Chapter 1

"Yes, I want all transactions on this card blocked."

The first thing I did when I opened my eyes was grab my phone and call the bank. Once the card Lacey Kemp had taken was locked, I finally let out a breath of relief.

I came back to my senses and took in my surroundings, my mind still racing. Right on cue, my phone rang. Lacey's name flashed on the screen.

The horrific ending from my last life was still playing on loop in my head. I let out a cold laugh and answered.

"Hello?"

"Nicole?"

Hearing Lacey's voice again made my blood boil.

"What do you want?"

She didn't seem to expect me to be this cold. Even though my family had been sponsoring Lacey for years as a charity case, I'd always treated her like a sister. But she recovered quickly, her voice turning syrupy sweet.

"Actually, yes! I'm throwing a graduation party tonight at The Grandview Hotel. Nicole, do you want to come? This is the first time in my life I've ever thrown anything this fancy. Please, please, you have to come show your support."

She paused, then added, "Brandon's going to be there too. Haven't you two not seen each other in a while?"

I looked at my freshly done nails and smiled. "Sure. It's your big night. Don't forget to order some nice dishes."

After I hung up, I clenched my fists. She told me I hadn't seen Brandon Cooper in a while, as if she knew more about my "boyfriend's" whereabouts than I did.

In my last life, I'd assumed Brandon had been overseas taking over his family's business and hadn't asked questions. I found out later that the two of them had been traveling the world together without telling anyone, and they only got back yesterday.

That comment of hers just now was a blatant provocation.

…

At 7:00 pm, I walked into The Grandview Hotel ballroom right on time. Everything was exactly the same as my last life, with 18 tables loaded with lobster, prime rib, and top-shelf champagne and wine. The glittering chandeliers overhead made the whole place drip with extravagance.

Lacey was in an expensive white dress, standing side by side with Brandon, making the rounds table by table with drinks. The two of them were laughing and chatting, Lacey hanging on Brandon's arm like they were the perfect couple.

It didn't look like a graduation party at all. It looked more like an engagement reception.

The moment I walked in, every eye in the room turned my way. The whispering started almost immediately.

"Is that Nicole Dixon? She and Lacey must be really close if she came all the way here."

"Definitely. I heard the Dixon family treats Lacey so well she's practically a second daughter."

"Then, it makes sense that Brandon's here too. Aren't those two engaged?"

"Don't go spreading that around. Brandon and Nicole might not even be together. Last time someone asked him, he didn't give an answer."

I listened to the chatter and forced a smile.

When Lacey spotted me, she immediately pulled Brandon forward, her voice dripping with fake surprise. "Oh! Nicole, you made it?"

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a little too deliberately, her face flushing as she lowered her voice. "Don't get the wrong idea, okay? Brandon just insisted on helping me with the toasts because he was worried I can't hold my liquor."

Brandon's expression had been sour from the moment he laid eyes on me, and hearing Lacey's little explanation only made him frown harder.

"Nicole, don't give Lacey a hard time."

I almost laughed at the sheer absurdity of it and couldn't help firing back, "I haven't even said anything yet?"

Seeing the tension escalate, Lacey jumped in immediately, "Bran, don't be like that. I'm already so happy Nicole came. How is she giving me a hard time?"

Watching Lacey get more and more into her act, I grabbed her hand and gave her a sweet smile. "What are you talking about, Lacey? Why would I ever be mad at you?"

Brandon relaxed at that and let out a scoff. "Good. At least you know your place."

The smile on my face didn't waver as I continued, "After all, a piece of trash like Brandon? Only someone who loves collecting junk would fight over him."

The entire ballroom went dead silent. Lacey's smile froze on her face, and Brandon's expression turned livid.

"Nicole!"