Stanley Hamilton and I were basically Southport's favorite hate-watch couple.

For Elodie—my oh-so-perfect adopted sister—he wrecked my company and had my parents thrown in prison.

I, in turn, drove Elodie to her death, making him watch as she jumped off a rooftop.

Our forced marriage? Just a slow ride from mutual disgust straight into mutual destruction.

Then came the car explosion. Stanley, who'd hated me forever, still used his last breath to shove me out of the blast.

"Vivienne Weston, one lifetime tangled with you is enough. If there's a next one, let's never meet."

He touched the tattoo of Elodie's name on his neck, smiling faintly as the flames took him.

After he died, I wandered through life half-dead myself until illness finished the job.

When I woke up in the past, staring at two betrothal contracts, I didn't hesitate—I picked the guy everyone swore was insane.

Stanley and my dad? I handed them right back to Elodie.

This time, I wanted no meetings, no memories, no strings. Ever again.

"Vivienne, have you lost it?"

The second I said I was gonna marry the so-called psycho from Northvale's Clementine family, Dad's fists balled up. He thought I was just being petty about Elodie.

"What happened at your birthday was nothing. You're really gonna trash your engagement over that?"

Three days ago, Elodie and I both fell into the pool. In front of everyone, Stanley dove in—straight for her—leaving me, his fiancée, floundering like a loser.

"It's not breaking it off," I said, smirking. "I'm just letting him marry my sister."

Dad froze, but I grabbed the betrothal contract, scribbled out my name, and slapped hers in. He opened his mouth to argue, but Elodie was faster, clutching his arm.

"Dad, do you even care about me? Or am I just not good enough for Stanley?" she said, all wide eyes and fake heartbreak.

Dad's eyes flicked between us before he went quiet. Eighteen years raising Elodie—of course he cared about her.

I walked out under her smug little smirk. The night air hit my face, and I tossed the engagement ring straight into the trash.

"Vivienne Weston, what are you doing?"

I spun around. Stanley. Didn't even hear him walk up, but there he was, brows knitted.

"Didn't you swear you'd never let Elodie have that ring, no matter what I offered for it? What's your angle now?"

Old me would've cried, demanded to know who he actually cared about. Not this time.

I lowered my lashes, keeping my voice flat. "You're funny, Mr. Hamilton. It's just a ring. If Elodie wants it, she can have it."

I fished it out of the trash and dropped it into his palm.

His eyes flickered. "I'm warning you—if anything happens to Elodie, this wedding's off. Anytime."

Thinking about how he'd smiled at that stupid tattoo before dying in my last life, I couldn't help but grin. "Relax."

This time, I'd give him the marriage he thought he wanted.

***

Back in my room, I told Geoffrey, our butler, to pack up everything tied to Stanley and dump it.

He said carefully, "Your wedding's in a week. You've never let anyone touch these things before. Why now?"

I scanned the room. Since coming back to the Weston family, Stanley had been in every inch of my life.

I picked up the first gift he'd ever given me—a pair of diamond heels. My fingers shook for a second.

Then I smiled at Geoffrey. "Yeah. Toss it all. And forget about the wedding prep."

I barely finished before the door banged open. Stanley stormed in, eyes blazing.

"Vivienne Weston, don't push me too far!"

He clamped his hand around my throat. "You forced Elodie to marry that lunatic, didn't you? I told you what happened at the birthday party was an accident. Why can't you just leave her alone? Girls from the slums like you always gotta make everything messy!"

My eyes burned. "Don't forget who put me in the slums—who stole my life, my father!"

A bitter taste hit the back of my throat, and I doubled over, coughing hard.

Stanley knew exactly what I'd been through—he was the one who dragged me out of that place.

And now he was slicing me open with the cruelest words he could find, all for Elodie.

His face shifted like he'd just snapped out of a fog. He reached for me, trying to wipe my tears. "Vivienne, that's not what I meant. I'm sorry."

I stepped back, dodging his hand, jaw locked.

"Elodie's not even your family's real daughter," he said, voice low. "Your dad loves you—so of course he'd do what you want."

I couldn't hold it in anymore. My hand cracked across his face. "Get out."

I shoved him toward the door. He lingered, then finally left.

When I opened the door again, a bottle of bruise ointment sat on the floor.

I sucked in a breath and told Geoffrey to toss it.

When I first came back from the slums, I was covered in cuts and bruises. Stanley had used that exact ointment, tending to me piece by piece.

But that wasn't kindness—it was pity. Guilt for helping Elodie steal my place as the real daughter.

I'd bought it in my last life. Never again.

***

Soon enough, it was time for the makeup birthday banquet Dad had thrown together for me.

He wanted to announce both my and Elodie's marriages, but I'd already shot that idea down.

Elodie showed up in a white gown, gliding down the spiral staircase on Stanley's arm.

The crowd actually gasped.

"Well, she WAS raised by the Westons for eighteen years—she's got the real heiress vibe. Some people just can't compare."

