Chapter 1

I was reborn. And I was pregnant.

"Congratulations, Madam. Three and a half weeks. It's a miracle—an extremely rare half-blood."

The private doctor stared at the blood analysis, his voice trembling with awe. "Such a half-blood is born once in a millennium! His birth will shake the supernatural world!"

He reached for his communicator. "I must report to the Lord..."

"Put it down." I grabbed his wrist. My voice was flat. Dead.

He looked at me in shock.

I knew exactly what awaited me if Julian found out now.

In my past life, I discovered my pregnancy on this very day. Ignorant of Giselle's return, I ran to him with the test results, blushing with joy.

But he just put on his bespoke suit with an icy face and shook off my hand. "I have somewhere to be tonight."

That was when I learned my dear sister was back after five years in Europe.

My husband was off to throw her an obscenely lavish welcome party.

I went mad with jealousy and blocked the door.

Julian shoved me aside.

"You have no right to be jealous." He looked down at me on the floor, his gaze was glacial. "If you hadn't played your dirty tricks, she would be the one standing beside me right now!"

I cried on the floor, clutching my aching stomach.

He left without a second glance.

He didn't even cast the usual protective ward over the manor.

That night, rogue vampires easily broke in. They tore me apart and sucked me dry, killing my unborn child.

Reborn on the same Blood Moon night, I won't make the same mistake.

I sat alone on a bench outside the estate, letting the cold wind hit my face.

Only after the exact time of our past-life argument had passed did I stand up and walk toward the castle I had called home for five years.

Out of habit, I pressed my finger to the scanner.

The robotic voice was clinical. "Access Denied."

My fingerprints were gone.

I smiled bitterly and knocked on the door, like a total stranger.

To my surprise, it wasn't a humble servant who opened it, but Evernight Biotech's chief lawyer.

He slid a black contract stamped with a dark-gold clan crest toward me: Blood Pact Severance Agreement.

On the sofa sat my well-dressed parents and Giselle in a pure white dress.

I didn't cry or scream. I just stared calmly at the contract and dropped three words:

"Give me a pen."

The hall fell dead silent.

"Stop acting!" My father scoffed, shooting to his feet. "Julian sent a private jet and a dozen elite guards to bring Giselle back. That’s how much he values her! Do you think playing it cool will make the Lord look at you?"

Giselle's eyes instantly reddened. She stepped forward with fake pity to hold my hand. "Sister, don't be mad. I just missed Mom and Dad. If you can't stand me, I can leave..."

I dodged her in disgust, bit my index finger, and pressed a bloody fingerprint onto the paper.

"I'll pack up and get out in three days."

Without looking back, I went upstairs.

When I pushed open my bedroom door, I realized I had overestimated them.

All my clothes and belongings were stuffed into trash bags and dumped in the corner of the hallway.

They were making room for the new mistress.

Without hesitation, I picked up my empty black suitcase from the corner and turned back downstairs.

Just as I reached the landing, the air froze.

The front door swung open. Julian strode in, wearing a dark-patterned tailored suit.

His eyes—the signature crimson of the North American Vampire Lord—gleamed dangerously.

"Where do you think you're going with that bag?"

Giselle hid behind him, sobbing pitifully. "Julian, it's all my fault. Sister can't tolerate me. She's running away because she's mad at me... Please don't blame her."

Julian's face instantly darkened.

"Calista, you are too spoiled," he sneered.

Then, a crushing weight pressed down—the raw power of an ancient vampire.

My knees buckled uncontrollably. A human body couldn't withstand this gravity.

But I bit my tongue hard, using the pain to fight the instinct to submit, and forced my spine straight.

"Put the bag down," he ordered with absolute authority. "Change into a gown and attend Giselle's welcome party tonight. You owe her this."

I looked up through the pain at his perfect, heartless face.

Countless nights, this very man had gently kissed my forehead in bed, traced my spine, and breathlessly made me call his name.

Now, that tenderness was gone.

I didn't fight back. I just pulled the signed Blood Pact Severance Agreement from my coat pocket and handed it over.

Julian frowned.

Without even reading it, he sliced his fingertip and let a drop of icy true-blood fall onto the contract.

"Julian, don't be so rough on my sister. She's your wife after all," Giselle pouted, unable to hide the triumph in her eyes.

Julian didn't even blink. He just dropped three words:

"She is unworthy."

Those words pierced my heart like poisoned silver nails.

I remembered asking him cautiously in bed why he never made our relationship public.

He had pulled me into his arms, kissing my earlobe. "I've lived for a thousand years and have countless enemies. I hide you because I don't want anyone to hurt you."

Now, the man who swore to protect me had become the blade that cut me deepest.

I lowered my head and gently rested my hand on my flat stomach.

A bleak, cold smile crept onto my lips.

After tonight, we are strangers.