At a gathering, I noticed that Jade Shaw, the woman that my best friend, Michael Ronan, had a crush on, slipped something into his drink.

When she walked over and offered him the glass, I deliberately knocked it over, spilling the drugged wine and saving his life.

She stormed off in anger.

The very next day, she announced her engagement to someone else.

Michael came to me in a rage, convinced that I had ruined things out of jealousy.

"Taylor, if it weren't for your meddling, I would've already slept with her! She would've engaged with me instead! You just can't stand seeing me happy! You destroyed my love life! You'll pay for it with your life!"

He shoved me off a high building. I died instantly.

When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day of the gathering. Michael was staring at Jade with a lovestruck expression. Then, he glared at me, warning me not to interfere.

So, he had been reborn too.

But what he didn't know was that the woman that he adored had always been disgusted by his persistence.

What she put in the drink wasn't some aphrodisiac. It was something lethal that could kill him.

I put on a smile and pushed the glass of wine toward Michael Ronan.

"Michael, shouldn't you two be feeding each other wine to celebrate?"

"Taylor, stop… How could I possibly…"

Michael blushed as he lightly punched my shoulder before looking at Jade Shaw eagerly.

"Jade, you know how Taylor is. He just likes to joke around. If you feel shy, we can… just clink glasses."

Jade cast me an icy gaze and said sarcastically, "Taylor Lowden, you sure know how to set things up."

I found it comical.

In my previous life, she also had the same fake, aloof demeanor. She clearly hated Michael, but she did not dare to say anything as she was intimidated by the Ronan family's wealth and influence.

So, she called for a 'date', when in fact it was more of a gathering that day, trying to shift Michael's attention toward me.

In my previous life, I saved Michael's life by knocking over the drugged wine, but he ended up killing me because of it.

The moment before I was shoved off the building, I saw Jade standing in the shadow, excitedly calling the police.

"Hello? Is this the police? I witnessed a murder!"

She reported Michael, using that to get rid of him.

When I was reborn, I swore that I was not going to let any of those lunatics off the hook.

"Since it's a celebration, don't be a party pooper."

Jade picked up the glass that she had spiked and pushed it toward me. The slushing red liquid looked like a viper's venom.

"Taylor, this is for you. We'll drink to you first."

My heart skipped a beat when I saw the glass of wine in front of me.

Jade was naturally suspicious. My abnormal reaction must have put her on guard.

She was testing me to see if I saw her spiking the wine or if I was just playing dumb.

It was a deadly question.

I saw her drug the wine with my own eyes. If I drank the wine, I would be playing with fate.

If I refused, Michael would blame it all on me for that failed 'date'.

Whether I accept the wine or not, all roads would lead to death.

Jade raised an eyebrow. "What? Are you not accepting my kind gesture? Or you think that there's something in this wine, and you don't want to drink it?"

I clenched the hem of my shirt, my palms sweating.

Just when I was racking my brain on how to deal with the situation, a hand suddenly reached in and snatched the glass away.

"Jade, this wine is so expensive! Letting him drink it would be a waste!"

Michael glared at me, jealousy almost oozing out of his eyes.

It was as if I had not snatched away a glass of drugged wine, but his very lifeline.

At that instant, I almost laughed out loud.

Jade had schemed and planned, only to be caught off guard by how possessive her lapdog could be.

Michael clutched the glass and glared at me. "Taylor, please come with me. I'd like to speak to you in private."

Then, he grabbed me and pulled me out of the room.

Once the door shut, Michael instantly shot me eye daggers, warning in a hushed tone, "Taylor, are you asking for death once more? Didn't I just warn you not to spoil my fun?!"

I pretended to not understand. I looked at him in confusion and asked, "Michael, what are you talking about? How could I ruin things for you? I truly hope that you'll end up with Jade!"

"You can cut the crap!"

Michael shoved me hard. My back hit against the wall of the corridor.

"If you dare to pull any tricks again, I'll make your life worse than death!"

I found it comical. Even in my new life, that love-struck idiot was still beyond saving.

Even until that moment, he still did not know that Jade wanted to take his life.

I lowered my head and pretended to be terrified. I promised him with a trembling voice, "Michael, I really don't know what you're talking about, but I swear on my life that I won't spoil your date with Jade. Once we go in, I'll persuade Jade to drink more, okay?"

Michael sized me up suspiciously. When he saw how terrified I looked, he scoffed.

"At least you know your place. Later, just find an opportunity and scram! Don't stand in my way!"

"Alright, I understand."

Returning to the room, Michael urgently took his seat next to Jade.

"Jade, this is for you!"

Michael raised the glass of wine and downed it in one go.

Jade gripped her glass a little more tighter until her knuckles turned white. She looked past Michael, glaring at me, as if perplexed why I did not stop Michael from drinking the wine.

I merely sat in the corner quietly, even smiling innocently at her.

Jade's gaze darkened.

"Jade, why aren't you drinking?"

Michael, unaware of everything, excitedly poured himself another glass.

"This wine is amazing. Have some!"

Jade could barely hide her contempt in her gaze anymore.

She avoided Michael's offer and said stiffly, "Don't drink so much."

Michael instantly mistook it as if the woman he adored was caring for him. He was instantly delighted.

"Jade, are you worried for me? I'm so happy! Let's get drunk tonight!"

Then, as if trying to prove he could hold his alcohol, he took a huge gulp.

After a few glasses, Michael did not look ill, but he was tipsy.

He yelled at me with a hazy gaze, "Taylor, what are you still standing there for? Can't you see that Jade and I are having a good time? Stop being a third wheel and get lost!"

I immediately stood up, my gaze sweeping over at Jade's darkened face.

"A-Alright, t-then I'll get moving. Jade, I'll let you look after Michael."

When she heard that she had to look after that drunken alcoholic, her expression darkened as if she had just swallowed something bitter.

When I got up, I pretended to slip and ended up falling on Jade.

"I'm sorry!"

Jade subconsciously raised her hand to block my fall. She frowned and looked at me in disgust.

"What the hell man? Can't you even stand properly?"

"I'm sorry, Jade," I apologized frantically while secretly stealing a small vial from her jacket pocket.

With it, I was not going to become the scapegoat anymore.

Suppressing a smile, I turned around and left.

I immediately hailed a taxi to a testing facility and submitted the small glass bottle I had taken from Jade for analysis.

After I came out from a comfortable hot shower, the test results were out.

When I saw the results, I was stunned.

The final conclusion was written clearly.

[Main component: Vitamin C. No toxic, harmful, or psychoactive substances detected.]

Vitamin C? Did Jade not poison Michael?

Instantly, I had a million thoughts flying through my mind.

In my previous life, Jade did not even drug the wine. She only took a bottle to pretend to do it, making sure I witnessed it.

If I caused a scene, she would be able to turn her conflict with Michael into a conflict between Michael and I.

If I did not cause a scene, Michael would have only consumed the vitamin C, which would not land her in any legal trouble.

It was no wonder she did not panic when Michael drank so much wine that night.

From the very beginning, she had been playing both of us like a fool.

Just when I was in the midst of fury, my phone suddenly vibrated.

A sense of dread rose in my chest as I answered the call.

"Is this Mr. Taylor Lowden? We're the Emergency Department at First Hospital," a nurse's anxious voice rang out.

"Your friend, Michael Ronan, has been admitted for poisoning and is currently being resuscitated. Please come immediately!"