Blood trailed down each step of the staircase in Hawthorne Hall.

"Bitch, how dare you use that bastard child in your womb to force Henry to break up with me?"

Rose Carter's face twisted with ferocity, her eyes wide and bloodshot, her shrill voice dripping with malice. She twirled the knife in her hand, its cold gleam sending a shiver through Margaret Walker.

The blood running along the blade was Margaret's, spilled from the wound Rose had inflicted on her arm moments ago.

"That child, and you, should have died long ago."

As Rose spoke, the knife came to a halt right in front of Margaret's abdomen, making her tremble uncontrollably as cold sweat broke out across her skin. Instinctively, she clutched her stomach.

"Rose... don't do this..."

"The baby is innocent."

"If you really kill my son, you'll spend the rest of your life in prison..."

Margaret's voice was hoarse with fear, yet her words only drove Rose further into madness.

"Bitch, you still dare to threaten me? Damn you!"

Rose snarled and lunged forward, stabbing again. Blood burst from Margaret's right arm once more, leaving a streak of crimson across the hallway.

Margaret cried out in pain, clutching her arm as panic overtook her. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, cold sweat soaking her back.

"Rose, calm down. I really didn't force Henry to leave you."

"I only said that if he had cheated on me, we would divorce."

"However, because he was worried it would affect the cooperation between our two corporations, he knelt down and begged me to forgive him."

"And he even promised to cut off all ties with you."

Margaret tried to explain, hoping to calm Rose down, though the situation itself was utterly ridiculous.

She was Henry's wife, yet she had to explain herself just to soothe the emotions of his mistress, his ex-girlfriend. 

After hearing her, Rose clearly had no intention of letting her go. Her gaze turned vicious to the extreme.

"Are you feeling proud of yourself?" Rose sneered. 

"Showing off that Henry still loves you, that he willingly abandoned me because of you?"

"You bitch, Henry doesn't love you at all."

"The only person he has ever loved is me. He only married you for the cooperation between the two corporations."

Rose lifted the knife, her voice dropping lower.

"He doesn't even want to go back to you. It's just that divorcing you right now would give his uncle the chance to drive him out of the company!"

"It's all because of you, and that bastard child."

Rose gritted her teeth, biting her lip viciously.

"As long as you die, Henry and I can finally be happy together."

She let out a cold, sinister laugh as she stepped forward.

"Your parents are probably waiting for you and that bastard child in hell."

"Say your final goodbye to this life."

With a sharp thrust. 

Before Margaret could even react, the knife plunged straight into her abdomen.

A searing pain tore through her body, forcing her to collapse, trembling violently.

"Die, bitch!"

Rose viciously drove the knife into Margaret's heart once more, then let go of the handle and shoved her forward with force. Losing all balance, Margaret fell down the staircase.

Bang.

Bang.

She tumbled down several steps in succession, her bones feeling as if they were shattering, blood staining each step a deep red.

Blood flowed not only from her arm and abdomen, but also from beneath her, soaking through the dress she wore. Darkness clouded her vision, her breath growing faint, and she could feel a life slipping away from her body.

Her son...

No... it couldn't be...

Struggling, Margaret raised a trembling hand to her stomach and saw bright blood.

Her breathing became so faint it was nearly imperceptible, the blood loss worsening with every second.

Her vision blurred more and more.

Click.

At that moment, the door opened. Henry had just stepped inside and was startled by the scene on the staircase. Margaret's eyes lit up, as if she had found her last glimmer of hope.

Then.

"Ah, Henry, it hurts so much."

Rose suddenly collapsed to the ground, her eyes glistening with tears as she clutched her leg. She blinked up at Henry, her voice soft and pitiful.

"Margaret pushed me... it hurts... I'm bleeding..."

She spoke in a fragile tone, and Henry ignored Margaret, immediately rushing to Rose's side.

"Henry... help... our son..."

Margaret gasped, using the last of her strength to reach out toward him, clinging to that fragile thread of hope.

If Henry took her to the hospital, perhaps their son could still be saved.

She looked at Henry with desperate hope, and he looked back at her, hesitation flickering in his eyes. 

His lips pressed together as he was about to step toward her, only to be stopped by Rose, who clung to him, pleading softly, her voice growing weaker.

"Henry, can you take me to the hospital?"

Henry tore his gaze away from Margaret and carefully helped Rose to her feet.

"I'll take you to the hospital."

