Chapter 2: Back to Three Years Ago

Audrey's POV

"Aud, I want you to see clearly—see who's fucking you!"

A deep, melodious voice whispered against my ear. Before I could process his words, a domineering hand clamped around my jaw, forcing my face to the left, demanding that I open my eyes.

Through the haze of neon lights bleeding through the hotel window, my consciousness gradually sharpened. The man before me possessed devastatingly handsome features. His narrow, upturned eyes held irises like polished blue agate, radiating both tenderness and danger.

I was pinned against the floor-to-ceiling window, my pussy being pounded with a rhythm that sent waves of pleasure mixed with the sweetest ache through my core.

Milos?!

My eyes flew wide open, and for a disorienting moment I wondered if this was all just a dying dream—a final mercy my fading consciousness had conjured before death claimed me.

His face was taut with emotion, his lips curling into a cold arc. "Surprised? Aud, who did you think would be in your hotel room? Daniel? That pathetic coward?" He slammed into me viciously, tearing a moan from my throat. "I only had to threaten him twice before he handed you over like a bargaining chip."

Milos pressed against my back, his voice intoxicating with seduction and resentment.

"How could a man like that deserve to be your fiancé? Aud, can't you feel it? Your body and mine—we're perfectly matched!"

He spun me around, capturing my lips in an urgent, searing kiss. He devoured the air from my lungs, leaving me gasping like a fish drowning on dry land, desperately seeking oxygen from his mouth.

Was this a dream? Had God taken pity on my pathetic death and granted me this beautiful illusion?

If so, then I needed to savor every last moment of this final pleasure!

With that thought burning through me, I wrapped my arms around his neck and actively guided his rock-hard cock deeper into my pussy, rolling my hips with abandon. "Come on, fuck me to death."

Milos seemed startled by my sudden enthusiasm, and his thrusts became even more fierce and relentless.

By the time we finished, I was nearly unconscious. Milos finally released me, gathering me into his arms and gently patting my back. "Don't worry," he murmured against my hair. "I'm going to marry you and make you the happiest woman in the world."

Those tender words cut through the fog in my mind like a blade. I looked down at my body, marked with evidence of our encounter—every bruise, every bite, every fingerprint achingly real.

This wasn't a dream!

My heart lurched violently as an impossible thought exploded in my consciousness—I had been reborn!

Perhaps God had witnessed my death and heard my prayers, granting me this second chance to prevent the coming tragedy.

Memories cascaded through my mind with crystal clarity. I had been reborn to three years ago, to this very Christmas Eve when my stepsister Lyanna had drugged me with an aphrodisiac.

Her plan was simple: get me into bed with Daniel and make sure Milos witnessed it, crushing any feelings he harbored for me.

But Milos had arrived in time to stop Daniel, beating him severely before throwing him out. In my drugged haze, I mistakenly believed Milos had drugged me. I fought him desperately, crying out Daniel's name, screaming for help.

Enraged by my rejection, Milos kept me captive in this hotel room, taking me night after night.

Later, when I escaped, Daniel confessed his feelings, claiming he didn't care that I'd been imprisoned and raped by Milos—he would accept me. I was so moved by his supposed nobility that I immediately agreed, never suspecting it was all an elaborate scheme he and Lyanna had orchestrated!

From the beginning, he'd been using me!

And I'd been stupid enough to fall for his lies... ultimately leading to the destruction of my grandfather and uncle, and my own gruesome death.

The thought of Daniel and Lyanna filled me with consuming hatred. My shoulders trembled violently, my teeth chattering despite Milos's warmth against my back.

Since God gave me this second chance, I would make them pay in blood! I would return everything they'd done to me and my family tenfold, a hundredfold!

I would protect my family this time. I would never allow the tragedy of my previous life to repeat!

"Audrey! You're still thinking about that worthless piece of shit!"

Milos's voice shattered my thoughts. He flipped me over, pinning me beneath him, his expression dark. "What, are you having regrets?"

I blinked, realizing Milos had misinterpreted my emotional turmoil as resistance to him, as longing for Daniel.

I opened my mouth to explain, but he gripped my chin roughly, his eyes blazing. "What the fuck is wrong with me? Why won't you choose me instead of him! Whether you like it or not, I'm already your man. You're going to the courthouse with me to register our marriage!"

He forcibly turned my body to face him, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. "Don't you dare use that sweet mouth of yours to refuse me, or I swear I'll break your legs and lock you away on a private island where you'll never escape."

Milos was threatening me, but I knew from my previous life that despite countless opportunities, he'd never actually harmed me. When we eventually separated, he'd given me assets worth enough to buy six entire states.

My nose stung with emotion, and tears began streaming down my face.

Milos's eyes flashed with anger as he gripped my chin and roughly kissed away my tears, his tone low and menacing. "Aud, as long as you agree to marry me, I'll spare Daniel's life. Otherwise, I can't guarantee they won't become permanent residents of the psychiatric ward."

