I run into my fiancé's childhood sweetheart at the entrance of a bar on Valentine's Day.

She's been drugged and is unconscious. This time, I pretend not to see her and leave without another look back.

I didn't know who she was in my past life and saved her out of kindness. Then, I accidentally saw my fiancé's name tattooed on her collarbone.

I thought it was just a misunderstanding until I answered her phone and heard my fiancé's voice on the other end of the line.

I hung up out of jealousy and anger. I ignored the 99 calls he gave me. I took his childhood sweetheart to one of my family's hotels and made sure she was well taken care of before leaving.

Unexpectedly, she was violated that night. She committed suicide out of shame.

My fiancé acted like nothing happened after hearing of this. He proceeded to give me a grand wedding.

Then, when I found out I was pregnant, he broke my legs and locked me up at home. I broke down and asked him why he was doing this.

He laughed manically. "Averie wouldn't have been violated if not for you. She wouldn't have taken her own life! It's all your fault!"

To my surprise, when I open my eyes again, I find myself back to the day I run into Averie Lancaster outside the bar.

"Please… Call my boyfriend… Please..."

Averie Lancaster lay crumpled outside the bar, her cheeks flushed. Her voice was barely a whisper, teetering on the edge of consciousness.

Her words were simple, yet they sent a chill down my spine. At that moment, I realized I'd come back to life.

Without a second glance, I turned from her outstretched hand and hurried away from the bar. In my past life, a single moment of sympathy had cost me everything. I wouldn't make that mistake again—not this time.

I'd barely taken a few steps when Averie lurched to her feet and reached for me. Caught off guard, I lost my balance and hit the ground hard.

A sharp jolt of pain tore through me, knocking the breath from my lungs. I didn't even notice her phone ringing until Rafael's voice came through, sharp and frantic.

"Avie, why aren't you answering? Do you have any idea how worried I've been?"

Her voice turned sweet and soft, barely above a whisper, as she said, "Rafe… I don't feel good. Someone drugged me… Please… Come get me…"

His voice rose in urgency, panic edging every word. "Hang on, Avie. I'm on my way!"

Hearing Rafael's voice made my skin crawl. The memory of him breaking my legs in my past life came rushing back as if it hadn't faded.

Back then, I couldn't possibly imagine the man I was about to marry would kill me.

Barely ten minutes later, Rafael pulled up outside the bar. He quickly lifted Averie into his arms, but before he could turn away, he caught sight of me, still on the ground. "Eleanor Marlowe?"

His expression faltered, a flicker of unease crossing his face. "Eleanor... Why are you here?"

I winced as pain flared in my ankle, probably twisted. However, I pushed myself to my feet, avoiding his gaze. Ignoring his question, I limped to the curb and hailed a cab home.

Not long after, Rafael came home with Averie clinging to him and mumbling nonsense under her breath.

He froze when he saw me, guilt flickering across his face before he hurried to explain.

"Avie's not feeling well. I didn't want to leave her alone, so I brought her back. You don't mind, do you—?"

"No." I cut him off, shutting the door before he could say anything else, though not before I caught the flicker of mixed emotions in his eyes.

That night, their voices came from the guest room. Faint but impossible to ignore.

A dull ache settled in my chest, growing tighter and tighter until it hurt to breathe. Before I knew it, tears slid down my cheeks.

I quickly wiped them away—not from jealousy, but from the cold terror of remembering how close I'd come to death.

By dawn, the noise had quieted, and finally, I could breathe a bit easier.

In my past life, love blinded me. I ignored all 99 of Rafael's calls to Averie outside the bar and left her alone at the hotel. That night, she was assaulted, and just days later, she took her own life.

Rafael kept his word. He married me and gave me the wedding of my dreams. However, the day I told him I was pregnant, he broke my legs and locked me in the house.

Through the pain, I asked him why.

His response was cold and bitter. He hated me and blamed me for Averie's death. Everything had been part of his plan to get revenge on her behalf.

This time, I wouldn't stand in their way. I'd step back and stay out of it for good.

It wasn't until noon the next day that they finally came out of the bedroom.

Faint bruises in shades of purple and green marked Averie's bare shoulders, a quiet reminder of the night before.

When she saw me, she lowered her head, a coy smile tugging at her lips as her lashes fluttered. "Eleanor, you're not mad about yesterday, are you?" she murmured.

