Dead Once, Now I Listen

Synopsis

On our wedding anniversary, my husband, Victor Grant, personally lit the thirtieth candle on my birthday cake. His eyes were filled with affection, and his voice was so smooth it could have charmed the birds from the trees. "Make a wish, Charlie. May my girl be safe and happy, year after year." Amidst the flickering candlelight, a cold, venomous voice pierced my ears like a needle. 'Wish my foot, you damn bitch. Just blow out the candles and drop dead already. As soon as you're gone, I can finally bring Sophie and Adam home. I've put up with you for years. If it wasn't for your family's billions, even touching you make me sick.' A deafening roar exploded in my mind. Sophie Blake... the woman he always claimed was some distant cousin. And who on earth was Adam? I forced myself to swallow the wave of nausea and dug deep into the grisly memories of my previous life, where I met a tragic end. The day after my thirtieth birthday, I "accidentally" tumbled down the stairs from the second floor, snapping my neck instantly. My Ragdoll cat, Bella, whom I'd raised for five years, wailed beside my body, only for Victor to kick it against the wall, turning it into bloody pulp. He had held a five-year-old boy in his arms and told Sophie, "There. Nothing stands in our way anymore." That boy's name was Adam Grant. As it turned out, his supposed "child-free" lifestyle was just a ruse to ensure I died without an heir so he could openly and legally claim everything from the Quinn family after I was gone. A tidal wave of hatred nearly scorched my sanity, yet I looked at him and flashed a sweet smile. "Of course, Victor." I closed my eyes and pressed my palms together. 'Die! Just die already!' His inner voice was screaming, cursed and frantic. I moved my lips, making a silent vow. "I wish that Victor, Sophie, Linda... all of you would be buried with my tragic death in my previous life in the most spectacular way." I opened my eyes and locked onto his hypocritical gaze. The game was on.