Chapter 1

In my past life, Liam's beloved Maya died because of me.

Liam was utterly devastated. He pretended to enter an arranged marriage with me, then ruthlessly dismantled my family's empire, driving us into ruin.

He tortured me into a deep, suffocating depression, until I had no choice but to leap from a building.

In my final moments, Liam stood coldly before me, reaching out to cover my eyes.

"Chloe," he said, his voice devoid of warmth, "if there is another life... if you ever meet me and Maya again... do us all a favor and stay away."

When I opened my eyes again, I was back seven years in the past, standing on the familiar school path I walked every day.

In the distance, Liam and Maya were walking towards me.

Maya, with her sharp eyes, spotted me first and waved enthusiastically.

"Chloe! We're over here!"

My mind, still reeling, jolted in shock. Like I'd seen a ghost, I hurled my backpack at them with all my strength, then turned and ran!

"Chloe Davies! Class is starting! Where are you going?"

I ignored my classmates' shouts, weaving against the stream of students in their school uniforms.

The passing breeze caught the sunlight, piercing through my chest, again and again.

It felt so good!

Being alive felt so good!

Those oppressive shadows that had permeated my thoughts and body, tormenting me to the point of unbearable pain... they were gone.

Now, I was seventeen-year-old Chloe Davies.

Healthy, lively, radiant.

Our families, the Davies and the Hayes, had been close for generations. Liam was a year older than me and had always been especially doting.

From a simple candy when I was little, to a fancy princess dress in my youth, to a dazzling sapphire necklace for my sixteenth birthday, his kindness had filled a third of my life.

Many girls liked him, but his side was always reserved for me.

He was like an older brother to me, and also the boy I had secretly fallen for, I wasn't even sure when.

Then, during the school's freshman sports meet, I suddenly fainted on the field. It was Maya who took me to the infirmary.

From then on, Maya became a constant presence between Liam and me.

They shared the same hobbies, both were brilliant students with impeccable reputations, and when they were together, they always had endless things to talk about.

I slowly became their constant shadow.

In my past life, the story of Maya being abused by her stepfather spread throughout the entire campus.

Before she jumped, her hair was disheveled, and she stared at me with venomous hatred.

"Chloe Davies, remember this! It's your fault I'm doing this!"

Then, with a resolute leap, she didn't even give anyone a chance to stop her.

She didn't even give me a chance to explain.

Liam went wild when he saw the note she left behind.

He gripped my shoulder so tightly, his bloodshot eyes burning with a hatred that made my heart seize up.

"Chloe! Why? Why would you do this?"

"This... only you knew about this!"

"I..."

My throat constricted, dry and raw, but I managed to endure the sharp pain in my shoulder, forcing out a few broken words-

"I didn't."

"It wasn't me."

But no one believed me.

Maya's unwavering certainty in her dying accusation, spoken in front of everyone, had already branded me a murderer.

Any defense, when faced with the victim's direct accusation, seemed pale and powerless.

As a result, I faced an unprecedented wave of bullying and isolation.

Everyone looked at me as if I were a killer; every student's eyes in school held a sharp knife when they looked my way.

Especially Liam.

Four years later, the Hayes family proposed an arranged marriage with mine, and he agreed.

It was as if he had forgotten all about Maya, returning to the way he used to be, showering me with kindness.

I thought, finally, Liam believed me.

Because he ruffled my hair, just like he had countless times growing up, his eyes warm and gentle.

"Chloe, let's get married."

The Liam in my memories had always been so gentle and doting. I thought my old Liam was back.

Until the Davies family's confidential information fell into Liam's hands. He ruthlessly crushed my family's businesses, my parents were forced to leave Westlake, and I was kept a virtual prisoner in my own home.

Hatred, cold indifference, and silent cruelty filled every moment of my existence.

Liam stopped pretending. His eyes were cold and distant when he looked at me.

"Chloe, every bit of suffering Maya endured, you deserve to experience it too."

"Chloe, why don't you just die? If you die, perhaps... I can forgive you."

As Liam wished, seven years later, Chloe Davies, like Maya, jumped to her death in despair.

...

I stood dazedly on the street, the school bell still echoing in my ears.

The agonizing pain of a fractured skull, the soul tearing itself away from my body, and Liam's cold, heartless whisper in my dying moments finally began to fade from my mind.

"Chloe, if our paths cross again in another life - mine and Maya's - do yourself a favor and stay far, far away from us."

I let out a long, shaky breath.

This time, I would definitely stay far, far away from Liam and Maya.

Then I turned and ran swiftly towards home.