Chapter 1

Life handed me beauty, wealth, and privilege. But with all of that came a curse. I was a simp.

In my last life, I ruined myself trying to please Gavin Winston. He was my everything, but it ended with me imprisoned in a dark basement, tortured until I met my end.

This time, everything is different. Out of nowhere, the live chat started popping up in my head.

[Hazel, never forget. Simping gets you nowhere.]

[Your childhood friend is just a whiny masochist. Don't hold back. Call him out.]

[If you scold him enough, he'll be all yours.]

I wiped my tears, took a shaky breath, and met his eyes. "You... you're nothing but a pathetic bastard."

The live chat appeared again.

[Nice, but not quite there. Give him a slap.]

I reached out, trembling, and slapped his face. It wasn't hard, but the sound was sharp.

Gavin's gaze shifted, his eyes turning darker.

Now this was getting interesting...

Gavin, the youngest of the Winston family's three sons, had always been the center of attention. As the youngest general manager in the business world, his success was nothing short of legendary. But all it took was one scandal to bring him crashing down. It was revealed that he wasn't his father Leo Winston's biological son, but the product of an affair between his mother and her childhood sweetheart.

The fallout was brutal. Leo lashed him thirty times before throwing him out of the house. Gavin, once celebrated, was now homeless and disgraced.

I was the little girl next door who always tagged along behind him, tearful and needy. He found my constant crying unbearable. I thought I was meant to be the one to comfort him during his lowest moments and to save him.

But the live chat had other plans.

[Stop crying. Your childhood friend is hurt, but tears won't fix anything.]

My hands trembled as I held the medicine. "But Gavin's injuries... They're terrible. He must be in so much pain."

Gavin's face, once delicate and handsome, was now sharp and hostile. His cold glare made him hard to approach. Even kneeling, his posture was straight, his muscles tense. His back was covered in angry welts, blood streaking through the cuts. It was terrifying to look at.

The live chat appeared again.

[Your childhood friend's physique is... impressive.]

Was that really the focus?

I hesitated for what felt like forever before stepping forward. The boiling water spilled out, scalding my hand and leaving blisters. My grip faltered, and the pain was overwhelming. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced myself to hold it together.

I finally reached him. "Gavin, does it hurt?"

The live chat appeared again.

[Stop. He hates it when you cry. Be firm.]

Fine. I would be firm.

I gathered my courage and poured the medicine over his wounds. My hand shook so badly, that the liquid splashed onto his thigh instead of his back.

Gavin's face darkened. Before he could speak, my tears broke free.

The live chat was relentless.

[You're an idiot. Can't even pour medicine properly. How do you expect to win his heart?]

[Being a spoiled brat isn't that hard. Stop failing.]

[No wonder he's annoyed. Who likes a girl who cries all the time?]

I lowered my head. "I'm sorry. I'll be tougher next time."

The live chat didn't stop.

[Do you want Gavin to like you? Stop being soft. He'll only hate you more. Be ruthless. It's the only way into his heart. If you don't change, Gavin will turn dark and make you all disappear. You'll be the first to go.]

My heart raced. Memories of my past life flooded back: the basement, the torture, the despair. My shoulders shook as I sobbed.

Gavin's patience snapped. "Get out!"

His voice was icy, his presence suffocating. I froze, unable to move.

The live chat screamed at me.

[Fix this. You're supposed to be a spoiled brat. Kick him. Hard. Do you want to change your fate? Then act like it.]

I lifted my foot and kicked his thigh. The live chat wasn't satisfied.

[Is that all you've got? Put some force into it. Don't stop there. Crush him. Break him. Drag him down with you.]