Chapter 1

When my mother asked my sister and me to choose our future husbands, my sister did the unthinkable. She gave up on the brooding tech genius she'd been chasing for four years and chose the notorious playboy heir instead.

My mother's face paled instantly. "Lyra, he's rich, but he's a walking disaster. Are you not afraid of catching something from him? You've always loved Silas. Don't make a mistake you'll regret."

But Lyra remained unshakable. Her eyes were cold and determined.

In that moment, I knew. She had been reborn, just like me.

In our past life, she had married Silas Thorne with a heart full of hope. But she spent ten years suffering through his icy silence and emotional neglect until she finally lost her mind.

Meanwhile, that playboy, Pierce Sterling, changed his ways for me. He loved me more than life itself and left me his entire fortune. We were the couple everyone envied.

On our tenth wedding anniversary, Lyra's resentment finally boiled over. She set a fire that consumed us both in a dance of flames.

Now that I have a second chance, I didn't hesitate. I stepped forward and took Silas's hand.

"Lyra, the choice is made. Don't try to take it back this time."

She sneered at me, her voice dripping with malice. "This time, it's my turn to be worshipped. Just make sure you don't come crying to me later."

I stayed silent. She still didn't understand that in a marriage, love is the most unreliable thing of all.

1

My mother was still trying to talk sense into her. "Silas comes from a wealthy family too. Even if he doesn't use their money now, he'll inherit everything eventually…"

Lyra interrupted her with a sharp, impatient wave. "Enough! I chased him for four years, and he never even looked at me. Why do you think a marriage certificate would change that?"

"Trust me, Mom. With my looks, Pierce will be wrapped around my finger in no time."

I watched her smug expression, feeling nothing but pity. She was so delided.

In the previous life, the first time I met Pierce after our engagement was at a high-end club.

He had called me and told me to bring a box of protection to his suite.

When I walked in, he was surrounded by five or six women. Every one of them was gorgeous, with curves that could kill.

He laughed and tossed five hundred dollars at my face. "Lesson one of being Mrs. Sterling: learn to mind your own business."

To a man like Pierce, beautiful women were a commodity. They were the cheapest thing in his world.

But my mother always spoiled Lyra. Seeing her persistence, she finally gave in.

The next day, I took the initiative and called Silas.

"Let's meet," I said.

His voice was as cold as I remembered. "There's no point."

I knew I had to be direct if I wanted a seat at the table. "I have news about Selene. If you want to hear it, meet me at the club tonight."

Selene was his adoptive sister, the girl he had personally chosen from the orphanage when they were kids. She had vanished four years ago without a trace.

From my past life, I knew Selene was his greatest weakness. I was betting everything that he would show up.

An hour later, the door to my private booth swung open.

Silas was dressed in a sharp black suit, his expression dark and dangerous. He sat across from me and barked, "Talk."

I didn't answer right away. Instead, I pulled out a contract. "I won't interfere with your life. I won't nag you, and I'll play the part of the perfect wife in public. In exchange, your startup needs to sign this order with my studio."

During college, my mother spent every penny on Lyra. I had to work three jobs to pay for my own tuition and life. By graduation, I had started a small design studio with a friend.

Silas's company was also a startup, but it was on a much larger scale. This deal would change everything for me.

He let out a dry, mocking laugh. "What makes you think you're in a position to negotiate? You think you can control me?"

I shrugged nonchalantly. "Then forget it. Forget about Selene, too."

His jaw tightened. He grabbed the pen and scribbled his name with aggressive strokes.

"Now, tell me!"

I leaned in and whispered, "She's still alive."

The room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence. I knew he was waiting for more.

But I simply put down my glass and stood up to leave.

A man like Silas shouldn't be fed everything at once.

He didn't stop me. He just followed me out of the club in silence.

That's when we ran right into Lyra.