"What a shame. Elodie and Stanley grew up together, and now Vivienne's forcing her to marry that lunatic..."

I tuned them out, smirking as I downed my champagne in one shot.

Wonder if, at their wedding, these same people will call her out for stealing my fiancé and shoving me—the actual heiress—out of the picture.

I wasn't planning on starting anything, but Elodie made her move, gliding right over under all those watchful eyes.

She clasped my hand, face all soft and sorry. "Vivienne, I didn't mean to bring Stanley. I just wanted one last dance with him before I got married. I never wanted to outshine you."

I cocked a brow. "Last dance with him before you got married? Funny. Then tell me—who exactly are you marrying?"

Color rushed into her cheeks. Guess it's hard to answer when I had literally handed her the betrothal contract with Stanley's name on it.

Stanley bristled instantly, yanking her to his side. "Vivienne, don't start. Everyone knows you pushed your dad into arranging Elodie's marriage. And now you're trying to humiliate her in front of all these people?"

He stared at me like I was the biggest letdown of his life.

Elodie clung to my arm, voice all shaky. "Vivienne, I know you hate me, but I was a victim too. I had to leave my real parents—why can't you forgive me?"

I shook her off, disgusted.

She let out a cry and stumbled backward, crashing into the champagne tower before hitting the floor in a heap.

"Elodie!"

Stanley's eyes went wild. He stripped off his jacket, draped it over her, and scooped her up like some knight in shining armor.

As he passed, his glare was pure venom. "Vivienne, for everything you've ever done to Elodie, I'll pay you back—one by one."

I almost fired back, but all the memories from my last life—every fight, every loss—shut me up.

This time, I was just... done.

Should've figured it out ages ago—if someone's hell-bent on not believing you, nothing you say will ever change their mind.

***

After the banquet, I headed back to my old place in the slums.

The alley was narrow, dark, and smelled the same as always. I was about to push the door open when a voice stopped me cold.

"Dad, Mom, I'm begging you, just leave!"

Through the crack, I saw Elodie yanking at my aging adoptive parents—her real parents—Brigitte and Donald. Her tone was razor-sharp.

"In a few days, I'll be Stanley Hamilton's wife. If people find out YOU'RE my parents, how am I supposed to keep my place in the Hamilton family?"

Brigitte, all guilty eyes, clutched Elodie's hand. "Elodie, it's my fault. For your happiness, I'll do anything..."

Watching her cry into Elodie's arms was like getting dropped into an ice bath.

They'd always known exactly who she was.

What happened back then wasn't some twist of fate—it was Donald and Brigitte's plan to swap me out so their real daughter could live the good life.

Elodie was still telling them to get out of Southport when I shoved the door open.

Brigitte froze. "V-Vivienne... W-What are you doing here?"

Before I could say a word, a shadow loomed behind me.

Stanley stepped closer—just in time for Elodie to jab her finger at me, all fake outrage. "Vivienne, how could you try to drive my parents away?"

She clung to Brigitte, crying like her heart was breaking. "Mom, I'm useless. I couldn't get myself a good marriage, couldn't protect you. But no matter what, you and dad raised Vivienne for eighteen years——how could she toss you out of Southport just to save face?"

I looked straight at Brigitte, my voice low. "Is that true?"

Even if it was a lie, I'd treated her like my mom for eighteen years.

Brigitte's gaze flicked to Elodie before she closed her eyes and said nothing.

Stanley let out a cold laugh. "Vivienne, what's left to explain? Elodie's about to get married, and you're trying to toss out her real parents? How low can you go?"

His fingers gripped my chin, all that earlier guilt gone—just pure disgust.

I'd had enough. "Stanley Hamilton, are you that sure I'm gonna marry you?"

I sank my teeth into the base of his thumb. He hissed and let go.

Then my eyes cut to Elodie.

She looked away. "I- I don't know what you're talking about..."

"Don't know?" My smile went razor-sharp.

I pulled a fresh betrothal contract from my bag and tossed it at Stanley. "Go on—read it."

***

For a second, Stanley just stared at it like his brain had short-circuited.

His hands shook as he reached for it, but before he could open it, Elodie's face drained of color and she crumpled.

The contract hit the floor as he scooped her up and bolted.

As he brushed past me, his voice was rough. "Vivienne, I'm taking Elodie to the hospital first. We'll talk later."

I figured he'd let her wrap him around her finger again.

But not long after, Stanley showed up in front of me.

"I checked the security footage from the banquet," he said. "I came to apologize."

I kept my head down. "Don't bother. I can't afford your apology."

I turned to go, but he grabbed my arm, looking rattled. "I misunderstood you about Elodie. She's not a bad person, just... scared. Vivienne, you already took her marriage. You two are even now."

I let out a sharp, mocking laugh, yanked my arm free, and walked off.

After I packed my stuff, word came that Elodie wanted to see me.

"Vivienne," she said, "your mom's locket's still with me. If you want it, come get it."