Chapter 1
I came back from the dead with only one resolve: to set my fiancé free, so he could go back to the girl he'd always loved.
When he threw a private party for her and barred me from entering entirely, I left for Flamoria without a single hesitation.
When he told me I was nothing but a nuisance just by existing, I quit my job on the spot.
When he said he couldn't bear to live in the same country as me, I moved overseas without delay.
And when he wanted to put his beloved at ease by ensuring I was gone forever?
I smiled, and accepted another man's marriage proposal.
I obeyed him, over and over. All for the sake of my past life.
After we'd gotten married, the girl he adored had broken down and slit her wrists.
He blamed me for tearing them apart and treated me like trash—tortured me, broke me, and squeezed every last ounce of life from my body.
This time around, I was living only for myself.
Later, when the three of us ran into each other, he suddenly dropped to his knees in front of me, utterly destroyed.
He was sobbing so hard his entire body shook, as if he were falling apart right there on the ground.
"Marina," he gasped through broken sobs, "leave them behind. Choose me. Just us."
*****
"Marina, Nathan's throwing a private party for Vivian tonight. Aren't you going?"
My friend's voice jolted me back to the present.
I blinked at her, still dazed, and her brow furrowed with worry. "Did you two fight? You've been out of it for days."
I shook my head.
Just then, my phone buzzed. It was Nathan Hughes.
Seeing his name flash on the screen sent a sharp, familiar ache shooting through my chest.
After a long, heavy pause, I answered.
His voice was cold, distant, as if I were a complete stranger. "Vivian just broke up with her boyfriend. Tonight's just a small friends' thing—no plus-ones. I don't want her feeling even worse with you there."
I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood, a sharp reminder that I was alive, and hurting.
His words blurred together; I hardly processed a single one.
I cut him off, swallowing down the lump in my throat.
"Got it. I won't get in the way. I've got a work trip in Flamoria anyway," I said, keeping my tone steady, unmoved.
Nathan sounded surprised.
Probably because I wasn't throwing a fit over being excluded for Vivian Sutton's sake—for once, I wasn't fighting him on it.
After a beat, his voice softened, almost dismissive. "You're being reasonable for once."
Inside, my chest was splitting open. I fought to hold back tears, my throat tight enough to choke.
My friend stared at me in shock.
I knew why. Once upon a time, I'd loved Nathan so fiercely I'd lost every piece of myself.
But now? I didn't argue. I didn't panic over him and Vivian. I didn't break down.
She saw how hollow I looked, but didn't push it—just sighed softly.
She handed me a mug of hot coffee.
The warmth seeped into my frozen bones as I sipped it.
I forced a faint smile, gathered my things, and opened my laptop to book a flight.
"Are you really going to Flamoria?" my friend asked.
I murmured a quiet yes.
"I've wanted to go for ages," I said flatly. "Now I've got the chance. I might as well go see it."
I smiled, trying to reassure her, then pulled her into a tight hug.
Her warmth shattered me. Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them.
She didn't know why I was falling apart, but she just held me, rubbing my back gently.
"I don't want to love Nathan anymore," I whispered. "I'm so tired."
She didn't fully understand, but she played along. "Good. Time for a fresh start."
Tears fell harder.
She had no idea I'd already died once. That I'd been given a second chance.
This time, I was only living for me.