Chapter 1

Reborn. I swore to stay far away from Julian Vance, the man who had tortured me to death in my past life. Instead, I chose to embrace Liam Hayes, my childhood sweetheart who had protected me for years.

I thought this was my salvation.

But Julian was reborn, too.

Conspiracies, manipulation, confinement... He personally backed me into a corner.

"In every lifetime, you can only be mine."

And Liam, who once promised to always believe me, doubted me again when it mattered most.

On the day of Liam's wedding, my car plunged off the ocean bridge, bursting into a ball of fire before sinking into the deep sea.

The news called it a heartbreaking accident.

Only I knew I was just trying to run away.

Later, the whole city went wild.

One death certificate.

Two men driven completely insane.

"Julian!"

I called out to the figure about to brush past me.

Today was my 21st birthday gala, which was also an unwritten "fiancé-selection" ceremony among our elite circle.

Julian stopped and slowly turned around.

I took a deep breath, reaching out to grab his sleeve. Just like everyone expected, I was going to choose this man whom I had chased all through my youth.

But just as my fingertips were about to touch his cuff, countless violent memories flashed into my mind—

It was a luxurious but suffocating room with heavy curtains blocking out all sunlight. I was curled up in a corner, my hands and feet bound by silver chains. My skin was deathly pale from long-term confinement, and my eyes were hollow and lifeless.

Julian's shadow loomed over me. He held me tightly, his grip painfully fierce.

"Chloe Sterling. You will never, ever get rid of me!"

"Even if you die, you have to die in my arms!"

The next second, the scene shifted abruptly.

I seemed to really be dead.

In a rainy cemetery, Liam was soaking wet, kneeling before my tombstone. He gently laid down my favorite white roses.

Then, he calmly raised a gun to his head.

Bang—

The gunshot in my mind jolted me awake.

I was actually reborn! And it was on the very day of my engagement gala!

But my memories were incomplete. Many events were fragmented, shrouded in a thick fog.

Seeing me stay silent for so long, Julian smirked and asked, "Chloe, are you choosing me?"

I froze.

A sharp sense of dread washed over me.

I remembered that in my past life, Julian wouldn't even say two words to me at this time. Why was he suddenly...

Could it be... he was reborn too?

Terrified, I yanked my hand back, the smile completely vanishing from my face.

"Excuse me, please let me through."

Julian’s smile froze. His gaze instantly turned sharp and piercing.

I was terrified of him.

Suppressing the deep fear inside, I walked right past him toward the familiar figure standing in the corner.

Seeing me approach, Liam looked incredulous.

"Chloe, what are you..."

I took a deep breath. "Liam, will you marry me?"

Liam stiffened, nearly dropping his champagne glass.

Wild joy flooded his eyes, and he answered without hesitation, "I—"

Great.

In this life, there was still time!

I let out a long sigh of relief and reached for Liam’s hand.

But someone else grabbed my wrist first, his grip painfully tight.

It was Julian.

He stared at me, his eyes scanning my terrified expression before a knowing smirk played on his lips.

He leaned down, whispering in my ear, "I knew it. You came back too."

"Long time no see, my Chloe."

Before I could react, Julian dragged me into his chest, looking up at Liam.

He spoke in a mocking, playful tone:

"She threw herself into my bed last night, begging me to marry her because she’s carrying my child. She said if I didn't want her, she’d quickly find you to take the fall."

"Mr. Hayes, are you sure you want to be a stepfather?"

Liam's hand froze mid-air.