The bedroom door slammed open.

Ethan jumped to his feet.

Sophia's face turned pale.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

I stared at them.

At the clothes scattered across the floor.

At the lipstick on Ethan's neck.

At my best friend sitting on my fiancé's bed.

My voice came out barely above a whisper.

"...Tell me this isn't real."

"Scarlett."

Ethan immediately walked toward me.

"It's not what it looks like."

I laughed.

A broken, disbelieving laugh.

"Not what it looks like?"

I pointed at Sophia.

"She's my best friend."

Then at him.

"You're my fiancé."

"Scarlett, listen to me—"

"No."

My eyes burned.

"Tell me I'm hallucinating."

"Tell me I didn't just catch you two together."

Sophia lowered her head.

Ethan's jaw tightened.

The silence was answer enough.

Something inside me shattered.

Three years.

Three years of believing this man would become my husband.

My future Alpha.

And all of it was a lie.

"How long?"

Neither answered.

"How long?"

Ethan sighed.

"It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me."

"Scarlett—"

"Was it before we got engaged?"

His expression changed.

I got my answer.

My stomach twisted.

"Unbelievable."

I stepped backward.

"You've been cheating on me for months."

Ethan reached for me.

I immediately slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch me."

For the first time, irritation appeared in his eyes.

Not guilt. Irritation.

As though I was creating a problem for him.

That made me even angrier.

"You know what?"

I nodded slowly.

"Fine."

Ethan looked relieved.

Then I continued.

"I'm telling everyone."

The relief vanished.

"What?"

"The Elders."

I counted on my fingers.

"The Council."

"The Pack."

"The media."

"I'll tell every single person."

Sophia's face instantly lost all color.

"Scarlett, don't—"

"Oh, now you're worried?"

I looked directly at Ethan.

"You want to become Alpha, right?"

His expression hardened.

Everyone knew the Alpha election was only weeks away.

His entire campaign revolved around one image.

Loyal.

The perfect future Alpha.

If news of his affair became public, everything would collapse.

"You wouldn't."

"I would."

My voice was calm now.

Terrifyingly calm.

"I'll make sure everyone knows exactly who you are."

Ethan stared at me.

Something dark flickered behind his eyes.

For the first time all evening, I felt uneasy.

But I kept talking.

"You betrayed me."

"You betrayed the Pack."

"You don't deserve to become Alpha."

The room went silent.

Sophia grabbed Ethan's arm.

"Ethan..."

He didn't move.

Didn't blink.

Just kept staring at me.

Then suddenly—

He smiled.

Too calm.

"Scarlett."

His voice softened.

"I made a mistake."

I folded my arms.

"A mistake?"

"Yes."

He took a step closer.

"I was stupid."

Another step.

"I got carried away."

Another.

"It won't happen again."

I should have noticed.

Should have recognized the look in his eyes.

But I didn't.

Because despite everything—

A part of me still loved him.

Still wanted to believe him.

I swallowed.

"Then prove it."

His smile widened slightly.

"How?"

"You never see her again."

I pointed at Sophia.

"Ever."

Sophia's eyes widened.

"Scarlett—"

"Stay out of this."

I kept my gaze on Ethan.

"You cut all contact."

"You publicly apologize."

"And if I ever find out you've met her again..."

I paused.

"I'll tell the entire Pack."

Ethan was quiet.

Then he nodded.

"Okay."

I blinked.

"Okay?"

"Okay."

His voice was gentle.

Unexpectedly gentle.

"I can do that."

Sophia looked horrified.

"Ethan!"

He ignored her.

Instead, he slowly opened his arms.

"Come here."

I hesitated.

"Ethan..."

"I'm serious."

His expression looked sincere.

Almost regretful.

"I don't want to lose you."

My heart wavered.

Maybe because I wanted closure.

Maybe because I wanted one last answer.

Or maybe because I was stupid.

Either way—

I stepped forward.

Ethan wrapped his arms around me.

For a brief second, everything felt familiar.

