The night Gloria Leach—my husband's ex—died in the rain, he floored it and drove us off a cliff.

That's when it clicked. Evan Patterson had always hated me for getting between him and Gloria.

Then I woke up, I was back on the wedding day.

This time, he didn't even pause. Ditched the rings. Ran straight to her outside the church.

I didn't cry. Didn't make a scene.

I just called it off.

While they turned their reunion into a show, I said yes to someone else.

In this life, Evan and I were strangers.

Until eight years later. An auction.

I placed a no-cap bid on the final item—sapphire cufflinks. Won.

I was leaving when Evan stepped in front of me, scowling.

"Robyn, stop embarrassing yourself. Even if you bought every cufflink on earth for me, I still wouldn't love you. Gloria's the only one in my heart."

I didn't even look at him. Just reached for the little girl beside me.

"Sweetheart, say hi to the gentleman."

He saw her face—mine, copied clean.

His eyes went red, and his grip snapped around my wrist.

"She's our daughter?"

I'd just taken the sapphire cufflinks when a voice hit from behind—

unfamiliar, but I knew it instantly.

"Robyn. I didn't think you loved me this much. Eight years, and you still remember my birthday?"

My body locked up.

I never thought I'd see Evan Patterson again. Not in this life.

Before I could answer, Gloria Leach slid in at his side, smiling.

"Robyn, it's been forever. Evan and I are getting married next month. You should come."

People nearby swarmed in fast, all smiles and noise.

"Mr. Patterson, I heard you locked down that land in the west. And now a wedding? That's luck on luck."

"That's what they call love bringing prosperity. You two are a perfect match. Wishing you a lifetime together."

Gloria soaked it up, clinging to Evan, throwing me a smug glance.

Then someone cut in, loud and curious.

"Mr. Patterson, didn't you two get engaged eight years ago? Why wait so long to marry?"

Honestly, I was curious too.

In my last life, Evan killed himself for Gloria—called me the one who got between them, then dragged me down with him.

When I came back, he didn't hesitate. Left me at the altar. Burned the bond between our families in front of everyone.

I figured they'd rush into marriage. Make up for the regrets.

But now my daughter Mia was already old enough to run errands, and they still hadn't made it official.

Gloria's smile twitched.

Evan squeezed her hand, all soft-eyed.

"Back then, my career wasn't stable. My wife deserves the best. Our wedding has to be perfect."

I remembered our wedding.

I picked a dress barely over budget. He blew up at me in front of the staff.

Yeah.

That's the difference between love—and not.

I was about to leave. Zero interest in their show.

Then someone spotted me.

"Ms. Radcliffe? So that no-cap bid was you? When did you get back to Carmoria?"

Their eyes bounced between me, Evan, and Gloria.

Him ditching me at the altar wasn't a secret. Neither was how hard I'd once loved him.

Under the stares, I stayed calm.

"Just got back a few days ago. I've got things to handle. I'll be going."

This time, Evan stopped me.

"Robyn, aren't you forgetting something?"

I frowned. Didn't follow.

He smiled—mocking.

"You know I collect gemstone cufflinks. You pulled this stunt to get my attention. But I've only ever loved Gloria. And those cufflinks? I'm buying them."

He pulled out a check and handed it to me.

It was ridiculous. Almost funny.

I stayed polite. No scene.

"Mr. Patterson, you've got it wrong. These cufflinks aren't for you."

Gloria scoffed, eyes rolling. "Robyn, stop the act. Evan and I know your family's going bankrupt. That's why your parents rushed to marry you into his family. Now that Evan's offering money, take it. Be grateful.

"One thing though—we're getting married soon. You're not planning to be his side chick, are you?"

Evan cut in. "Leaving you at the altar was my mistake. But love is love—I never loved you. Eight years or eighty, it won't change.

"If the money's not enough, I'll add another hundred grand. Call it compensation for what I did to you."

They talked over me.

Like I wasn't even there.

Then Evan pulled out his phone, tapped a few times—and froze.

"You deleted me?"

***

I didn't get why he was freaking out.

Isn't a clean breakup supposed to mean you're basically dead to each other? Why keep an ex saved at all?

And Mia's dad—Adrian Ainsworth—might look calm and untouchable, but he's insanely jealous.

If he ever found out I still had my ex-fiancé's number, he'd make sure I never slept again. I could kiss my waist goodbye.

I said, "Didn't you say it yourself? You wanted nothing to do with me ever again."

Evan's face darkened. His lips twitched, like he had something to say. He didn't. He reached for his checkbook instead.

