Chapter 1

The upper crust of the city knew that Preston Pierce and I were childhood sweethearts turned bitter enemies.

He called me a viper, a woman who sacrificed his true love for the sake of profit.

I hated him for his cold heart. For twenty-five years, he only had eyes for Bianca.

But when a kidnapper came for my life, he was the one who threw himself in front of me.

Blood soaked through my silk dress.

He collapsed into my arms, clutching my hand with a grip that bruised. "I'm giving you my life. In the next one, just let me be with her."

A faded photo of Bianca was pressed against his blood-stained chest.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back.

It was the day of the Sinclair and Holt family's arranged marriage.

1

The sharp sting of antiseptic on my knees forced my eyes open.

Preston was leaning over me, tending to my scraped skin.

The dark shadows under his eyes told me he hadn't slept a wink.

Sensing I was awake, he stiffened and looked up.

The moment our eyes met, he stood up with a calculated, cold rigidity.

"Since you're awake, I'm leaving."

I don't know where the strength came from, but I reached out from under the covers.

I grabbed his wrist with everything I had.

His dark eyes were heavy with resentment. "I don't love you. I only have Bianca in my heart."

"I know..." My heart throbbed like it was being poked by a thousand needles.

I squeezed his hand one last time, then let go.

"I've figured it all out."

Bianca was the daughter of my father's first love.

After her mother passed away, my father brought her into the Sinclair mansion and raised her like a princess.

In my past life, even though he adored her, I was still his biological daughter.

He couldn't bear to throw me into the lion's den, but he was too afraid to offend the powerful Holt family.

He had no choice but to marry Bianca off to the reclusive Harrison Holt.

To stop her from marrying him, Preston had knelt at our front door for three days and nights.

I had knelt right there with him, hoping he would look at me just once.

In the end, my father forced Bianca out and pressured the Pierces to make Preston marry me.

Bianca tried to end it all in the bathtub that night.

That was the day Preston finally agreed to the marriage, but only out of spite.

Our childhood bond was shattered beyond repair.

Five years of marriage were nothing but venomous words and cold shoulders.

I thought he wanted me dead.

But on the day I was kidnapped, he was the first person to find me.

He shielded me with his own body, letting the killer's blade find him instead.

In that pool of blood, he held Bianca's photo and looked at me with a plea in his eyes.

"Please, in the next life, just let us be."

Preston laughed as if I'd just told a pathetic joke and shook off my hand. "Serena Sinclair, you've figured it out?"

"Let me tell you, I won't marry anyone but Bianca in this lifetime."

The sound of the door slamming shut made my chest go numb.

Hot tears hit my palm.

Fine.

Preston, have it your way.

You gave your life to save me, so I owe you nothing now.

I'll make your dream come true.

I waited a long time before I finally stood up.

I knocked on my father's study door and spoke without emotion.

"I'll marry the Holt heir. The reclusive one. I'll do it."

My father's eyes widened in total shock. Once he recovered, he shook his head. "No."

I looked at him calmly.

"If I don't marry him, then the daughter of your precious first love will have to."

"You've always felt like you owed her mother. If you send her daughter into that house, how will you face her in the afterlife?"

My father's pupils shrunk, and he fell into a long silence. "Serena, I'll give you the best dowry I can manage..."

"I only have one request. Don't tell anyone," I interrupted, already turning to leave.

"Not even Preston?" he called out.

My fingers on the doorknob trembled for a split second.

"No," I heard myself say.