Chapter 2

Fiona

I jolted awake.

Not the cold stone walls of the basement, but a pink ceiling. Familiar rose-patterned wallpaper, that crystal chandelier...

This was my room! My room from when I was 22!

"No... this can't be happening..." I reached out with trembling hands. Smooth, soft skin—no scars from imprisonment. I touched my neck where Maxwell's fingerprints should have been from when he'd strangled me in rage—nothing there.

A heavy body pressed down on me, that familiar masculine scent making me freeze instantly.

"Maxwell?"

His eyes were glazed, cheeks flushed—clearly drugged. His rough hands were tearing at my nightgown, mumbling incoherently.

Oh God—I was reliving it. The night that had destroyed all our lives.

I whipped my head toward the calendar on my nightstand—March 15th, 2017.

I'd actually been reborn! Back to the night that changed everything!

"Stop!" I used every ounce of strength to push him away. Under the influence of the drug, Maxwell had little resistance and stumbled back to the edge of the bed.

I quickly rummaged through the drawer for that bottle of hangover pills—seven years of painful memories made me remember exactly where it was. Back then, I'd stupidly thought it was just regular hangover medication. Now I knew it was the antidote Mom had specially prepared.

"Maxwell, look at me!" I grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to meet my eyes. "My mom drugged you—you need to snap out of it!"

"Fiona?" He blinked, struggling to focus. "I... my head's spinning... I feel so hot..."

"Drink this!" I twisted off the cap and poured it into his mouth without hesitation. "It's the antidote—you'll be okay!"

Maxwell instinctively tried to resist, but I held his head firmly. Seven years of regret from my past life made me more determined than ever—I absolutely could not let this tragedy repeat itself!

"Trust me, Maxwell. Trust me this time!"

Ten minutes later, his eyes began to clear. When he saw the situation we were in, his face went deathly pale.

My clothes were half-open, my hair disheveled, and he was sitting shirtless on my bed.

"Damn it!" Maxwell jumped up, guilt and anger warring on his face. "I almost... I'm sorry, Fiona. I don't know what I was doing!"

"It's not your fault." I straightened my torn nightgown, trying to keep my voice steady. "My mom did this. She put something in the wine."

"What?!" Maxwell's expression shifted from guilt to shock. "Margaret... why?"

I took a deep breath. This rebirth had given me a second chance, and this time I was going to do the right thing.

"Because she's obsessed with making you the Reed heir," I said, meeting his gaze. "And she sees me as nothing but the vessel to make that happen."

Maxwell's face darkened, his fists clenching audibly. "That crazy woman! How dare she—"

"Maxwell." I interrupted him, my heart aching so badly I could barely breathe, but I had to say it. "You belong with Helen," I said, each word like swallowing glass. "I'll help you find your way back to her."

The entire room fell silent. Maxwell stared at me wide-eyed, as if I'd said something completely insane.

"Fiona, I don't understand," Maxwell's brow furrowed. "Where is this coming from?"

BANG!

The door burst open violently as Mom stormed in. When she saw us sitting there talking, the anticipation on her face instantly turned to fury.

"Fiona! Have you lost your mind? Why would you ruin everything?!"

She rushed toward me, raising her hand to strike. Maxwell instantly stepped in front of me.

"Stop it!" Maxwell's voice cut through the room like steel.

"Maxwell, you don't understand!" Mom's eyes gleamed with madness. "You two have to be together! It's the only way the Reed family legacy can continue!"

I stood up, facing Mom directly for the first time since my rebirth. Seven years of imprisonment in my past life had shown me the darkness in her heart—I wouldn't be afraid anymore.

"Do you realize what people would say about step-siblings marrying?" I kept my voice level. "You'd destroy the family name you're so desperate to preserve."

"Scandal?" she spat the word. "Your father built that vineyard from nothing! Without Maxwell's business mind, it'll crumble to dust. Is that what you want for your father's legacy?"

She suddenly turned to me, her expression turning sinister. "Fiona, if you don't cooperate, I can cut off all your financial support! Leave you with nothing!"

"Enough! Margaret, how can you treat your own daughter..." Maxwell angrily interrupted her.

"If she defies me on this, she's no daughter of mine!" Mom's voice rose to a shriek. "Maxwell, be reasonable—the entire Reed estate could be yours. Do you know what that vineyard is worth on today's market?"

Looking at Mom's twisted face, endless sadness washed over me.

"I'm not a chess piece for you to move around, Mom," I said softly, but with steel in my voice. "My happiness isn't yours to barter away."

"You—" Mom started to say something, but Maxwell was already walking toward the door.

"Let me make something perfectly clear," he said, each word dropping like a stone. "Try anything like this again, and I won't just walk away—I'll have you arrested."

Mom's face went pale, but the venom in her eyes grew more intense.

"You'll regret this!" She pointed at us, her voice full of threats. "Without my help, you're nothing!"

With that, she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

The room fell quiet again. Maxwell turned to look at me, his expression complicated.

"Did you mean what you said? About Helen?" His eyes searched mine, looking for any trace of deception.

I nodded, fighting to keep my tears from falling.

Maxwell studied me deeply, seeming like he wanted to say something, but in the end said nothing and left.

I was alone in the room.

I walked to the mirror, looking at my young face. Fair skin, bright eyes, the bloom of youth at 22.

But my heart had aged. Seven years of pain and despair had taught me better than anyone what true love really meant.

To love someone is to want their happiness. Even if that happiness doesn't include you.

"No more selfish choices," I whispered to my reflection. "Even if every step feels like walking on broken glass, I'll lead him back to where he belongs."

I picked up my phone and started making calls to help me find Helen.

"You've been given a second chance, Fiona," I told myself. "Not to win him—but to finally love him the right way."