Chapter 2

"I heard someone was looking for me. What's the matter—missed me already?"

When I came back to myself, Jace Elden was walking down the stairs, his usual lazy grin in place.

In the past, that look alone would've been enough to set me off. We would've argued, maybe even fought.

But this time, I simply nodded and said calmly, "I've chosen you to be my husband. Isn't it normal to miss you a little?"

The grin vanished from his face. His eyes widened, and all the careless charm drained away.

"Really? You gave up Lance—for me?" His voice dropped lower. "If I take you seriously, you won't have any room to back out."

I smiled and nodded firmly. "Three days from now, we'll have our wedding."

For a moment, he just stared at me. Then excitement flickered across his face, and his words tumbled out, slightly stammered.

"Alright. I—I'll start getting ready."

But from the side came a cold snort.

Lance stepped forward, looking down at me with that familiar condescension.

"If you think using another man to provoke me will get my attention," he said coolly, "then you're being childish."

I was about to respond when Natasha let out a sharp cry.

We turned toward her—she was clutching her ankle, eyes red.

"Lance, I twisted my foot. It hurts so much."

The coldness in Lance's expression melted instantly. Panic flickered across his features as he rushed over and swept her into his arms. "I'll take you to the hospital."

Jace, ever the cynic, scoffed. "Lance, can't you tell she's faking it?"

Lance's face darkened, his tone laced with venom. "I don't need advice from useless trash like you."

He turned toward the door, but before leaving, he looked back at me and said coldly, "Try pulling a stunt like this again, and I'll dump you one more time. You make me sick."

One more time.

Just like before—In every life, whenever I argued with him over Natasha, he'd threaten to leave me.

I stood frozen, watching his back disappear through the door.

Could it be… he'd been reborn too?