Then he leaned close to my ear.

"So you'll give me another chance?"

"Yes."

I closed my eyes.

"One chance."

His arms tightened.

"Good."

Something cold touched my stomach.

My eyes snapped open.

"What—"

Pain exploded through my body.

I looked down.

A knife.

Buried deep in my abdomen.

For a second, my brain refused to understand.

"Ethan..."

Blood stained my shirt.

Ethan smiled.

The same smile he used during campaign speeches.

The same smile everyone trusted.

Then he pulled the knife out.

And stabbed me again.

I screamed.

The second strike drove me to my knees.

The third entered my chest.

Everything went numb.

Sophia shrieked.

"Oh my God!"

I collapsed onto the floor.

Blood spread beneath me.

My vision blurred.

"Ethan..."

Why?

Ethan crouched beside me.

Completely calm.

Not panicked.

Calm.

As if he had already planned everything.

As if this moment had existed in his mind long before tonight.

I tried to move.

Couldn't.

Tried to breathe.

Couldn't.

Ethan leaned closer.

His voice was barely a whisper.

Yet I heard every word.

"I was willing to apologize."

"I was willing to lie."

"I was willing to pretend."

His eyes turned cold.

"But I will never allow anyone to stand between me and the Alpha position."

My heartbeat weakened.

"No..."

He smiled.

"You wanted to ruin everything."

"You forced my hand."

Tears slipped from my eyes.

Not because of the pain.

Because I finally understood.

The man I loved never existed.

He had only been pretending.

Ethan stood up.

Looking down at me like I was already a corpse.

And before darkness swallowed me completely—

I heard his final words.

"Nobody."

"Absolutely nobody..."

"...will stop me from becoming Alpha."

My vision went black.

And the last thing I felt was the warmth of my own blood.

Then—

Nothing.

Ethan stared at my body for several seconds.

Then he sighed.

Almost as if he were annoyed by a minor inconvenience.

"Sophia."

She was shaking.

"You killed her."

"Lower your voice."

"You killed her!"

"I know."

His calmness terrified even her.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Ethan crouched down and checked my pulse.

A few seconds later, he nodded.

"She's dead."

Sophia covered her mouth.

"Oh my God..."

Ethan stood.

"Help me clean this up."

"What?"

"Help me."

His voice turned cold.

"You were here too."

Sophia froze.

"I didn't—"

"If I fall, you fall with me."

Silence.

Then slowly—

Sophia nodded.

And the two people I trusted most began discussing how to dispose of my body.

Darkness swallowed everything.

________________

When I opened my eyes again—

I was standing in the same room.

Except my body was gone.

The blood was gone.

The carpet was clean.

I looked down at my hands.

Nothing.

No heartbeat.

No warmth.

No breath.

I wasn't alive.

I was dead.

The realization should have terrified me.

Instead, I felt numb.

Days passed.

Or maybe weeks.

Time no longer felt real.

Nobody could see me.

Nobody could hear me.

I simply followed Ethan.

Watched.

Listened.

Waited.

The police ruled my disappearance a voluntary departure.

No body.

No evidence.

No suspects.

Case closed.

Exactly as Ethan planned.

Meanwhile his popularity exploded.

News outlets praised him.

Citizens admired him.

The grieving fiancé.

The loyal Alpha candidate.

The man who had tragically lost the love of his life.

Every interview made me sick.

"Scarlett was the most important person in my life."

Lie.

"I'll spend the rest of my life honoring her memory."

Lie.

"I loved her."

The biggest lie of all.

Yet everyone believed him.

________________

Three months later.

Alpha Ascension Day arrived.

The largest event in the city.

Thousands gathered.

Pack Elders.

Business leaders.

Government officials.

Media crews.

Everyone wanted to witness Ethan becoming Alpha.

He stood on the stage wearing black.

A silver Alpha pin on his chest.

Perfect.

Confident.

Victorious.

Exactly as he had always imagined.

The crowd erupted into cheers.

