Love Sinks Into the Deep

"Mr. Enzo Lior, do you take Miss Selina Arroway to be your lawfully wedded wife—to love her, honor her, and cherish her, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" The priest's solemn voice reached my ears like an echo from a distant dream.

Every guest in the hall turned to look at me—the uninvited guest who had just walked in.

"Oh my God, isn't that the Arroway daughter who supposedly died in the shipwreck three years ago? How is she still alive?"

"Look at what she's wearing… poor thing. I heard the groom used to be her fiance, and they were madly in love. She's not here to stop the wedding, is she?"

"Shh, keep it down. This is about to get good."

Those whispers pulled me out of the haze. I lifted my gaze and saw Enzo on stage, looking tenderly at my so-called sister, Selina Arroway, with whom I was switched at birth.

In my previous life, I had charged up the stage like a madwoman, screaming and crying, demanding to know why he had betrayed me, why he was marrying that impostor who had stolen everything that was mine.

My parents had rushed over, scolding me sharply. "Raina! Stop making a scene! Go home with us now!"

There had been no joy or surprise in Enzo's eyes at seeing me alive again—only deep, endless disgust.

Later, under pressure, he had called off the wedding with Selina and married me instead. But that had only marked the beginning of my nightmare.

Selina had fallen into depression, threatening suicide every other day. To comfort her, Enzo had stopped coming home, using endless "overtime" as an excuse. Until one day, I found out the company dorm he claimed to be staying in was actually Selina's apartment.

He had been sleeping in her bed every night while I spent my newlywed days alone in an empty room. Eventually, Selina got pregnant.

When I confronted him with her pregnancy report in hand, he looked at me with nothing but revulsion. "Raina Arroway, you already have the title of my wife. What more do you want?"

Even my parents began siding with Selina, fussing over her like she was the real daughter.

Once, Selina had tumbled down the stairs right in front of me and lost the baby. Without even asking what had happened, Enzo had jabbed a finger at me, shouting, "How could you be so cruel? You should've stayed dead in that ocean! Why come back just to ruin everyone's lives?"

That was when I finally understood—they all wished I had never survived.

"Raina Arroway," Enzo's voice had rung in my ears even as I lay dying, "you once saved my life, and now I've returned the favor. Just don't come back to haunt me again."

This time, I would grant their wishes.

I had been about to turn and leave when my mother caught my hand, tears streaming down her face. "Raina, my dear daughter, you're alive… Thank God you're alive…"

That false affection no longer moved me.

Suddenly, Enzo picked up the microphone on stage. "Raina risked her life to save me in the shipwreck. I was heartbroken when I thought she was gone. Now that she's safe and sound, I'm truly happy."

He paused, tightening his grip on Selina's hand. "But the past is the past. The woman I love is Selina, and I will never marry anyone out of gratitude."

I froze, then slowly let out a mocking smile. 'So, he's been reborn too.'

I gently pushed my parents' hands away and took the microphone from Enzo. "I'm not here to stop the wedding."