He said it calmly, without sparing Margaret a single glance as she lay in a pool of blood.

As if she were nothing more than a stranger.

Without another thought, Henry turned and lifted Rose into his arms.

The last glimmer of hope in Margaret was shattered, leaving only despair behind.

She went still, staring at the man she had loved for six years, her heart breaking into pieces.

The man who once missed an important board meeting just to come home and take care of her when she was sick.

The man who had shed tears at their wedding, solemnly promising to love her for a lifetime.

The man who had smiled like a child when he learned she was pregnant, vowing to become a good father.

That same man had not only betrayed her but also abandoned her after his mistress pushed her down the stairs.

Her vision dimmed further, her breathing growing heavier.

Margaret suddenly felt as if her entire life had been nothing but a cruel joke, built upon Henry's lies.

Regret surged within her like a rising tide, making her chest ache.

Tears slid silently down her beautiful face.

"Henry, goodbye."

Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

"If there is a next life... I will make you and Rose pay."

And this time, Margaret would never be foolish enough to love Henry again.

Blinding sunlight filtered through the curtains, spilling into the room and making Margaret instinctively squint. She opened her eyes tiredly, her entire body feeling heavy.

"Finally awake, are you?"

A familiar voice sounded from above, causing Margaret to tilt her head hazily. She immediately saw the handsome face of her brother, Cole Walker, frowning down at her.

Cole?

Hadn't Cole died a year ago in a car accident?

And... hadn't she already died?

What is going on?

Margaret looked around in confusion and soon realized she was in her own room at home, the pink room she loved.

Not at Hawthorne Hall, nor in the master bedroom of that mansion.

"What's wrong? Spaced out?"

"Say something. Still mad?"

With a light tap, Cole knocked gently against Margaret's forehead, snapping her out of her daze.

"Cole, you're still alive?"

Margaret's words instantly darkened Cole's expression.

"What do you mean, Margaret? I'm your brother. Just because I don't support your engagement to that bastard Henry, you're cursing me to death?"

"Since when were you this cruel?"

Cole muttered angrily, leaving Margaret even more bewildered.

Engagement? She and Henry had clearly been married for three years!

"What..."

"What year is it now, Cole?"

Margaret quickly grabbed his hand, asking anxiously. Though confused, Cole still answered seriously.

"May 12th, 2020."

Five years ago!

She had returned five years ago!

The realization struck Margaret, making her tremble with excitement. She had never expected that her final wish before death would truly come true. She had been reborn, sent back to the past!

Back to one week before her engagement to that bastard, Henry.

Everything could still be saved.

"That's great... so great..."

Margaret murmured in delight, making Cole look at her as if she had gone mad.

"Margaret, are you okay? I support your engagement to Henry."

"From now on, I won't put him down or look down on him anymore, alright?"

Cole sighed and relented. Margaret quickly shook her head at him, as if she had just heard something horrifying.

"No, my dear brother, don't say something so disgusting."

"I'm no longer that foolish girl, blindly in love with Henry. To me, he's nothing more than a bastard."

Cole looked Margaret up and down, then reached out to touch her forehead.

"You don't have a fever, so why are you talking like you do?"

"Cole! I'm serious!"

Margaret puffed her cheeks in annoyance. Cole shrugged.

"Fine. Then how do you explain your engagement to Henry next week?"

"Are you canceling it?"

Margaret shook her head, the corners of her lips curling into a smug smile.

"Of course not. I'm going to give him a very special engagement ceremony."

...

That evening, Henry came to pick Margaret up to go to a bar and meet his best friends. Though she felt disgust toward that man to her very core, Margaret still showed up and went with him, careful not to reveal anything.

When they arrived, everything was exactly the same as in her previous life. The private room was filled mostly with men, with only one woman present. 

Rose Carter, Henry's ex-girlfriend.

The same woman who had killed her in her past life.

Hatred made Margaret clench her fists until they turned pale, yet on the surface she maintained a cheerful, sociable demeanor as she greeted everyone.

"Henry, you finally brought your fiancée for us to meet."

"Margaret is so beautiful, no wonder you've been hiding her like a treasure."

Rose whistled, looking at Margaret with apparent friendliness as she offered her praise. In her past life, Margaret had mistaken it for kindness and fallen for it, even developing a favorable impression of Rose.

She had never expected it to be nothing more than deception, meant to lower her guard.

