Chapter 4

After the grad school entrance exam, life got a little easier for me.

Every day after work, I'd head back to my apartment and cook dinner for myself.

My cooking skills kept getting better, so when I went home for the holidays, my parents couldn't get enough of my food.

It was just a couple of days before Christmas when I ran into Vita on my way to the supermarket to pick up some groceries.

Vita and I first got acquainted because of Albert.

In my previous life, after Albert and I became a couple, he arranged for the three of us to meet during a meal, just so Vita and I could get to know each other.

But that time, Vita left without eating anything. She said she had something urgent and headed out.

Vita locked eyes with me for a few seconds, then strutted right over.

I just stood there, not budging an inch.

"Well, look at your nice outfit. Making some real cash these days, right?" Vita chimed in with a mocking tone.

I was rocking a black wool coat that looked pretty sharp.

Then she kept going.

She sneered, "But what's the use of having money? Albert's already dumped you.

"I heard on your engagement day, Albert ditched you and totally messed up his big day just to help me.

"Thalia, you're just leftover trash he abandoned. I'm always his top priority."

I just flashed Vita a cool, unbothered grin, refusing to let her get under my skin.

I looked at Vita's body.

She was wrapped up in a long, white puffer that swallowed her whole. Her hair draped over her shoulders, scarf snug around her neck, sleek knee-high boots on her feet—she looked so bundled up that only her face peeked out from all those layers.

Vita had a classic oval face, sharp features, and lively, sparkling eyes. She was truly stunning.

In my previous life, Vita's face was a mess. It was rough, scarred, ruined by nasty burn marks. Even when she wore a mask, those scars just wouldn't stay hidden, so Vita pretty much never dared step outside.

That was exactly why Albert would spend every day running errands for her, letting her take out all her frustrations on him. He was fine even when Vita yelled at him and hit him.

Vita had actually gotten pregnant once.

In the years leading up to my death, Albert would spill all sorts of stories about his history with Vita, including moments and secrets that he'd never shared with anyone else.

Once the pregnancy test was positive, Vita started bouncing around on purpose, which led to a miscarriage.

Albert was livid, but Vita just shrugged it off, saying she couldn't bear to go to a hospital and let doctors see her real face. She wanted nothing to do with that.

So when I died, Vita was still hiding away inside her place, refusing to face the world.

I figured that she was planning to stay hidden away for the rest of her life.

I collected myself and dropped the smile.

I said, "Being his favorite sounds nice.

"I heard you and Albert both got burned. Where are the injuries? How bad are they?

"Albert once said you cared most about your looks. So, you think you'll be able to wear dresses this summer?"

Vita's face instantly contorted with anger.

"Thalia, you bitch!" Vita snapped.

She swung her hand right at me, obviously trying to slap me across the face.

I caught her wrist in mid-air and snapped it away, shoving her arm aside with force.

I fired back with a sneer, "Takes one to know one.

"You're the one who came at me first, picking a fight for no reason."

Vita staggered back a few steps, looking flustered and completely speechless.

I couldn't be bothered to stick around any longer. I just turned and walked away, leaving Vita standing there fuming.

On the third day after Christmas, I met up with Chloe and got some good news.

She said, "Curtis said Albert's skin surgery was fairly successful."

Curtis Byrd was one of our high school friends. Chloe had stayed in touch with him.

Chloe kept going, telling me more about what Curtis had found out.

She said, "Albert's parents sold their house just to get him the best treatment. They used every connection they had to get top surgeons from Horan for all three of his surgeries, so the outcomes were really impressive.

"The doctors said as long as his recovery keeps going well, it shouldn't have much impact on his regular life."

I nodded, letting her know I got it.

Chloe added, "But after his second surgery, Albert had a huge fight with his parents because of Vita."