"Rafe only stepped in to help me. It's my fault. I should've been more careful. I never should've let myself get drugged. Please don't hold it against me. I'd hate to think I messed things up for your wedding."

As she spoke, her eyes glistened with unshed tears as if she were the victim of all of this.

When Rafael heard her, he stormed in, his face clouded with anger.

His eyes locked on me with a sharp glare. "Didn't I ask last night, Eleanor? You said it was fine. So what's this? Are you trying to make Avie cry now?"

I stared at him, baffled. "She started crying on her own. How is that my fault?"

At that, his frown deepened. "Then why is she upset? I already said I'm marrying you. What more do you want from me?"

I'd already given in. Wasn't that enough? Why couldn't they just leave me alone?

I met his gaze, frustration rising in my chest. "If this is so hard for you, maybe we should just call off the wedding."

Rafael froze. "Call it off?"

His eyes went cold, a flicker of sharpness behind them. "Eleanor, what the hell are you trying to pull? Avie was drugged. If I hadn't stepped in, who knows what could've happened?

"You'd seriously call off our engagement because of this? Is marriage just a game to you?"

He was wrong. I never took marriage lightly. I meant every word, every step. In the end, he was the one who let the act slip first.

I didn't bother saying anything more. "I've finally seen it for what it is, Rafael. We're not right for each other."

"Not right?" His gaze hardened, his voice rising with anger. "Don't get it twisted, Eleanor. Weren't you the one who said you liked me first?"

Yeah, it was me.

I was the one who fell for him first.

After years of studying abroad, I returned home and met Rafael at a welcome banquet. The moment I saw him, I knew it was love at first sight. From that second on, I was lost.

I did everything I could to learn about him. When I finally had his number, I gathered all my courage and confessed.

To my surprise, he didn't accept or reject me. Instead, he just said we could give it a try. And for me, that was enough.

We began spending more time together, getting to know each other through long talks, movies, and walks around the city. Slowly, his gaze softened, and when we crossed the street, he would instinctively shield me with his arm.

Back then, I thought that was love, and I couldn't wait to tell my dad about getting engaged. However, after the engagement, Rafael started pulling away.

I'd been a fool, loving too deeply and bringing this upon myself.

I drew in a few deep breaths and forced a tired smile. "Yeah, I fell for you first. But that's over now. Got it?"

"Eleanor!" Rafael's voice cracked with anger. He grabbed my arm and yanked me into the bedroom, his fury clear in every movement.

"What's your problem? I've already explained Avie was in trouble. We've known each other forever. What was I supposed to do? Turn my back on her? Don't make this into something disgusting."

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Disgusting? Rafael, it was Valentine's Day. I asked you out, and you told me you were working late. But the moment Averie called, you dropped everything and ran to her. Who exactly are you trying to fool?"

I kept my voice steady as I asked, "She has your name tattooed on her collarbone. You expect me to believe there's nothing between you?"

I couldn't hold it in anymore. The weight in my chest had been there too long, and it still ached.

He stood there, silent, struggling to find the right words before he turned and stormed off.

I couldn't be bothered to argue anymore. I took a cab and went to my mom's place. I told her I was calling off the engagement.

She was stunned at first, but after I explained, fury took over. "I can't believe I was so wrong about him! Fine! Let's act like the wedding's still on and let everyone watch him make a fool of himself!"

By the time I got home that evening, I was exhausted. However, when I stepped inside, the shoe rack and closet were in disarray, as if a thief had ransacked them.

As I looked closer, I realized every limited edition designer dress and pair of heels Rafael had given me were gone.

Just then, the door swung open. Rafael walked in, hand in hand with Averie. She was wearing my clothes, my shoes—everything taken right from my closet.

Rafael and Averie pulled their hands apart the second they saw me.

Averie gave me a sweet, almost nervous smile before explaining, "Eleanor, please don't be mad. I didn't mean to wear your clothes. Mine got ruined yesterday, and I had nothing else to wear. Rafe told me I could just grab something from your closet."

Rafael always marked special occasions with gifts—exclusive pieces, limited editions, things specially chosen because he knew I hated anything ordinary. Now, the things he swore were just for me were on someone else.