"Alpha Ethan!"

"Alpha Ethan!"

"Alpha Ethan!"

Ethan smiled.

Waving to his future subjects.

Then—

The main doors exploded open.

The entire hall fell silent.

A familiar figure walked inside.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Dark suit.

Cold eyes.

Damien Blackwood.

Ethan's younger half-brother.

My breath caught.

Even after death.

Everyone knew Damien.

The illegitimate son.

The unwanted son.

The family disgrace.

The man Ethan hated most.

Several guards rushed forward.

Damien didn't even slow down.

"Stop right there!"

Bang.

A gunshot echoed through the hall.

One guard collapsed.

Panic erupted instantly.

Screams filled the room.

People began running.

Others froze in place.

Damien kept walking.

His gaze never left Ethan.

"Ethan."

The smile disappeared from Ethan's face.

"What are you doing here?"

Damien stepped closer.

"Ethan."

His voice was quiet.

Dangerously quiet.

"You murdered her."

The entire hall went silent.

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Really?"

Damien laughed.

A humorless laugh.

"I spent three months digging through every lie you told."

My heart stopped.

Three months?

Ethan stiffened.

Damien continued walking.

"Three months looking for Scarlett."

"Three months searching for evidence."

"Three months wishing I was wrong."

His voice cracked.

For the first time—

I saw grief.

Real grief.

Not Ethan's fake tears.

Not public sympathy.

Actual heartbreak.

And suddenly memories surfaced.

The flowers that appeared whenever I had a bad day.

The anonymous gifts.

The way Damien always showed up whenever I needed help.

The way he looked at me.

I never understood.

Because I was too busy looking at Ethan.

But now—

I finally saw it.

Damien loved me.

He always had.

________________

"Ethan."

Damien stopped in front of the stage.

"You buried her beneath the old northern quarry."

The color drained from Ethan's face.

The crowd gasped.

My own eyes widened.

He found me.

He actually found me.

"You forged surveillance records."

Damien's voice grew colder.

"You bribed police officers."

"You paid witnesses."

"You erased evidence."

Every word hit Ethan like a hammer.

Because every word was true.

"Ethan Blackwood."

Damien slowly raised his gun.

"You don't deserve to breathe."

"Elders!"

Ethan shouted.

"Arrest him!"

Nobody moved.

Nobody could.

The evidence Damien had just revealed was too much.

Too horrifying.

Too real.

Damien smiled.

Then he pulled the trigger.

Bang.

The bullet tore through Ethan's chest.

Screams exploded throughout the hall.

Ethan staggered backward.

Shock filling his eyes.

Bang.

A second shot.

Bang.

A third.

His body crashed onto the stage.

Dead.

The future Alpha was gone.

Just like that.

________________

The hall was silent.

Nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

Damien stood over Ethan's corpse.

Breathing heavily.

Then he looked at the body.

And whispered—

"How could you do that to her?"

Something inside me broke.

Because the grief in his voice was genuine.

Raw.

Unfiltered.

The grief of a man who had lost everything.

Then he said quietly,

"She was the most precious thing in my life."

Tears filled my eyes.

I wanted to tell him I was here.

I wanted to tell him I knew now.

But I couldn't.

I was already dead.

________________

Police arrived minutes later.

Weapons drawn.

Damien never resisted.

Never ran.

Never denied anything.

He simply surrendered.

As though revenge had been the only reason he was still alive.

Months later.

The court sentenced him to death.

Even though Ethan's crimes were exposed.

Even though the truth finally came out.

He had still murdered the future Alpha in public.

The law demanded punishment.

On the day of his execution—

I stood beside him.

Just as I had followed him every day since his arrest.

The warden asked,

"Any final words?"

Damien smiled faintly.

For the first time in months.

And then he said,

"If there is another life..."

His eyes lowered.

As though imagining someone.

Someone he could never have.

"I'll find her first."

"I won't let him take her away again."

My vision blurred.

My chest hurt.

If I still had a heart—

it would have shattered.

