Chapter 1

Before our divorce was even finalized, Julian fell in love at first sight with my cousin, Claire.

On the way to sign the papers, a car crash killed all three of us.

When we opened our eyes, we'd been given a second chance—waking up on the exact day we registered our marriage in New York.

This time, without a word, we all made the same choice: end it immediately.

Once the ink was dry, Julian rushed to marry Claire, and they took off for Europe to build their empire. I stayed in New York to advance my medical career.

Six years later.

With Claire as his manager, Julian became a renowned painter in the European art scene, his works selling for astronomical prices.

I was still saving lives in the ER.

A family gathering brought us together again.

With his arm around Claire, Julian looked down his nose at everyone in the room.

But the moment he found out I was marrying another man, he lost his mind.

"I just made a foolish mistake! How could you be with someone else?!"

I got to the exclusive members-only club in Manhattan before most of the family.

I found a quiet corner and opened my laptop to review a complex case. My patient was crashing, and I needed to finalize a surgical approach fast.

I was deep in the charts when Julian Shaw and Claire Bennett made their grand entrance.

The moment our relatives spotted them, they scrambled to their feet and swarmed the couple.

"Julian, making such a name for yourself in Europe so young! Claire, you really hit the jackpot."

"I heard a major gallery invited you back to New York for an exhibition? Incredible. You're putting this family on the map!"

"Julian, my kid's been painting. Think you could introduce him to some of your gallery contacts?"

Claire blinked her doe eyes, clinging to Julian's arm with a practiced, sugary laugh.

"We're all family. Don't be a stranger. If your kid needs a portfolio review, just shoot Julian a text."

That was all it took. The relatives tripped over themselves, desperate to turn flimsy family ties into a golden ticket to the elite art world.

Julian tilted his chin up, soaking it in. He looked like a king holding court among the peasants.

I finished my notes, pulled out my earbuds, and stifled a yawn.

The movement drew the room's attention.

"What's Evelyn doing here? I thought she hated these things," someone muttered.

Julian narrowed his eyes, zeroing in on the speaker. "Has she really not shown her face at a single event in six years?"

The relative nodded eagerly. A mocking smirk tugged at Julian's mouth.

Six years ago, Julian and I woke up in the past—on the exact day we registered our marriage.

Right in front of the whole family, he had rushed over to Claire, pulled her into a desperate embrace, and declared his undying love.

Claire had burst into tears, clinging to him like they'd just survived a war. Right then and there, Julian announced she was his one true love.

The scandalous end to our hours-old marriage had left everyone's jaws on the floor. Most of the people in this room had watched the whole spectacle.

"She's at Manhattan General Hospital now. Working crazy ER shifts, day and night," another relative gossiped. "Doctors make decent money, but it's nothing like the art world."

"Who knows why she showed up today? Probably to get Julian's attention. What happened back then was pretty humiliating."

"Julian's a famous artist. Claire's his manager. Does Evelyn seriously think she can win him back? Delusional."

The disdain on Julian's face deepened. He pulled Claire tighter against his side.

"That's ancient history," he declared smoothly. "Claire is the only woman for me."

The room fell dead silent. Julian and Claire had meticulously branded themselves as high society's perfect couple. Bringing up the messy past was a mood killer.

I cast a bored glance their way, then flagged down a waiter for a glass of orange juice.

I just wanted my parents to get here so we could announce our news. I had an ER shift to get back to.

But Claire couldn't stand seeing me unbothered.

Her designer heels clicked sharply against the marble floor. She stopped right in front of me, reaching out to pick up a stray strand of my hair with a look of exaggerated pity.

"Evelyn, you really need to take better care of yourself. Look at what all those night shifts are doing to you. Your hair feels like straw."

Instantly, all eyes were on me. A few older relatives took their cue.

"That's Evelyn for you. Just had to be an ER attending physician. Works herself to the bone, and for what? It's not like she's making real money."

"Such a shame. No wonder she's been hiding from the family all these years."

I met Claire's gaze, finally taking a moment to really look at her and Julian.

Claire wore a classic cashmere coat and dripped in custom jewelry. From head to toe, she projected old money confidence—or at least, a very expensive imitation of it.

Beside her, Julian wore a tailored suit, looking like a wealthy heir straight out of a magazine spread.

They certainly played the part.

I pressed a finger to my throbbing temple and took a step back.

"Are you done, Claire? Then back up. Your cheap perfume is giving me a migraine."

Claire's smile vanished.

Before she could open her mouth, Julian stepped in.

"She's just looking out for you, Evelyn. Drop the attitude."

A wave of irritation rose in my chest. But I had more important things to do today.

"I don't have an attitude. I just got off a twenty-hour shift, and I don't have the energy to play catch-up."

I looked them dead in the eye. "Stay away from me. It's not that hard."

Julian's expression darkened. He was used to being worshipped. He'd convinced himself his life was infinitely better than mine.

In his mind, I was supposed to be green with envy, begging for a scrap of his attention. Instead, I was treating him like a nuisance.

Sensing his bruised ego, Claire quickly stepped in.

"Julian, it's a family gathering. Let's not stoop to her level."

"It's only natural she's still bitter about the past. We should be the bigger people."

Julian's face softened. He tucked a lock of hair behind Claire's ear.

"You're always so gentle."

He turned back to me, his voice icing over.

"All these years later, and you're still as stubborn and insufferable as ever."

"If you'd just been a little softer back then, maybe you wouldn't have ended up so alone."