Over the years I'd lived in the Chase household, anyone could see the growing heat of my feelings for Liam.

But now I shook my head. "Catherine, I truly don't want to marry Liam. I'm planning to go abroad for further studies next month."

Catherine sighed. She could see the resolve in my eyes.

Patting my hand, she said, "Even if you can't be my daughter-in-law, you'll always be my little girl. Don't grow distant from me."

I couldn't hold back my tears as I hugged her.

When I was eight, tragedy struck my family. It was the Chase family, from thousands of miles away, who adopted me and gave a helpless child a home.

"Catherine… thank you for all you've done for me over the years," I said softly. "But Liam and I aren't suited for each other. We'd only end up hurting one another."

She stroked my back with a mother's tenderness. "Silly child, you grew up together. How could you not be suited? Did Liam say something harsh to you?"

I thought of the disgust in Liam's eyes in my previous life.

"Some people… are destined to be close yet never belong to each other."

I stepped back, meeting her gaze with sincerity. "I don't want to force a marriage only to end up losing this home entirely."

It was the truth.

In my previous life, after we wed, Liam almost never came home. His parents, longing to see him, could only ambush him at his company.

Catherine's eyes glistened, but at last she relented. "Alright, Khloe. I'll respect your choice. If you want to go abroad, then go. The Chase family will always be your home."

I nodded gratefully.

Escaping Liam—that was the first goal of my rebirth. In this life, I wanted to remain nothing more than a familiar stranger to him.

The party passed without further mishap. I personally intercepted anyone sent to search for Liam.

Just when I thought the night would end quietly, a sharp, piercing scream tore down from upstairs.

"Ah! Liam! Liam, what's wrong with you? Somebody help! Get the doctor!"

It was Alexa's voice.

Catherine, who was seeing off the last guests, bolted upstairs at the commotion. I followed in silence.

Liam's bedroom door stood wide open.

Alexa was sprawled at the threshold, her white evening gown rumpled and torn, baring a swath of pale shoulder and neck. The moment she saw Catherine, she scrambled forward like a drowning woman finding a lifeline.

"Catherine, I—I don't know what happened, Liam suddenly just…" Her words tumbled out in disarray, but her gaze flicked toward me, fleeting yet laced with provocation and smug satisfaction.

Catherine had no time for her. She rushed straight into the room.

From the bathroom came the rush of water. Liam was submerged in the icy tub, still fully dressed in his suit. His cheeks were flushed an unhealthy red, his eyes shut tight. He looked unconscious.

A chill crept into my fingertips.

In my past life, it had been me—disheveled, pinned beneath him—under the scornful gazes of onlookers, nailed to a pillar of shame.

Yet in this life, he would rather torture himself into unconsciousness in freezing water than touch Alexa.

Suddenly, it all made sense.

Of course. Alexa was extremely precious to him. How could he bear to taint her with something so sordid?

He could destroy me without hesitation, but would fight to his last breath to protect her purity.

A sharp, bitter ache surged from deep within me, burning my throat and stinging my eyes. But… I had already seen the truth clearly.

Catherine hurriedly summoned the family doctor, and after a night of chaos, Liam finally stirred awake.

The first thing he did was call me in to talk.

"I know you've come back too," he said.

My heart gave a jolt, but outwardly I remained composed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Stop pretending, Khloe. You're even more vicious than you were before. Not only did you drug me, you tried to ruin Alexa."

I saw the turmoil in his eyes and knew—he had been reborn too.

Yet he still insisted I was the one who had drugged him.

Drawing a deep breath, I forced down the surge of emotions.

"I didn't. You can investigate if you want."

He gave me a look of pure disgust. "Is that even necessary?"

Those few casual words snapped the taut string inside me. "Why wouldn't it be necessary?"

I could no longer hold back. Tears spilled over.

"Do I deserve to be wronged? Why is it that no matter how many times I've explained, you've never believed me, not even once?"

I rushed forward, seizing his collar in both hands. "Liam, why can't you believe me just once?"

I stared at Liam. He had once protected me since childhood and sworn to keep me safe all his life. When had all that trust and affection been handed to someone else?

My tears fell onto the back of his hand, hot and searing.

For a moment, his gaze seemed to waver.

Then the door burst open. Alexa stumbled in, panic written across her face.

"Khloe, what are you doing?"

She threw herself between us, shielding him. "If you're upset with me, take it out on me. But don't touch Liam!"

Immediately, Liam pulled her into his arms. Whatever flicker of emotion he'd shown me was replaced entirely by tenderness for her.

"Alexa, I'm fine. Don't worry."

He turned back to me, his voice cold.

"Khloe, I don't care what the truth is, and I can't be bothered to find out. But I will not marry you. From today on, you'd better behave yourself."

At the word truth, a flash of panic crossed Alexa's eyes. But when she heard him say he wouldn't marry me, undisguised delight lit her face.

I looked at him, disappointment etched deep into my expression.

