Chapter 1

Kevin Wexley and I time-traveled together.

In my previous life, he personally went to the orphanage to bring me home and made me his wife. We lived a long, happy life together.

But this time, when his parents smiled and waved at me, just like they had in our previous life, teenage Kevin stopped them. "Mom, Dad, I don't want her anymore. I want this girl to be my sister."

Kevin reached out and took the hand of the girl standing beside me, the Thompson family's adopted daughter, the one who had died young in our previous life.

Kevin looked at me with icy hatred. "You stole Lillian's life and caused her death. This time, it's your turn to taste the hell she died in."

In that instant, I understood everything. So this time, he wanted to be the dragon-slaying hero who saved the princess.

"Do you want to come with me?" Victoria Thompson asked softly.

I looked at her, then at the back of the man I'd spent decades with as he walked away with Lillian.

I nodded.

Fine, this time, I wanted to live a different life, too.

*****

When I walked out of the orphanage, the Wexley family hadn't left yet.

As soon as Kevin Wexley saw me, he quickly shoved Lillian into the car and gave me a nasty look. "Penelope, even if you bowed and begged, I still wouldn't take you. The Wexley family doesn't want you.

"A thief like you belongs with the Thompson family; they'll eat you alive."

Kevin shoved me aside and slammed the car door shut.

I stumbled, barely staying on my feet.

The Wexley family's cars sped off.

The exhaust whipped up so much dust that I could barely see.

A black Maybach pulled up in front of me.

The window slid down, and Victoria Thompson's cold face appeared. "Still thinking about going with the Wexley family?" she said.

I shook my head. "I like the Thompson family."

Victoria hesitated for a moment, then shot me a casual glance. "What's your name?"

I answered softly, "Penelope."

"From now on, you're Penelope Thompson," she stated matter-of-factly. I knew exactly what she was getting at.

I hopped into the car and replied obediently, "Okay, Mom."

Victoria raised an eyebrow but said nothing, leaning back in her seat and resting with her eyes closed.

I kept quiet after that.

The car rolled up to the Thompson mansion.

I followed Victoria inside.

Victoria dropped her bag, looked up like it was no big deal, and called out, "Everest, meet your new sister, Penelope Thompson."

I was caught off guard and instinctively looked up.

Standing at the second-floor railing was a guy, even more good-looking than Kevin, with a face so flawless that it was almost unreal.

I had no clue how long he'd been up there, watching.

I was genuinely shocked. That was Everest Thompson? Seriously, how was he this ridiculously handsome?

In my previous life, soon after I joined the Wexley family, the Thompson family shipped Everest off overseas.

By the time I finally saw Everest again, it was years later.

Everest had already taken over the Thompson family, but his face was twisted and scarred. Thanks to his terrifying looks and ruthless style, the business world called him the Grim Reaper.

I gave him a sweet, hopeful smile and called out, "Glad to meet you, Everest."

Everest completely ignored me, just lounging on the railing upstairs, his face cold and distant.

Victoria just shrugged. "Just ignore him. He's never been much of a talker."

Victoria called over the maid to help me get settled, then headed out.

Just as I was about to step out with the maid, for some reason, I glanced back and locked eyes with Everest, his gaze as dead as night.

My heart skipped a beat. Before I could even manage a smile, he broke eye contact first and slipped back into his room.