The night was quiet, too quiet.

Anna held a small cake box in her hands as she walked up the steps to her home. It was her husband David’s birthday. She had worked all day, but she still stopped by the bakery to buy his favorite chocolate cake. She wanted to surprise him, to remind him that even though work and life were stressful, she was still the woman who loved him more than anything.

Her lips curved into a soft smile as she imagined his reaction. He will be touched. He will remember the old days. Maybe tonight, we can talk again like we used to.

But as soon as she opened the front door, her smile froze.

The lights in the living room were dim, but she could hear sounds. Low laughter. The clink of a glass. And then… a woman’s voice.

Anna’s heart tightened. That voice was too familiar.

She stepped inside quietly, her heels clicking against the floor. And there they were.

On the sofa, David sat with his arm around another woman—her best friend, Lisa. Their bodies were close, too close. Lisa leaned against him, whispering something in his ear. His hand was on her waist, and they were smiling as if they were the happiest couple alive.

Anna’s cake box slipped from her hands and hit the floor with a dull thud.

The sound made them turn. David’s eyes widened for a second, but instead of guilt, his expression turned cold. Lisa’s lips curled into a smirk, her eyes shining with triumph instead of shame.

“Anna,” David said flatly, as if her presence was nothing more than a nuisance.

“Why… why are you with her?” Anna’s voice trembled. “Lisa, you’re my best friend… how could you—?”

Lisa stood up slowly, brushing her hair back with elegance. “Best friend? Please. You were always so naive, Anna. Did you really think I cared about your little friendship? David was mine from the start. You were just too blind to see it.”

Anna’s legs felt weak. She gripped the edge of the doorframe, her knuckles turning white. “No… that’s not true. David, tell me this is not true. Tell me she’s lying.”

But David didn’t deny it. He stood, straightened his shirt, and looked at her with cold eyes. “It’s true. You’ve been nothing but a burden, Anna. You gave up your career for me, you stayed at home like a fool, thinking love was enough. But Lisa… Lisa is strong, smart, and she knows what I want.”

Anna’s heart shattered. Tears blurred her vision. “I gave you everything… my love, my loyalty, my life… and this is how you repay me?”

David’s lips curled into a sneer. “Love doesn’t pay the bills, Anna. Love doesn’t make me powerful. You? You’re weak. Useless. I don’t need you anymore.”

Lisa stepped closer, her perfume choking Anna. “You should just let go, Anna. Accept that you lost. Or…” Her voice turned sharp. “…maybe you should disappear quietly. That would be better for everyone.”

Anna staggered back. She felt like the floor had vanished beneath her feet. Her best friend. Her husband. The two people she trusted most were stabbing her heart together.

But before she could respond, David grabbed her arm. His grip was tight, bruising. “Come on. Let’s take a drive. We’ll talk this out.”

Something in his tone made Anna shiver. But her heart, broken as it was, still longed to believe. She nodded weakly, wiping her tears.

---

The car ride was silent at first. Rain began to fall, tapping against the windshield. Anna sat in the passenger seat, her hands clenched in her lap. Lisa was in the back seat, her phone glowing as she typed something. They didn’t look at Anna. They didn’t speak to her.

Finally, Anna whispered, “David… why are you doing this to me? Did our years together mean nothing?”

David chuckled darkly. “Years together? You call that something? I wasted my youth with you, Anna. And now it’s time to fix my mistake.”

Lisa leaned forward, her lips brushing David’s ear. “Do it tonight. End this.”

Anna’s eyes widened. “End what? What are you talking about?”

The car suddenly sped up. David’s hands tightened on the wheel, his face emotionless. The speedometer climbed higher and higher. Anna’s pulse raced.

“David! Slow down! There’s a curve ahead—”

But he didn’t slow. Instead, he glanced at her with eyes colder than ice. “Goodbye, Anna.”

The car swerved violently. Tires screeched against wet asphalt. Anna screamed as the world spun. The headlights of an oncoming truck blinded her vision—then impact.

The sound of shattering glass, crunching metal, and her own scream filled the air.

Her body slammed against the seatbelt, pain ripping through her chest. Blood filled her mouth. The car rolled once, twice, before landing on its side. Smoke and sparks hissed around her.

Anna blinked weakly, her vision swimming. Through the cracked windshield, she saw David crawling out of the car, unharmed. Lisa followed him, her face untouched. They didn’t look back. They didn’t help her.

Instead, Lisa laughed. “It’s done. Finally, she’s out of the way.”

David’s voice was cold. “Let the world think it was an accident.”

The last thing Anna saw was them walking away together, leaving her broken body behind.

Her heart ached, not just from pain but from betrayal deeper than death.

With her last breath, tears streaming down her bloodied face, she whispered, “If there is another life… I will take my revenge. I will never be weak again.”

Darkness swallowed her.

---

But then—light.

Anna gasped, her eyes snapping open. She was lying in her bed. Whole. Alive. The morning sun streamed through the curtains. Her chest was not broken, her body not bleeding. She touched her face, trembling.

On the nightstand was the calendar. Her eyes widened.

It was one week before the accident.

