“Seriously?” Leandro’s voice cracked like glass, sharp with disbelief. “You agree? That easy? You’ll just let me marry Abby?”

I tilted my head, studying his face—the way his eyes twitched with panic, with desperation he was too proud to admit. Slowly, I laughed—a sound I knew would cut him deeper than any tears.

Because once, in another lifetime, I had believed him.

I remembered the way he had held my hands years ago, whispering promises of forever. He had sworn that no matter what, I would be the only woman for him. That he would fight the world just to keep me by his side.

Back then, I had clung to those words as though they were sacred, the foundation of everything I thought our love stood for.

“Why wouldn’t I?” I said. “Come on, it’s done. My father and your parents already agree. What’s the point of fighting a battle that’s already over?”

His jaw locked, his chest heaving. “No, Victoria, please—don’t say that. So what? You’re just going to run to Brendon instead, is that it?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I murmured, brushing past him.

His hand shot out, gripping my wrist with bruising force. His eyes blazed, voice spitting venom. “You bitch. You really don’t love me anymore?”

I turned to him, my voice cold, clipped. “You didn’t love me first.”

For a heartbeat, silence hung between us. He searched my eyes for the girl who used to worship him, who used to hang on his every word. But she was gone. Dead, in fact.

“I don’t want to see you again,” I whispered, pulling my hand free.

His lips curled into a sneer. “You’ll regret this, Victoria. I swear you will.”

I walked away before he could see the tremor in my fingers.

In the hallway, Abby hovered, her doe-like eyes wide with manufactured sorrow. She clasped her hands together as if she were the victim here.

“Victoria,” she whispered, stepping closer. “If you’re mad at me because I’m marrying him… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen. But I promise, I’ll take care of him.”

Her words slid into me like a dagger, and for a second, the old me—the weak me—wanted to scream at her, wanted to demand why she always stole everything that mattered. But instead, I smiled faintly. Coldly.

I ignored her.

I turned toward the staircase, ready to descend, to put distance between us before my composure cracked. But just as I placed a foot on the first step, I felt her breath at my ear, a whisper laced with venom.

“I’ll make sure he never sees you again,” Abby hissed. “Because he’s mine.”

My chest tightened, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. I laughed lightly, tilting my head so she could see my indifference. “I don’t care. Have him.”

But in the next instant, the sharp sound of a scream tore through the air.

I spun just in time to see Abby tumble down the stairs, her body flailing dramatically before she crashed against the landing. Gasps erupted around us. Servants rushed forward. Abby’s sobs echoed like daggers.

“She pushed me!” Abby wailed, clutching her arm, her face twisted in false agony. “Victoria—she pushed me because she’s mad!”

I froze.

Leandro was the first to appear, storming toward us with fire in his eyes. “What the hell?!” His voice thundered, cutting the air. He looked from Abby’s tear-streaked face to me, and his expression darkened further. “I thought you agreed—you were the one who gave up! And now you pushed her?”

Blood rushed to my ears. “No, I didn’t—”

But my words were drowned out by another shriek.

“Enough!” Lilian’s voice rang out. She rushed down the stairs, her face painted with righteous fury. “You ungrateful brat. To hurt your stepsister, on the eve of such an important day—how dare you?”

“Did you really do this?” My father’s voice cut in, firm, weary. His eyes—once so kind to me—were filled with disappointment.

I opened my mouth, but then I stopped.

What was the point? In my past life, I had begged, screamed, tried to defend myself. And no one had believed me. Not then. Not now.

I remembered Abby clutching her arm, tears spilling down her cheeks as she sobbed that I had pushed her—that the car had swerved because of me. I remembered the way her voice cracked with such perfect fragility, the way she painted herself as the victim. Everyone had believed her. My father. Leandro. Even the servants whispered about my cruelty behind my back.

And me? I had shouted until my throat bled, denying it, pointing out the holes in her story. But the more I fought, the more I looked guilty.

In the end, it hadn’t mattered. Abby had smiled sweetly through her bandages, and I had been branded the jealous, unhinged stepsister.

Now, staring at them again in this lifetime, the bitter truth pressed against my ribs: no one had believed me then, and no one would believe me now.

So I bit down the fury, forced myself still, and let the silence protect me.

My silence was all the answer Lilian needed. She stepped forward, her hand gripping my arm like iron. “You need discipline,” she spat. “And this time, I’ll make sure you don’t cause any more trouble.”

“Lilian, wait—” my father started, but she cut him off smoothly.

“You said yourself, she’s become a brat. You regret spoiling her. So let me correct her.”

To my horror, my father nodded, his face twisted with something I couldn’t read. “You’re right. Maybe some punishment will fix her. Keep her locked away until after the wedding. At least she won’t ruin it further.”

“No!” My voice cracked. But Lilian only smiled—a victorious, poisonous smile—as she dragged me down the hall.

Leandro’s parting words were the last dagger to my chest. “Good thing it’s Abby. I know your true colors now, Victoria. Surely Brendon will regret ever thinking of marrying you.”

