Chapter 1
At our wedding, when Marshall Goodwin guided me to that fatal seat, I suddenly felt it was all meaningless.
I'd tried to win his heart nine times. The first eight times, I'd died because of his adopted sister Dorothy Goodwin's deadly schemes.
This was my closest attempt yet. But the fishing line glinting on the clock's hour hand told me the truth.
When the clock struck 12, the taut line would pull the trigger of the crossbow hidden below.
It would kill me. Again.
Marshall's warm hand on my shoulder made me nauseous. I tried to pull away.
He leaned closer, smiling, and whispered in my ear.
He said, "Behave.
"Dorothy stayed up all night setting this up.
"If it works, you can always try for a tenth time.
"I promise I'll stop her games next round."
So he knew everything. He knew I'd loved him through nine lifetimes.
He knew Dorothy's "pranks" had killed me every time.
But what he didn't know—This was my final chance.
*****
I slumped into my seat, numb. A thought crossed my mind. Maybe this was it. At least if I died, the pain would stop.
With just ten seconds left, Dorothy called for everyone to raise their glasses and toast to my wedding with Marshall.
Everyone got to their feet, their smiles so sincere as they cheered for us.
But I couldn't hear a single word. There was nothing but the ringing in my ears.
My vision started to blur.
Marshall grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet, like I was already dead inside.
He made sure my forehead was lined up perfectly with the firing hole, just to make sure I'd bite the dust right when everyone thought I was at my happiest.
Staring into the dark opening that was about to end me, I started counting down in my head.
Ten, nine, eight, seven...
Dorothy's face was practically glowing with excitement, while Marshall gazed at her, as if she meant everything to him.
He looked at her like she could do no wrong, like she was just a sweet, innocent little girl.
Four, three, two, one, zero!
The crossbow bolt shot out, fast as a viper's strike, and terror slammed into me. I whipped my head away on pure instinct.
Then, a searing pain exploded in my ear.
The celebration froze, and the whole room went dead silent.
Furious that her plan had failed, Dorothy slammed her wine glass to the floor right by my feet.
Red wine splattered all over my white wedding dress.
She snapped at me, "Why the hell did you move?
"Do you have any idea how much work I put into recreating the whole 'Wedding Murder' setup?
"This was my one shot. There won't ever be another one!"
Marshall let go of my hand, his face full of disappointment.
He said, "Why won't you ever listen to me?
"I told you, Dora was up all night setting this up. Can't you show her a little consideration?"
I shot back, "So I'm supposed to show her consideration just because she pulled an all-nighter trying to kill me?"
Marshall hesitated, at a loss for words.
Then he lowered his voice.
He said, "It's not like you're actually going to die anyway."
But it still hurt!
The guests, still stunned, just stood there with their glasses awkwardly suspended, not knowing what to do next.
The tension hung in the air, frozen.
Then a small voice spoke up, "Ms. Quinn's ear is bleeding!"
Blood mixed with tears and ran down my cheek as the women around me scrambled to find their handkerchiefs, desperate to stop the bleeding.