Chapter 1

I was reborn on the day my sister Vanessa went through my phone. In our last life, she exposed my online boyfriend, forced me to marry Victor Stone, and finally drove a car into me. This time, she thought stealing Nathan Vale would give her the rich, perfect life I once had. She never knew Nathan was the gift I had prepared for her. I trained in self-defense until Victor was too afraid to touch me. I let her lie, let her pretend to be me, and let her eat the seafood that made her sick just to keep him. Every step she took was one I had already planned. She believed she was taking my fate. In truth, she was walking into my revenge. Now she will marry the abusive man she chose for me, while I walk away with Nathan—and the life she killed me for.

Chapter 1

When I opened my eyes, my older sister, Vanessa Hart, was going through my phone. In my last life, she had started yelling the moment she found what she was looking for. This time she frowned, took out her own phone, and seemed to be writing something down.

I knew what that meant. She had been reborn too, to the day she discovered I was seeing someone online.

Last time, she had run straight to our parents. She told them I was going astray and cheating on the fiancé they had chosen for me. Mom and Dad beat me for it. That wasn't enough for Vanessa. She invited my online boyfriend to our house so she could watch our parents tear into both of us. She wanted to see me cry when they forced us apart.

Mom and Dad had been eager to meet the supposed scoundrel who'd dared to pursue their daughter. Then he pulled up in a sports car, dressed in custom-made couture. His bearing alone stopped them in their tracks.

He was Nathan Vale, heir to one of the most prominent families in Briarhaven. My parents changed their tune at once. Vanessa looked ready to explode.

Until then, Mom and Dad had been planning to confront him over my supposed cheating. All that righteous anger vanished the moment they realized what his name and family meant. Vanessa had invited him to see me disgraced; instead, she had to stand there watching them welcome him.

That single meeting changed both our fates. My parents had promised me to a violent man who offered them a million dollars to marry one of their daughters. With Nathan standing beside me, Vanessa ended up taking my place. I married into the Vale family instead.

From then on, her husband abused her daily. She spent much of that marriage in the hospital. In the end, she couldn't bear her life or the sight of mine. She found a chance to drive her car into me and killed me.

This time, however, she didn't seem to plan on telling our parents. She was writing down my boyfriend's number.

"Nessa? What are you doing with my phone?" I asked.

She flinched and turned. "Elise Hart, seriously? You're engaged and you're dating some guy online? If Mom and Dad find out, they'll break your legs."

I watched her without answering.

She snorted. "Whatever. You're still my little sister. I blocked his number and deleted it. If I find out you're still with him after this, I won't hold back again."

I gave her a meek nod. She smirked and practically skipped out of the room. I was sure she meant to message Nathan from her own number and claim she'd changed phones.

...

For the next few days, Vanessa was always tapping away at her phone with a dreamy grin.

One morning she glanced at me, then announced to our parents, "Mom, Dad, you're meeting my boyfriend today. I'm about to marry into one of the best families in town."

Their eyes widened. They both wanted to know if she was serious.

"Of course I am." Vanessa raised her chin. "Want to guess who he is?"

She let them wait until they were hanging on her every word. "He's the heir to one of Briarhaven's richest families. We're going out today. You'll get to see for yourselves just how amazing he is."

Mom and Dad drew sharp breaths.

Vanessa came up beside me and lowered her voice. "Ellie, I'm feeling generous. I even got you a present."

I held her gaze. That gleam in her eyes told me the present wouldn't be for my benefit.