Psychiatric ward?

My tears stopped instantly, and my entire body began trembling. This was the beginning of my previous life's tragedy, the starting point of that nightmare!

In my past life, after Lyanna's plan failed, she and Daniel were sent to a psychiatric hospital for torture. When I found out, I returned to Milos, pretending to fall in love with him, using sweet words to lower his guard. After my true intentions were exposed, I even threatened suicide to force him to release them.

I exhausted every ounce of strength just to suppress my surging emotions.

They were still locked in the psychiatric hospital?

Perfect. Absolutely perfect!

Dear Daniel, dear Lyanna—are you ready to face my revenge?

I won't kill you immediately. I'll make you suffer a fate worse than death. I'll make you pay for every sin you committed in that previous life!

I focused on the man before me. "Milos, calm down. I don't regret anything. I'm willing to marry you. But first, I need you to take me to see Daniel and the others."

Milos let out a bitter laugh, probably assuming I was only agreeing to marriage for Daniel's sake.

His jaw clenched, his chest heaving. "You agreed to this yourself. I hope when you see what a pathetic state he's in, you won't regret it!"

I hooked my arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his lips. "I won't, Milos. Trust me."

I hate them even more than you do.

The psychiatric hospital was located in the suburbs, only a half-hour drive from the Waldton Hotel.

When we arrived, his subordinate William immediately approached, greeting his boss respectfully. "Master."

When his eyes landed on me, William paused before offering a perfunctory acknowledgment. "Miss."

"Lead the way," Milos commanded.

William hesitated, glancing at me with obvious concern—probably worried I intended to free the prisoners—but faced with Milos's direct order, he had no choice but to comply.

When we reached the ward where Lyanna and the others were held, the door swung open to release a nauseating mixture of blood and antiseptic.

I peered inside. Daniel was covered in bruises, his face a canvas of purple and blue, with a gash on his forehead where blood had congealed. Lyanna looked no better—her face deathly pale, her arms riddled with needle marks.

Hearing the commotion at the door, they both turned their heads in unison.

The moment they saw me, Lyanna cried out desperately.

"Sis! Sis, did you come to rescue me?"

Daniel's eyes lit up with wild hope. "Aud, quickly—come unlock these handcuffs."

He was restrained to the bed with both handcuffs and leg irons, able only to twist his body in futile struggle like a pathetic, disgusting worm.

I walked toward them step by step, my expression perfectly calm.

But my heart raced violently at the sight of those hateful faces.

Closer. Even closer.

"Aud..." Daniel looked at me with desperate hope.

I curved my lips into a cold smile, and under his expectant gaze, I picked up a fruit knife from the nearby table and plunged it mercilessly into his calf. Blood sprayed across the sterile sheets.

"Ahhhhh—"

Daniel's screams pierced the air. I released the handle, leaving the blade embedded in his flesh.

"'Aud' isn't a name you have the right to use, you fucking piece of trash."

I delivered the curse with complete detachment. A casual glance confirmed everyone present wore expressions of shock—everyone except Milos, whose Adam's apple bobbed as his eyes filled with something that looked remarkably like satisfaction.

I blew him a playful kiss before turning my attention back to those two worthless creatures.

Lyanna stammered in disbelief, "Audrey, are you... confused? You and Daniel have been friends since kindergarten... You grew up together. You even said you wanted to marry him. How can you have changed like this? Did someone force you?"

Lyanna's gaze shifted accusingly to Milos. "Is Mr. Milos threatening you? Don't be afraid—Daniel will protect you."

I turned my cold stare on her. "I think you're mistaken. Milos is my fiancé. He's the one who protects me."

Lyanna had always wanted to seduce Milos and marry him.

Unfortunately for her, whether in my previous life or this one, she would never get her wish. Because the woman who would walk down the aisle with Milos was me.

"Fiancé?!"

Lyanna's eyes bulged. I deliberately tugged at my collar, exposing the love marks covering my neck and collarbone.

Her breathing became rapid and labored, her eyes bloodshot with rage.

I looked at her, my smile growing even more radiant. Jealous? Envious? Milos was the Empire's power broker—wealthy, devastatingly handsome, commanding respect in both legitimate and underground circles. A man like that had been beyond her reach in my previous life, and would remain so in this one!

In my previous life, I'd failed Milos. In this life, I would hold onto him with everything I had!

Daniel was nearly passing out from pain, but he forced the words through gritted teeth. "Audrey... why?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I turned to Milos, whose mood had considerably improved. "Honey, does this place have functioning electroshock equipment?"

Milos raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you want to use it?"

"Of course," I said, looking at Daniel and the others with undisguised disgust. "These two pieces of shit tried to destroy me. I'm just collecting a little interest on that debt."

"Will you help your fiancée get this revenge?"

Milos was clearly pleased by that term of endearment. He snapped his fingers.

Within minutes, William returned with a doctor who operated the equipment.