On my birthday, my boyfriend ditched his childhood friend's desperate call to be with me.

Devastated by his rejection, she spiraled into depression and ended her life.

Heartbroken, he proposed to me beside her body. "I've already lost Giselle. I can't lose you, too."

I said yes, moved by his grief and sincerity.

But on our wedding night, he turned on me, hacking me with a knife. "You vile woman! Giselle died because of you. Time to feel her pain!"

As I bled out, the girl waltzed back, saying she'd faked her death to spook him.

Overjoyed, he pointed at my corpse. "Thank God, you're alive. This wretched woman is gone, and we're free to be together."

They looted my wealth for their lavish wedding and happy life.

When my eyes snapped open again, I was back on that fateful birthday.

"It's Rebecca's birthday today. Quit the drama, alright?" a voice muttered.

The pain in my gut lingered as I snapped my eyes open. My boyfriend, Ezekiel Larsen, sat beside me, phone to his ear.

I blinked, coming to realize that I had been reborn.

In my past life, Ezekiel's childhood friend, Giselle Gibson, had called him, begging him to drop everything and come to her.

He'd brushed her off, citing my birthday, and hung up. That rejection pushed her over the edge. She left a heart-wrenching suicide note, her words dripping with unrequited love for Ezekiel.

[If I have to watch you marry someone else, I'd rather die.]

Ezekiel collapsed in grief, but three days later, he proposed to me. "I've lost Giselle. I can't lose you, too. Marry me."

His pain felt so raw that I couldn't say no.

But on our wedding night, he hacked me with a knife. "You vile woman! Giselle died because of you. Time to feel her pain! If it weren't for you, I'd have seen my true feelings. She'd have been alive."

Blood pooled around me as I gasped my last breath.

Then Giselle showed up. She had faked her death, sulking at some getaway spot to mess with him.

Ezekiel bowed to my parents, shedding crocodile tears. "Rebecca loved Giselle so much. She'd bless our union."

Shocked by his betrayal, they died of heart attacks.

Ezekiel and Giselle seized my fortune, using it to fund their dream wedding, a sprawling mansion, and a cushy life with their kids.

Given a second chance, I would not let history repeat itself.

Giselle's voice crackled through the phone. "If you don't come, you'll be collecting my body. Rebecca, you can have your birthday party any day. Can't you let him hang with me for a while?"

Ezekiel hung up without hesitation, triggering memories of the torment I endured because of her fake death. No way was I letting her pull that stunt again.

I grabbed his arm, urging him to go and see her. He brushed it off. "She is just being dramatic. You buying that crap?"

"It's life or death, Ezekiel," I insisted. "If she is serious, you'll never forgive yourself."

I snatched his car keys and bolted for the door. He finally moved, trailing after me.

Following my past-life memories, I drove to the bridge near her house.

There she was, perched on the railing. She saw us and screamed, "Don't come closer! I'll jump!"

A crowd gathered, filming the spectacle with their phones.

Giselle's eyes locked on me, tears streaming. "Rebecca, I've always seen you as a sister. Why are you doing this? You know I'm depressed, yet you left me alone in a sleazy bar last night. Do you have any idea what those creeps did to me? I'd bless you and Ezekiel if you just admitted you loved him. Why humiliate me?"

Giselle's words lit a fire under the crowd, and they turned on me like a pack of wolves.

"She looks decent but acts like a homewrecker?"

"What a snake, faking kindness! Probably here to make sure that poor girl jumps."

Giselle upped the ante, swinging her other leg over the railing. One slip, and she'd plummet into the river.

The crowd gasped, "Don't do it, honey! We'll handle this witch for you!"

An older woman lunged at me, clawing at my jacket.

Giselle sobbed, her eyes fixed on Ezekiel. "I never wanted to come between you and Rebecca. But she is still not satisfied. She threatened to leak my private photos if I didn't stay away. If my death is what it takes to please her, so be it!"

