This was all too familiar, almost eerily identical to what happened in my past life.

Cole would return, only for Marie to die in an avalanche. Hannah and I survived the incident, but he killed us later.

I tried to figure out how to tell Cole what was coming, but the curtain was suddenly ripped open.

The intruders found us. One of them sneered, "Think you could hide here?"

Hannah screamed, but the man silenced her with a brutal kick to her forehead, knocking her out.

"Dang it! I hate women screaming," he hissed, grabbing my hair and pressing a knife to my throat.

Fear clawed at me, but I forced it down. "Stop! Hurt us, and you'll never get Cole's encrypted drive."

He paused, which confirmed my guess. They weren't just here for revenge. They wanted the company's secrets.

I swallowed, noticing a scorpion tattoo on his hand.

"Mike Turner, right? I'll take you to it," I said. "But you need to guarantee our safety. Your brother's death was an accident. We're willing to pay any compensation."

His eyes narrowed. "How do you know my name?"

...

I didn't answer, just edged back from the blade.

In my past life, I learned Mike's brother, a transport worker, died in a chemical explosion at Cole's company. Mike was convinced it was no accident. Cole's shady dealings led to a cover-up murder.

He lowered the knife, but then the nursery's steel door clicked open. A thug walked in, holding a sobbing Aldo.

Mike's sneer returned. He tapped the blade against my cheek. "You think you're in a position to negotiate?"

He sliced the top button off my blouse, his leer sickening. "Maybe we'll have some fun first. Or I could carve up this kid and toss him to the dogs."

Their laughter grated like nails on a chalkboard.

I curled up, terrified, until I caught Hannah stirring. Her eyes flicked to a fire axe propped in the corner.

Taking the hint, I shrugged off my shirt to distract them.

Mike pulled me close, his rancid breath grazing my neck. Just then, Hannah lunged. The axe arced through the air, burying into Mike's back with a sickening crunch.

He howled, and his men froze in shock.

Hannah stepped on his head, pressing the axe to his neck. "Let Vicky and my son go, or I swear I'll drag you to the inferno with me!"

Mike, pale with fear, ordered his men to stand down.

I grabbed Aldo and limped toward the door. Looking back, I saw Hannah's desperate look.

"Take care of Aldo, Vicky," she said. "Tell him I'll always love him."

Tears blurred my vision as I ran, Aldo's cries soaking my bloodied shirt. Outside, the snow fell in heavy sheets, muffling the world.

A dull thud and Hannah's agonized scream chased me into the night.

...

Hannah's last words echoed in my mind, and I burst into tears.

CHAPTER-NAME:

Hannah, always so gentle and timid, had sacrificed herself to save me.

"Get her!" the thugs roared behind me.

I ran barefoot through the snow, each step like knives, but I didn't dare to slow down.

Holding Aldo, I sprinted for the woods.

The cold wind sliced my face. Memories of my last life flashed back. Hannah and I had escaped from the clutches of these thugs, only for Marie's lies to doom us.

This time, I'd make sure history didn't repeat itself.

To shield Aldo from the cold, I stripped off my jacket and wrapped it around him. My teeth chattered as I pushed through the forest, snow numbing my feet.

After what felt like an eternity, I stumbled onto a mountain road. Headlights pierced the dark, and hope flared in my chest.

But my strength gave out. My frozen legs buckled, and I tumbled down a slope, curling around Aldo to protect him.

My head struck a rock, blood streaming into my eyes. I collapsed in the road's center, barely conscious.

Tires screeched. A car stopped inches from me. The driver leaped out, and I squinted through the pain.

"Patrick?" I croaked.

To my surprise, the one who had almost hit me with the car was Patrick Graham, who had been engaged to me for barely two months.

He helped me up and noticed the baby in my arms.

"What are you thinking? How could you join Hannah in her mess?" he yelled. "And you brought Aldo out in the cold? He is barely a month old. What if something happens to him? How will you explain this to Cole?"

I didn't understand his anger, but I had no time to argue.

Instead, I staggered to his car, clutching Aldo, and slid into the backseat.

Something didn't feel right. The alarm should have alerted the police, but no one had come.

Worrying about Hannah, I grabbed Patrick's phone and called Cole.

"Get back! Hannah's life is at risk. Hurry!" I said urgently.

A chilling laugh answered, "Let her die, then."

...

I froze, thinking I had heard it wrong.

In my last life, Cole had at least come home to save us, even if he later killed us. This coldness was new, and his next words chilled me further.

"If you and Hannah keep up this revenge charade, don't expect me to care about family ties," he warned. "My patience is thin. This is your last chance to apologize. If not, when I come back from watching the sunrise with Marie, I'll deal with her first, then you. Using Aldo as a pawn is low."

I was at a loss when Patrick chimed in, "Listen to him and apologize. Cole told me the alarm never went off, and the staff said everything was fine. Stop lying."

My mind reeled. Hannah's text only mentioned intruders, yet Cole spoke of revenge. If he knew it was enemies seeking revenge, it could only mean one thing. He had been reborn too.

Before I could process this, Patrick grabbed my shoulders. He hissed, "Just say Hannah planned it and you were coerced. Cole will let you off."

CHAPTER-NAME:

I paused, then shoved Patrick away.

"What are you talking about?" I snapped. "This is life and death! How would I lie? You won't save her, fine, but don't make me confess to nonsense."

Tears burned my eyes, and I stepped back. In my mind, Patrick was always gentle and doting, but now he felt like a stranger.

Cole's voice crackled through the phone. "Patrick, you have ten minutes to convince her. Or you're done as deputy manager. Don't test me."

The call cut off. Patrick's face twisted with desperation.

...

"I clawed my way to this position!" he snarled, shoving the phone at me. "You heard him. Call and apologize. Don't screw me over."

I slapped the phone away and yelled, "Have I ever lied to you? Can't you trust me just once? Hannah's life is at risk!"

His hand cracked across my face, sending me sprawling. Blood dripped from my lips.

I stared at his raised hand, my heart sinking.

"Don't be stupid!" he growled. "Last chance! Would you apologize or not?"

He pinned my head to the ground, dirt grinding into my cheek. When I refused, he ripped off his brooch and stabbed it into my finger.

Pain exploded, and I screamed. He didn't stop, tearing off my nails one by one and stomping on my hand.

"You asked for this!" he spat. "Apologize to Cole before I wreck your other hand!"

Time was slipping away. Rage surged through me. I spat blood in his face and kicked his stomach hard.

As he doubled over, I scrambled into the car, locked it, and twisted the key with my mangled hand.

"You're insane! Open the door! Aldo is still in the backseat!" he shouted, pounding the window desperately, as if he were afraid that I'd do something reckless.

I glared through the window. "If you don't save her, I'll take Aldo and die trying. Good luck living with that."

I floored it, speeding back home. Once I arrived, I found a gun in the glovebox and ran inside.

The thugs were already gone.

Hannah lay in a pool of blood in the living room, her white pajamas crimson, hair matted to her face. Steel wires bound her wrists and ankles, cutting deep. Her abdomen was slashed open, intestines spilling out. Her fingers snapped, and her bones were exposed.

Not long after, Patrick burst in with a group, panting. "Vicky, you're gonna cost me my job! You think I’ll just let that slide?!"

He stopped, gagging at the blood. Seeing Hannah, gutted and broken, he stammered, "Cole said Hannah faked this. How did this happen?"

Watching his shocked face, I raised the gun, aiming at his chest.