The execution began.

Damien slowly closed his eyes.

Darkness swallowed the world.

And for the first time since my death—

I felt myself falling.

Falling backward through time.

Toward the day everything started.

Toward a second chance.

Toward him.

And then—

I opened my eyes.

When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I heard was my father's laughter.

For a moment, I froze.

No.

That wasn't possible.

My father had been dead for almost two years.

I turned my head so quickly my neck hurt.

There he was.

Healthy.

Alive.

Standing beside the fireplace with a glass of wine in his hand.

My vision immediately blurred.

"Dad..."

My voice came out as a whisper.

He didn't hear me.

Because someone else was speaking.

"I swear on my life, sir."

The familiar voice made my entire body tense.

Ethan Blackwood.

He was kneeling in front of my father.

Exactly where he had been two years ago.

The day he came to formally ask for permission to court me.

The day I thought my future had begun.

My father looked pleased.

"I trust you, Ethan."

Ethan lowered his head respectfully.

"You won't regret it."

Dad chuckled.

"For your sake, I hope not."

The room laughed.

Including me.

Or at least, the version of me that had existed in my previous life.

The naïve version.

The stupid version.

The dead version.

My hands slowly clenched.

I remembered this day.

I remembered every detail.

Back then, I had been so happy.

So in love.

So convinced I had found my soulmate.

I remembered staring at Ethan and imagining our wedding.

Our future.

Our family.

I had been so focused on my own happiness that I missed something important.

Something I could see clearly now.

The hatred in Ethan's eyes.

It only lasted a second.

A tiny flicker.

Gone almost immediately.

But it was there.

When my father mentioned helping him become Alpha.

Hatred.

Resentment.

Greed.

My stomach twisted.

Of course.

Everything made sense now.

Dad continued speaking.

"I'll use every bit of my political influence to support you."

Ethan immediately smiled.

"Thank you, sir."

"But."

The room became quiet.

Dad's expression hardened.

"If you ever mistreat my daughter..."

His voice dropped.

"I can also be the one who tears you down."

A brief silence followed.

Then Ethan smiled again.

The perfect smile.

The one that fooled everyone.

Including me.

"I would never hurt Scarlett."

Lie.

A murderer speaking to his future victim.

My hands started shaking.

I could still feel the knife.

Still feel the blood.

Still hear his voice.

Nobody will stop me from becoming Alpha.

I suddenly stood up.

The chair nearly crashed into the floor.

Everyone looked at me.

"Scarlett?"

Dad frowned.

"What's wrong?"

Ethan immediately walked toward me.

Concern filling his face.

Fake concern.

The same expression he wore during interviews after my death.

"Scarlett, are you okay?"

I wanted to throw up.

Instead, I took a step backward.

Then another.

Then another.

As if the distance could somehow erase the memory of his hands covered in my blood.

Ethan stopped.

Confused.

"Scarlett?"

I looked directly into his eyes.

The eyes that watched me die.

The eyes that never loved me.

And for the first time in two lifetimes—

I felt nothing.

No love.

No affection.

No heartbreak.

Only disgust.

"Ethan."

He smiled slightly.

"Yeah?"

"We're done."

Silence.

The entire room froze.

"What?"

"We're done."

My voice became stronger.

"Starting now."

Ethan blinked.

"I don't understand."

"You don't need to."

I pointed toward the door.

"Get out."

The smile disappeared.

"Scarlett—"

"Get out of my house."

Nobody moved.

Nobody breathed.

Even Dad looked shocked.

Ethan laughed awkwardly.

As if this had to be a joke.

"You're serious?"

"Very."

"What happened?"

I almost laughed.

What happened?

You stabbed me three times.

You buried my body.

You destroyed my family.

You murdered my future.

But I couldn't say any of that.

Not yet.

Instead, I repeated,

"Get out."

For a moment, something dangerous flashed across his face.

Then it disappeared.

"Can we talk privately?"

"No."

"Scarlett."

"No."

