ALIRA'S POV

"Will you marry me?"

The velvet box trembled slightly in his hands, and the candlelight flickered around us.

For a moment, I couldn't breathe...not from joy and definitely not from surprise but from the surreal recognition.

This had happened before..Exactly this way.

The rooftop restaurant, the violinist in the corner, his polished smile and the diamond that once sealed my fate.

I blinked as the world tilted.

My fingers trembled on the edge of reality as a thousand memories surged into my mind...hospital, betrayal, blood, the staircase, his hands, my death.

I was back.

Two years before.

Back to the very day I said yes.

He waited with his eyes bright with anticipation, the same eyes that once watched me fall.

I swallowed the bile in my throat.

My heart hammered in my chest but not from love, but from clarity.

This wasn't fate.

This was my rebirth.

And I would rewrite the ending.

"Yes." I said as I smiled.

His face lit up as he leaned in to kiss me.

I let him but behind my lashes, I didn't see my future husband...I saw a man already dead.

He just didn't know it yet.

He slipped the ring onto my finger, a symbol of chains but this time, I held the key.

The next morning, the house buzzed with celebration.

My mother's eyes brimmed with pride and my sister hugged me tightly, a bit too tightly.

But I wasn't the same Alira.

I studied their smiles and listened for the cracks in their voices.

My mother pretends to be kind, but deep down, she's just bitter....My sister, syrup-sweet, hiding daggers behind her teeth.

"You're glowing." Betsy said, brushing my hair behind my ear.

"So are you Betsy, like someone keeping secrets."

She blinked, caught off guard as I smiled a Sweet and dangerous smile.

"What are you two whispering about?" My mother asked.

"Just promises." I replied, sipping tea as if I hadn't once bled out in silence.

I began weaving my web as I watched everyone.

Every word, every movement, I played the docile bride-to-be, but underneath it all, I was gathering for a fire I would ignite with surgical precision.

They thought they were ahead of me.

But I remembered everything.

I was not going to allow history to repeat itself again and I knew that for my plans to be successful, I needed allies.

There was one person I didn't see at the house and that was Liam.

He was a pawn just as I was in my previous life and I still remember him confessing his love to me while I was in Coma.

I needed him for the first step of my plans to Kickstart and so after the celebration, I decided to go find him.

Liam Hart's apartment still looked the same.

Too clean, too perfect Just like his reputation.

I stared at the door for a moment and then I knocked.

Moments passed before the door opened.

Liam stood there, shirt unbuttoned at the collar with surprise flashing across his face.

"Alira?" he asked, stunned.

I tilted my head, offering a hesitant smile.

"Hi, Liam...I hope this isn't a bad time....I just... needed someone to talk to."

His eyes softened instantly...I knew they would.

"No, of course not...Come in."

I stepped inside with the scent of expensive cologne flooding my senses.

"You look different," Liam said gently.

"I do?? It could be the hair." I said with a smile.

"Not just your hair...Something else."

I turned to face him, letting my smile grow a little sad and a little mysterious.

"I feel different...like I woke up and suddenly realized how much time I've wasted being... quiet."

He nodded slowly, clearly unsure how to respond.

"I remember we used to talk more back in school.. I miss that," I said softly, letting my fingers graze the edge of the couch.

"Do you?"

"Yeah. I do." He said as his eyes searched mine.

Perfect.

I walked over to the window and stared out.

"I guess I just wanted to be around someone who made me feel.... safe. You always felt like that....Safe."

That part wasn't a lie...Liam was safe...safe enough to be manipulated.

He had loved me once.... I'd heard it in the dark when I was barely clinging to life and now, I'd use that against him.

Because Betsy had taken everything from me.

My trust, my marriage and my life and now, I was going to take everything from her...Slowly, brutally and beautifully.

I turned back to Liam, changing myexpression into soft vulnerability.

"But Alira, Betsy told me you just got engaged?? Doesn't that change..."

"It's silly, I know...you're practically family now but... I never really got to tell you how I felt back then." I said as I cut him off.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Felt?"

"Yeah...there was a time I thought about us before everything got messy..before Betsy.. stepped in." I said as he froze Just for a second.

That was all I needed....The seed was planted.

"Alira..."

I shook my head quickly, laughing it off.

"Forget it... I'm rambling...you're happy.... I shouldn't be here."

I turned to leave, knowing he would stop me.

And he did.

"Alira, wait."

I paused with my back still to him.

"Yes?"

"Stay....Just for a while."

I turned back around, smiled, and walked into the trap I was building for us both.

We sat on the couch, the conversation drifting between awkward memories and unspoken feelings.

I let my hand graze his once.

I saw the way his breath caught....Good....Let him wonder.

When he got up to get us drinks, I slid my phone out and opened a hidden file.

Step One: Dismantle Betsy's engagement.

