Chapter 1

In my previous life, I was so consumed by rage at seeing Lance Powell grow close to his junior colleague Melina that I threw one tantrum after another until I finally pushed him to divorce me.

I signed the papers in a heartbeat.

Head held high, I flung the settlement check back in his face and hissed the cruelest words I could muster.

"Keep your pathetic money, Lance. You were nothing more than a stray my family took in. Without us, you're nothing."

What I didn't know then was that the faster I walked away, the harder I fell.

A month later, my family's empire crumbled overnight.

Cast out and abandoned, I was left with nothing until the night a speeding car struck me down on a rain-slicked street, alone and forgotten.

But fate offered a second chance.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the beginning. The very evening Lance first brought that ambitious junior home.

This time, if we divorced, I wouldn't leave empty-handed. This time, I was taking half of everything that was his.

*****

"Vivian just moved to Metropolis and doesn't know anyone here. She's gonna crash at our place for a few days," Lance said, his voice cold and distant.

My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I slowly turned around.

Lance stood there, looking completely indifferent.

He didn't even bother to ask if I was okay with it. It was more like he was just letting me know, not asking for my opinion at all.

I froze. I pinched myself, and damn, it hurt.

Holy shit, I was alive again.

Just being alive felt so good that tears welled up in my eyes.

"Natalie, I really just need a place to crash for a few days. Once I land a job, I'll be out of your hair," Vivian said, her voice soft and pleading.

She bit her lip, looking like a lost puppy, so vulnerable it almost made me want to sigh.

When I didn't say anything, she added, "Natalie, do you not like me? Maybe I should just rough it in the park tonight. I really don't want to be a bother."

Vivian grabbed her bag and was about to head out, but Lance stopped her before she could leave.

Lance frowned and shot me a look. "Natalie, Vivian's just crashing here for a few days.

"Are you seriously being this petty? You're really gonna make a big deal out of this?"

His tone was just like before, the same as in my previous life.

Back then, I shot back, full of attitude, "This isn't some homeless shelter, and our family isn't here to do charity work.

"If you want to bring your flings home, you should just book a hotel instead."

That just ticked Lance off even more.

He completely ignored me and forced Vivian to stay, even putting her in the room right next door to his own.

Yeah, after we got married, we didn't even share a room.

Since things were gonna end the same way anyway, I might as well do what was best for me.

I nodded. "Sure."

I turned to the maid, Mary, and told her to take Vivian upstairs and get her settled.

And I specifically told her to put Vivian in the room right next to Lance's.

I remembered how, in my previous life, not long after Lance and I got divorced, news broke that he was marrying Vivian.

Lance held a wedding for Vivian that was the talk of the entire Metropolis, a real wedding of the century.

And at that time, I was getting my head bashed in by debt collectors, blood streaming down my face.

This time around, let them love whoever they want. I was done caring.

After telling Mary to get Vivian settled, I went straight to the kitchen to see what I could scrounge up to eat.

I completely missed the complicated look Lance sent my way.

"Mary, I want pancakes with maple syrup, apple pie, and a roast chicken. Make me one of everything!" I said, practically bouncing on my toes.

Mary Jenkins gave me that warm, indulgent smile of hers, beaming from ear to ear. She'd been with me since I was little, always spoiling me rotten.

After Lance and I split up in my previous life, Mary ended up out of a job because of me.

Looking back now, I really feel kinda bad about that.

"Eat up, Natalie," Mary said warmly as she brought out a whole spread of steaming food.

After my family went bankrupt in my previous life, I never had a proper meal again. Even in my final moments, my stomach was still empty.

I died of hunger. Now, even with food in front of me, I couldn't shake the feeling I was still starving.

I grabbed the food and stuffed it into my mouth like I hadn't eaten in days.

As I bit into a crispy chicken pot pie, the rich, savory filling burst in my mouth, making my taste buds sing.

Tears suddenly streamed down my face. "Ohhh... not being hungry is seriously the best!"

Mary looked at me like I was nuts. "Natalie, did something freak you out or what?"

She reached over and felt my forehead, checking for a fever.

Little did she know I was just so stupidly happy I couldn't help but cry.

I snatched up a buttered dinner roll and took a huge bite, puffing my cheeks out like a chipmunk.

Then I grabbed the bowl of creamy potato soup and gulped it down in one go. When I looked up, I met Lance's scrutinizing gaze. He was watching me, trying to figure out what was going on.

"What, you wanna steal my food? No chance," I shot back, giving him a defiant look.

Instinctively, I pulled all the dishes closer, hugging them like a dragon guarding its treasure.

Lance just looked at me, speechless, then turned and walked out.