His jaw tightened.

The room felt colder.

Finally Dad stood.

"I think you should leave, Ethan."

Ethan looked at him.

Then at me.

Then back at Dad.

Slowly, he nodded.

"Fine."

He straightened his jacket.

"If that's what Scarlett wants."

Before leaving, he looked at me one last time.

And I recognized the expression immediately.

The same expression I had seen before he killed me.

Cold.

Calculating.

Dangerous.

The moment the front door closed, my knees nearly gave out.

Dad rushed forward.

"Scarlett!"

I grabbed his arm.

"Dad."

My voice cracked.

"I need to talk to you."

________________

Ten minutes later, we sat inside his study.

The room suddenly felt much smaller than I remembered.

Dad handed me a handkerchief.

"Start talking."

I wiped my eyes.

For the first time since waking up, I felt terrified.

Not because of Ethan.

Because of what I was about to say.

How do you tell someone you've already watched them die?

Dad waited patiently.

Finally, I looked up.

"Dad."

"Yes?"

"Do you trust me?"

He frowned immediately.

"What kind of question is that?"

"Please."

I swallowed.

"Just answer."

Dad didn't hesitate.

"Of course I trust you."

His voice was firm.

"You're my daughter."

The answer almost made me cry again.

He continued.

"I will always stand on your side."

"Always."

"No matter what."

I stared at him.

Then finally said it.

"I died."

Silence.

Dad blinked.

"What?"

"I died."

I took a shaky breath.

"And then I woke up here."

More silence.

A normal person would've laughed.

A normal person would've called a doctor.

A normal person would've assumed I was having some kind of breakdown.

But my father wasn't a normal person.

He simply listened.

So I continued.

"I saw Ethan cheating on me."

Dad's face darkened.

"He murdered me."

His hands froze.

"He stabbed me."

I looked down at my palms.

As if blood might still be there.

"And after I died, he covered everything up."

Dad didn't interrupt.

Didn't question me.

Didn't laugh.

I continued telling him everything.

The affair.

The murder.

The Alpha ceremony.

Damien killing Ethan.

Damien's execution.

Everything.

When I finally finished, the room became completely silent.

Dad sat there for a long time.

Thinking.

Planning.

Calculating.

Exactly the way powerful men do.

My heart slowly sank.

Maybe this was too much.

Maybe even he couldn't believe this.

"Dad?"

He didn't answer.

"Dad."

Still nothing.

"Dad, do you think I'm crazy?"

That got his attention.

His eyes immediately softened.

"Never."

I blinked.

"What?"

"Never."

He reached across the desk and squeezed my hand.

"I could never think that."

Relief hit me so hard I nearly cried.

"You believe me?"

"Of course."

The answer came instantly.

Without hesitation.

Without doubt.

I stared at him.

"Really?"

Dad looked offended.

"Scarlett."

His voice became gentle.

"You're my daughter."

"I don't need proof."

"I don't need evidence."

"If you tell me the sky is green, I'll start questioning the color blue."

A laugh escaped me despite everything.

Dad smiled.

Then the smile disappeared.

Slowly.

Dangerously.

His eyes turned cold.

Very cold.

The kind of cold powerful people reserved for enemies.

"So."

He leaned back in his chair.

"Ethan murdered you."

I nodded.

"He manipulated us."

I nodded again.

"He might have poisoned me."

"That's what I think."

Silence.

Then Dad sighed.

Not sadly.

Thoughtfully.

Like a man reviewing business plans.

I suddenly felt nervous.

"Dad?"

"Yes?"

"What are you thinking about?"

His smile returned.

A terrifying smile.

One I had only seen a few times before.

Usually right before someone's political career ended.

Or their company collapsed.

Or they disappeared completely.

"I'm thinking."

He folded his hands.

"About how exactly I should destroy him."

I blinked.

"What?"

Dad's voice remained calm.

Too calm.

"No one touches my daughter."

"No one."

The room suddenly felt much colder.