Step Two: Make Liam fall.

Step Three: Burn Betsy's world down piece by piece.

But then, the soft click of the door unlocking echoed through the apartment as I froze.

The front door swung open.

And there she was.

Betsy.

Entering Liam's apartment unannounced.

She stared at me as I smiled.

Let the game begin.

ALIRA'S POV

"Hello sister...fancy seeing you here." I said with a smile on my face.

"Alira?? You are here??" She asked with a surprised look on her face.

"Yes Betsy....is there a problem??"

"What are you doing here??? I mean...I didn't realize that both of you were still in touch." She said with a tight smile...the ones people only wear at funerals.

"Oh, we weren't but sometimes, the past has a funny way of finding it's way back doesn't it???"

The silence that followed was so loud that it could be heard from miles away.

Liam suddenly walked in with the drinks in his hand as he paused, clearly surprised to see both sisters standing in the same room.

"Oh Betsy, I didn't hear you come in."

"Obviously." She said as she rolled her eyes.

" Liam, thank you for the drink." I said as I took it from his hands with a smile as his eyes lingered on mine for quite some time.

Betsy on the other hand was a fuming mess as she noticed what was happening.

I took a sip of the drink and dropped the glass on the center table.

I turned to Betsy as I walked closer to her.

"It was really nice seeing you again sis...we should catch up sometime." I said as she kept mute.

I turned back to Liam.

"Thank you for having me..it was great spending time with you and catching up on old memories...see you soon, Liam."

"Thank you for coming by Alira...it was fun having you here too." Liam said as I smirked.

The first part of my plan was slowly kick starting and I was glad.

I walked to the door, twisted the door knob and walked out.

As soon as I got out and walked to the car, it felt like the air around me was suddenly tightening as I couldn't breathe.

Memories of what happened in my past life came back flooding into my head as I remembered Betsy's words at the hospital.

I was going to make them pay so dearly.

I entered my car and drove off to my house as I clenched the steering wheel so hard.

I was too naive in my previous life and that was why I was taken advantage of and killed off like some animal but not this time Alira.

As soon as I got home, I saw an old rugged looking car parked outside my house and I suddenly remembered it was Alec's.

He was a wretched fellow till I decided to sacrifice everything for him including my own happiness but I was glad that Alira was gone and a new one has been reborn.

I came down from the car and walked in.

"Hey wifey, I've been waiting here forever for you...where have you been??" Alec said as he was about to kiss my lips but I turned my face as the kiss only landed on my cheeks.

"We aren't married yet and you are already keeping tabs on where I go??" I asked.

"Oh no honey, it's not like that at all...I came earlier and I couldn't find you and that's why I asked.. don't be offended, my love." He said.

I rolled my eyes as I knew that it was the exact trick he used in getting to my head and heart in my previous life.

"It's fine..what are you doing here??" I asked as I dropped my things on the couch.

"Well I figured that this is our new home and so it's best to get familiar with it and also to spend more time with my soon to be wife."

"Familiar with what, Alec?? I don't understand that statement of yours." I asked as I scoffed.

"I want to get familiar with our home..with you." Alec said with a nervous smile on his face.

I was glad I could make him uneasy.

"First of all Alec, this is my home and not ours...at least until I say I do so there are no familiarities here." I said.

"I didn't mean for it to sound that way Alira and also, what's with the attitude and strange behavior towards me?? Did I do something wrong??" He asked as he walked closer to me and held my waist pulling me closer to him.

I was still angry and irritated even by his touch but he was starting to ask questions and it was too early for that and so I decided to push aside my anger and whatever emotions I was feeling to play my part of the game properly.

"I am not.. I'm sorry...I just had a rough day." I said as I forced a smile.

"Really?? What happened?? Did something happen at work?"

"No...I really don't want to talk about it Alec."

"That's fine Alira but just sit down while I prepare something delicious for us to eat okay??"

"No, you don't have to."

"I want to and I insist." Alec said as he kissed my cheek and went to the kitchen.

I took the things I dropped on the couch and headed to my room to freshen up.

As I stood under the shower, I made sure to scrub intensely every part of my body, especially the place where Alec kissed me.

I didn't want to play any game...I just wanted to get that bastard for the pains he caused me.

"That lying, cheating son of a bitch!!!" I screamed out.

"Babe, are you done??" Alec suddenly asked from outside the door as he knocked.

It was the audacity to walk into my room unannounced for me.

I quickly stepped off the shower and wrapped myself up in my towel as I walked out.

"I thought you were cooking Alec...you didn't have to come in here." I said as I clutched my towel.

"I am done...I just thought you check up on you."

"You didn't have to...you can leave now....when I am done getting dressed, I will meet up with you."

"Why are you shy Alira?? You can undress in front of me...you know there is nothing inside that towel that I haven't actually seen before." Alec said as he drew closer to me with a smirk on his face.

