Chapter 2

"And tell Gracie that if she doesn't want to end up the way she did last time, she'd better stop meddling in our marriage," Elliot said coldly.

His words made my heart sink to my stomach.

So I wasn't the only one reborn. Elliot was too!

But why would he think I was lying? He should know how Sophie had been violated, how she and her unborn child had died, and how Henry had been badly hurt in that previous life.

Why, with a second chance at life, had he become this cold? Was it because Ava once said that Sophie and I were in it together?

The footsteps outside stopped just on the other side of the wall.

Soon, louder bangs rattled the door, and the safe rattled with a metallic clang.

We could only watch as a gaping hole was smashed through the door. The intruders, lit by the light behind them, immediately caught sight of the three of us.

They grinned and snorted. "Well, well. Didn't expect to actually find someone hiding in here," said the leader.

I stepped in front of Sophie and Henry, inching backward.

However, the men crawled through the gap. The leader kicked the iron cabinet out of the way and shoved the door fully open.

"Did you really think you could hide? We're not amateurs. We're here because someone paid us to settle a score. Don't blame us. Blame Elliot for crossing the wrong people."

My whole body trembled with fear as I stared at the dagger gleaming coldly in his hand.

Their sinister gazes fell on Sophie.

"I know her. That's Elliot's wife. I wonder what it's like to sleep with a pregnant woman."

Sophie glared at them, clutching Henry as she backed away. "Stay away from us!"

Swallowing my terror, I leaned close to her and whispered, "There's a switch behind that vase. Run out when I open it. Once you're outside, head to the Flynn residence and find Lionel. Tell him to come save me."

The man with the knife drew closer. We had nowhere left to run.

I had already died miserably once. This time, I couldn't let Sophie and Henry suffer the same fate, no matter what.

"Gracie, I can't leave you here alone."

I pinched her arm hard, desperate to snap her out of it. "You're carrying a baby, and Henry's only three. Listen to me. Take him and get out of here. I'll hold them off. If you can find Lionel, we still have a chance."

Just then, the man lunged at us.

But before I could move, Sophie twisted the switch with one hand and shoved Henry into my arms with the other. Then, she threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around the men's legs.

"Gracie, go! Take Henry and run!"

Her voice was thick with grief and the ache of separating from her child.

"Sophie!"

Just as the door was about to shut, I caught sight of the man choking Sophie and slamming her hard onto the floor.

Every shred of reason shattered inside me.

"Gracie, go! Find help!"

A chill ripped through me, but the will to survive crushed everything else.

I knew if I stayed, the three of us would be doomed. So I clutched Henry tight and bolted through the small door at the back of the hidden room.

Once outside, I didn't dare look back. I just ran, sprinting for my life.

Along the way, I fell and scraped my knee. A large patch of skin peeled back to reveal bloody flesh. Still, I gritted my teeth and sprinted madly toward the Flynn residence.

By the time I reached its iron gates, I slammed the doorbell and pounded on the gate in a frenzy.

"Lionel! Lionel! Please save Sophie! Lionel, help us!"

The lock clicked, and Lionel Flynn appeared in casual clothes. His brow furrowed as he took in my battered state.