03:

-AURORA WRIGHT-

A loud gasp escaped my lips as I forced myself up. I could feel my heart pounding really fast and my breath heightened as if I just ran marathon race.

A sense of familiarity hit me about where I am. In my room and space.. Everything is intact, just the way I remembered it.

I looked to my side and found my favorite coffee mug on the side table. The coffee mug I cherished the most, how is it here? I can vividly remember Ethan smashing it on the floor during the first few months of our marriage over an argument.

But, how am I here? Why am I in my father's house? And this house, My father gave all his property to Ethan who made it clear after we got married that I have no business with it.

Confusion etched on my face as I tried to find the answer to it.

Just then, a knock on the door pulled me back to reality and a maid stepped in.

I feel like I'm dreaming because what the hell is going on? I stopped having anyone to serve me as soon as I became Ethan's wife.

In short, I stopped having anything to my name the very moment I became Ethan's.

“Good morning ma'am. Breakfast is ready and you have a visitor. He's downstairs waiting for you” The maid said.

“What are you doing here? Weren't you fired? How did I get here?” I asked and she pulled up a puzzled look.

“Fired? please don't fire me ma'am, I haven't done anything wrong”

I was about to respond when my eyes darted to the calendar on the wall and my eyes widened in shock.

“August, 2023..?” I screamed, startling the maid beside me.

“Ma'am, are you okay?” She asked.

“What year are we? Are we really in year 2023?”

She nodded her head frantically and my lips hung open in disbelief. I try to process what is happening and I couldn't picture or make out anything.

“Who did you say is here to see me?” I asked, curiosity and confusion laced I'm the tone of my voice.

“Your fiance ma'am, Mr. Ethan Slade”

“What? Fiance?”

Did I just hear it correctly? No… I'm probably just imagining things. Yes…this is all a dream.

_______________

I wasn't hallucinating, but everything is reality. I have been going on and on pinching myself and nothing has changed.

I'm still here, in year 2023.

But, how is this even possible?

I have always read of second chances in fantasy novels… could it be?... Could it be I was given a second chance?

I remembered suffocating to death and I remember wishing to repay the Slade family back for betraying me..

Thinking about it now, I feel anger erupt from the deepest part of my heart. Now, I have the memories of the mistreatment I endured.

How could they do this to me? And Ravenna?... My best friend? She has the guts to betray me.

And Ethan.. he married me just to have my father's wealth to himself.

Tears streams down my face as I realized my father's death was caused by the Slade family.

Now, I'm back to 3years ago when I'm still engaged to Ethan. Maybe the universe has decided to listen to my pleas and give me a second chance at life.

Maybe this is my chance to take back everything and make the Slade family pay.

Ethan, Ravenna and Mrs. Slade… I'll surely overthrow them in their own game.

Now that I have the memories of the future, I can outsmart them.

I refused to meet with Ethan a while back. I asked the maid to tell him to leave because I didn't want to meet with such a jerk.

I might end up doing the worse.

He was here so we can go shopping for a wedding dress… To hell with the wedding.

However, I need a solid plan.. A plan that I can use to ruin the family that took my life out of greed.

Heaven knows I'm so pained right now.

For over an hour, I kept thinking of a plan.. something to do.

And just when I've become so exhausted from thinking so hard, it clicked. I suddenly remembered…the one person that I'm so sure would be willing to help me out.

Of course and without a doubt, I'm super sure.

I rushed to my wardrobe, changed into something else and dashed out of my room.

Just as I took the last stairs, I halted on my steps when I met Ravenna walking in with a well structured smile.

“Aurora..” She pulled me in for a hug and I just stood still.

I wasn't pleased to see her. Right now, she's the last person on earth I want to see.

I watched the smile in her face, it was convincing enough and I feel so foolish for failing to see that behind that smile of hers, lies a devil in human form.

But, now I know.. the kind of person she is.

“I got a call from Ethan and he told me you refused to see him even though he waited for hours? Are you okay?” She asked and I frowned deeply.

Suddenly, I felt like a different person with a sudden burst of confidence.

“You got a call from Ethan and he told you that? Why would Ethan call you? Are you two close?”

My voice sounded a bit stern and I'm pretty sure it got her. However, I waited for the lies she'd cook up.

“No.. I'm.. I didn't mean it that way. Thing is, I bumped into him earlier and he just happened to tell me. But that shouldn't be a problem, right? I'm your friend and that makes Ethan my friend too..” She smiled.

I scoffed inwardly amazed by how easily those words rolled out of her mouth. Lying straight to my face. Perhaps she has always done that and I was too naive to see it.

“Get out..” I said the very next thing that came to my head.

“What?”

“Get out Ravenna… I have somewhere to be right now. So, just get out”

I have never asked her to leave.. this is the first time and I'm pretty sure she's surprised.

Without a single word or reaction, she turned and left and I head out right after her because I couldn't waste anymore time. I needed to be somewhere.

______________

I pulled over in front of the government office, stepped out and made my way in. I feel nervous because heck… I have no idea what I'm doing right now, but I just want to do something.

“Hello.. I'm here to see the minister… Orion Valois. Is he in?” I asked the lady at the reception desk.

“Do you have an appointment with him, ma'am?” She asked back and I hesitated before shaking my head negatively.

“No, I don't. Can you please inform him that Aurora Wright is here? I'm pretty sure he'd let me see him”

I was thankful she didn't decline and put a call across. It lasted for a few seconds and when she's done, she nodded at me.

“I'll take you to his office, please come with me”

I sighed in relief and followed her in, my mind racing.