In the end, he had changed. I was the only one still clinging to the past.

I stepped back, my voice sharp with finality. "Don't worry. I'd rather marry a monk than marry you."

From that day forward, I avoided crossing paths with Liam and focused on preparing to study abroad.

Even so, the servants still brought me news of them.

Like how Liam, despite his illness, knelt and begged Catherine for permission to marry Alexa. He even went so far as to threaten to cut ties if she refused. Catherine had been so furious that she ended up in the hospital.

Or how Alexa had moved into the house to live with Liam. Their public displays of affection grew more frequent, to the point where even my friend called to ask if Alexa was about to become my sister-in-law.

I agreed without hesitation. "Mm. Yes."

It seemed that after that conversation with him, my love had already begun to fade. Now, thinking of it only brought a faint sting.

My friend fumed. "Liam must be blind! How could he fall head over heels for a conniving and pretentious witch like her?"

I ran my fingers over my plane ticket, the date just three days away, and smiled lightly. "Let them be. It's got nothing to do with me."

After all, in my previous life, Liam had died still unable to forget her. This time, he had simply gotten what he wanted.

I had no intention of stirring up trouble, but Alexa sought me out herself. She blocked my doorway early one morning, wearing a smile.

"Khloe, will you come with me to try on wedding dresses? You're basically like a sister to Liam. I'd like your opinion."

I set down my vocabulary book and glanced at her. "Not interested."

Her smile froze. Her eyes quickly reddened. "Khloe… do you look down on me?"

I had no patience for her theatrics. I was just about to tell her to get out when the door was flung open.

Liam stood there, his expression dark, his gaze sharp with warning.

"Khloe, can't you stop targeting Alexa? She invited you out of kindness. It's just looking at dresses. Why are you being so difficult?"

There it was again.

Simply refusing to accompany Alexa was now "targeting" her?

I let out a cold, mirthless laugh. My gaze slipped past Liam to the overly theatrical Alexa.

Her eyes brimmed with tears, and her hands twisted together as if she had suffered some grievous injustice.

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have troubled Khloe… I…"

Judging from her persistence, Alexa wouldn't rest until she got her way.

I gave in—not out of kindness, but because I wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble before my departure.

The moment I agreed, her expression brightened instantly. She even leaned toward Liam, her voice laced with deliberate sweetness.

"Liam, you always say Khloe has a terrible temper, but I don't see it at all."

Liam cast me a fleeting, uneasy glance. I pressed my lips together, offering no reply. My indifference seemed to unsettle him, but I no longer cared.

"Let's go," I urged flatly. "Weren't you in a hurry to try on the dress?"

I had already let go of Liam; his opinion mattered even less.

The drive was filled with Alexa's cheerful chatter about wedding-house renovations, the air in the car syrupy with affection. I sat in silence, eyes fixed on the scenery rushing past the window.

As we neared the city, Alexa suddenly spoke up.

"Liam, my parents and relatives just arrived. We need to pick them up now."

"Alright," Liam said gently. "We'll head to the airport."

She bit her lip, feigning reluctance.

"But… there aren't enough seats."

She shot me a subtle, triumphant glance.

Liam turned to me, his tone cool.

"Khloe, get out here. We'll come back for you later."

I frowned.

"We're not even in the city yet. Can't you drop me off somewhere populated? There's no one out here."

This was the middle of nowhere and completely unsafe.

"Get out," he snapped. "We're heading straight to the highway."

When I didn't move, Liam stepped out and yanked the door open. His rough grip made me feel like nothing more than a stranger.

"Liam, don't be like that," Alexa interjected softly. "My parents can just take a taxi."

Her words sounded considerate, but to Liam, they were proof that I was being unreasonable and forcing her to back down. His grip tightened painfully, and he all but dragged me from the car.

I stumbled hard, my knees scraping against the coarse asphalt. A searing pain shot up my leg as blood welled up, staining the hem of my white dress.

Liam didn't spare me a glance. He slammed the door shut.

"Wait here. I'll be back soon."

The engine roared, kicking up a cloud of dust that stung my face as the black Bentley sped away.

Leaning on my hands, I slowly pushed myself upright, watching the car vanish down the road. A nameless sense of dread coiled in my chest.

I pulled out my phone and called the family driver, only to learn the car was in for maintenance. It would be at least an hour or two before he could reach me.

Just as I hung up, heavy raindrops fell without warning. Within seconds, the skies unleashed a torrential downpour, drenching me to the skin.

Shivering, I ran to the roadside, waving frantically in hopes of stopping a passing car.

That was when a sedan came speeding around the bend, its tires screeching against the slick pavement. It swerved violently out of control, the hood veering straight toward me.

My pupils contracted.

Somewhere else on the road, Liam's heart lurched violently, and an inexplicable unease flooded him. Lightning split the sky, and for a fleeting moment, the image of the figure he had left standing in the rain flashed through his mind.

Irritated, he reached for his phone, almost without thinking, and began to dial my number.