Chapter 1

On our third anniversary, I woke up back in my previous life.

The candlelight flickered as my husband, Franklin Grant, brought a piece of M9 wagyu beef to my lips. His eyes were so full of love that they almost melted me.

"Hazel, try this. I made it especially for you," he said.

But at the same time, his venomous thoughts burrowed into my eardrums like maggots.

'Go on, eat up, my sweet wife. This is the last time you'll ever taste something this good.

'That old dog still won't die. Such a nuisance. I'll take care of it tonight. I can't have it messing up my son moving in.

'Once I get the Weston family's fortune, I'll send you, the sickly one, straight down to join your dog.'

My stomach churned. I nearly threw up right there.

In my previous life, on this exact day, my golden retriever, Goldie, died in a car accident.

I was devastated. I was already frail, and my health went downhill fast. I didn't even make it half a year before I died.

After I was gone, Franklin took every cent of my family's fortune. Then he made a big show of marrying the woman who was always his dream and brought their six-year-old son into our house.

Turned out, none of it was an accident.

I invited the wolf into my own house. I handed the knife to the monster myself.

My heart felt like someone had grabbed it with a fist. The pain was so sharp that I could barely breathe.

I swallowed the overwhelming hatred. Then I looked up and gave him a pale, needy smile. "Franklin, you're so sweet."

'Sweet? You idiot. You have no idea how 'sweet' I can be.'

I dropped my gaze so he wouldn't see the murderous intent swirling in my eyes.

Franklin, in this life, I'll show you how "sweet" I really am.

*****

After dinner, Franklin was as thoughtful as usual. He got warm water and my medicine ready.

"Hazel, you should rest early. Your health isn't great, so don't stay up late." He gently ran his hand through my hair. His eyes were full of pity and care.

'Fall asleep quickly. The deeper, the better. I've got someone coming to the back door at ten. I need to make sure you don't come out and mess things up, you stupid woman.'

I nodded obediently. I lay down as he said and closed my eyes.

He tucked me in and gave me a cold kiss on the forehead. Then he left.

In the darkness, my eyes flew open wide awake.

At 9:55 p.m., I got up without a sound. I changed into black clothes. Then I went to the surveillance room by the back door.

I had set up those cameras because after Goldie died in my previous life, I felt so unsafe.

In this life, I set them up early.

On the screen, the path behind the house was empty.

I waited silently.

At exactly ten, a sneaky figure showed up. He pulled a piece of jerky from his pocket. It was covered in some strange powder. He tossed it into the bushes.

Soon, Goldie's huge figure ran out of the darkness. He sniffed the piece of jerky, picked it up, and happily ran toward the back door.

Over there, a black van was starting up quietly. Its lights were off. It looked like a huge beast lurking in the darkness.

My nails dug deep into my palms. My hands were covered in blood.

'Now.' I heard Franklin's excited, vicious thought from the other side of the house.

I pressed the alarm I had set up long ago.

The sharp, piercing sound cut through the quiet night in an instant. All the lights in the house turned on at the same time. The backyard lit up like daylight.

The van that was about to lunge at Goldie screeched to a halt. It panicked and turned on its headlights.

Goldie was still holding the jerky in his mouth. The sudden noise and lights startled him. He stopped and stared blankly at the van.

The man who had poisoned the jerky was now completely exposed under the cameras and lights. Panic was written all over his face as he bolted for an escape.

"Freeze." My voice through the intercom was as cold as ice.

The security guards, lying in wait, rushed out from every direction. They completely surrounded the man and the black van.

Franklin rushed in almost right away. His face showed just the right amount of panic. "Hazel, what's going on?"

When he saw the screen, his eyes widened. 'Damn it. How did this happen? How did the plan get exposed?'

I threw myself into his arms. My body shook like a leaf in the wind. My voice was tearful. "Franklin, I'm so scared. I just had a nightmare that someone was trying to hurt Goldie, so I pressed the alarm."

"I didn't expect... I didn't expect it actually happened." As I spoke, I kept my eyes locked on his.

Panic flashed in his eyes for a split second. Then he quickly put on an angry, shaken look. He held me tight. "Don't be scared, Hazel. I'm here. Those bastards. How dare they act up on my turf?"

'This stupid woman. Lucky, though. But it's fine, as long as she doesn't get suspicious. And that loser can't even handle such a small thing.'

He comforted me. At the same time, he took out his phone, pretending to call the police.

But I heard his vicious thought loud and clear. He was giving new orders. 'The plan failed. Clean up your own mess. If you dare rat me out, I'll make your whole family disappear.'