Chapter 1 Chapter 1

"Owen's hosting a singles party for Vanessa tonight, Audrey. Aren't you going?" I snapped out of my daze at the mention of my name, my gaze locking with my friend's as she waited for a response. Her expression softened with concern. "Have you and Owen been fighting? You've been looking distracted lately." I shook my head. Just then, my phone rang. It was an incoming call from Owen Shepherd. A painful twist hit me when I saw the familiar number on the screen. It took me a few long seconds before I finally answered. Owen's voice came through the line, distant and flat. "Vanessa just broke up with her boyfriend, so we're not inviting anyone's partner tonight. I don't want you to show up and make her feel worse." I bit my lip so hard I could taste the blood, that sharp, metallic tang grounding me at the moment. Whatever Owen said next was drowned out. I fought to ignore the pain and maintained a calm tone as I interrupted him, "Got it. I won't be there. Actually, I've got a work trip to Faldora, so I won't be around anyway." Owen fell silent for a moment, perhaps caught off guard by my not arguing about not being able to show up before Vanessa Cottle. His tone softened after a few beats. "You've really learned to be sensible." A sharp bitterness bloomed within me, and I fought to keep the tears from breaking free. My friend stared at me in disbelief. I could feel her surprise—everyone knew how much I loved Owen and how I'd lost myself in him. But this time, I didn't cling to him with desperation, didn't start a fight over Vanessa, and didn't let my insecurities slip through. My friend immediately noticed how off I looked. She sighed and silently poured me a glass of water. I drank it in one go, feeling the warmth spread through my body, easing the chill that had settled in. I smiled at her, packed up my things from the table, and began booking a flight. "So, you're actually going to Faldora?" she asked. I responded with a soft hum, my voice thick with the weight of my emotions. "I've wanted to go for ages. This is the right time, so I might as well make the trip." My friend was still staring at me with concern, so I forced a smile and pulled her into a tight hug. The warmth of her body was all it took for my tears to break free. She didn't know the cause of my slump, but she gently patted my back, murmuring comforting words. "I'm done loving Owen. I'm so tired of it," I said quietly. She had no idea what had happened, but she went with it. "Well, congratulations on your new beginning." My tears came pouring down harder. She had no clue I'd already died once and was given a second chance at life. This time, I was determined to live it better.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

In my previous life, on the day Owen and I got married, Vanessa ended her life by slitting her wrist in a hotel. He left me behind at the venue and rushed to her side. I thought her death would be the wedge that kept us apart forever. The sight of him so broken over her only deepened my sorrow. I thought we were done for. But instead, Owen held me tight and murmured, "You're the only one I have left, Audrey Millar." After we were married, he treated me like I was the center of his universe. He wouldn't let me do a single chore and did it all himself. Even with a packed schedule, he always made it a point to come home for dinner. He kept his assistants all male, saying it was to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings or drama. My friends couldn't stop talking about how lucky I was to have such a perfect man. I, too, felt incredibly fortunate to have Owen in my life. But on our tenth anniversary, I found myself dead at his hands. He accused me of ruining his relationship with Vanessa, then viciously bled me dry. So when I found out I had been granted another chance at life, all I wanted was to stay far away from them and find some peace. But the instant I saw Owen again—so radiant and full of confidence—it felt like a knife plunging into my heart. He stood there outside the office building with Vanessa by his side. The tenderness in his gaze when he looked at her could have melted everything around him. As soon as he saw me, his expression faltered, and he turned to her, worry creeping into his eyes. The sight of him brought back a flood of memories from my past life. I was always fighting with Owen over Vanessa. Whenever things got ugly, he'd give me that disappointed look and say, "Vanessa and I are just friends now. She's in poor health. Can't you just stop this nonsense and leave her alone? She still has feelings for me, so stay away from her!" Then he'd leave me behind and travel with her. At 20, Owen was terrible at hiding his emotions. He was like a porcupine, offering Vanessa his vulnerable side while bristling every quill in my direction. I lowered my head and picked up the pace, trying to slip away unnoticed. Vanessa, looking flustered and anxious, called out, "Owen's just trying to keep me company, Ms. Millar. Please don't fight with him over me, okay? No one's bringing their girlfriends to tonight's singles party, so don't read too much into it… Owen, Ms. Millar looks upset. Why don't you try to cheer her up?" Owen offered Vanessa a loving smile before responding nonchalantly, "Audrey won't stay mad at me. She's been more agreeable lately. Besides, if I tried to cheer her up, you'd get upset, and I couldn't bear to see you like that." I froze, his words cutting through me like a sharp blade. Owen's frustration boiled over when he saw me still standing there. "What are you still doing here? Just the sight of you irritates me. Oh, and by the way, Vanessa's going to start working here. I'll be driving her to and from the office, so stay out of our way. Don't make her upset." … The following day, with swollen eyes from crying all night, I handed in the proposal I'd worked on through the night. Along with it, I submitted my resignation. After leaving the director's office, I made my way back to my desk to gather my things. Just then, there was a commotion by the door. I looked up and saw Owen and Vanessa walking in. They were dressed in matching colors, their conversation light and full of laughter. Owen's hand rested protectively on Vanessa, his eyes soft with affection. They looked every bit like a couple at first sight.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

