Chapter 4
After my oh-so-dramatic farewell with Connor, I hung up and gave Samantha a frosty stare.
Back then, she was so hung up on Connor that she even tried to rope Connor's mother into her little scheme, hoping to guilt-trip him into marrying her.
But Connor barely gave her the time of day. He was so done with her drama that he packed his bags and skipped town, ending up all alone in a foreign country.
After Connor confessed his feelings for me right in front of her, Samantha instantly saw me as her biggest rival.
She never let it go—she made it her mission to ruin my life and snatch away everything I cared about.
Right before I died, she leaned in close, gloating, and taunted, "So, how does it feel when someone steals the person you love? Hurts like hell, doesn't it?"
Of course, it hurt a lot.
I hated every second of it. So I torched my room and let the fire swallow me whole.
If I had to suffer, then let it be the last time.
"Samantha, I really do have a boyfriend. If you're so desperate, go hit up Jason. He's dying for a girlfriend," I shot back, pure sarcasm in my voice.
After all, Samantha would be obsessed with him soon enough, even willing to kill people for the guy.
From the moment I started video chatting with Connor, I could feel Jason's burning gaze locked on me the whole time.
But I didn't spare him a single glance, not even when I walked out of the party.
This time around, I knew exactly what I wanted.
I'd got my own path to follow, and I would not let some mistake of a guy drag me down a dead end again.
After dying once already, I learned the hard way that we couldn't count on anyone else.
In my last life, I poured my heart and soul into making Jason who he was, and lost myself along the way.
This time, I was desperate to break free from all those chains and finally spread my wings.
Connor's call lit up my phone again.
"Catherine, what are you doing?" Connor's voice was crisp and a little jealous over the line. "Why are you with Samantha?"
I lowered my eyes and grinned, teasing, "Can't you talk to your fangirl? She's always making trouble for me."
"Fangirl? I don't have any fangirls. I only have one girlfriend," Connor shot back, his voice deep and playful.
That low, magnetic voice buzzed in my ear, making it burn. I rubbed my ear, feeling my heart skip a beat.
"Hey, don't take advantage of me," I shot back.
"Catherine, seriously? You're not supposed to just ditch me when you're done. That's cold," Connor huffed.
"Anyway, back to business. I've got a spot open for a photographer. You in? Don't you dare stand me up for Jason again," Connor added, his tone playful but with a hint of warning.
"Catherine, why didn't you stand up for me?"
Suddenly, I heard a demanding voice behind me. I turned around and saw Jason.
He glared at me, his face clouded over, eyes almost scary with how intense they were. "Aren't we supposed to be friends?"
I stared at Jason, keeping my cool. In my last life, I gave up so much for him, for that face I once thought was worth saving.
For the first time ever, I threw away my pride and my dreams for someone else, not even caring what I'd get out of it.
I lost myself, lost my youth, lost everything.
Back then, photography was my everything. I had my own dreams I wanted to chase, too.
On the other end, Connor didn't say a word, but I could hear his breath quicken—tension practically crackling through the line.
I shot Jason a cold smile. "No, we're not friends. Not anymore."
This time around, I'd live for myself. I'd be my own sun, and no one else's.