Chapter 2

Isabella’s POV

The next morning, I woke early and headed downstairs for breakfast.

As I walked down the hall, I caught Vivienne rushing to her room—her face a complete mess.

By the time I reached the dining hall, Julian and Sebastian were already seated at the table. Neither of them looked particularly well.

So something did happen between the three of them. And considering last night was supposed to be my trap—Vivienne had taken my place instead.

I wondered how they planned to deal with it now. And whether Vivienne would end up pregnant… just like I had.

“Bella!” Sebastian noticed me the moment I walked in, flashing his usual bright smile.

“You didn’t leave the manor after the party last night?” I asked.

The instant the words left my mouth, both Julian and Sebastian flushed red.

Julian cleared his throat. “We drank too much last night—”

Before he could finish, Vivienne walked in—composed, nothing like the wreck I saw in the hallway—and smoothly cut him off. “They were both very drunk. I left them in the guest room.”

“Alright,” I said, not pressing further.

As I sat down and began eating my toast, Vivienne spoke again. “I was thinking of going up to our usual villa today.”

Julian turned to me, wearing the same perfect-boyfriend smile. “What do you think? I thought it might be nice for us to go too. A short getaway—just a day or two—before your big birthday party.”

I remembered this.

In my last life, they’d made the same suggestion. Back then, I’d still been shaken, hungover from waking up between Julian and Sebastian. Julian had framed it as an escape from the chaos.

I’d agreed.

But I spent most of that trip asleep in the hotel room—while Vivienne, Julian, and Sebastian went out together.

At the time, I hadn’t thought much of it.

Now, everything felt different.

I wondered how much more had happened back then that I’d never noticed.

So I smiled—exactly as I had in my past life—and gave the same answer. “I’d love to.”

Vivienne visibly relaxed. “Wonderful.”

For the first time since being reborn, I’d be alone with the three people who had tormented me in my last life.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous.

But more important was playing dumb—letting them think I was still in the dark, just long enough to gather what I needed.

…

I packed a few dress and joined the three of them in the garage.

“How about you sit in the front?” Julian said, taking my hand, every inch the perfect fiancé. “Vivienne can take the back seat with me.”

He knew I got carsick. Sitting up front always helped.

I used to think his suggestion of this was about caring for me. Now I saw it clearly. Julian probably just wanted to be closer to Vivienne on this five-hour drive.

“Don’t worry,” Sebastian added, handing me a small pouch. “I also packed your motion sickness pills.”

What a considerate best friend.

Though after learning what Julian and Sebastian truly were, I couldn’t bring myself to take anything from them.

So when no one was looking, I tossed the pills away and got into the car.

I closed my eyes the moment Sebastian started driving, pretending to fall asleep just to avoid speaking to any of them.

Somewhere along the road, hushed voices reached me. I kept my eyes shut anyway.

Then Vivienne asked softly, “Are you sure she can’t hear us?”

“I gave her sleeping pills, not motion-sickness meds,” Sebastian replied calmly. “She’ll be out for at least ten hours. Like a dead elephant.”

So that was why I’d slept so deeply in my past life. My fingers slowly curled into a fist.

“We have to keep what happened last night a secret,” Vivienne said. “Julian. Sebastian. Am I clear?”

“I know, babe,” Julian replied easily. “Though I have to admit—it was exciting. First time we did it right in the Vale manor.”

Vivienne’s voice turned syrupy. “If this gets out, it’ll be the last time we ever do anything there. So keep it quiet. We can’t let Isabella suspect our relationship. Not until she announces she’s dropping out of the heir selection.”

Sebastian spoke next. “If nothing happened between Julian, me, and her, she won’t get pregnant. What else could we do?”

Julian hesitated. “Maybe I propose to her. She’s always wanted a peaceful life. She’s just torn about disappointing her father.”

“Cheap,” Vivienne scoffed. “Always thinking about men.”

Julian chuckled. “And you don’t?”

“Not as essentials,” she replied primly.

Then came the sound of kissing. Vivienne laughed. “Stop.”

“You’d better keep your voices down,” Sebastian warned. “She’s asleep, not dead.”

Vivienne laughed again—and I felt her move closer. She pinched my arm hard. I forced myself not to react.

“See?” she said lightly. “Nothing. Honestly, she’d better be dead. I can’t stand another day of her.”

The rest of the drive was filled with their laughter. And the occasional sound of them making out in the back seat.

My heart went colder with every mile.

If I hadn’t thrown away Sebastian’s pills—if I’d taken them like I did in my past life—I never would’ve heard any of this.

To think… in my last life, I’d slept in the front seat while my boyfriend and my stepsister fooled around behind me. And my best friend cheered them on.

Disgusting.