Chapter 2

I snapped my eyes open.

The ceiling drifted into view.

Soft, muted pink.

Beneath me was a plush, luxurious bed.

The air conditioner hummed quietly.

Seventy-nine degrees.

I sat up.

I swung my feet out and walked barefoot to the window.

Bright, golden sunlight showered my face.

It was warm.

I lowered my gaze to inspect my hands.

Fair and whole.

Not a single trace of charred, burnt flesh.

I reached up and touched my cheeks.

Silky smooth.

The tears of blood I shed in the fiery abyss during my past life—not a single drop this time.

My phone vibrated.

It was a text from Julian.

“Hazel, I’ll pick you up at six tonight. Wear the red dress. You look gorgeous in it.”

The red dress.

In my past life, that very dress became my shroud.

I stared down at the screen.

Slowly, I typed out a single word: “Sure”

Then, I deleted it.

I retyped my response.

“Nah”

I hit send.

A second later, a notification from Chloe popped up.

“Hazel, I made a strawberry crepe cake for you! Can I come over this afternoon?”

Strawberry crepe cake.

I let out a cold sneer.

Then I typed out my reply.

“Get lost!”

And sent it.

The phone fell silent.

The two of them must be confused right now.

I changed clothes, then opened my bedroom door and stepped out.

In the hallway, my mom was walking towards me.

Her face was etched with worry.

“Hazel, Julian told me you refused to attend the charity tonight. What are you on about? He’s such a good—”

“Mom.”

I cut her off mid-sentence.

“Who’s prescribing Dad’s medication?”

She was stunned for a second.

“It’s Dr. Lynch, who else? The specialist Julian recommended. Why do you ask?”

“Fire him.” My voice was dead cold.

“What?”

I brushed past her and headed straight for the staircase.

“Today, as soon as possible.”

Mom’s nagging complaints echoed behind me.

I just ignored them.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

“Is Ethan Gray speaking? I’m Hazel Sterling. There’s something I want to discuss with you.”

On the other end of the line, silence lasted for two seconds.

Then, a deep, magnetic male voice resonated through the speaker.

“Ms. Sterling, I don’t believe we’re that well-acquainted.”

“We will be very soon.”

I hung up the phone, then stepped out the front door.

December seventeenth.

The sunlight was blindingly bright.

In my past life, I died suffocating in thick smoke on this exact date.

This time round…

I’d make my murderers burn in the very flames they kindled.

By late afternoon, Julian arrived.

He stood in the middle of our living room.

In his arms was a bouquet of pristine white roses.

How delicate.

How pure.

How fake!

“Hazel.”

He walked over and extended the flowers toward me.

“I won’t hold what happened last night against you. I know you’ve been under a lot of pressure lately. I get it.”

He was smiling gently, looking every bit the perfect, patient fiancé accommodating his spoiled girlfriend.

I took the flowers, then casually tossed them onto the coffee table.

“Tonight is Mr. Wayne’s birthday celebration. You really ought to attend.”

He sat down on the sofa, casual and relaxed, as if he were already the master of this estate.

“Everyone we know will be there. Your reputation hasn’t been great recently. It’s the perfect opportunity to clear the air.”

“My reputation?”

I fixed my gaze on him.

He paused for a fraction of a second, looking conflicted, reluctant.

“Just some posts circulating online... calling you spoiled and good for nothing. I know they’re lies, but outsiders will fall for them. Hazel, I’m doing this for your own good.”

For my own good.

In my past life, this line of his had been a spell.

It choked the voice out of me.

“Who put those posts up?” I asked.

“Well, I’m still looking into that—”

“It was Chloe.”

I cut him off without hesitation.

His smile stiffened for a moment, impossibly brief, but I caught it.

“Hazel, you’re making things up.”

His tone carried a hint of rebuke.

“Chloe is your best friend. You must know best what she has done for you over the years.”

I knew, and all too well too.

She put on an act of a lifetime, bringing utter ruin to my family and my life.

“Julian,” I stared into his eyes, “what are you really here for?”

He took a deep breath, his gentle mask coming back over his face.

“I’m just worried about you. You haven’t been yourself lately. Getting out more will do you good.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Hazel—”

“I said no.”

Tension filled the living room.

Julian glared at me, affection gone from his eyes.

Now they were sharp, filled with guarded suspicion.

The Hazel of my past life never said no to him.

“What did you say to Chloe yesterday?” He suddenly changed the subject.

“She cried herself to sleep.”

“I told her to get lost.”

I lifted my teacup and took a slow sip.

Julian abruptly stood up, stepping right in front of me, his figure towering over me.

“Hazel, what on earth is wrong with you?”

“Nothing.”

I met his intense gaze head-on.

“I’m just done playing the fool.”

His pupils bloomed.

Footsteps echoed from above.

My mom walked down the stairs.

The moment she spotted Julian, her face brightened into a warm, welcoming smile.

“Julian, you’re here! Come, sit down.”

“Hi, Mrs. Sterling.”

Julian instantly turned back into a respectful gentleman.

“I’m just leaving. Hazel hasn’t been in the best mood, so I just came by to check on her.”

My mom shot me a harsh glare.

“Hazel, throwing tantrums again are you? Julian is such a good man. Stop taking your blessings for granted!”

“Mom.”

I stood up straight.

“Stop giving Dad his medication.”

Mom froze in her tracks.

“What nonsense is this? Dr. Lynch said we can’t just stop his medication.”

“I said, stop it.”

My voice was ice cold.

“If the guy knew what he’s talking about, why is my dad getting more confused by the day?”

“What are you going on about? Dr. Lynch is a top specialist!”

My mom grew visibly agitated.

Julian stood off to the side, watching the scene unfold.

His eyelids drooped slightly, hiding the dark, sinister glare brewing beneath them.

“Please, don’t be angry with Hazel.”

He intervened with a gentle, soothing tone.

“She might just be exhausted lately. As for the medication, it’s best we follow the doctor’s orders. I still have matters to attend to at the company. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Of course, Sure. Drive safely.”

Mom walked him to the front door, apologizing the entire time, calling me a spoiled little girl.

Julian only offered a soft, forgiving smile, magnanimous to a fault.