Chapter 2

Irina gasped for breath.

Her chest felt painfully tight, while her throat and nostrils burned as though they were on fire.

“She’s awake!” someone cried out, their voice filled with relief.

What happened? Irina wondered, utterly bewildered.

“Thank God,” another voice exclaimed, overlapping with the loud ringing in Irina’s head.

“Miss, are you all right?” a paramedic asked, kneeling beside her.

Irina’s memories came rushing back.

Aaron and I were arguing in the car, and then we…

“Aaron?!”

Irina abruptly sat up.

Only then did she realize that her entire body was soaking wet.

Why is it suddenly daytime? she wondered, growing even more confused. And why are there so many people?

She swept her gaze around, taking in the crowd gathered around her.

“Where’s Aaron?” Irina asked in a panic.

“Aaron?” the paramedic repeated, looking confused. “Was there anyone else who fell into the water?” he asked the other emergency responders nearby.

“No. She was the only one,” another responder answered.

Irina’s brows furrowed even deeper.

“Miss, who fell into the water with you?” the paramedic asked again, making sure he had heard her correctly.

“Aaron,” Irina answered quickly. “My husband! Our car fell into—”

“Car?”

The people surrounding her began exchanging bewildered whispers.

“Maybe she’s still in shock and hallucinating,” one of the onlookers murmured.

Irina’s thoughts spiraled into chaos.

For the first time, she began doubting her own memories and even her own sanity.

“Where am I?” Irina asked in confusion.

She tried to stand, supported by the paramedics who stayed close by her side.

But Irina froze when she looked around.

This was clearly not the river where she and Aaron had drowned.

She lowered her gaze and stared at the soaked skirt and white flats clinging to her feet.

They weren't the black skirt and shoes she had worn to the funeral.

Wait… where am I?

She slowly lifted her head.

Her eyes fell upon the ship’s deck and the vast open sea stretching endlessly beyond it.

A cruise ship?

How am I on a cruise ship?

Without a word, Irina allowed the paramedics to guide her into the ship’s medical center.

Her thoughts were spinning wildly.

If I’m on a cruise ship, then…

“Are you all right, Miss? Would you like me to arrange for a helicopter to take you to shore? You should probably get checked out at a hospital on the mainland,” the paramedic suggested, noticing the deep confusion etched across Irina’s face.

Irina remained frozen.

“What’s the date today?”

The paramedic gave her the exact date and month without hesitation.

The moment she heard it, Irina’s knees went weak.

“Miss? Are you all right?”

“Yes, I… I’m just a little shocked,” Irina answered quickly.

There was no way she could tell him that she was shocked because she had just returned from the dead—because she had somehow awakened days before her wedding to Aaron was supposed to take place.

“I suppose I’m just grateful to be alive,” Irina added, forcing a smile onto her lips.

“Of course. We’re very fortunate that you survived,” the paramedic said reassuringly.

He accompanied Irina all the way to the door of her cabin.

“Are you sure you’re going to be all right? I’m worried that you might—”

“I’ll be fine. I’m probably just a little disoriented from the shock, but I’m all right,” Irina assured him.

The paramedic nodded.

Physically, Irina was perfectly fine. She had not suffered a single injury. She had simply been knocked into the pool by some children who were running around the poolside while she was walking through the area. She had developed a cramp and been unable to swim back to the edge.

“If you need anything, just let one of the staff know.”

Irina merely nodded and murmured her sincere thanks before the paramedic left.

She hurried inside, cleaned herself up, and changed out of her wet clothes.

Little by little, her memories began to return.

In her previous life, she had indeed taken this seven-day cruise to get away from Lilian and Aaron. She had been utterly exhausted by Aaron’s constant demands that she persuade her family to cancel Lilian’s engagement to Elijah, even though the marriage agreement between their families had already been finalized.

“Then why don’t you marry him instead?!”

Aaron’s furious shout from that night in the car echoed through Irina’s mind once again.

Did the two of us die together that night?

Irina clenched her fingers in her lap.

Did Aaron get a second chance just like I did?

If he had…

What is he doing right now?

Is he trying to run away with Lilian?

Irina remembered Aaron’s hateful expression in those final moments before the water swallowed them both.

“If that’s what you want, then that’s exactly what you’ll get, Aaron,” Irina murmured coldly.

She reached for the phone on the table and straightened to her feet.

Then she dialed a number she had missed more than anything.

“Daddy.”

“Irina, sweetheart! Are you all right? My chest has felt so tight all morning. I’ve been worried about you,” Landon Crawford’s panicked voice came through the phone.

Irina froze.

Is this what a father and daughter’s bond feels like?

Did Daddy feel the same pain when I fell into that river that night? Did he cry when he saw me die?

Of course he had.

Her father was the most loving person in Irina’s world. And although what she was about to say might come as a shock, she could only hope he would understand.

“I’m fine, Daddy,” Irina said firmly.

Then she took a breath.

“I just wanted to tell you… I want to take Lilian’s place and marry Elijah.”