Chapter 1

What's the first thing you'd do if you were reborn?

Me? I'd start by divorcing my husband, Finn Gallagher.

Yeah, Finn Gallagher, the same man who runs half the underworld from behind closed doors.

The Don.

The richest man alive.

The man women dream about; his face plastered on magazines, named "Sexiest Man Alive" five years in a row.

In my last life, I tried everything to make him look at me like I mattered.

I married him. I gave birth to his son. I swallowed every ounce of pride, trying to be the perfect wife.

However, it didn't work.

To him, I was no different than a waitress he might casually tip—forgettable, replaceable, invisible.

So this time, I'm not begging. I'm not pretending.

I'm handing Madeline Brooks the key to my place in his life, and walking away.

She's Finn's first love, and also the shadow that haunted every day of my last life.

Now Madeline was sitting opposite to me, blinked at me like she didn't hear me right.

"You tried so hard to push me out," she said slowly, eyes narrowed. "Now you want me to be with Finn?"

"Yes. That's all I'm asking. Just talk to Finn. Tell him to sign the divorce papers."

I looked at her confused face and kept going.

"Everyone knows I'm the last person who'd ever let Finn go. So if I say I want a divorce, he won't believe me for a second. But you? You're the one who can make that happen... aren't you?"

She laughed, because she was finally getting her chance.

I laughed too, because I was finally free.

...

Madeline stared at me for a long time after she head me saying 'divorce papers'.

She didn't say anything at first, just looked at me like I'd grown another head.

Then, without a word, she pulled out her phone and turned her back slightly.

I could still hear everything.

"Finn," she said softly, like she was testing the waters. "You got a minute?"

She paused, listening. I could hear the low rumble of his voice on the other end, even from where I was sitting.

"I'm at your Glory Café," she went on, "Can you come pick me up?"

There was another pause. Her fingers tightened around the phone.

"Alright, see you then."

Madeline hung up the call and turned to me again, still suspicious.

"Alright, Jillian," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Tell me straight; what game are you playing?"

I let out a slow breath. She was still on edge, even when I was handing her everything on a silver platter.

"I'm not playing anything," I said calmly. "I'm done. You can have Finn… and Henry too."

Her brows shot up. "You serious? You're giving me your husband and your son?"

I nodded.

"I'm dead serious. I've already been through hell once. I'm not going back."

She studied me for a second, then smirked like she didn't believe me, but didn't care either.

"Fine. Since you're being so generous," she said, flipping her hair back, "but don't come crawling back later. If you regret it, don't expect me to step aside."

"I won't," I said flatly.

She smiled like she'd won. "I'll take care of the divorce papers."

Twenty minutes later, the sound of engines filled the street.

Not just one car, but five black Bentleys rolled up outside the café. All tinted windows. All trouble.

And then he stepped out.

Finn Gallagher.

My husband. The one man every woman in the city fantasized about… and the one man I spent a whole damn lifetime trying to reach.

I hadn't seen him in months. According to the maids, he was in France one week, Brazil the next, Thailand after that. Always gone. Always running.

But now? Now he was here. All because she called.

He walked straight toward the entrance, eyes locked on the woman next to me. Not even a glance in my direction. I could've been invisible.

He stopped beside our table and spoke, voice low and warm, like velvet laced with steel.

"Let's go," he said to her, not even acknowledging me.

Madeline smiled up at him. "Wait, Finn. I've got something for you to sign. It's my dream house..."

He raised a brow. "Didn't I already give you the black card? That should cover ten of whatever it is."

She laughed lightly. "Yeah, but this isn't about money. It's property. The deed still has your name on it."

Finn shook his head, half amused. "You're really something, you know that?"

Then, without even skimming the document, he flipped to the last page and scribbled his name across it.

I watched him, watched all of it, feeling like someone just pulled a curtain off my eyes.

It was ridiculous.

And yet, for the first time in years, I felt… free.

In my last life, I clung to Finn like a lifeline.

I thought if I just loved him hard enough, he'd turn around and see me.

I died for that hope.

That day, the elevator got stuck. Me, Madeline, and our son, Henry.

The cables snapped. Smoke everywhere. Panic. Screaming.

Finn had to choose. And he chose her.

She got out first, carrying Henry in her arms, completely unharmed.

I stayed behind. The elevator failed again before they could bring it back up.

I died thinking maybe, just maybe, he'd come back for me.

But he didn't.

So now, in this second chance at life, I wasn't going to make that mistake again.

Finn took Madeline's hand and started walking out of the café. I followed behind a little, heading for the exit myself.

Just before they stepped out the door, Finn turned around.

His eyes met mine -- cold, sharp, unreadable. He gave the smallest nod to his assistant.

Leo stepped in front of me. "Mrs. Gallagher..."

"You can't come with them. Mr. Gallagher has business to handle."

I shrugged. "Wasn't planning on it. Just heading the same way. I've got places to be."

I turned, ready to walk away and finally leave all of this behind, when I heard a little voice shout from outside.

"Madeline! I missed you so much!"

I froze. My heart cracked.

I turned and saw my son, Henry, running straight toward her. His small arms wrapped around her waist like she was his entire world.

Then his eyes landed on me, and just like that, his smile vanished.

"Dad," he frowned, tugging on Finn's hand, "why is that woman here?"

I stood there, swallowing down the lump in my throat.

Finn gave him a small pat on the head. "She's not with us. Come on, let's go eat."

Henry beamed. "Yay! I get to eat with Madeline!"

I didn't say a word. Just stepped out into the street, waved down a cab, and slid inside.

As the city blurred past the window, I stared out in silence.

Madeline was his first love. Always had been.

They didn't marry back then because she studied abroad, and his family forced him to marry me instead. It was a business move.

I still remember the night I found out the truth. I couldn't sleep for days. Maybe I've been half-awake ever since.

But now? Now I was wide awake.

This life, I'd be sober.

This time, I'd walk away before I drowned again.