02||~ Raven.

~~~~

Warm hands cupped my cheeks. "Raven. Can you breathe?"

Was this a dream?

If it was, then could I finally be with him?

A sob broke out of me, my gaze moving from his tender eyes to his lips. Why was this dream so real?

Slowly, I leaned closer and placed my lips on his, my entire body shaking, afraid this dream would end and he would slip from my hand again.

His body went rigid, his hand on my shoulder holding me so tight, I almost winced from pain. But it didn't matter, nothing did except him.

He tasted sweet, like strawberries and chocolate.

Someone let out a sharp gasp from afar.

Vance tried to pull away at the sound. I didn't let him.

Not when it could mean I would never see him again.

"What the fuck are you both doing?!" Dad bellowed and my eyes flew wide open, pupils dilated with the force of trying to make sense of what my eyes were seeing.

I detached from Vance, breath caught. "D-Dad?" My voice was weak, but it sounded like mine. Like the sane girl from five years ago.

Tears stung my eyes as I slowly rose to my feet with Vance's help, to face my very livid, but very real Dad.

The anger in his face eased at the sight of my tears. "Pumpkin, what happened to you?" The word had not left his lips before I threw myself at him, letting his deep cologne warm my heart.

"I am sorry, Dad. I shouldn't have..." The words wouldn't leave my lips due to the shame and guilt crawling through me.

Dad pulled me back to face him. "What are you saying, Pumpkin?" Concern crossed his features. He placed his palm on my forehead, the warmth from his body seeping into my skin. " Why is your body wet? What happened?"

I parted my lips to respond. But then...

I saw her, Aurora.

The bitch who ruined my Dad's life. A shiver ran through me. Trembling, I pushed my Dad behind me as if to shield him from her.

"Raven, are you okay?" She asked in concern, if I hadn't seen the real her, I would have believed that she really cared.

However, I would never forget her face as she told me that she had personally fed my Dad poison for three months, nor the look in her eyes as she described his death.

A loud buzz filled my head, drowning out all sounds, except the crazy yet undeniable thought invading my mind.

I had been reborn.

My breath caught, wide eyes scanning the area. This was three months before my wedding, before my life fell into ruin.

Yes, I remembered today!

I remembered it too clearly.

From the joy I woke up with after finding out I was carrying Elio's child, the pain of being shut down when I told him. My foolishness as I announced it to the whole world without caring about what it would do to Dad.

The taste of vomit and chlorine water in my mouth did nothing but confirm my suspicion.

Breathing heavily, I swirled around to face Dad who had a frown on his face. "What day is today?" I asked almost frantically.

"It's your birthday today, don't you remember?" Aurora responded from behind. My knees weakened instantly and i took a step back.

Water droplets flew as I shook my head in disbelief.

"Raven." Vance was in front of me now. "Breathe, Raven." He instructed softly, only then did I realize that I held my breath.

"It isn't a dream!" I whimpered, running my eyes through his huge frame.

"No, it's not." He confirmed, brow snapped together.

"Thank God, I thought you were both dead. I thought I was alone." I said, throwing my arms around him.

"It's alright." Vance patted my back softly.

"Ok, that enough." Dad snapped. "I need to know what's going on, right now!." His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Vance as though he wanted to burn a hole through him.

"I-"

"That can wait, she just fell into the water." Vance interrupted.

"Fine." He gritted out and turned to Aurora, take Raven to get changed. And be quick with it, the guests will be arriving soon."

"Yes, sir." Aurora turned to me. "Come with me, Raven." I immediately shook my head, hugging Vance tighter.

I didn't want to be anywhere near her, not after everything she did to me in my past life. Vance let out a soft sigh. " Don't be scared, I am here."

"Take me there, please."

He stared at me like I had spoken a different language. "Are you sure?" I responded by hugging him tighter, only then did he bend down and sweep me in his arms, lips pressed in a thin line while he carried me to my room.

Aurora on our heels.

Vance placed me down once we arrived in my room. I offered him a soft smile and tucked a strand of his curly gold hair behind his ear. His ear turned red and he grabbed my hand. "What are you doing?"

"Sorry. The hair was just..."

Fool.

Why did I touch him like that? I chided in my head.

He opened his mouth, closed, it, then opened it again. "Are you certain you are alright?" He asked.

"I am. Why are you asking?"

"You hated hugging me since you turned sixteenth, but you've hugged me three times today." He said, brows pressed together as if trying to figure me out.

I looked up. Had I?

Cheeks burning, I lowered my eyes. "O-oh. I didn't notice."

His frown deepened, yet he turned around. "Take your time. I- Your Dad and I will be waiting." He said, then he was out. I almost ran after him.

Almost.

Calm down Raven, he's not going anywhere. This was the thought that made me stay.

"Don't be swayed by his action, We both know that Vance only sees you as a little kid." Aurora's voice jerked me out of my thoughts. I flinched, fingers digging into my skin as I glared at her. "W-Why are you looking at me like that?"

Briefly, I imagined myself lunging at her and tearing off her skin for everything she did. Yet, I restrained myself.

Maybe it won't be wise to just rush at her like that. A cold smile spread on my lips. "Nothing. I am just wondering who gave you, a maid, the guts to involve herself in my business."

Her eyes flew wide open, pupils blown large as if she couldn't believe I would say that to her. "Raven-"

"Oh, I know why." My gaze was cold as I took a threatening step towards her. "It's because I have you too much access to my life, I trusted you and treated you as a sister. But what did you do to repay me, pushing me into the water so I would drown."

She took a step back, color draining out of her face. "No! I didn't-"

"I saw you!" I screamed. "You were the one who pushed me into the water!" Another step, she recoiled eyes not meeting mine.

Aurora's breath was shaky, I knew I had her in the right place. A smile curled at my lips as I leaned back, and finally asked her the question that had been burning in my mind.

"The man you brought into my room three weeks ago, it wasn't really Elio, was it?"

~P-Lia~

03||~Raven.

