Chapter 1

Rainee Bianco stood at the front of the room, acting like she had everything under control.

"Stop running around. The hallway's blocked, so we can't get out. Everyone, move into the triangle zones in the corners and wait for rescue. We'll be fine."

My terrified classmates started cramming into the corners.

I stared at Rainee's self-righteous face, my head spinning.

I was back.

Back at the exact moment the earthquake hit in my last life.

After Rainee got drunk and drowned, Tristan lured me to the edge of a cliff.

Then he pointed at my right leg—the one I'd ruined saving him—and clenched his jaw.

"Kayla Kendall, that crippled leg has chained me to you for seven years. You really think I would've chosen you if I didn't owe you my life?

"If I hadn't been with you, Rainee wouldn't have been heartbroken. She wouldn't have gotten drunk, and she wouldn't have died.

"You killed her. Go keep her company."

Then he shoved me.

"Kayla, what are you doing? Come with me!"

Tristan's voice snapped me back.

He clamped onto my hand and dragged me toward the back corner, his eyes bloodshot.

I yanked back, but his grip wouldn't budge.

"Let go! That spot isn't safe!"

Tristan only tightened his hold and shot me a glare.

"Cut it out," he said through clenched teeth. "I'm not letting you run off again. Stay with me in the triangle zone, and you won't lose a single hair. Don't play hero this time. And don't even think about making me owe you."

My stomach dropped.

Again.

Owe me.

I stared at his panicked face as it clicked.

'So he came back too.'

In my last life, Tristan had run for the triangle zone the second the alarm went off.

I risked everything to drag him back and pull him out the third-floor window with me.

I took the hit protecting him.

My right leg shattered, leaving me permanently disabled.

He walked away without a scratch and promised to take care of me forever.

But it wasn't gratitude.

To him, I was a debt. A chain he never asked for.

Now he was back too.

And this time, he didn't want me saving him.

He didn't want to owe me again.

So he actually thought pinning me inside some bogus triangle zone would change everything.

"Tristan, are you insane? Let go."

I gave a cold laugh and kicked him hard in the shin.

Tristan flinched, but his grip stayed locked.

Instead, he moved closer, almost pinning me against the wall.

"You seriously have to do this? You think jumping makes you some kind of hero? Do you even realize you'll break your leg?"