Pereshati woke up from her bed, feeling someone was watching her. She looked around, feeling paralyzed in her bed before she saw her family's faces beside her bed. Their expressions sent a cold shiver down her spine.

Her step-sister and mother had that sly smile on their faces while her lover was silent, as if he knew something terrible. The air felt heavy with anticipation, making it difficult to breathe.

Her lover, Schiff stepped forward and held Pereshati's hand in his. "Shasha..." He said softly, a smile on his face - an eerie, unnatural smile. "Please die, and only then your fortune will come to me. I have loads of outstanding debt, you know." Schiff laughed softly. "I'm so glad I married you! Please die. As my lover, that's the least you can do.."

Pereshati was shivering, clutching her chest, feeling her heart beating loudly as she let out shaky pants. The room seemed to spin around her, the faces of her family blending into a nightmarish vision.

Her step-mother giggled softly behind Schiff. "Oh don't give me that glare, darling.." She looked at Pereshati with cruel amusement. "Believe me, you only have your father to blame."

Her step-sister laughed and smiled excitedly. "Are we gonna be rich, mother?"

Schiff smiled up at her. "Of course we will, my princess."

Pereshati's breath hitched as she realized her supporting and loving lover had been cheating on her with her step-sister. She watched as they held each other with those stupid smiles etched on their faces.

Reina laughed at her sister's predicament. "Hah! You think Schiff is your husband?!" Reina walked towards her. "He only pretended to love you because I asked him to!"

Pereshati was choking silently on tears, unable to speak due to some invisible force holding her voice captive.

Her step-mother spoke with that evil smile as she slowly pushed the pillow towards Pereshati's face, planning to suffocate her. "We'll take good care of your fortune once you die."

.....

Pereshati woke up, finding herself alive?! She quickly stood up, running out of her room and frantically asked the maids and servants for the date. Their answer stunned her - she had somehow returned to before everything happened. Her step-mother and Reina were smiling and laughing, as if they knew nothing of the murder attempt. Pereshati saw Schiff running up to her, holding a bouquet of flowers and a small box containing a ring.

Pereshati fell to the ground, crying tears of relief, but not because of Schiff's proposal. It's because she was alive.

"A marriage proposal?" The Grand Duke looked at Pereshati with dull, unreadable eyes. "You want to marry me?"

"And why should I marry you?"