Due to the level of the irritation I felt, I did something without thinking.

I slapped him so hard.

ALIRA'S POV

"What the hell was that for??!!" Alec yelled in anger.

"Oh goodness, I am so sorry Alec..I thought I saw something creeping up your face...I didn't do that intentionally." I said.

"You saw something creeping up my face and you couldn't just say it with words??" He asked, clearly still angry.

"I am sorry babe." I said with a pretentious sad look on my face.

"You are acting weird Alira...is everything alright?? Do you not feel well??" Alec asked.

"I feel well..am just tired and I had a long day."

"Are you sure Alira??"

"Yes Alec."

"Alright, if you say so...anyway come and eat something..the food is ready."

"Alright, I'll be down in a jiffy." I said.

Alec nodded his head, kissed my cheek and walked away.

I quickly changed into my clothes and walked downstairs and was surprised to see the table already set.

I sat down and Alec served the food but I just kept gazing at the food without eating.

"What's going on?? You don't like the food??" Alec asked.

"No..it looks good."

"And it tastes good too..try it." Alec said with a smile.

Just as I was about to take a bite of the food, I suddenly experienced what looked like a daydream or illusion.

.

.

My mouth kept on moving but I had no idea what I was saying and suddenly Alec raised the glass of water in front of him and poured it on me.

As he stood up and stormed away in rage, I followed him and kept down while I pleaded with him.

.

.

I snapped back to reality as I gasped in shock as I looked around in confusion.

I looked at my body and found out it was still dry and the glass cup of water I saw was still intact in front of Alec.

"What was that??" I asked myself.

I didn't seem to understand where that memory came from and I didn't remember something like that happening in my previous life.

A few minutes after I started eating, Alec stopped eating, cleared his throat and looked at me.

"What??" I asked.

"You have forgotten??" He asked as the look on his face became serious.

"Forgotten what??"

"Are you kidding me Alira??? Look if you don't want to help me just come out right with it and say so!!"

"Alec, I don't understand what you mean..help you with what??" I asked in confusion.

"You said you were going to give me the money I asked for to start up something for myself....you even promised it wouldn't exceed today." Alec said as I chuckled softly.

"Wait, is that the reason why you cooked up a storm??" I asked.

"What do you mean by that?? Are you trying to say that I prepared this meal for you just because I wanted something?!"

"Isn't that what this looks like Alec??" I asked.

"Well you are wrong!!! I did it because I wanted to and not because I was obligated to."

"Well that's great to hear but I am really sad to disappoint you my dearest fiance but I don't have the money you have asked for." I said as I took another bite of my food.

"What?? What did you just say??"

"I don't have the money Alec..when I do, I will let you know." I said.

Alec suddenly burst into laughter.

"Alira, I saw a huge amount of money being transferred to your account a few days ago...so what are you talking about??"

"Exactly as you have said Alec...the money was transferred to my account and not yours.. it's my money and not yours and I am not obligated to give anyone from it..besides you are a young and vibrant man...it's hard time you start trying to make your own money and stop being dependent on others." I said as Alec started looking around in confusion.

"Are you talking to me, Alira??" He asked.

"Well, if we were three people here, I would have said no but being that we are only two in this table, then yes Alec...I am.talking to you."

Suddenly, Alec grabbed the glass of water on the table and was about to pour it on me when I suddenly remembered the flashback I had a while ago.

"Don't you fucking dare!!!" I bit out as Alec stopped midway as a little amount of the water splashed on the table.

At that moment, I was angry and confused.

Angry with the fact that if I didn't get that flashback, I would have been drenched with water because I didn't want to give my so-called man my own money and I was confused with the fact that I had no idea this particular memory had happened.

This could only mean that there were a lot of things that happened in my previous life that I missed and didn't have the memory of and it could be very dangerous for me because I needed to know every detail of my previous life.

Alec suddenly dropped the glass cup and stood up abruptly from his seat.

"You are such a self centered person Alira...I am your fiance and you can't help the one who's surname you would be carrying soon?? Shame on you." He said as he turned around and walked away.

In my previous life, I remember following him and pleading with him and I also remembered transferring the money I had in my account to him.

I chuckled and continued with my meal without moving an inch from where I sat.

After I was done eating, I took the dishes and washed them as I went back to my living room and switched on the TV to watch a program.

A few minutes later, I got a message notification on my phone but I ignored it as I thought it was from Alec.

After a little while, my phone suddenly began ringing and when I checked the caller ID, it was unknown.

I was skeptical about picking up the call but I did after a while.

"Hello ma'am, I am sorry to disturb you but I've got not so good news from your company."

"What?? What happened??"

"We just detected that a huge amount of money from your company is about to be transferred to an unknown account in another country and we have tried everything to stop it but it's not working."

"Oh no!!"