Arianna gasped, jolting upright in the worn dorm bed. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic hummingbird trapped in a cage. Five years. Five years evaporated, replaced by the raw, agonising memory of betrayal and despair. The metallic tang of blood still lingered on her tongue, a phantom echo of the gun she'd used.

Her long, black hair cascaded around her face like a curtain as she lifted a trembling hand to trace the curve of her jaw. The vibrant blue of her eyes, usually a source of pride, now felt like a cruel mockery, reflecting the inferno she carried within.

It was real. She was back. Five years younger, five years innocent, five years before Jake's deceit and Katie's treachery wrapped around her heart and squeezed the life out of it. Five years before Arthur, her own brother, ushered her to slaughter for a larger slice of the family fortune.

Jake... The thought of him sent nausea crashing over her. Charming smiles, tender glances, promises of forever - all lies. He was a venomous snake who had slithered into her life, poisoning everything he touched. And Katie... her little sister, the girl she'd showered with affection, had been the most devastating betrayal of all.

The first few days were a whirlwind of suppressed emotions. Classes at the university felt surreal. Surrounded by carefree laughter and youthful optimism, Arianna felt like a ghost haunting a world she no longer belonged to. She avoided her family, the urge to confront them almost overwhelming. But she resisted. Revenge was a dish best served cold, and she had five years to prepare the perfect recipe.