This time, Margaret simply smiled without responding and sat beside Henry. He then introduced her to everyone in the room, and they all greeted her warmly.

"Hey, come on, let's play a game."

"Margaret, you should join too. Consider it a way to get acquainted." 

"It's a simple game, truth or dare."

Rose smiled sweetly, holding an empty wine bottle in her hand as she spoke excitedly.

"The rules today will be a bit more thrilling than usual. Each of us will take turns spinning the bottle. Whoever the bottle lands on is the loser." 

"And they have to choose between truth or dare."

She raised her brows slightly, her gaze seemingly drifting toward Margaret.

"And the one who spins the bottle is the winner. They get to decide the question or the dare."

The atmosphere instantly grew lively. 

With these new rules, everyone was clearly excited. Margaret gave Rose a faint smile, quickly understanding her intention.

In her previous life, Rose had taken advantage of this game to kiss Henry or to make intimate gestures with him when she lost. Then, she smugly looked at Margaret and said it was just a game, hoping Margaret wouldn't be upset. 

Back then, Margaret had felt both jealous and hurt, yet Henry had blamed her for being petty. 

His friends had chimed in, saying it was completely normal.

It's just a game, no need to take it seriously.

Clenching her fists, Margaret thought coldly that this time, she would show them exactly how this game should be played.

In the first round, one of Henry's friends, Edward, spun the bottle, and Rose lost.

"Nice play, Edward!"

Cheers rang out, followed by eager urging for Edward to announce the punishment.

"Truth or Dare, Rose?"

Edward asked cheerfully, raising his brows with a grin. Rose pretended to be shy, biting her lip.

"Dare. Since it's the opening, it should be a bit more exciting."

She emphasized the word "exciting" as she licked her lips. Edward immediately caught on, his eyes lighting up.

"Then, kiss someone of the opposite sex here."

The room instantly erupted.

"That's exciting, Edward. Great punishment!"

"What a fun start..."

Amid the applause and cheers, voices urged Rose to carry out the dare. Margaret simply watched their performance calmly, finding it utterly ridiculous.

They really were perfectly in sync. No wonder they had been such close friends for so long.

A bunch of degenerates!

"Come on, Rose, who do you want to kiss?"

Jonathan, who was sitting beside Rose, nudged her shoulder, urging her on. The crowd burst into cheers, their gazes subtly shifting toward Henry.

"Henry..."

Rose glanced around nervously, then pressed her lips together, her face flushing red as she looked at him with feigned shyness. She stammered, her voice hesitant.

"Well, can you help me?"

Her tone was sweet and coquettish, stirring even more excitement among the others. Someone started clapping, and soon the whole group joined in.

"Henry, kiss her!"

"Kiss her! Kiss her!"

Even Henry seemed flustered at that moment. He quickly took a sip of his drink to conceal the pleasure rising within him. Meanwhile, Rose even looked toward me, blinking expectantly.

"Margaret, if Henry and I kiss, you won't be mad, right?"

"We're just close friends, that's all. I'm the same with my other close friends.:

"If we could have been together, you and Henry wouldn't be getting engaged, right?"

Rose cleared her throat lightly.

"It's just a game anyway, don't be so petty."

Before Rose could finish speaking, Margaret's lips curved into a smile.

"Of course, I wouldn't be that petty."

She glanced at Henry and shrugged.

"Kiss her if you want. You said it, it's just a game."

"I won't get mad because of a game."

Margaret's easy concession made a flash of triumph cross Rose's eyes, and Henry's lips lifted into a pleased smile. As if satisfied with Margaret's obedience, he even patted his chest in assurance.

"Don't worry, darling. You're the only one in my heart, the only one I love."

"This is just a game. I'm only helping Rose out."

The people around them quickly joined in, urging them to kiss. Margaret leaned back against her chair, watching them lazily.

After all, chances to watch a free show like this didn't come often.

"Wow, how sweet..."

Amid the exclamations, Rose could no longer hold back. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Henry's shoulders intimately. Then, she lifted her head and gently pressed her lips to his.

Henry quickly responded, pulling her tightly into his arms, gripping her so hard that the veins on his arms stood out. It was clear just how excited he was.

With a kiss this heated, there was probably a reaction somewhere else, too, Margaret thought with a cold smile.

Henry's friends continued clapping wildly, cheering them on. Some even slammed the table in excitement.

When the kiss ended, Rose shyly let go of Henry, her lips flushed and swollen, her lipstick smudged. She looked at Margaret like a victor.