I stopped him. "Mr. Patterson, don't. We ended things clean. I don't need hush money. And like I said—the cufflinks weren't for you."

He snapped the checkbook shut. Loud. Final. His voice went cold. "Robyn Radcliffe, don't push your luck. If it weren't for our families' history, you think I'd even spare you a glance?

"My birthday's tomorrow. Today, you bid on those cufflinks—right in front of me. If they weren't for me, then who? Don't tell me your new boyfriend just HAPPENS to share my birthday."

I froze.

Adrian's birthday is one day after his. Dead close.

But to Evan and Gloria, my silence screamed guilt.

"Some people still think they're heiresses," Gloria sneered. "But once you fall, you're nothing."

She'd forgotten—back when everyone mocked her as a country bumpkin, I was the one who stood up for her.

Evan and I were barely childhood friends. Gloria was different. Poor. Sponsored by his family.

Because of that, Evan's parents never approved of her. She knew it too. So when his mother offered her half a million to study abroad, she took it. No hesitation.

I never told Evan the truth. I stayed. Through all of it.

I knew love couldn't be forced. I never expected him to love me back.

He was the one who insisted on marriage. Told both families himself.

Before the wedding, I asked him—seriously—if he was sure.

We could delay it. Cancel it.

He held me and said, "Robyn, I've thought it through. My parents are right. We're the best match."

Not love. A match.

And even that was enough for me.

I thought if I tried hard enough, "a good match" might turn into love.

Then Gloria's accident happened.

And he didn't care about me. Or the child I was carrying.

He drove us off the cliff.

Right before I died, he leaned in and whispered,

"If it weren't for you, Gloria and I would've been together. So if there's a next life... let me go."

That was it. Whatever love I had left burned out.

Gone.

So when I came back, I avoided Evan like my life depended on it.

Eight years. No contact. No mistakes.

And I still ran into him.

***

I had zero interest in wasting time on either of them.

I just wanted to find Mia.

But Gloria couldn't drop it. She needed to feel taller.

"That no-cap bid must've drained you. All that, just to fight me over Evan?" She smiled. "Don't bother. What you spent wouldn't even buy one of my bags."

Her little squad snickered right on cue.

"Wow. Side chicks are snatching men out loud now? Zero shame?"

I pressed my lips together. Counted to three.

Then said, deadpan, "Ms. Leach. I'm married."

The word 'married' hit Evan like a slap.

He snapped toward me. "You're married?"

I didn't even get a chance to answer.

He laughed—cold, ugly.

"At least make the lie believable," he said. "Did you forget how you once begged your parents to let you marry me?"

I froze.

I didn't even know he knew.

Back then, my parents saw it. Evan's heart wasn't with me.

They said no.

I didn't listen. I was stubborn. Desperate.

I begged all night.

They caved when they saw how broken I was.

And yeah—our family needed the Pattersons' money.

But that kind of love?

That stayed in my past life.

This time around, all I wanted was distance. From Evan. From all of it.

I sighed, kept my voice cool. Flat. "That was a long time ago. I've forgotten."

"Forgotten?" Gloria laughed, like I was cute. "Please. Like you could ever find someone better than Evan."

Then someone in the crowd gasped. Pointed at me.

"Wait—that dress. Isn't that the new Louis Vuitton piece? I saw it in a magazine. It's VVVIP-only. You can't even buy it with money."

Gloria's stare snapped to my dress.

And the jealousy? Immediate. Burning.

Then it hit her. And she sneered. "So what, you married some rich old guy for cash?"

She looked me up and down. "And now he can't satisfy you, you're crawling back to Evan?"

She even dragged Evan a step behind her.

"Evan, stay away. Women who sell themselves for money?" She scoffed. "Who knows what diseases they carry."

Evan frowned, disgust written all over his face. "Robyn, I can't believe you've sunk this low."

I didn't look at him. My eyes stayed on Gloria. "Gloria Leach, spreading lies is illegal. Want me to call the cops?"

She saw it—I wasn't bluffing.

So she backed off, muttering, "Broke nobody acting superior. If that dress isn't some man's gift, it's gotta be fake."

I didn't respond.

I turned away. Went to find Mia.

Then a voice cut through the crowd.

"Just got word—Mr. Ainsworth is coming personally to pick up his wife and daughter. Anyone seen Mrs. Ainsworth or Miss Ainsworth?"

The room froze.

Ripples everywhere.

No one was more stunned than Gloria.

"You mean that Adrian Ainsworth?" she blurted. "The one on Forbes' global top ten? He's really back in Carmoria?"