Chapter 1

Marcus Shaw and I were childhood sweethearts. After graduating from college, I became his wife.

For sixty years, we stood by each other, totally inseparable, and our love story became the stuff of legends in our circle.

Before Marcus passed away, he'd already lost himself. I leaned close to catch his whisper.

"Vivian, marrying you was fate for me this lifetime. But if there's a second chance, I want to marry the woman I truly love."

Raindrops tapped on the tombstone, tracing their way down the photo on his headstone.

Not far from Marcus's grave, I saw the one he truly loved, quietly sobbing to herself.

I, Vivian Stephens, felt a stabbing ache in my chest.

With another chance at life, I chose to distance myself from Marcus.

I stopped desperately trying to save him, and no longer sacrificed my dreams for him.

But Marcus grew increasingly unsettled.

"Vivian, you've changed," he said.

*****

At the graduation party, everyone was having a blast in the hall, music blaring and wild.

I stood right where light met shadow, just listening to the scuffle happening somewhere in the alley, not making a move.

Marcus's silhouette was blurry in the gloom, hard to make out.

His clothes were slashed, and he looked a total mess, forced up against the wall by a few guys brandishing metal pipes.

The guy in black leading the pack was gripping a shiny knife.

In my previous life, that same knife nearly ended Marcus's life.

And it was that knife that wrecked the tendons in my fingers—killing my shot at being a pianist.

I clutched the edge of my dress, my fingers turning white, but I stayed frozen.

Leah Sullivan, my bestie, quietly slipped her arm through mine.

She teased, "I was seriously worried you'd lose your mind because of love and dash in to rescue him. Whew, you're still here, thank God."

I gave a faint smile and looked away. "I'm just not that crazy about him. He's not worth putting my life on the line."

"Guess you haven't totally lost your mind yet. Good," she said, gently brushing my hair.

Marcus had made an enemy out of the campus tough guy during a college basketball game. He'd agreed to the fight today, clueless that the bully had brought his whole gang looking to mess him up for real.

Marcus faced them down, catching the knife that was headed straight for him. Blood poured from his palm.

This time, I just stood there with my fists clenched, watching Marcus as if I was a total outsider—no longer the girl who'd throw herself into danger for him.

Leah waved her phone at me. "Guess I'll call the cops now. He is the Shaw family's golden boy. If he were killed here, that's gonna be a big headache."

I didn't leave until those sirens started getting closer, echoing through the alley.

Behind me, I could hear Marcus calling out, his voice faint and strained. "Vivian..."

I didn't look back, just hurried straight back inside the hall.

Marcus ended up in the hospital. Word was, he wasn't in too bad of shape—the knife hit his stomach, but missed anything vital.

I listened to everyone talking, my face showing nothing, but inside, all I could taste was bitterness.

In my previous life, even if that knife didn't kill me, it still shredded my dreams and feelings, locking me up tight in the web Marcus spun around me and never letting me go.

His parents, Daniel Shaw and Eleanor Shaw, felt guilty after I risked my life for Marcus, so they practically forced him to "be there for me".

I always thought he must have feelings for me deep down—just played it cool on the surface.

It wasn't until the moment before he died that I learned Marcus had already given his heart to someone else.

The girl he really loved was the one grieving at his grave, sobbing like she'd lost her whole world.

In this life, I just hoped he would find happiness with the woman he truly loved.

Marcus spent a week in the hospital, but I never once went to see him.

My mom showed up first, carrying a plate of fruit—my favorite peaches, sliced up just the way I liked them.

I glanced at the peaches, already knowing she was here to talk me into visiting Marcus.

Marcus was a pro at peeling peaches—always smooth and perfectly round. The grown-ups used to joke that only his future wife would ever get to enjoy his peach-peeling skills.

I used to think that was something special just for me.

"Vivian, Marcus really hurt his hand. You two grew up together. You really should go visit him," my mom urged me softly.

I glanced away from the plate of peaches and replied mildly, "Mom, I honestly don't have the time. The International Piano Competition is just a week away, and I have to prepare.

"You and Dad can check in on him for me. I'm sure Marcus won't mind."

She looked like she wanted to say something else, but when she saw me settle seriously at the piano, she just set down the fruit plate and slipped out quietly.

With the competition coming up, I was completely holed up in the practice room, just pouring all my energy into the piano. Honestly, I really didn't have any time to go see him.

In my previous life, after my hand was injured, I missed my chance to ever compete in the competition.

This time around, I was set on fulfilling the wish I couldn't realize in my previous life.

After a long day of practice, I pushed open the door to the practice room and ran right into Marcus.

It was my first time coming face-to-face with him in this life, and my whole heart felt like it was caught in my throat.

His face was paper-white, eyes bruised and shadowed. Even though he looked utterly drained, there was no hiding the menace and fury simmering beneath his skin.

He stared straight at me, his voice hoarse. "Vivian, why didn't you look back that night? Why didn't you save me?"

I took a deep breath to steady myself and managed a faint smile. "I'm just a girl. How could I possibly save you? Was I supposed to block those knives and metal pipes with my bare hands?"