"Ethan wants to become Alpha?"

Dad chuckled.

"Not anymore."

For the first time since my death—

I felt safe.

Completely safe.

Because I knew something Ethan didn't.

My father wasn't his stepping stone.

He was the reason Ethan ever had a chance.

And now—

He was about to become Ethan's worst nightmare.

But even as relief settled over me—

Another face appeared in my mind.

Dark eyes.

A black suit.

A gun pointed at Ethan's chest.

Damien.

The man who died because of me.

The man who loved me when I never noticed.

The man whose last words still echoed in my ears.

If there is another life...

I'll find her first.

I slowly stood.

Dad frowned.

"Where are you going?"

I looked toward the window.

Toward the city beyond.

Toward someone who had no idea he'd been given a second chance.

"I need to see someone."

And this time—

I wasn't going to wait until it was too late.

这个桥段其实很适合作为第三章中段的大高潮，因为这里有三个信息同时爆出来：

1. 女主确认男主也重生了。

2. 男主并不想利用上辈子的恩情绑架女主。

3. 女主主动选择男主，并故意当着女配的面亲吻他。

按照你前面的风格，我会把它写成欧美狼人文比较流行的快节奏对话推进。

________________

The moment I sat down across from Damien, I started doubting myself.

Nothing about him looked like the man I remembered.

The man who walked into Ethan's Alpha Ceremony and shot him in front of thousands.

The man who spent months searching for my body.

The man who smiled before his execution.

This Damien looked...

Normal.

Annoyingly normal.

He sat quietly across from me.

No smile.

No expression.

No visible emotion.

Just those dark eyes watching me.

If I hadn't lived through my previous life, I would've believed every rumor.

The useless bastard son.

The family embarrassment.

The parasite living off the Blackwood family.

The idiot who couldn't even pass his university entrance exams.

Yet somehow—

Before I could order anything, he had already spoken to the waiter.

"A caramel latte."

I looked up.

The waiter nodded.

"No ice."

Damien glanced toward me briefly.

"She's cold."

Then he looked away.

As though he hadn't just remembered my favorite drink.

My fingers tightened around the menu.

He remembered.

Even now.

The coffee arrived several minutes later.

Neither of us spoke.

The silence stretched.

One minute.

Two minutes.

Five.

Damien didn't seem uncomfortable at all.

Meanwhile I was beginning to lose my mind.

Finally he broke the silence.

"Are you hungry, Scarlett?"

I blinked.

"What?"

"The sandwiches here are decent."

He pointed at the menu.

"You like turkey sandwiches."

Then he paused.

"No."

"You don't eat chicken."

"Try the beef one."

I stared at him.

"Why do you know that?"

For the first time—

His expression cracked.

Barely.

But I caught it.

A flicker of panic.

A hint of guilt.

His gaze shifted toward the window.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

I leaned forward.

"Damien."

He looked back at me.

"What?"

I decided to stop wasting time.

"You like me."

Silence.

The café suddenly felt very quiet.

"What?"

His reaction was immediate.

Genuine surprise.

Not embarrassment.

Shock.

As if he hadn't expected me to say it out loud.

I folded my arms.

"Do you?"

"Scarlett."

"Do you?"

His jaw tightened.

I continued.

"A useless bastard?"

Nothing.

"A family disappointment?"

Still nothing.

"A worthless idiot?"

His eyebrows rose slightly.

I leaned closer.

"Is that really who you are?"

Damien stared at me.

Not speaking.

Not moving.

The more silent he became, the more annoyed I felt.

"Why?"

Still nothing.

"Why did you watch me date Ethan?"

His eyes darkened.

"Scarlett."

"Why did you let me marry him?"

Silence.

I laughed bitterly.

"Let me guess."

I leaned back.

"You thought you were doing the noble thing."

Nothing.

"You sacrificed your own feelings."

Still nothing.

"You stepped aside for your brother."

The corner of his jaw twitched.

Bingo.

I suddenly wanted to strangle him.

"God."

