm going to bed."