Chapter 3

“Ahhhhhh!!!” I screamed in shock as I opened my eyes. My chest heaved as I scanned my surroundings—my room. Everything was exactly as I remembered it. I looked at the bedside drawer that complemented my bed and my phone was right there. That’s impossible. Those men had taken it.

With trembling hands, I picked it up and checked the date.

February 28, 3031.

No… that wasn’t right. It was supposed to be February 28 3032. And then “Ohhhhhhhhhhh!” I exclaimed as my eyes widened— the realization had hit me.

I’ve gone back In time. One year ago from the day I had died.

“No…No, this can’t be happening”, I said with a trembling voice. This had to be a dream, i pinched myself hard, I winced at the pain and a red mark formed at the spot where my fingers had dug in.

I ran to the mirror. “Am I real” I whispered. I looked at myself in the mirror, “Hello” I waved at my reflection, then smiled. I did my signature dance move and I turned round touching every familiar object in my room. My large luxury four-poster bed with crisp white sheets, the soft pink walls with elegant white designs. I ran to open my wardrobe that stood tall at one corner of the room, it was the same, I climbed my desk to touch the small chandelier hanging from the ceiling, my fingers brushed against its smooth surface.

“This is real,” I said as my eyes widened in shock. " Wooooh!… I’m not dead ” I screamed in excitement.

I’ve been reborn.

God had given me a second chance at life to fix my mistakes, to make things right thing. A lump formed in my throat and I fell to my knees,“Thank you, God,” I whispered from the deepest part of my heart, I meant it with every fiber of my being.

I remembered everything that happened and my excitement faded, my eyes filled with something dark, this time, two weeks ago, Jamie had been diagnosed with Amnesia— he is pretending to have amnesia. And I— pathetic little me. I had believed him not knowing that he had been sleeping with my half-sister. I had spent a year struggling to find the best treatment, thinking I was helping the man I loved. But all that time he has been sleeping with Lily— my half-sister.

He had humiliated me in his office, in front of Lily, it was time for payback and I would be in control this time.

A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. That must be Mrs. Belinda, “Come in” I called, forcing a warm smile. The door creaked open and she came in— my ever dedicated house keeper.

“Good morning, Mrs Blackwood”, she said with her normal kind smile

“Good morning, Mrs Belinda, how are you this morning?” I replied her warmly,

“I’m doing just fine ma’am,” she said politely

“Glad to hear it… I hope you have a lovely day today” I added

“And you too ma'am” she replied.

Mrs Belinda had always been a calm and kind woman. Always smiling and hardworking. She had done to much for me so it’s only right I return her calm gesture. I never truly appreciated her enough but this time, I would.

I tied my hair up in a messy bun as I went down the staircase, I was starving. The dining table was filled with different kinds of breakfast— just as it was in my past life. Jamie and Lily were already sitted, already comfortable, already stealing glances at each other. My stomach twisted. I could recall this day and I knew everything that happened but there was going to be a slight change this time.

Breakfast was going well— for them. The sound of utensils clashing against the plates as we ate filled the air. My eyes flicked between the two of them, I noticed something— the eye contact, the way they smiled, the way their eyes lingering Just a second too long. Irritation built up in my gut. I knew that they knew that they had me just exactly where they wanted me to be—in the dark.

In my past life, I had convinced myself I was imagining things, I told myself everything to make me feel better, that I was just insecure. I didn’t want to offend Jamie with it, he’d have probably said, “you’re just overthinking things Susan if you had a higher self-esteem, your insecurities wouldn’t get the best of you”, those words broke me, made me doubt myself, but not anymore. My instincts never lied to me and this time I would trust it.

“Ahem…” I cleared my throat to speak, I looked at the expressions on their face— curiosity, “you two can cut the act now, okay” I said playfully. They looked at me confused.

“What do you mean Susan,” he said with a stern look. My husband was such a good actor, so damn good at pretending. A moment ago, he was secretly throwing flirty glances at Lily, and now, he immediately went to looking cold and strict.

Too bad for him, I wasn’t the same fool he had played before.

A strong urge surged through me— an urge to show him I wasn’t stupid. That I wasn’t the fool he thought I was. I needed something to test him with, something that would expose the cracks in his act. Then I looked at my wrist.

The bracelet. The one had bought for me. The one worth 2 million dollars. There was no way he wouldn’t remember it. In my past life, I had sold it—along with so many things— just to afford his medication. And everything for what?

I reached out and took his hands, making sure the bracelet caught his eye. I smiled, “Take a look at this bracelet”, I said, my voice was soft but laced with intent.

He smiled back at me, “I could never forget, it cost me a fortune” he said, his tone was casual but his eyes. His eyes told a different story—regret. He knew that if he had seen the future, if he had known he’d fall for someone else, someone he felt was better than me, he would have never wasted the money on me. A dagger straight to my heart.

I let out a quiet laugh, empty and bitter. “Oh… so you remember the bracelet you got me but not the memories you and I both shared?”

The smile faded from his lips. He looked at me, his eyes flickered with something— realization. He knew. He knew had just fucked up.

Without another word, I rose from my seat and walked away, leaving him with nothing but the weight of his own lies.