Elizabeth Harper woke up to a sharp, tearing pain tearing through her body.
Every joint ached like she'd been run over, and one specific spot—yeah, that hurt the worst.
Her eyes flew open wide.
Everything around her was way too familiar—the dim, gray-toned bedroom, the plush, expensive wool rug on the floor, and the king-size bed she was lying on.
This was Alexander Blake’s room.
The place where all her nightmares started in her last life.
“You’re awake?” A deep, slightly hoarse voice came from next to her, unmistakably laced with the aftermath of intimacy.
Elizabeth froze completely and snapped her head to the side.
Alexander was leaning against the headboard, shirtless, with well-defined muscles and a few faint red marks across his chest.
A cigarette dangled from his fingers, smoke curling lazily around his chiseled face. His sharp black eyes were watching her through the haze.
It was him. The younger version of Alexander.
And she—
She looked down at herself. Her body was covered in bruises and kisses, the sheets a total mess. The air reeked of sex and smoke.
She’d come back. Back to that blurry night after she'd gotten drunk and slept with Alexander.
In her previous life, the Harper family had hit rock bottom financially, and the Blakes just happened to want a marriage alliance.
But she’d been in love with Michael Reed back then and had stormed off to drink alone at a bar, only to end up losing her virginity to Alexander.
Eventually, she had no choice but to marry him. And she’d hated him for it.
What she didn’t know was—it was all Victoria Wade's trap.
"Elizabeth, you're honestly the dumbest woman I've ever seen. Alexander loved you so much, and you were the one who killed him."
"I’ve been waiting for this day forever. Blame yourself for listening to me, divorcing him—he was your only lifeline. Now? No one’s coming to save you."
"And since you’re about to die anyway, let me spill a few more goodies—might help you go more peacefully."
"I was the one who killed your child with Alexander. The only reason you survived all those years was because that man was secretly protecting you. But today? There’s no one left to protect you. Know why? Because he died trying to save you. When he heard you went to Arisa, he rushed over… and got hacked to death."
"Tell me, Elizabeth, what made you so worth loving to him? I met him before you did, but just because you were the real Harper daughter, you got to marry him so easily. Well, if I couldn’t have him, then neither could you."
"Also, your parents' car accident? Me. Your grandpa dropped dead when he found out the truth. And your brother—the one who spoiled you? I poured gasoline on him and lit the match myself."
"Oh, and by the way, I’m not the only one who wants you dead. There are plenty of people dying to see you gone. If they knew I killed you, they’d throw a party. Just think of all the stuff I’d get."
"So yeah, you're going down—might as well be grateful. Soon enough, your whole family will be reunited. Sweet, huh?"
The memories came crashing in like thorns wrapping around her bones, making her shake from head to toe.
Alexander noticed she was off. He snuffed out his cigarette, voice going cold.
“Elizabeth, even if you hate me, you’re still mine. This life, you don’t get to run.”If it were her past life, Elizabeth would’ve snapped back the moment he said something that domineering—shouting the nastiest words she could think of before slamming the door behind her.
But now... things were different.
She looked up. This time, instead of wrapping herself in the blanket and storming off like she used to, she reached out and hugged Alexander tightly around the waist. He stiffened in shock.
This was real—Alexander was alive. Warm. Breathing. Not the cold, lifeless man who’d died protecting her from Victoria’s trap.
“Alex…” Her voice cracked and wavered, choked with emotion. “I’m sorry…”
Alexander froze, his tall body stiff as a board. For a second, he genuinely thought he must have misheard her.
“Elizabeth, what are you playing at now?” he asked, eyes narrowed, voice low and full of skepticism.
In the past, his distrust would’ve made her lose it instantly. But now? Now it felt like a knife to the heart.
This was all her fault. The lies, the pain—she had crushed his trust bit by bit until even a hint of sincerity from her looked like another lie.
Teary-eyed, she looked up and shook her head desperately. “No games, Alex! I mean it this time—I messed up, I really messed up…”
Her hand, slightly trembling, reached up to touch his sculpted face, fingertips cold as ice.
Alexander flinched, instinctively wanting to pull away from her touch. But he forced himself to stay still, holding back, just staring into her teary eyes like he was searching for any trace of a performance.
“What did you mess up?” he murmured, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Messing up that you didn’t run off with Michael successfully last night, and ended up in my bed instead? Elizabeth, this isn’t the first time you’ve said you’re ‘sorry’.”
Every time she’d backed down like this, it was just a setup for the next betrayal, the next escape plan.
His heart had been shattered so many times, he didn’t know how much more he could take.
“No, it’s not like that!” she cried, panicked, tears falling faster. “I’m apologizing for every horrible thing I’ve done! It's my fault for trusting the wrong people… for blaming you!”
She stared at him, eyes glistening, face streaked with tears. “Alex, I get it—you don’t believe me right now. But please… just give me one chance. I’ll prove it to you. From now on, you’re the only one I care about, the only one in my heart.”
“And anyone who tried to hurt us, who plotted against us… I won’t forgive a single one of them.”
Her gaze burned with fierce determination, so intense it almost pulled him into her fire.
Alexander held her stare for a long time. A really long time.
Then suddenly, he pulled her into his arms, gripping her so firmly it was like he wanted to press her into his bones, refusing to let go ever again.
“You said it yourself, Elizabeth,” he muttered against her hair. “If you lie to me again… I’ll lock you up. You won’t take a single step away from me for the rest of your life.”
If she could just love him—even if it was a lie—he’d probably take it, no questions asked.
Elizabeth clung to him, nodding hard, her tears soaking through his shirt.
This time, she wouldn’t mess it up. She wouldn’t let him go down that dark road again.
This time, she would be the one to protect him. To love him.
And every last person who hurt them... she'd drag them down, one by one. Straight into hell.