I rubbed my forehead.

"I hate men like you."

That finally got a reaction.

Damien frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"It means."

I pointed directly at him.

"I never asked you to sacrifice anything."

His expression froze.

I stood up.

My face felt hot.

Humiliation crawled up my neck.

This was ridiculous.

I had basically confessed.

And he was sitting there acting like a statue.

"Forget it."

I grabbed my bag.

"Clearly I was imagining things."

I turned toward the exit.

"Scarlett."

I ignored him.

"Scarlett."

Still ignored.

Then—

"You're reborn too, aren't you?"

I froze.

Every muscle in my body locked.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

I turned around.

Damien was watching me.

For the first time since we met today—

His eyes weren't calm.

They looked tired.

Heartbroken.

Almost vulnerable.

My chest tightened.

"How did you know?"

A sad smile appeared on his face.

"Because otherwise..."

He lowered his gaze.

"...you would've never noticed me."

The words hit harder than I expected.

For a moment neither of us spoke.

Then Damien sighed.

"You don't need to do this."

"What?"

"Choosing me."

His voice remained calm.

Too calm.

"As repayment."

My heart skipped.

Of course.

He knew.

He remembered everything.

The trial.

The execution.

His death.

Everything.

Damien stood.

"If you're here because of what happened in our previous life..."

He shook his head.

"Don't."

I stared at him.

"What are you talking about?"

"You don't owe me anything."

His eyes met mine.

"If you don't love me, don't choose me."

The café disappeared.

The noise disappeared.

For a second there was only him.

Looking at me the same way he had looked at me before his execution.

Like I mattered.

Like I always mattered.

Damien continued quietly.

"Go choose the person you actually want."

The anger returned instantly.

What the hell was wrong with this man?

"You died for me."

He shrugged.

"I chose that."

"You spent months looking for me."

"I chose that too."

"You killed Ethan."

His expression remained unchanged.

"I would've done it again."

My throat tightened.

Damien reached into his pocket and placed several bills on the table.

Then he smiled.

A small smile.

The kind that somehow hurt more than tears.

"As for the rest..."

He stepped around me.

"I'll handle it."

"What?"

"Ethan."

His voice turned cold.

Dangerously cold.

"Everyone involved."

My heartbeat quickened.

"Damien."

"You don't need to worry."

He looked over his shoulder.

"I'll make sure nobody hurts you this time."

Then he started walking away.

Exactly like he had in my previous life.

Carrying everything alone.

Making decisions for me.

Protecting me without asking what I wanted.

Something inside me snapped.

"Damien!"

He stopped.

I marched after him.

Grabbed his wrist.

Hard.

He looked surprised.

Good.

I was tired of being the surprised one.

I yanked him back toward me.

"Consider?"

I repeated.

"You think I'm considering?"

"Scarlett—"

"I never consider."

His eyes widened slightly.

I grabbed his collar.

And pulled him down.

The café erupted into gasps.

But I didn't care.

Neither did he.

For one suspended moment—

We simply stared at each other.

Then I kissed him.

Hard.

Direct.

Decisive.

The kind of kiss that left absolutely no room for misunderstanding.

His entire body froze.

Good.

Now he knew how I felt.

The café exploded.

People whispering.

Phones coming out.

Someone nearly dropped a cup.

I barely noticed.

Because Damien was still staring at me.

Like his brain had completely stopped working.

Which was honestly satisfying.

Then—

A familiar female voice cut through the room.

"Oh my God."

I smiled before I even turned around.

There she was.

Sophia.

My former best friend.

Future mistress.

Professional victim.

Standing several feet away with a shocked expression.

"What are you doing, Scarlett?"

I slowly looked at her.

Then at Damien.

Then back at her.

A smile spread across my face.

Perfect.

The game had officially begun.

这个情节很适合接在咖啡馆之后，核心是让女主第一次在公众面前彻底压制男配，把前世受的委屈连本带利还回去。

按照你前面的风格，应该以大量对话推进：

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