༇ CHAPTER TWO

I gasped awake, my heart slamming against my ribs like a caged animal trying to escape.

Oh My..

I pressed a hand against my racing heart as everything instanrly started slamiing back in.

Jaxon’s cold eyes, Aurellia’s laughter…the knife…Jaxon’s kicks and punches…him stabbing me after his cruel words.

They hjad killed me. Jaxon…the boy who had promised heavens and earth when we were kids had driven a knife into my stomacxh.

And there was blood…

My hands flew to my stomach, searching for the wound that had killed me. But there was nothing. No blood. No torn flesh. Just smooth, unbroken skin beneath my cotton nightgown.

What the hell?

I bolted upright, my breath coming in short, panicked bursts as I looked around wildly. This wasn't the master bedroom I'd shared with Jaxon. This was...

My old room.

The pale purple walls I'd begged Eleanor to let me paint when I was fifteen. The white desk cluttered with books from my college years. The window seat where I used to curl up and read, dreaming about the future I thought I'd have.

"No," I whispered, my voice cracking. "No, this isn't—this can't be—"

I scrambled out of bed, my legs shaking as I stumbled to the mirror above my dresser. The face staring back at me was younger—softer. No dark circles from sleepless nights lying next to a man who hated me. No hollow cheeks from months of barely eating because anxiety had killed my appetite.

I looked... twenty-two. Maybe twenty-three.

I grabbed my phone which was charging on the nightstand and checked the date.

May 15th.

My blood turned to ice.

May 15th. Three years ago. 

I would remember that date anytime any day…because iot was the day my life fell apart..the day my nightmare began. It was the day Eleanor and Thomas announced they'd found Aurelia.

"I'm dead," I breathed, pressing my hand over my mouth as hysterical laughter bubbled up my throat. "I have to be dead. This is hell. This is some kind of…"

A knock at the door made me jump.

"Lyra, sweetheart?" Eleanor's voice, bright and cheerful, filtered through. "Are you awake? I have wonderful news!"

My stomach dropped. I knew what came next. I'd lived through this conversation before, every terrible word of it. Why was it happening again? Was this some sort of dream?

Or…have I been reborn?

I touched my face still sdtaring at myself at the mirror. It sounded bizarre, but I had heard cases of it happening. If i wasback in the oast after that died then that means…

Oh my God. I clapped my palm iover my mouth.

Ive been reborn.

The moon goddess have really given me a second chance.

The door opened, and Eleanor swept in, practically glowing with excitement. She looked younger too—her hair more brown than gray, fewer lines around her eyes. She was wearing the same floral dress she'd worn that day, the one I'd complimented because I'd been desperate for her approval even then.

"Darling, you won't believe it!" She sat on the edge of my bed, reaching for my hands. "We found her. We finally found Aurelia!"

I stared at her, my mind reeling. This was real. This was actually happening.

"The DNA test came back this morning," Eleanor continued, tears of joy streaming down her face. "She's been in foster care all these years, moving from home to home. My poor baby girl. But she's coming home today. Isn't that wonderful?"

Wonderful. The word tasted like ash.

I knew what I was supposed to say. Last time, I'd cried happy tears and hugged Eleanor, thrilled to finally have a sister. I'd been so naive. So stupid.

"Lyra?" Eleanor squeezed my hands, concern flickering across her face. "Are you alright? You look pale."

"I'm fine," I managed, my voice hoarse. "Just... surprised. That's wonderful news, Mom."

Eleanor beamed. "I know this might be an adjustment, but I just want you to know that you'll always be our daughter too. Nothing will ever change that. We love you just as much, and that love will not decrease an inch no matter who comes in."

Lies. All of it, lies.

Within weeks of Aurelia's arrival, everything had changed. Their love had evaporated like morning dew, leaving only cold tolerance at best, open contempt at worst. They had made my life a living hell because of Airellia.

It didn’t take them much to forget their promises, the years we had together and started falling for everyone of Aurelia’s manipulations and lies.

They’d hit me over and over again, locked me up for days severally in a dark closet to ‘discipline me’ because I had become too spoilt, starved me…and even turned me into Aurelia’s personal servant until I married Jaxon.

And I remember being so relieved that I would be finally living their home after the wedding … because I knew how much Jaxon loved me…how much he had adored me since we were kids.

I never thought that I was stepping into a worse hell.

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. Eleanor didn’t know all these yet…no. So I just had to play along for now.

"Of course," I said softly with a force smile. "I understand."

"Great!! She'll be here this afternoon. I just know you two will be the best of friends." Eleanor kissed my forehead and hurried out, already pulling out her phone to call the caterer about the welcome home party she'd planned.

The moment the door closed, I collapsed back onto the bed, my entire body shaking.

My hand went to my stomach again, and grief crashed over me in waves. The baby. My baby. Gone, as if it had never existed. Tears burned my eyes, but I blinked them back furiously. No. No more crying. No more being weak.

I’d spent all my life being weak..being the quiet little good girl. Trying so hard to be good enough, to be worthy and lovable enough.

And it had gotten me tormented and killed.

Never again.