My colleagues were whispering amongst themselves, clearly taken with how well Owen and Vanessa seemed to go together, both strikingly attractive. Their eyes slid over to me, silently comparing me to Vanessa. It didn't take long for them to decide that Vanessa was the prettier one. The comments I overheard stung a little, but mostly, I felt a sense of relief. When everyone noticed how close Owen and Vanessa were, they pretended to be busy, but their eyes kept darting toward the three of us. Everyone at the company knew Owen and I were engaged, and I was madly in love with him. But now, he was standing by Vanessa without a second thought for me. My colleagues gave me pitying looks, their expressions saying they'd already imagined me sobbing, clinging to Owen, begging him not to leave. Those closest to me kept casting worried glances my way. I quietly packed up my things. Owen shot me an irritated look, snapping, "What's with the sour face? What are you doing?" I gave a calm smile and pointed to my stuff. "I've resigned. I'm just packing up. Don't worry. I won't stand in your way or upset Vanessa." Vanessa sauntered over. She placed a mango cake before me, her smile as sweet as it could be. "Owen baked this for me, Ms. Millar. I bet you haven't had a chance to try his baking. He's really talented! You should definitely try it. And please, don't hold anything against Owen. A good job is hard to find. I know you come from a wealthy family, but that's no reason to waste such a great opportunity." I didn't take the cake. Vanessa's smile faltered, and she turned her gaze toward Owen, looking hurt. Owen's expression darkened further, and he said coldly, "Vanessa is sharing this with you out of kindness. Just take it! Don't you have any manners?" Sharing? A smile slowly spread across my face as I met his gaze. "I'm allergic to mango, Owen." He seemed taken aback. "I had no idea…" Seeing him at a loss for words, Vanessa quickly chimed in, "But Owen says you're always bringing mangoes home. If you dislike me that much, Ms. Millar, just say it. There's no need to lie." I couldn't help smiling again. It was true that I'd been buying mangoes often, but only because Owen loved them. I hadn't eaten a single piece. Still, seeing how little Owen seemed to care stung more than I expected. After all, we had grown up together, yet he hadn't noticed my allergy to mango. Before I could say anything, Owen's temper snapped. He grabbed a handful of fresh mango slices from Vanessa and threw them at my face. When nothing dramatic happened, he shot me a harsh look. "When did you become such a liar, Audrey?" I dropped my head, feeling the sting on my face as red spots bloomed one by one where the mango had made contact. My colleagues shrieked when they saw the sea of red spots. My breath grew shallow, and then everything went black.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

My allergy to mangoes was severe. The mere scent of it was enough to make me feel uneasy, and having fresh mangoes touch my skin would have been a total nightmare. By the time I regained consciousness, I found myself in a hospital bed. Owen stood by my side, looking both guilty and anxious. "I had no idea… I'm sorry," he mumbled. I stayed silent. He stared at me as if sensing something wasn't right. I had been shutting him out and staying far from him these days. A flicker of panic crossed Owen's face before he poured me a glass of water. "Why does it seem like you've changed, Audrey?" I looked up at him. The face I had once loved across two lifetimes now felt utterly unfamiliar. "It's you who's changed. I've stayed the same," I said flatly. Owen let out a frustrated sigh, but his voice softened. "All I said yesterday was to stop bothering Vanessa. I didn't ask you to quit your job. Vanessa just started at the company, and she doesn't know anyone, so I'm just looking out for her. "By the way, how's that proposal going? Why don't you hand it over to Vanessa? She could use it more than you at this point." I smiled wryly. "So, Vanessa takes my fiancé, and now she's coming after my proposal, too?" Owen's face clouded with disappointment. "Vanessa and I are just friends now. Why won't you drop this, Audrey? Do you have any idea how controlling you're being? It feels suffocating to be in the same city and country as you!" I lifted my head and met his gaze. Then, I opened my phone and showed him my immigration application. "Don't worry. I'm applying for immigration to Almoria. You'll never have to see me again," I spoke clearly, making sure he understood every word. Owen stayed silent, his eyes locked on mine, his expression unreadable. I thought he'd be happy I was leaving, but there was no sign of relief on his face. A bitter grin spread across my face. He couldn't even bring himself to smile at me anymore. Fatigue weighed heavily on me, and I was just about to ask him to leave when his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, his expression instantly hardening. After a long pause, he said, "Let's put the engagement on hold. Vanessa's health hasn't been great lately, and she needs me. I can't bear the thought of her being unhappy." I nodded, not caring anymore since I had no intention of getting engaged with him. I couldn't risk repeating my mistakes, especially if it meant dying at Owen's hands again. A month before I was set to leave for Almoria, I was packing when I came across a diary. Inside were pages filled with the quiet confession of how much I had loved Owen. I was about to throw it away when my phone rang. It was Owen. His voice was distant, almost unfamiliar. "Your birthday's coming up. I remember you always wanted to go to Avendale and watch the sunrise. Let me take you there." My heart softened, despite myself. For years, Owen had been both family and lover to me. Even at a time when his hatred for me ran deep, he had once stayed by my side, watching over me day and night when I was seriously ill. I owed it to him to at least say goodbye properly. I reached the renowned observation deck in Avendale early on my birthday, waiting for Owen's familiar face. But he never came. Neither did the sunrise. Instead, an earthquake shook the ground beneath me. Humans were nothing more than fragile beings in the wake of a natural disaster. All I could do was recall the safety guidelines I'd read and try to find the safest place to hide. The violent shakes knocked me unconscious, and when I finally regained my senses, I found myself buried beneath the rubble. Fortunately, two massive wooden beams had fallen and wedged above me, creating a tiny shelter that kept me somewhat safe. I found myself thinking about many things in the darkness, but my mind kept coming back to Mom and Dad. I was thankful they hadn't made the trip to Avendale with me, but I couldn't escape the guilt that they must be beside themselves with worry. Time felt endless in that darkness. I thought for sure I was going to die buried beneath the rubble until a pair of scarred hands carefully pulled me free. My vision was blurry, but I could make out a face I knew all too well.