Chapter 1

In my past life, the jewelry brand co-founded by my three childhood sweethearts and I gained global fame, and I shared a lifetime of love with Xavier Snead.

When I was reborn on the day I was trapped in the fire, I felt no fear—for I knew Xavier would come to save me.

Watching him rush in without a second thought for his own safety, I stretched out my hand, ready to continue our love together.

Yet his steps never paused for me. He passed right by, picked up the nanny's daughter, and dashed outward. My other two childhood sweethearts crowded around her too.

"Lily, we finally could save you this time." It turned out all three of them, just like me, had been reborn.

*****

The heat was suffocating, and thick smoke filled the air. As soon as I opened my eyes, I was choking and coughing. Even trapped in the fire, I wasn't scared—I knew my husband Xavier would come save me.

In my last life, he'd risked everything to pull me out of a fire just like this. That's why I chose him over my two childhood sweethearts to be my husband.

We were known as the perfect couple. The jewelry brand, Lily Heart, we'd co-founded with the other two was famous worldwide. We'd stood by each other for decades, and everyone in our circle envied me—for my love, my friendship, and my career success.

On my deathbed, I'd asked him, "In the next life, you'll still be my hero who comes to save me, right?"

He'd gently pinned on the lily brooch I'd designed—the same one that became our engagement token. With a smile, I closed my eyes.

Reborn in this life, I'd waited for him to be my hero again. Finally, I saw that familiar figure. I was about to call Xavier's name when he walked right past me.

Without a second thought, however, he picked up the servant's daughter from behind me and rushed out of the fire—never even glancing my way.

Outside, I heard two more voices—Dylan and Paul. I screamed their names, hoping someone would rescue me. But they only gave me a quick look and kept going.

In my last moment of consciousness, I heard them say, "Lily, we finally saved you this time."

A burning beam collapsed onto me. My arm exploded in pain, and I blacked out.

When I woke up again, I was in the hospital. The nurse told me firefighters had pulled me out, but it was too late—my right arm was shattered, and my lungs were severely damaged from inhaling so much smoke.

"It feels bad to see her lying there alone," one nurse whispered. "She's hurt this bad, and no family or friends have come to see her."

Another added, "That girl named Lily next door is the opposite. She only has a few burns, but three guys are waiting on her hand and foot—like she's the apple of their eye."

The pain in my heart hurt more than my body. For days, no one came to visit me.

Then one day, I saw Xavier rushing past my door. I called out to him, my voice hoarse.

Xavier avoided my gaze. "Rosalie, can we talk later? I have something urgent right now."

I stared at the man I'd loved my whole life. My heart felt like it was being torn apart. "You didn't want to save me, and now you don't even want to talk to me?"

Xavier stammered, unable to answer—until Dylan and Paul showed up with the nanny's daughter. "Xavier, why are you so slow?" Dylan said. "Lily's been crying for cake."

I looked at the small cake in his hand. A bitter ache filled my chest. So his "urgent matter" was delivering cake.

When the three of them noticed me, they clearly panicked.

The servant's daughter knelt down first, tears in her eyes. "Ms. Simmons, please don't blame them. Take all your anger out on me instead."

My three childhood sweethearts, who'd looked guilty a second ago, rushed to help her up, comforting her softly.

"Rosalie, I know you're mad," Xavier explained. "But the situation was urgent. I had no choice."

Paul had always had the shortest temper. Once, he'd been like a fierce little lion—defending me without a second thought.

But this time, he stood in front of her. "All lives are equal. Besides, you're not even hurt, Rosalie. In our last life, Lily—"

"Paul. Shut up." The other two cut him off sharply.

I ignored them, my voice shaking as I asked the girl's name.

"Ms. Simmons, my name is Lily Hawkins," said the servant's daughter.

My whole body froze. The room spun around me. Now I understood everything.