~~~~

A small gasp tore out of her and she took a step back, her whole body trembling. Seeing her like this only fueled the rage curling within me.

This was nothing close to what she made me go through inside that hell they took me to. She killed Dad and accused me of poisoning him.

Nobody listened to me, not even the police.

Then they took me away and locked me up, kept me away from the other patients.

I lived my life strapped to that horrible bed while watching as they made the man who sacrificed everything for me suffer. I had been so naive in my past life and too stupid to see through Aurora's deceit.

"It was Elio. I swear it." Lies.

Aurora never looks away from my eyes. Never, unless she was lying, that is.

A sharp note of laughter slipped out of me and I took a step back. " I was just joking with you, why do you look so shocked?"

Her body eased a little. "O-oh."

It took everything in me to restrain myself, and walk into the bathroom. Once there, I stared at my face in the mirror, still trying to understand how it all happened.

I could still remember the feeling of having my breath blocked by that thick, black smoke. The terror I felt when it dawned on me that I wouldn't be able to avenge Dad and Vance.

My eyes trailed my pale skin, from my brown hair that matches my eyes to my slightly chubby cheeks, to my slightly swollen belly.

It was nothing like the image I saw the last time Aurora forced me to look into a mirror. A bitter taste flooded my mouth when I remembered what has happened that same day.

My hand slowly moved to my belly. "I am sorry baby, mummy wasn't able to protect you in our past life." Just three months after I married Elio, he pushed me down the stairs and my baby died.

I never even got to know it's gender or hold it.

My gaze hardened.

This debt, they all have to pay it. I would make them go through every single thing they put me through.

It took me a while to sort out my emotions, then I walked into the room. Aurora was no where to be found, but there was a red dress on the bed. Without sparing it a glance, I walked to my closet and picked out a white dress.

At that moment, I made up my mind. I would wear no other color except white, until my revenge is complete.

When I walked into Dad's office a few minutes later, the atmosphere was tense. Vance was seated on a black couch in a corner, thumb brushing absently over the gold ring on his thumb.

The same one I had given him for his thirtieth birthday. My fingers shook at the sight. He always kept it with him like an irreplaceable treasure, even until his death.

Dad sat on his office chair, a glass of bourbon held tightly in his hand.

And Aurora, she stood at a corner, looking like she would cry any moment. She was the first to call out to me. "You are here."

My steps were measured as I walked into this room. "Dad, Vance."

Vance's head snapped to mine, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he forced himself to look away.

Dad, examined me, the disappointment in his eyes a sharp dagger piercing through my insides. I wrapped my hands around myself. "Are you ready to tell me what's going on now?"

I took in a deep breath before opening my mouth. "I am pregnant." A pause. "And Vance is the father."

Dad jerked in his chair.

Vance closed his eyes, fingers tightening around the armrest.

And Aurora?

She wasn't surprised, after all, she had been the one who followed Elio's order to drugged Vance and bring him to my room.

Dad blinked, once, then the glass slipped from his hand and shattered. "What did you just say?"

Both in my past life and this one. I never regretted getting pregnant, however, Dad's reaction had been the one thing I was guilty for.

"I am sorry." I whispered, not meeting his eyes.

Without warning, Dad dashed out of his seat and lunged towards Vance. I didn't get to react in time. The blow landed with a sickening crunch.

"How dare you lay a hand on my daughter! " Dad yelled, delivering another blow. "She is almost half your age, Vance. I trusted you!"

I could hear my pulse in my ears as I ran to separate them. "Dad! Stop it." Dad was too angry to see reason, which made him shove me back, I hit the floor hard.

Vance made no move to defend himself. His hands remained at his side as though he believed he deserved every blow. Yet, his gaze flickered to me, checking if I was okay.

This same situation had happened in my past life, when I told Dad that I was pregnant for Elio. However, unlike Vance, Elio had fought back

He had shoved Dad against the wall, making him hit his head and faint. Despite this, I still went ahead and married him.

Each mistakes I had made to break his heart flashed before me, including his death that been caused by my foolishness. Everything weighed heavily on my heart.

" Dad, please stop it." I cried, rushing in-between them once again, my hands thrown wide to shield Vance.

Dad paused mid punch, eyes wide, chest heaving. "You are protecting him?" He croaked, eyes sparkling with tears.

"It was my fault Dad. I drugged him."

Dad's pupils dilated.

It was a lie, yet this lie was the only thing that could save Vance for now. My gaze shifted to Aurora and she quickly looked down.

Vance held my shoulder. "You don't have to lie for me." He said.

I let out a deep breath. "We need to talk, Dad. And I want you to listen." When did he didn't relent, I took a step forward and touched his shoulder. "Please."

Dad nodded, shoulder curved inward as headed towards his chair. I turned to help Vance up, when he opened his mouth to speak, I shook my head, a smile tugging at my lips.

Despite how depressing this moment was, the fact that Vance was alive and right in front of me somehow made my chest feel lighter.

Once we were all seated, me beside Vance and Dad on the couch farthest from us, i finally realized the implication of what I had done.

"I was going to drug Elio, but Aurora somehow messed the drink up and gave it to Vance instead." I confessed.

"You did what?" He snapped, voice thick with barely contained fury. I couldn't speak, for a moment, I expected him to lunge for me like he has done to Vance.

He didn't.

"Why did you do it, Raven? Were you so starved of love that you had to resort to such despicable means?"

I couldn't meet his eyes.

Then, as if just realizing what I said, His sharp gaze snapped towards Aurora. "You knew all about this?"

~P-Lia~