Chapter 1

Ronan Haliday held me tightly, his eyes hazy as he murmured my name affectionately, “Riley…”

In my past life, that passion-filled call had made me lose all reasoning. Back then, I was totally incapable of resisting his affection. Even though I knew full well what was about to happen, I gave in to him.

This time, however, I shoved him away calmly. I stood there quietly, watching him writhe in agonizing frustration on the bed, occasionally letting out uncontrollable groans.

Instead of leaving right away, I pulled out my phone and dialed Susan Sorrento’s number.

“Susan, come up to the second-floor private suite. Ronan is here waiting for you.”

Not long after I hung up, Susan rushed in, completely out of breath. When she caught sight of Ronan’s flushed face, she rudely scanned me from head to toe repeatedly. Only after confirming that nothing untoward had happened did she let out a sigh of relief.

“Riley, don’t think I don’t know what you were planning,” she spat, raising her chin high. “Ronan loves me. Even if you throw yourself at him, he’ll never love you!”

She gave a careless wave of her hand and added, “Now get out and close the door behind you. Consider yourself smart this time.”

I turned and left in silence, without the slightest hesitation.

The lights in the second-floor suite remained on all night long, and back in my own room, I stayed awake all night.

I sat by the window, quietly listening to the faint noises coming from the direction of the master bedroom. Strangely, it felt like only by doing so could I feel more clearly that, in this lifetime, Ronan and I had nothing to do with each other anymore.

In my past life, I spent years pursuing Ronan, doing everything just to get him to look at me once more. Even though I knew he held feelings for my stepsister, Susan, the moment his eyes went hazy and he pinned me down while calling my name, I surrendered to him without a second thought. That single moment of reckless courage ultimately cost me my entire life.

In this lifetime, I would never love Ronan again.

Early the next morning, I grabbed my documents and walked toward the gates. My plan was to book a flight far away from Twin City. I was leaving, finally escaping this suffocating city forever.

However, just as I stepped out the front door, the butler stopped me with a polite yet firm smile.

“Miss Riley, Don Haliday wants to see you in his room.”

His tone carried an authoritative weight that left no room for refusal, and he led me straight back to the master bedroom.

When I stepped into Ronan’s bedroom, Susan was half-reclining on the bed. Subtle red marks were scattered across her fair skin; they were unmistakable traces of last night’s intimacy.

She tilted her chin up, her tone as casual as if she were ordering a maid around. “Riley, I heard you’re best at making breakfasts. Why don’t you be a dear and make one for me today?”

I looked up and glanced at Ronan. This blatant, deeply humiliating demand didn’t provoke any emotion on his face, as though that request was natural and expected.

Every morning, I used to make breakfast for Ronan, even though he never ate a single bite of it.

I took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry, but I don’t plan on cooking.”

Susan turned toward Ronan, her eyes instantly welling up with tears. “Ronan… it seems Riley really dislikes me. She won’t even make me a simple breakfast…”

Ronan’s brows furrowed slightly as he spoke to me in an even tone, “Riley. Make her a portion.”

I stood frozen, staring at him. In the end, I turned and walked into the kitchen.

When I returned to the master bedroom holding the plate of avocado on toast with a hot coffee, Susan was still lounging lazily against the headboard, looking at me with a beaming smile.

“Thank you, Riley.”

She reached out to take the food, but in the very next second, she deliberately let go. The scalding coffee splashed everywhere, and the mug shattered across the floor.

Ronan sprang to his feet almost instantly and pulled her into his arms. Staring at the small burns on the back of her hand, his brow knitted together tightly.

“Get out!” he snapped.

I was leaning against the wall, enduring the searing pain on my arms and thighs. When the hot coffee had spilled earlier, most of it had landed directly on me, and the agonizing pain left me barely able to stand upright.

Yet, I didn’t say a single word. Supporting myself against the wall, I slowly shuffled my way out of the master bedroom.

As I left, I caught a glimpse of Ronan holding Susan tightly through the corner of my eye. His head was bowed, his gaze filled entirely with her. My heart ached for a brief second, but a profound sense of relief quickly took over.

Let it be. He had won over the girl he loved. In this lifetime, he would have no regrets.

As for me, I would leave forever to make them happy.