The game continued.

This time, it was Margaret's turn to spin the bottle. Calmly, she applied force and sent it spinning across the table.

Clack.

It stopped right in front of Rose.

"This time, what will you choose, Truth or Dare, Rose?"

Margaret raised her brows, smiling gently. A flicker of surprise crossed Rose's face at the unexpected outcome, but she quickly regained her composure.

"I choose Dare."

Utterly confident.

The smile on Margaret's lips deepened.

"Didn't you say you wanted something exciting today, Rose?"

"Then let's continue with the previous punishment. Kiss someone of the opposite sex, for at least three minutes."

As soon as Margaret finished speaking, the private room seemed to explode with reactions. Even Rose hadn't expected her to say that. She glanced at Henry, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

"But..."

Margaret continued.

"You can't kiss the same person as before."

Rose's expression darkened, her smile stiffening. She looked at Margaret in disbelief. Before she could protest, Margaret gave a casual shrug.

"It's just to make things more exciting, Rose. It's just a game."

She took a sip of her drink, her tone lazy.

"If the whole game is just you and Henry kissing, that would be boring." 

"The rest of us would just be outsiders, since we don't get to participate."

"Besides, didn't you say you're just as close with the others as you are with Henry?"

"So kissing someone else shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Rose shot Margaret a furious glare, while Henry was equally stunned, yet had no way to refute her.

After all, these were words they themselves had said before. Margaret was merely repeating them.

"That's right, Rose. Look, there are so many people here, you can kiss anyone, right?"

"Rose, what do you think of me? I can reluctantly help you complete the challenge..."

The others quickly reacted, cheering and stirring up the stagnant atmosphere. I casually glanced at them.

Of course, in terms of appearance, none of them could compare to Henry. Not to mention, some were overweight, others rather unattractive, clearly not Rose's type.

Rose also realized she was being put on the spot, biting her lip as she hesitated.

I gave a light cough, pretending to be nervous.

"What's wrong, Rose? You are close friends with Henry, but not the same with the others? Aren't they your close friends as well?" 

"Or do you have different levels of 'close friends'?"

My words were like fuel to the fire, igniting dissatisfaction among the others.

"Yeah, what do you mean by that, Rose?"

"Just because I'm not as handsome as Henry?"

"..."

Voices rose one after another. In the end, Rose reluctantly chose Jonathan, who was considered the most decent-looking among the rest.

I leisurely and kindly helped them set the timer.

Rose sat stiffly, like a block of wood, while Jonathan looked at her with infatuation. After all, Rose was beautiful, with a hot figure and a sweet voice. It was only natural for him to be attracted to her.

Jonathan took the initiative to pull Rose into his arms, his large hands wrapping around her slender waist. 

Then, unable to wait any longer, he leaned down and kissed her. His hand didn't stay still either, sliding from her waist to her back.

He even wanted to slide one hand across Rose's full chest beneath the thin straps of her dress.

"Mmph... mm..."

Rose struggled to break free from Jonathan, but to no avail. The cheers around them only grew louder, and Margaret joined in with a smile.

Meanwhile, Henry sat in a corner, his face darkened, clearly displeased.

But what did that have to do with Margaret?

When the kiss finally ended, Rose's dress was disheveled, her lipstick completely smudged, even smeared around her lips. Her lips themselves were swollen.

There was lipstick on Jonathan's mouth as well. He licked his lips in excitement, his gaze toward Rose burning with heat.

"Margaret, you've gone too far. You were clearly targeting me!"

At last, Rose snapped, pointing at Margaret in anger, her voice filled with grievance. Margaret merely shrugged innocently.

"What do you mean, Rose? It's just a game. If you play, you accept the consequences."

"Or are you saying that even if you lose, you won't take the punishment?"

Her tone turned colder.

"Or, were you just looking for an excuse to get close to my boyfriend, Henry?"

Rose's lips trembled, but she couldn't say a word in response. In the end, her eyes filled with tears. She abruptly stood up, shouted that Margaret was cruel, and ran out of the room.

"Margaret, you've gone too far! How dare you bully Rose like that?"

"I shouldn't have brought you here!"

Henry also shot to his feet, his eyes filled with resentment as he looked at Margaret, before storming out after her.

Couldn't even handle this much?

The game had only just begun.

Margaret let out a soft laugh to herself.

Round one, victory.