Chapter 1

The pain crashed into me like a tidal wave. I felt hollow, like the wounds had torn right through me, leaving nothing but air.

Instinctively, I clutched my stomach, and somehow, everything around me sharpened. A low buzzing filled my ears.

It was my phone, rattling violently against the table. Teresa Hawke's name flashed on the screen.

I was back, reborn into the very day she'd screamed for help. I picked up, and the same words from my past life came rushing back.

"Val, the house is on fire! I'm trapped! You have to come now—"

The line went dead before Teresa could finish.

All I got from Asher Jensen was that same sneer.

"Knock it off. Leave my mom out of whatever game you're playing. Seriously, what did you say to mess with her head like that? Today's a big day for Mel. She finally learned to ride a bike. I'm heading out, so don't stir up any drama while I'm gone."

To everyone else, my marriage to Asher looked like a perfect match, like something out of a fairy tale. I thought so too, at first.

But once the vows were said, his coldness made it obvious that marrying me was just a move to keep his family happy. His heart had always belonged to Melanie Lanner.

I grew up believing in the promise of marriage. Even though Asher never paid me any attention, Teresa was always kind to me.

That was why, in my past life, when I got that call from her, I kept begging him, over and over, to save her. Thankfully, he made it in time. She got away with just a few scrapes.

But Melanie was taken from the bar, tortured, killed, and dumped. And he put all the blame on me.

Now that I was reborn, I was giving him the choice.

Asher was fixing his tie in the mirror.

I caught his eye in the reflection. "Teresa didn't sound right on the phone. You should go check on her."

He gave an impatient frown. "I always thought you were the sensible one. Now you're siding with my mom in this whole mess?"

I kept my voice even. "No one would fake a fire—"

Before I could finish, Asher knocked the glass figurine off the entryway table. It hit the floor and shattered.

I looked up at him, and for a split second, his reflection in the mirror twisted into a face from my past life—the same one that had watched from behind the bars while madmen drove their knives into me 99 times.

It was that same cold, menacing expression I'd seen before.

I stayed quiet as Asher opened the door and walked out. The second he was gone, I called 911, then got ready to drive to Teresa myself.

Asher was hardly ever home, so Teresa and I ended up staying together under one roof. The villa was tucked away in a remote area.

Teresa had sent me off, hoping to create an opportunity for Asher and me to reconnect. But then she accidentally locked herself in the attic, right as a fire broke out downstairs.

I was just about to unlock the car when a hand suddenly reached past me and yanked the door open. It was Oliver Traynor, Asher's childhood friend.

"Hey, Asher knew my car couldn't be on the road, so he let me borrow this one. Appreciate you coming all the way down to open it for me, Valerie," he said with a smug grin.

I didn't bother hiding my irritation. "Something urgent came up at home. I need the car. Move."

But Oliver didn't budge. He leaned against the door, blocking my way.

"Valerie, you and Asher can fight all you want, but dragging your family into it? That's crossing a line. I get that you want to go after him, but I'm telling you—nothing's going on between Mel and Asher.

"You two are married. What could possibly be going on? Just look the other way. Making a big deal out of this helps no one."

I let out a disbelieving laugh.

Asher sent Oliver to get in my way, worried I'd ruin his fun. But every minute Oliver kept me here was another minute Teresa was in danger.