002: REBORN - FIVE YEARS AGO

I turned my back, watching as Nicholas lay cradled on the ground. In my past life, I had rushed to save him, gotten injured myself, only for him to walk away with Kara the moment she scraped her leg.

My dark gaze locked onto him. I clenched my fists, the anger and hatred I held for that bastard were still carved deep into my heart.

“Are you okay?” Kelly asked, placing her hands on my shoulders.

That small gesture snapped me out of it. “Yes,” I replied, staring down at my palm. My nails had dug into my skin, leaving faint red marks. I exhaled slowly. God had given me a second chance, I wasn’t about to waste it.

I lifted my head and met his burning stare.

Did he expect me to move? To rush to him again? Just like my past life, a sneer threatened to slip out, but I forced a weak, sad smile instead.

“Let’s go” Kara said, resting her hands on his shoulders. I turned my gaze to her.

“Okay.”

“She’s so lucky.”

“Ahhh, she gets to touch Nicholas. I wish I were her.”

“So lucky…”

The girls around us whispered, their eyes glowing. Love-struck fools.

I paused. I had been one of them once.

“Let’s go,” Kelly muttered, dragging me away by the wrist.

“I really don’t like him,” Kelly added, sipping milk from the bottle in her hands. “He looks like an asshole.”

She wasn’t wrong.

In my past life, Nicholas had approached me because he was the illegitimate son of the Robinson family and I was his way to climb higher. Someone had been secretly sponsoring my tuition and expenses, though I hadn’t known who back then.

Now I did.

I was the lost daughter of the Devile family. That was why he wanted me.

A sigh slipped from my lips. I had died knowing so little in my past life.

“Hey.” Kelly nudged my elbow.

I blinked. “Huh?”

“Were you even listening?” she asked, frowning.

I froze, my lips pressing together before a nervous smile formed. “Sorry. I was lost in thought.”

“You should stop spacing out,” she said, then paused, staring at the bandage on my forehead. “Are you sure your head is okay?”

A small smile tugged at my lips.

“Enough questions,” Xena snapped, pulling Kelly away. Kelly pouted.

“I was helping,” she protested.

Xena rolled her eyes, then turned to me. “Just stay away from Nicholas. Campus heartthrobs can’t be trusted.”

“Okay,” I replied immediately.

They both froze, exchanging looks. Really? Yes. That kind of look.

“I have lectures,” I added, checking my wristwatch. “I’ll see you later.”

I waved and walked off.

As I left, my eyes dimmed. I could still feel it—the stab, over and over again. The pain. I’ll make him feel worse, I vowed silently.

Bam!

My head collided with a solid chest. A man in a sharp suit looked down at me.

I froze. Who was he? I didn’t remember seeing him in my past life. Or maybe I’d been too busy drowning in Nicholas’s lies to notice anyone else.

“Sorry,” I muttered flatly and stepped aside.

But damn.He was handsome. Dangerously so. Sharp jawline, crystal-clear eyes, sculpted lips, a perfect nose, dark Italian curls.

Then I felt it.

My body stiffened.

Nicholas.

Hadn’t he twisted his ankle seconds ago? Why was he here already—limping, but barely affected? His face alone made my body tremble. His eyes lit up the moment he saw me.

No. Anything but being close to him.

I stepped back, my eyes widening.

“Uncle!” I called out suddenly, rushing toward the man I’d bumped into earlier.

He stared at me, shock written all over his face.

“Did you come to pick me up?” I yelled loudly—loud enough for Nicholas to hear. Screw lectures. I could catch up later.

“And you are?” the man asked, his brows knitting in confusion.

“Your niece,” I said, grabbing his arm tightly.

His assistant’s eyes flared with shock and anger, moving to pull me away, but then—

“Wait,” the man said, stopping him. He looked down at me, clearly questioning.

Please, I begged silently. Just play along.

“Hi,” Nicholas said behind me.

My jaw clenched. I tightened my grip on the man’s arm. My lashes trembled. That voice...God, I hated it. The memory of my baby, the pain, exploded in my chest.

Don’t break. Not now.

I pasted on a shy smile. “H-hi,” I said softly, my nails digging into the man’s arm. He endured it without a sound.

“Are you really okay?” Nicholas asked, lifting his hand toward my forehead.

I stepped back instantly. I didn’t want his hands anywhere near me.

The man caught Nicholas’s wrist mid-air.

“And you are?” he asked calmly.

Nicholas froze. I saw it, the flash of irritation and anger in his eyes.

“Oh, I’m Anna’s friend,” Nicholas replied. The words slid off his tongue smoothly, seductively.

I wanted to spit.

“Meet my uncle,” I said.

Nicholas’s eyes widened. He bowed immediately, maintaining his gentle image. I rolled my eyes. The man noticed and didn’t miss my disgust.

“I’d like to apologize for hitting you with the ball,” Nicholas said softly.

Right. In my past life, he’d been a popular campus athlete. Girls swarmed him like flies. No one knew he was here to trap a rich, naïve girl.

And I’d been one.

“Oh, it’s really okay,” I replied lightly, waving it off.

But inside, I smiled coldly. I’ll be your karma this lifetime.

“How about I buy you dinner? As a token of my apology” Nicholas asked suddenly.

I froze.

In my past life, I’d ended up in the infirmary but he didn’t ask me out until a week later.

Was things changing because of this “uncle”? And the fact I lied.

I turned to the man beside me. “If my uncle allows it,” I said through clenched teeth, though my voice sounded sweet.

“I’ll be waiting,” Nicholas replied, bowing again before leaving.

Even injured, he was still determined to trap me.

I released the man’s arm and looked down. “Thank you,” I murmured.

I didn’t explain. A stranger didn’t need my story.

“Brother!”

A woman’s voice rang out behind us.

I turned...Sabrina Rizzo.

Brunette, about five-foot-eight and a known troublemaker. In my past life, people avoided her, but she’d never been afraid to put Kara in her place.

Seeing her now made me smile.

She leaped forward, and the man caught her easily.

I froze.

Brother?

“If others see this, it’ll turn into a scandal,” he scolded her. “Stop jumping like you saw your lover.”

She pouted.

“Hmph. I don’t care-” I didn’t wait to hear the rest. I walked away.

Right now, my only problems were money… and how to destroy Nicholas.

My phone rang. I glanced at the screen and sighed.

Even after rebirth, peace still avoided me.

“He—”

“You goddamn mistake of a child. Get here now!” a furious voice screamed.