She sat up, her heart pounding.

“I’m… I’m alive again?” she whispered.

Her hands curled into fists, her eyes burning with fire.

“This time… I will not be fooled. This time, David, Lisa… I will make you pay.”

Anna sat frozen on her bed, her fingers gripping the blanket so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest.

The sunlight streaming through the window felt unreal. Her room smelled of lavender—the same lavender she used before sleeping. It was fresh, not filled with smoke and blood like the night of her death.

She raised her trembling hands to her face. Smooth skin. No cuts. No blood. She touched her chest—her ribs weren’t broken. She was alive.

Her eyes darted to the calendar on the nightstand. The numbers made her throat tighten. It was seven days before David’s birthday. Seven days before the accident. Seven days before her life ended.

A cold shiver ran through her body. “This… this can’t be real.”

But it was real. Every detail confirmed it. The ticking clock on the wall. The faint sound of children playing outside. The morning breeze brushing against the curtains.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but this time they weren’t from weakness. They were sharp, burning tears of rage.

“God gave me another chance,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “Then I will not waste it. David, Lisa… you will regret what you did to me.”

---

The memory of that night played over in her mind like a cruel movie. The way David looked at her with eyes colder than stone. The sound of Lisa’s mocking laugh as she left her to die.

Anna clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms. “Never again,” she swore.

She rose from her bed, moving slowly, her body still trembling with disbelief. She walked to the mirror on the wall and stared at her reflection.

The woman in the mirror looked the same—long dark hair, soft eyes, pale skin. But Anna felt different. Inside, she was no longer the same naive woman who trusted too easily.

Her lips curled into a bitter smile. “You thought I was weak. You thought I would stay quiet. This time, you will see who I really am.”

---

That morning, David entered the house as if nothing had happened. He was dressed neatly in his suit, carrying his briefcase. His expression was calm, indifferent, just like always.

In her past life, Anna would have greeted him with a smile, asked about his day, and cooked him breakfast. She had done everything to please him, to support him.

But now… now her heart was ice.

She stood in the kitchen, pouring herself a cup of tea. When David walked in, she didn’t even look up.

He frowned, clearly surprised. “Anna. No breakfast today?”

Anna lifted her cup slowly, taking a sip. “You can make it yourself.”

David’s eyes narrowed. He wasn’t used to this tone. In the past, Anna’s voice had always been soft, submissive. Today, it was calm but sharp, like a hidden blade.

“What’s with you?” he asked, irritation flashing in his eyes.

Anna turned and met his gaze. For the first time, she saw the man he really was—not the charming husband she once adored, but a cold, selfish stranger.

“Nothing,” she said smoothly. “I just realized some things.”

Her calm tone unsettled him. He stared at her for a moment, then scoffed. “Whatever. Don’t cause trouble.”

He grabbed his briefcase and left, slamming the door behind him.

Anna let out a long breath, her hands tightening around the teacup. In the past, his coldness would have made her cry. Today, it only fueled her fire.

---

The first person she needed to deal with was Lisa.

In her past life, Lisa had been her closest friend. They had grown up together, shared secrets, laughed and cried together. Anna had trusted her more than anyone. But Lisa had been hiding a knife behind her smile all along.

Anna remembered clearly: Lisa would come to her house two days from now, pretending to be a caring friend. In reality, she would be planning her betrayal.

This time, Anna would not fall into her trap.

---

Later that afternoon, Anna went out. She dressed simply, but her posture was different—confident, steady. As she walked down the street, she felt the eyes of strangers on her.

In her past life, she had walked with her head down, always unsure of herself. Now, she carried herself like a queen returning to her throne.

At a café, she spotted Lisa sitting at a table, scrolling through her phone. Her hair was perfectly styled, her lips painted a bold red. To anyone else, she looked like the perfect friend—bright, beautiful, trustworthy.

But Anna knew the truth hidden behind that mask.

She walked over slowly. Lisa looked up, her face lighting up in fake surprise. “Anna! What a coincidence!”

Anna sat across from her, her smile calm but unreadable. “Yes. A coincidence.”

Lisa reached out to hold her hand, her voice sweet. “I was just thinking about you. How have you been? You look… different today.”

Anna looked into her eyes, searching for the lies she now knew so well. “I feel different. Maybe I finally woke up.”

Lisa laughed lightly. “Well, I’m glad. You always work too hard for David. You should take better care of yourself.”

Anna tilted her head, her smile sharp. “And you always take such good care of David when I’m not around, don’t you?”

For a split second, Lisa’s smile faltered. Her eyes flickered with something dark. But she quickly recovered, laughing again. “Oh, Anna, you’re so funny.”

Anna leaned back in her chair, her voice soft but laced with steel. “Don’t worry, Lisa. Soon enough, everyone will see who’s really funny.”

Lisa’s hand froze around her cup. She forced a smile, but Anna could see the unease in her eyes.

---

That night, Anna lay in bed, her mind racing. She knew she couldn’t take her revenge in one day. She had to be patient, careful.

David and Lisa were dangerous together. They had already killed her once. This time, she would strike them slowly, piece by piece, until they destroyed themselves.