Ezekiel spun around and backhanded me across the face. My mouth was instantly filled with the coppery taste of blood.

Turning back, he pleaded, "Giselle, come down. I'll do anything you want. You decide how to handle this wretch."

I caught her smirk through her fake tears. She wasn't suicidal, just playing a twisted game to ruin me.

To dodge my past life's bloody end, I had to swallow my pride and let her run all over me.

People rushed to pull her from the railing. I joined Ezekiel at the front, worried that too many hands might cause an accident. As she stepped one leg back, she suddenly tipped backward, falling into the river.

She struggled to stay afloat, the group gawking. I shouted, "Somebody, save her!"

Ezekiel nearly dove in, but I grabbed his arm, knowing he couldn't swim.

Two burly guys jumped in, pulling her to safety. Soaked but unharmed, she threw herself into Ezekiel's arms and started sobbing.

I heaved a sigh of relief. Her survival meant that the horrors of my past life would not be repeated.

She spat out some water and pointed a trembling finger at me. "Why did you push me? I already gave up Ezekiel to you. What else do you want from me?"

Ezekiel quickly took her into his arms and comforted her.

"I didn't touch you. You slipped," I explained, aware of her game.

Ezekiel jabbed a finger in my face. "I didn't expect you to be so cruel. Would she risk her life to set you up?"

Giselle, shivering in his arms, whimpered, "Do you hate me so much you'd kill me? If my death makes you happy, then do it."

Giselle tried to wrench free from Ezekiel's grip, but he held her tightly.

He lunged, trying to force me down. "Rebecca, quit lying! You should beg for her forgiveness."

I slapped him, spitting, "You know what? We're done! Let's break up so she stays safe."

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm, his tone softening to a pathetic whine. "Sorry, I just freaked out. No need to break up."

I yanked free, disgusted by his hypocrisy, and pointed at Giselle. "Fine, I'll drop it, but you need to make your choice. It's either me or her."

He bit his lip. "Giselle's like a sister to me. I had no clue she had feelings for me. The one I love has always been you."

Moments ago, he was cradling Giselle like she was his whole world; now, he was distancing himself to keep me, his cash cow.

Disgusted, I shoved him away and walked off.

He paused, then chased after me. Giselle called after him, but he didn't hear it.

Back at my apartment, I slammed the door in his face, locking him out. He lingered like a dog with a bone.

Ever since I mentioned the breakup, he had stalked and pestered me, disrupting my normal life. I plotted to shake him when my phone pinged with news of Giselle's yet another suicide attempt.

My heart jackhammered as I sped to the hospital. If Ezekiel lost his mind over this, I'd once again be their tragic punching bag.

I gripped the wheel, telling myself she was faking it again. She just cherished her life too much to end it.

If I could expose her in time, I'd escape Ezekiel's knife.

Ezekiel was already at the hospital. Giselle lay in a sterile bed, strapped down with splints, tubes snaking from her arms and nose. Only her face could move, tears streaming as she mumbled Ezekiel's name.

The doctor said she'd jumped off a building, barely clinging to life. She'd likely spend the rest of her days as a vegetable.

Not buying it, I stepped closer to check, but Ezekiel shot to his feet, making me jump in surprise.

It had only been a few days since I last saw him. His face was now covered in stubble, with dark circles under his eyes. His gaze was downright terrifying. His lips curled in a cold, mocking smile that sent shivers down my spine.

At that moment, only the half-dead Giselle was in the room with us.

He dropped to one knee, pulling a ring from his pocket. "Rebecca, marry me. Giselle is like this now. I can't lose you, too."

Sweat beaded on my brow. This was my past life repeating.

I instinctively tried to refuse, but his hand reached behind him. There, a knife was tucked in his waistband. Undoubtedly, if I said no, he'd carve me up right here.

He was nothing but a psycho.

Met with my silence, he pulled the knife out and gripped it in his hand. His voice was low and menacing. "Need time to think about it?"