Seeing that I didn't respond, Rafael's expression darkened. "It's just a dress. Why the attitude? You've got plenty of clothes. What's the big deal if Avie borrows a few?"

I didn't react, just nodding before replying calmly, "Sure."

His eyes narrowed, irritation flickering behind them. "Cut the act, Eleanor. Do you think acting like you don't care will make me come running?"

I met his gaze, my voice calm but sharp. "Maybe I just don't care anymore. Has that ever crossed your mind?"

He clenched his jaw and, without a word, pulled Averie toward the bedroom.

I knew he was angry, but I wasn't about to fix things. After all, I was leaving soon anyway.

Rafael had been sulking for days, probably hoping I'd come running like I used to. He hadn't said a word to me since.

However, I wasn't about to baby him. I had bigger things to focus on—like getting ready to leave the country.

A year after graduation, Ryan Hudson, a mentor overseas, offered me the chance to join his research team and continue my studies. Back then, I was so wrapped up in Rafael that I didn't even give it a second thought and turned the offer down without hesitation.

Looking back now, I realized how foolish that was.

Meanwhile, Averie treated my house like a hotel—coming and going as she pleased, helping herself to my things as if she owned the place.

I kept my head down and focused on what mattered. I couldn't figure out why Rafael still wouldn't end the engagement. I didn't believe him when he claimed he only loved me.

When Rafael heard about the wedding, he couldn't hide his satisfaction. He came straight to me, a smug grin on his face. "See? I knew it, Eleanor. You're never getting away from me. All that talk about calling it off. What was the point?"

Then, like it was nothing, he added, "Oh, and Avie wants to be your bridesmaid. She's curious about the whole wedding thing. You're okay with that, right?"

He didn't even look at me when he said it.

In my past life, I'd poured everything into that wedding. My bridesmaids had been my closest friends, not someone like Averie, who'd become tangled up with Rafael in all the wrong ways.

However, this wedding was nothing more than an act. Keeping that in mind, I nodded, unfazed. "Sure."

He paused, clearly taken aback. His gaze lingered on me before his voice turned cold. "I'm warning you, Eleanor. Don't mess with Avie. Don't try anything underhanded."

Of course, I wouldn't.

A few days later, the bridal company we'd booked called about a gown fitting. I agreed without much thought, and of course, Averie came along.

"Eleanor, this gown is gorgeous! Could I maybe try it on?"

Her voice was full of awe as she stared at the diamond-encrusted mermaid gown at the center of the boutique.

It was truly breathtaking. I was also stunned the first time I saw it.

Rafael had commissioned a world-renowned designer for me, sparing no expense. 99 South African diamonds were sewn into the gown by hand. Each detail was an extravagant declaration of luxury.

He'd insisted that only I was worthy of it. In my past life, I let myself get lost in that happiness, and it led me straight to my death.

This time, I didn't even flinch before nodding. "Go ahead. You've always wanted to be a bride, haven't you? Might as well let you have that moment."

Seeing how calm I was, Rafael frowned, his voice tightening. "Eleanor, I had this dress made just for you. It's one of a kind. And you're just letting someone else wear it?"

I raised an eyebrow. "It's only a fitting. Unless Ms. Lancaster plans to stand in for me at the altar?"

The words drained the color from both their faces, especially Rafael's. His expression darkened as he slammed his fist on the table. "What the hell are you talking about?"

I shrugged, a faint smile on my lips. "Just a thought. If Averie wants to try it on, why not? You've known each other forever. I've got no reason to be petty."

His eyes locked onto mine, his frown deepening. I could see the questions and the frustration in his eyes.

In the end, he let out a cold snort. "Fine. Do whatever you want."

Eventually, Averie got what she wanted. She slipped into the gown and asked Rafael to pose for photos with her, eager to capture the moment.

Yet, his gaze kept drifting toward me, distracted and unsettled.

I knew what he was thinking. He was probably wondering why I wasn't clinging to him like I used to, desperate for his attention.

Given another chance, all I wanted was to live my life.

The wedding day arrived quickly. With the first look canceled, Rafael stood at the altar alone, waiting. Amid the cheers of the guests, he seemed strangely nervous. He adjusted his bow tie and stared at the doors ahead.

The officiant announced that his bride awaited him behind the doors. However, when it opened, the bride he expected was nowhere to be seen.