But she also knew she couldn’t do it alone.

And that was when she remembered him.

In her past life, she had met a man briefly—a powerful CEO named Ethan. Cold, distant, untouchable. At the time, she had been too wrapped up in David’s lies to notice him. But now she remembered something important.

Ethan had once offered her help. She had rejected it. Weeks later, when she died, she realized he had been the only person who saw through David and Lisa’s mask.

Anna’s eyes burned with determination. This time, she would not make the same mistake.

She would find Ethan.

She would join forces with him.

And together, they would crush David and Lisa.

---

The next morning, Anna dressed carefully in a sleek black dress. She applied light makeup, enhancing her sharp features. When she looked in the mirror, she no longer saw a weak wife. She saw a woman reborn.

As she stepped out of the house, a black luxury car stopped in front of her. The window rolled down.

A pair of piercing gray eyes met hers.

It was him—Ethan.

“Anna,” he said in a low, deep voice. “We meet again.”

Anna’s heart skipped a beat. Fate was already changing.

The engine of the black car purred softly, and the man inside leaned slightly toward the window. Ethan’s gray eyes locked onto Anna with the sharpness of a blade.

Anna’s breath caught. In her past life, this man had only been a stranger she brushed past in the storm of her misery. But now… now she knew he was someone she could not ignore.

“Mr. Ethan,” Anna said softly, her voice calm despite her racing heart.

“You remember me,” Ethan replied. His tone was low, steady, but his eyes never wavered from her. “Last time we met, you looked very different.”

Anna’s lips curved into the faintest smile. “People change.”

His gaze lingered on her for a long moment, as if trying to read her thoughts. Then, with a slight gesture, he pushed the car door open. “Get in. I’ll give you a ride.”

Anna hesitated only for a second before sliding into the passenger seat. The scent of leather and faint cologne filled the car, strong but not suffocating. Ethan leaned back in his seat, one hand resting casually on the wheel, but his presence was overwhelming—cold, powerful, untouchable.

“Your husband,” Ethan said suddenly, “is not the man you think he is.”

Anna’s heart squeezed. In her past life, she had ignored these words. She had smiled politely, thinking Ethan was mistaken, thinking David loved her too much to betray her. But now she knew. Ethan had seen the truth before she did.

This time, she would listen.

“You don’t need to warn me,” Anna said, her voice steady. “I already know.”

Ethan’s brow lifted slightly, the only sign of his surprise. “Oh? Then what do you plan to do?”

Anna turned her head, staring out the window at the passing streets. Her reflection in the glass showed a woman who was no longer weak, no longer blind. “What I should have done a long time ago,” she whispered. “I will make them pay.”

For the first time, a flicker of something passed through Ethan’s cold eyes—interest.

---

That evening, Anna dressed in a soft cream gown. David had invited her to a small business dinner with several partners. In her past life, Lisa had “accidentally” spilled red wine on her dress at this event, making her look clumsy and embarrassing her in front of everyone.

But tonight would be different.

As they arrived at the restaurant, David walked ahead, barely glancing at her. Anna followed gracefully, her every step calm and steady.

Inside, the table was filled with important men and women. Lisa was already there, dressed in a sparkling silver dress, her lips red, her eyes filled with fake sweetness. She greeted Anna warmly, leaning in for a hug.

“Anna! You look lovely tonight.”

Anna returned the smile with perfect calm. “So do you, Lisa. I almost didn’t recognize the snake under all that glitter.”

Lisa blinked, stunned. Anna’s tone was polite, her smile perfect, but her words… sharp as a knife.

Before Lisa could respond, a waiter passed by with a tray of wine glasses. Lisa’s eyes flickered. Anna remembered this moment—the deliberate stumble, the red wine spilling across her cream dress.

Lisa reached out, “accidentally” bumping the tray.

But this time, Anna was ready. She smoothly stepped aside, the glass of wine missing her by an inch. The tray tilted—straight toward Lisa instead.

Red liquid splashed across Lisa’s silver dress, staining it in ugly blotches. Gasps filled the room.

Lisa froze, her face pale. The waiter stammered apologies, but everyone’s eyes were on her.

Anna tilted her head, her voice sweet but mocking. “Oh no, Lisa… how careless of you.”

David’s face darkened, clearly irritated. Lisa forced a smile, but her hands trembled.

Inside, Anna’s heart burned with quiet satisfaction. First move, successful.

---

Later, as the dinner ended, David turned to Anna. His eyes were sharp, suspicious. “You’re acting strange lately. What’s going on with you?”

Anna met his gaze, her lips curling into a soft smile. “Strange? Maybe I finally realized who I married.”

David stiffened. For the first time, Anna saw unease flicker in his eyes.

Good. Let him wonder.

---

But as Anna walked outside, she felt another gaze on her.

From across the street, Lisa stood under the glow of a streetlight, her dress ruined, her face twisted with rage. And she wasn’t alone. Her phone glowed in her hand, showing a photo she had just taken—of Anna standing beside Ethan’s car earlier that day.

Lisa’s smile turned cold. “So… Anna thinks she’s clever now. We’ll see about that.”