Chapter 1

I had spent six years trying to win Sienna Ashford's heart. My mission was simple: get her to propose to me.

After my progress stalled at ninety-nine percent for a full year, she finally asked the question. But that was the day I decided to switch my target to someone else.

In my previous life, I ignored the system's warnings and accepted her proposal without hesitation. I was delusional, thinking she might actually love me.

Ten minutes before the ceremony, she swapped me for a different groom. My affection score crashed to zero instantly.

As she watched the system erase my soul, she looked at me with nothing but contempt.

"I only stayed by your side to siphon your luck for Gavin's recovery," she said. "A lowly creature like you was never meant to marry me."

The system felt sorry for my pathetic end and gave me a chance to do it all over again.

In this life, I'm done playing her games. I've changed my target.

1.

"Host, are you certain you want to switch your target to Sienna's cousin?"

The system's mechanical voice echoed in my head. I didn't hesitate for a second. "Confirm."

"Understood. The system requires three days to reset. After that, your connection with Sienna Ashford will be severed."

Three days.

That number pounded in my head like a drum.

Sienna's voice snapped me back to reality. She shot me an annoyed look, her chin tilted up in that familiar, arrogant way.

"Zale! Are you even listening to me? The wedding is in three days. It's settled."

She was always like this―cold and commanding. Even when she was technically proposing, it sounded like a business order.

She didn't care about my opinion. She was convinced I'd keep chasing her no matter how badly she treated me.

In my last life, I made excuses for her. I told myself it was just her personality.

Seeing that haughty look again, I felt sick. I had spent six years being her loyal dog, and for what?

This time, I'm letting go.

I nodded, playing the part of the obedient partner one last time. "Sure. Whatever you want."

Sienna narrowed her eyes, looking at me with suspicion.

She probably expected me to cry or jump for joy because she finally chose me. My calm reaction clearly bothered her.

She reached into her coat pocket and tossed a men's ring onto the table. It rolled toward me like a scrap of food thrown to a stray.

"Put it on. We're getting married, after all. You should at least have a ring."

I tried to put it on, but it was way too small. It wouldn't even go past my knuckle.

She watched me struggle until my finger turned bright red. There wasn't a hint of sympathy in her eyes―only mockery.

She stood up and crossed her arms, a cruel smirk dancing on her lips.

"Forget it, you idiot. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit. It wasn't bought for you anyway."

She snatched the ring back and tucked it into her pocket as if it were a precious treasure. Then she checked her watch.

"Go to the hospital and get your pre-marital checkup done now."

In my last life, she scheduled these full-body exams for me every single month. She told me she cared about my health.

It wasn't until the moment I died that I realized the truth. She wanted me near Gavin Grant so he could drain my life force and wake up from his coma.

She always claimed she was waiting in the hallway during my exams. In reality, she was in Gavin's room.

The memory made my chest ache. She had endured six years next to a man she hated just for Gavin's sake.

She barked out another order. "Wait for me at the hospital when you're done. Don't you dare go anywhere without my permission."

The old me would have waited until sunset. Not this time.

After the exam, the doctor told me to pick up my results from the inpatient wing. By a twist of fate, I ended up right outside Gavin's room.