Chapter 2

The landline at home shattered the silence. The caller ID flashed an unknown caller.

“Is this Mr. Lucius Corleone?” a crisp voice asked.

“Who is calling?”

“We are Aurum Elegance Jewelry. Mr. Corleone has a custom wedding ring ready for collection, but we haven't been able to reach him. Could you please pass along the message?”

“Just have it delivered to his home.” I answered.

Twenty minutes later, a salesclerk arrived at the door, a velvet box in hand. “The ring was inscribed exactly to Mr. Corleone’s specifications.” she said politely. “You may verify it inside.

I took the box and opened it. The moment my eyes fell on the inner band, my fingers began to tremble. The ring nearly slipped from my grasp. The words “Planette Moore” were engraved.

The inscription mocked me. This diamond ring was entirely different from the one in my previous life. It meant Lucius had rushed this custom-made for Planette.

A wave of sheer absurdity washed over me. All the affection and devotion I had poured into him in my previous life had amounted to nothing but a cruel joke. A sharp, sour ache surged from my chest, suffocating and bitter. I clamped a hand over my mouth, fighting back an uncontrollable urge to retch.

Suddenly, the front gate slammed open. Lucius strode out of his car, his gaze locking instantly onto the ring in my hand. “Amara, give it to me.

I stared at him, my expression perfectly calm as I let the cold sarcasm bleed into my voice.

“Getting ready to propose to Planette?”

“Don't let your imagination run wild!” he snapped, impatience fraying his tone. “It’s just a birthday gift from a brother to his sister.” He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a desperate plea.

“Amara, I’ve kept my distance from her. Why do you have to keep pushing me?

I let out a hollow laugh and, with a swift flick of my wrist, hurled the ring straight out the open window. “Kept your distance? Then why do you still carry her scent on you?”

“Shut up! You’ve gone too far!” Lucius roared.

I watched through the window as he sprinted down the steps without a second thought, dropping to his knees on the dewy grass. He scrabbled frantically through the wet weeds, desperately searching for the lost treasure.

But what Lucius didn’t know was that the ring I had just thrown was the one he had handcrafted for me when he proposed in my previous life. I opened my palm, staring rigidly at the new custom diamond ring meant for Planette.

Just then, the smart home system chimed, “Welcome Home.”

I turned to see Planette stepping through the front door, carrying herself as if she were the lady of the house. A cold realization hit me that Planette had already been registered in our facial recognition system.

The soft, innocent facade she always wore was gone, replaced by a venomous smirk. She leaned in close, her breath hot against my ear, making sure I caught every single word.

“Amara, I know you’re angry about the ring,” she whispered. “But there’s something worse that will tear you apart.”

She pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, her smirk widening. “When he proposed to you, he was still sleeping with me that very night. He told me dancers have such soft, supple bodies.”

Rage threatened to choke me, but she wasn't finished. She wanted to bleed me dry.

“Lucius also remarked that I have such a slender waist…”

That was the breaking point. Before she could utter another word, I twisted my hand into a fistful of her hair and slammed her forehead against the wall. A jagged, gruesome gash split open on her forehead, warm blood gushing out in heavy waves.

“Why bother pretending anymore?” I hissed, my voice trembling with fury. “You came here to pick a fight because you thought I was some pushover you could toy with?”

Planette tried to strike back, but I pinned her against the wall with crushing force, leaving her no room to move.

Hearing the commotion, Lucius rushed back inside. The scene that greeted him must have triggered a traumatic memory. Planette was lying in a pool of blood, just like in that car accident.

He looked as though he couldn't breathe. His throat bobbed, his eyes turning bloodshot. Blind with rage, he grabbed a heavy porcelain vase from the side table and hurled it at me with all his strength. The impact sent me crumpling backward. I hit the floor, motionless.

But Lucius saw nothing but Planette. He scooped her into his arms, his hands shaking violently, his voice cracking with desperation.

“I’m sorry, Planette… I didn’t get here in time. I’ll take you to the hospital now. You’ll be fine. I promise you’ll be okay.”

He carried her out like a man who had lost his soul, dazed and hollow. Only when he returned did his eyes finally land on me, sprawled on the floor. His brow furrowed deeply, not with concern, but with pure, unadulterated disgust.

“Amara!” he spat, his voice dripping with venom. “I told you not to hurt Planette! How could you be so heartless?”