Chapter 1

MIA'S POV

"Happy birthday, Mia."

The words echo in my head as I jolt awake, gasping for air that won't come. My hands claw at my throat, searching for the burning sensation that was there just seconds ago. The taste of almonds. The champagne glass slipping from my fingers. Lily's concerned face hovering over me while I died.

But I'm not dying. I'm in my childhood bedroom.

I sit up, my heart pounding heavily, and stare at the pink wallpaper I begged Dad to replace when I turned sixteen. My hands are smooth, no longer marked by the years of working late at the office. The engagement ring Jason gave me three years from now is gone from my finger.

My phone buzzes on the nightstand. The date reads February 8th, 2021. My twentieth birthday.

I died on February 8th, 2026. Five years from now.

"No, no, no." The words tumble out as I scramble for my laptop. My fingers shake as I search for news articles that should exist but don't. The company merger that made Dad millions. The scandal that destroyed the Millers. Jason's promotion to partner at his firm.

None of it has happened yet.

A knock on my door makes me flinch. "Mia? Are you awake? Your father wants you downstairs for breakfast." Mom's voice is clipped and impatient, exactly how I remember it.

"I'll be right there," I call out, my voice steadier than I feel.

I catch my reflection in the mirror and freeze. Twenty years old. My face is rounder, softer, unmarked by the stress lines that appeared after Dad made Lily VP instead of me. After Jason's first affair. After I started taking pills just to sleep through the anxiety.

I know everything that's going to happen. Every betrayal, every lie, every moment that led to that champagne glass.

But as I pull on the dress Mom bought me for today's family dinner, my hands won't stop shaking. Knowledge doesn't make me brave. It just makes me aware of exactly how pathetic I am.

Downstairs, Dad barely looks up from his newspaper when I enter the dining room. "Twenty years old. Time to start taking the family business seriously, Mia."

"Yes, Dad." The words are automatic, trained into me since childhood.

Lily bounces in wearing the bracelet I gave her for her birthday last month. In my first life, she sold it within a week. "Happy birthday, big sister! I'm so excited for tonight's party."

Tonight. The party where Jason will spill wine on my dress and offer me his jacket. Where their affair begins.

"Actually, I was thinking of canceling the party," I say. The words feel like pulling teeth.

Lily's face falls. "But I already invited everyone! And I spent all week planning it with Mom."

Mom sets down her coffee cup with a sharp clink. "Mia, your sister worked very hard on this party. Don't be selfish."

See? This is who I am. Even knowing what I know, I can already feel myself caving under Lily's disappointed eyes.

"Of course. Sorry, Lily. The party sounds wonderful."

Dad grunts approval and returns to his paper. Lily beams and starts chattering about decorations. I sit down and eat my breakfast, tasting nothing, hating myself with every bite.

The family business meeting happens at ten. Dad announces he's considering Lily for a junior position in marketing. In my first life, I was excited for her. I encouraged Dad to give her a chance. Within two years, she was VP and I was her assistant.

"That's wonderful," I hear myself say now. "Lily will be great."

I see the flash of triumph in Lily's eyes before she hides it behind false modesty. "Oh, I couldn't possibly. Mia deserves opportunities too."

The meeting ends with Dad patting Lily's shoulder and telling me to "learn from my sister's humility." I smile and nod and want to scream.

By lunch, I texted Jason back when he asked to see me. I've agreed to help Lily pick out an outfit for the party. I've said yes to Mom's request that I give up my old bedroom so Lily can have the bigger closet.

Five years of knowledge and I've changed nothing. I'm still the same doormat who dies at twenty-five.

I'm sitting in my car outside Carter Enterprises at two PM when I realize I can't go inside. Dad wants me to sit in on the merger meeting with Black Industries. Ethan Black is supposed to be there.

Ethan Black. The name I heard whispered in business circles in my first life. Ruthless. Brilliant. Built an empire from nothing and destroyed anyone who got in his way.

I never met him before. Our circles never crossed.

My phone rings. Dad. "Where are you? The meeting started five minutes ago."

"I'm sorry, I'm on my way."

I'm always sorry. Always late. Always disappointing him in ways that make him sigh and wish I was more like Lily.

The meeting room falls silent when I slip inside. Dad's face is tight with embarrassment. Lily, sitting in my usual chair, gives me a sympathetic smile that doesn't reach her eyes.

And at the head of the table sits a man who makes everyone else in the room look small.

Ethan Black is younger than I expected, maybe twenty-eight, with dark hair and eyes that miss nothing. He watches me stumble to the only empty chair with an expression of clinical interest, like I'm a specimen under glass.

"My daughter, Mia," Dad says, his tone apologetic. "She's still learning professional etiquette."

"Clearly." Ethan's voice is cold enough to frost the windows.

The meeting continues. I try to pay attention, but I can feel Ethan's gaze returning to me every few minutes. My hands shake in my lap. I clasp them together, willing them to stop.

"Miss Carter."

I look up to find everyone staring at me. Ethan's eyes are fixed on mine.

"Your hands are shaking. Are you unwell?"

"No, I'm fine."

"You're lying."

The room goes silent. Dad clears his throat. "Mr. Black, I assure you—"

"I don't do business with liars, Mr. Carter." Ethan stands, buttoning his suit jacket. "We're done here."

He walks out, and Dad's face turns purple with rage.

"What the hell is wrong with you?”