And then the door slammed shut.

The lock clicked.

Darkness swallowed me.

The darkness pressed down on me like a living thing. The air in the basement was damp, cold, and stifling, and the faint sound of laughter above was a cruel reminder of where I wasn’t.

The wedding.

Their wedding.

I hugged my knees to my chest, the hunger gnawing at me, the fear of the dark clawing at my throat. I had always hated being shut away in places like this—enclosed spaces where the light never reached, where shadows seemed to whisper things only I could hear.

As a child, Lilian had once locked me in here for hours when my father was away, just to "teach me obedience." I had thought I’d grown stronger since then, but the truth was, the dark still terrified me.

No one came. Not Lilian, not Abby, not Leandro. They had locked me away, and now they had simply… forgotten me.

Except I wasn’t the same fool I had been in my past life. I still had my phone.

My fingers shook as I typed, the glow of the screen the only comfort I had in the endless dark. Brendon, it’s me. They locked me in the basement. Please, help me.

The reply came faster than my heart could beat.

I’ll get you out. No matter what. Just wait for me. Trust me, Victoria.

I pressed the phone to my chest, closing my eyes. A single tear slipped free—not out of fear, but relief.

Even in this life, even now, Brendon came. Just as he always had.

I remembered—how, in my past life, Lilian had once locked me in here too, after Abby staged another crying fit. I had thought no one would come for me then, either, but Brendon had. He had barged into the estate, furious, his shouts echoing through the walls until he found me.

He had taken me out, his arms steady and strong, whispering that he would never let me be trapped again.

And yet, I had betrayed him. Chosen another man. Chosen ruin.

But this time… this time, I wouldn’t.

Hours passed. My phone battery flickered low. Above me, the sound of footsteps echoed—hurried, busy. Voices carried through the floorboards, faint but constant, servants and relatives moving about. They were preparing for the wedding.

The noises went on until late into the night, then gradually faded. By morning, the bustle began again—louder this time, urgent. I heard trunks being carried, orders being barked, car doors slamming. They were heading out, leaving for the wedding venue.

And me?

I was still here. Still locked away. Until it became quiet again.

Later on, the door swung open, flooding the basement with blinding light. I flinched, shielding my eyes—until I heard the thud of boots, the rustle of suits.

Two men stood in the doorway. Bodyguards.

For a split second, panic surged. Had Lilian sent them to drag me deeper into the dark? To silence me for good?

But then a familiar voice cut through the stillness, sharp and breathless.

“I’m sorry I’m late. Let’s go now.”

Brendon.

My chest cracked open, relief crashing over me like a storm.

He reached for me, his hand steady even though mine trembled. “Come on, Victoria. You’re safe now.”

I didn’t think. I just let him pull me into his arms. The scent of him, the warmth of him—it was everything I had craved in the suffocating dark.

We ran. And then—we were in the car.

Brendon slammed the door behind me, slid into the driver’s seat, and the engine roared to life. I barely noticed the blur of streets, the rush of headlights. All I could hear was my heartbeat, all I could see was his profile lit by the passing lights, his jaw set in determination.

“You’re free now,” he said, not looking at me, his voice low and steady. “I won’t let them touch you again.”

My throat tightened. I wanted to tell him everything—that I had been reborn, that I knew what was coming, that in another life I had chosen wrong. But the words caught in my chest, too heavy to release.

Instead, I whispered, “Thank you.”

He glanced at me then, and the softness in his gaze nearly shattered me.

Hours blurred into minutes until we reached the private airstrip. We boarded quickly. Slowly, I opened the window and tossed my phone out.

And as the plane lifted into the sky, leaving the city—and my past—behind, I knew one thing for certain.

This was my second chance.

Leandro’s POV

The car sped down the highway. My fists clenched on my knees, jaw tight, fury simmering in every breath.

Victoria. Damn her.

I had begged, argued, warned her. And still, she had tossed me aside like I was nothing, like Abby could ever replace her. They thought they had trapped me into this wedding, that I’d settle for less. But no—Victoria would regret this. I’d make sure of it.

She would never be happy with Brendon. Once this wedding was over, I’d find a way to pull her back, to remind her she belonged to me. Because no matter what she said, no matter how much she tried to run, a part of me still wanted her. Needed her.

I leaned back in my seat, my thoughts twisting. She’ll see. I’ll make her see. Brendon can’t protect her forever.

The car jolted suddenly. My head snapped up.

“What the hell—?”

The driver slammed the brakes, tires screeching against the pavement. A thunderous roar echoed, the ground trembling beneath us.

An explosion.

My pulse spiked as I whipped my head toward the window. In the distance, rising against the sky, flames licked the heavens. Smoke billowed thick and black, swallowing the familiar silhouette of the estate.

Panic clawed at me.

The driver answered the call on his earpiece, face paling as he listened. Then he turned to me, voice low, hesitant.

“Sir… they said… there’s been an explosion.” His words broke with the weight of them. “In the basement. Where Miss Victoria was locked in. They’re saying she… she might be dead now.”