Word that I had dumped Luke spread through campus like wildfire. Overnight, I became the villain in everyone's story—heartless, ungrateful, and playing the love game for sport.

No matter where I went, I could feel the stares on my back and hear the whispers trailing after me.

"She's the one who dumped Luke."

"I heard she was just using Luke until something better came along. She probably found some rich guy."

"Wow… never thought she had it in her. She always seemed so quiet, but she's got a scheming streak a mile wide."

I couldn't have cared less. Compared to the electric shocks and restraints I had endured in the psych ward in my last life, these rumors were nothing. They were child's play compared to what I had been through.

For the past two days, Sarah wouldn't leave me alone, constantly pushing me to get back with Luke.

Every word out of her mouth was loaded with how miserable he was without me, how much he still needed me.

"Nat, Luke hasn't eaten for two days. He's lost so much weight. You can't just let him waste away like this."

She took my hand, her voice dripping with sincerity. "You guys were everyone's couple goals. Don't let a little fight ruin that."

I pulled my hand free and met her gaze, taking in the fake sweetness in her eyes. It was almost funny. I said evenly, "If you really care so much about him, why not go date him yourself?"

Her smile faltered for half a second before snapping back into place. She explained, "I'm doing this for you. I'm your best friend. I can't just stand by and watch you screw this up."

"Oh, really?" I gave her a dry little laugh before continuing, "Well, thanks for the unsolicited advice."

I left her standing there and headed straight for the basketball courts.

One figure immediately caught my eye. He was tall, pale enough that his storm-colored eyes seemed to draw anyone in and hold them there. A small mark beneath one added an edge that made him hard to look away from.

He wasn't playing—just leaning lazily against the hoop, like he had all the time in the world. The space around him was completely empty, as if everyone knew better than to get too close.

The guy was Ethan Grant—old money, had a bad temper, and had moods that could turn on a dime. He had trouble written all over him. In my last life, I had heard the rumors—one young lady dated him for less than a month before she transferred to another school just to get away.

I took a deep breath, walked across the court, and stopped right in front of him. He seemed to sense someone watching him and lifted his gaze, slow and lazy. His eyes locked on me—cool, appraising, with just a hint of impatience.

"What do you want?" he asked me. His voice was just like him—cold and distant.

I met his gaze head-on and said, each word deliberate, "I broke up with Luke. Now, I'm saying yes to being your girlfriend."

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, Ethan just stared at me. He was caught off guard. He straightened slowly, towering over me, a teasing smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Last time when I was pursuing you, didn't you say you and Luke were madly in love? What, so now you're ready to let him go?"

Ethan's words pulled me back to the years I had spent with Luke. Back then, we were really in love. But that was before Sarah stole it all away.

I kept my voice steady. "If you're not interested, then forget it."

I was just about to turn away when he let out a low, quiet laugh. "Of course, I am."

Before I could react, Ethan closed the distance and gave me a kiss.

News that I got together with Ethan spread faster than the news that I'd dumped Luke. The campus lit up with gossip.

"Oh God! Did Natasha lose her mind? Dumping Luke for Ethan?"

"Does she seriously think Ethan is the same kind of nice guy Luke was? Just wait—by day three, she'll be begging for mercy."

"I'm giving it a week before she comes crawling back to Luke in tears."

I was the hot topic of the week, and every single person was betting on when I'd go down. And Luke, the guy I had dumped without a shred of hesitation, finally lost it when he heard the news.

He stormed into my classroom, his eyes glassy, and he was seething. He questioned me in front of everyone. "Natasha, what the hell are you doing?"

He pointed straight at me, every word dripping with betrayal. "Did you break up with me just to be with Ethan? Why are you doing this to yourself?"

Before I could say anything, Sarah jumped in, looking absolutely heartbroken.

"Luke, calm down." She grabbed Luke's arm but turned on me, playing the know-it-all bestie.

She continued, "Nat, how could you be so stupid? You've got a great guy like Luke, and you dump him just to mess with Ethan? He's not even worth it!

"As your best friend, and even if you hate me for it, I'm not gonna stand here and watch you ruin yourself without saying something."

She played the part of the righteous friend, all conviction, like she was really looking out for me. The rest of our classmates around us started chiming in.

"Exactly, Natasha. Sarah is right. You should break up with Ethan."

"Luke's been nothing but good to you. Don't be stupid."

I took in the whole ridiculous scene and almost laughed. "Luke, it's over between us. Why can't I start a new life?"

