Chapter 2

Leo, Julian's usually quiet friend in the SnapChat group, immediately replied:

"Sure, just don't regret it."

A faint smirk played on my lips as I put down my phone.

Gasps filled the air around me.

"Fire! Iris, isn't that Julian's apartment building in that direction?"

It was Serena, my "best friend" for years, the rich heiress.

It took dying once in my past life to realize the truth.

She was actually the daughter of their former housekeeper, and I was the real Albright heiress, swapped at birth.

During a routine blood donation last time, she accidentally found out my true identity.

Afraid that I'd return to the Albright family and pose a threat, she conspired with Julian to stage this whole charade.

But this time, I wasn't playing along.

Serena urged me to get up and help, but I paid her no mind, instead focusing on doing my makeup in front of the mirror.

I put on some killer makeup.

Serena paced beside me, stomping her foot in frustration.

"Your boyfriend just called, asking you to help with the fire. Why aren't you going?"

"If you're late and something happens to him, you'll regret it!"

I couldn't help but scoff.

"My boyfriend, and I'm not worried. Why are you?"

"If he can call me, he can surely call 911."

"Besides, if the fire really takes hold, what can a young woman like me do?"

"If Julian truly loved me, he wouldn't want me to get in the way."

I continued leisurely applying my makeup. Serena was furious.

"Iris Albright! How can you be so cold-blooded and heartless?"

"If you're not going, I will! You're so callous, I don't want a friend like you anymore!"

She fumed, then turned and stormed away.

My phone vibrated incessantly. I picked it up and saw the SnapChat group was in an uproar.

It was a private group I'd specifically made with Julian's friends, excluding him.

Ten minutes ago, my "Date?" message had sent the small group into a frenzy.

"Hey, look at me! I'm stronger than Julian!"

"I'm a hottie, Iris, date me!"

Julian's friends had always been flirting with me.

They acted like Julian's buddies on the surface.

But their eyes held a knowing look every time they looked at me.

Last time, I overheard them talking in a private lounge.

"Seriously, did you win the lottery or something? How did you manage to score a beauty like her?"

"If you ever dump a stunner like this, remember to toss her our way."

"For years, you only had Serena in your heart. How did Iris suddenly catch your attention? Even if she's a bit poor, her face is absolutely stunning, it's hard not to like her…"

Julian always just smiled and stayed silent, basking in their verbal adoration.

Everyone knew his heart belonged only to Serena.

They knew he would eventually kick me to the curb.

Only I was kept in the dark.

Including that fire, when I rushed in to save him.

But he tried to trap me in the burning room.

Even after I dragged him out, covered in burns myself, he still wanted me dead, pushing me down the stairs.

This time, I would protect both my life and my identity, making sure no one could take them from me.

Just as I was lost in thought, my phone buzzed twice.

Leo sent a message:

"I'm downstairs."

I sashayed downstairs, looking absolutely stunning.

Walking out of the campus gate, I passed by the burning apartment building.

The roadside was crowded with concerned bystanders, some frantically trying to put out the fire, others calling 911.

My phone kept ringing – it was Julian.

I simply pulled my gaze away, silenced the call, and headed off to my date with his friend.

I was so stupid in my past life, rushing in to save him without a second thought.

But if Julian truly loved me, why would he knowingly try to drag me into danger?

After a satisfying meal and some fun, Leo drove me back.

This time, Julian had to escape the blaze on his own, looking disheveled and covered in ash.

As I returned, my eyes met Julian's.

His face was a mix of shock, surprise, and resentment.

His friends were celebrating his narrow escape, and reporters swarmed him.

"Excuse me, how did this fire start?"

Julian pointed at me, accusingly, into the camera.

"It was her."

"I saw it with my own eyes. She snuck in around midnight and poured gasoline nearby, clearly intending to set it on fire."