Then, I turned to Sarah and gave her a look full of sarcasm. "And you, Sarah. Why are you so far up in my business?"

Sarah's face went pale. She hadn't expected me to call her out in front of everyone.

Luke was shaking, so angry he couldn't even speak. Then, a male's voice cut through the room. "Since when is it your job to lecture my girlfriend?"

Ethan leaned against the doorway with his hands in his pockets, cool as ever, as his gaze swept the room. He walked over at an unhurried pace, slipping in front of me like it was the most natural thing in the world to block me from view.

His gaze landed on Luke, and his first words were pure venom. "Losing to me isn't exactly shameful.

"Let's be real. Whether it's family background, looks, or anything else, you don't even come close. So instead of standing here barking like some sore loser, go ask yourself why you got dumped."

Luke's face went crimson from the humiliation. He shot me a glare sharp enough to cut glass before turning and storming out.

That was when I noticed Sarah's gaze was locked on Luke. It was more intense than they had ever been on Luke.

I smirked. Sarah had taken the bait.

From that day onwards, she stopped trying to push me back toward Luke. Instead, she started working to "help" my relationship with Ethan.

She fed him everything she thought she knew about me—my favorite colors, my tastes, even the type of guy I supposedly liked. And the wildest part was that Ethan actually listened to her. He molded himself into the perfect boyfriend.

It wasn't until a class dinner that Sarah finally made her move—locking Ethan and me in an empty private room after I'd had a little too much to drink.

Just before she shut the door, she glanced back at me with a smile full of hidden meaning.

She thought that after tonight, Ethan's feelings for me would hit their peak. Then, she could just sit back, bide her time, and steal every ounce of that love for herself.

She wasn't wrong. But what she didn't know was that I had been waiting for this moment, too.

The private room was just me and Ethan now. He was definitely drunk—his eyes were cloudy, that pale, almost sickly face flushed an unnatural shade of red.

Step by step, he closed the space between us, murmuring my name.

"Nat, you're mine. Only mine."

He tried to force himself on me, but I kept myself calm.

The moment his lips were about to crash down on mine, I didn't flinch. Instead, I lifted my hand and struck hard against the back of his neck. Ethan's tall frame went slack, collapsing to the floor and out cold.

I stood there, breathing hard, staring down at him without a shred of pity.

The night stretched on. I sank onto the couch, silently watching him sleep on the floor.

Lately, I've been drowning in the love pouring off Ethan. It was a hundred, a thousand times more intense than Luke's ever was—like invisible chains winding around me, suffocating me.

In my last life, I'd felt Luke's love sour into hate once Sarah stole it away from me. That was in a psych ward, and it was the last thing I felt before I died.

This time, I'd make Sarah experience it for herself—what it was like to be wrapped in this twisted devotion.

Minute by minute, the hours slipped past. And then, just before dawn, the crushing weight on me suddenly vanished. Ripped away all at once. It was taken over by a rush of relief I'd never felt before.

I smiled. Sarah made her move. Almost on cue, the lock on the door clicked softly.

The door swung open, and Sarah stood there. She froze for a second when she saw that I was fine.

"Nat! Are you okay? I… I lost the key last night and spent hours looking for the spare key." Her eyes flicked around the room. "You and Ethan… How did it go?"

Her voice was all concern, but she couldn't hide the way she kept looking for Ethan. I played along with her act, putting on a heartbroken face as my eyes instantly filled with tears.

"We… We broke up." My voice caught. "When he woke up, it was like he'd changed completely. He said he didn't have feelings for me anymore. He told me to get out."

The flicker of triumph in her eyes was instant, and it was impossible to hide. She smoothed her expression quickly and came over to hug me. "Don't be upset, Nat. He's not worth it. He didn't deserve you anyway."

I let her hold me, my face hidden in her shoulder, a satisfied smile curling my lips where she couldn't see.

"I'm going to take my leave. I need some time alone." I pushed her away and walked toward the door like I was too heartbroken to think straight.

Sarah couldn't wait for me to leave, so she saw me out.

I didn't go far. I ducked around the corner in the hallway and waited.

Sure enough, as soon as I was out of sight, she fixed her hair and smoothed her clothes, a predator's smile on her face, and walked straight into the room. She didn't even shut the door all the way.

Through the crack, I heard a low, rough male voice and a woman's flirty laugh.

"Mr. Grant, you're awake?" Sarah said.

"Who are you…?" Ethan asked.