My brother was drugged, and I was the one he turned to. In the haze of his fevered need, I undid the buttons of my blouse. When I found out I was pregnant, my parents revealed a lifelong secret—we weren't biological siblings—and told him to marry me. The day he agreed, he went out street racing and crashed his car. I didn’t care that he was paralyzed from the waist down. I was determined to be his bride. I thought he would be moved, that we would grow old together. On our wedding night, I woke to the acrid sting of smoke. Our villa was on fire. My first thought was to get him out. Instead, he smashed a vase over my head. As my consciousness faded, I heard his voice, as cold as ice. “You and our parents destroyed my love for Sophie. I’ve already signed over the entire family fortune to her as compensation.” “You all ruined my life. Now, you can die with me.” … I was jolted awake by Caleb’s ragged, pained breathing. I opened my eyes. I was in my own familiar bedroom. There were no festive red decorations, no thick, choking smoke. I was reborn. The shock and joy made my head spin. “Kate, get me a glass of water.” Caleb’s hoarse voice came from the next room, sending a chill down my spine. I glanced at the watch on my wrist. A thin layer of sweat instantly broke out on my back. I had been reborn to the night he was drugged. The sticky warmth of blood blinding me, the searing pain of the fire… it all came rushing back. My first instinct was to run, to get as far away from Caleb as possible. But before I could even find my shoes, he was standing in my doorway. “Kate, I’ve already called Sophie. I need you to drive and pick her up now.” Even through the haze of whatever drug was coursing through him, the suspicion and disgust in his eyes were unmistakable. A bold thought sparked in my mind. He was reborn, too. I nodded numbly, grabbing my car keys. I squeezed past him, my body turned away, and hurried out the door. As I stepped out of the villa, I could still feel the prickling discomfort of his gaze burning into my back. The address he gave me was for an apartment near his office. So, Caleb and Sophie had been living together this early on. He had said I destroyed his love for her. He wasn't lying. The moment Sophie saw my car, she wrenched open the passenger door and slid in. “How is he now?” She looked anxious, but maybe it was just me, but I could see a flicker of triumphant joy in her eyes. “You’ll see when we get there.” I didn’t want to talk to her. It wasn’t jealousy. It was because neither my mother nor I had ever liked her. Sophie was a scholarship student our family sponsored. At first, my parents adored her. She was hardworking, ambitious, and an incredible student—the valedictorian of her entire city. My parents had personally driven to her hometown to bring her to New York for college. My mother was thrilled. Sophie was a year ahead of me, and with her academic prowess, she could tutor me through my senior year of high school. She was diligent, reporting my progress to my father every week, even after I told her my mother was the one who managed my studies. I always felt there was a shrewd, calculating look in her eyes, but I told myself I was just being paranoid. That changed the night she was harassed by a drunk man. She called my father, crying. When he rushed over, she threw herself into his arms. My father, completely startled, shot his hands up in the air, his face turning pale. My mother, who had just parked the car, saw the whole thing. Through her tears, Sophie explained she saw my father as a paternal figure and was just terrified. My parents comforted her, but after that, she was never invited to our home again, and my father ceased to be involved in her affairs. After graduating, she wanted to study abroad. She came to our house with a basket of fruit, looking pitiable as she asked my parents to lend her money. My mother, never one to be stingy, had her secretary wire her fifty thousand dollars. The day before she was supposed to leave, she came to say goodbye and ran into Caleb, who had just returned home after finishing his master’s degree overseas. The next day, Sophie returned the money to my mother. She said she’d had a change of heart and decided to be more practical, to work and earn the money for her education herself. Caleb, who was on his way out, saw her standing there—dressed simply, her face set with determination—and his eyes filled with admiration. A month later, Sophie was hired at our family’s company as Caleb’s personal secretary. I told Caleb that Sophie wasn’t as pure as she seemed, that she had ulterior motives for getting close to him. “Kate,” he’d said dismissively, “not everyone is as obsessed with romance as you are.” Less than a year later, he had moved her into his private apartment. I pushed the accelerator, the car flying down the road. Sophie gripped the handle, her knuckles white. “Kate, I get that you’re upset, but you’re going to get us killed!” 2 I watched as Sophie rushed into the villa. I didn’t follow. I just sat in the car, my mind a blank slate. I knew exactly what was about to happen between Caleb and Sophie. This wasn’t jealousy. My horrific death in my past life—and the fact that I had dragged my parents down with me—had forced me to see the truth. My love for Caleb was poison to him. Sophie’s words just now had only confirmed it. “Kate, he’s your brother,” she had sneered in the car. “Your twisted feelings for him drove him to study halfway across the world. Now he has me. You need to give up.” So, Caleb had known I loved him all along. He went abroad not for his education, but to escape me. If I had known that sooner, I never would have seen his suffering that night and offered myself to him. Just before she got out of the car, Sophie had added one last thing. “You’re a grown woman now. It’s time you found someone suitable to date and marry.” She was afraid I’d keep clinging to Caleb. She didn’t need to worry. I had no feelings left for him whatsoever. I sat in the car all night. As dawn broke, I finally got out and went inside. Caleb was walking down the stairs, dressed in a silk pajama robe. “Where were you last night?” he asked. His neck was dotted with fresh, pink love bites, and his voice was a husky, lazy drawl. “I was with Mia,” I said. Mia was my best friend; Caleb had met her before. The fact that he even thought to ask where I’d been gave me a flicker of hope. Maybe he had let go of the past, too. Maybe now we could finally go back to being normal siblings. “I know you look down on Sophie’s background, that you think she’s poor,” he said, his tone hardening. “But let me tell you, she is the woman I am going to marry. From now on, you will treat her with respect.” When had I ever looked down on her background? A confused expression must have crossed my face. “Don’t give me that arrogant look,” he snapped. “She sacrificed herself to clean up the mess you made.” I was even more confused. “What are you talking about?” Caleb’s patience wore thin. “Are you going to deny that you were the one who drugged me last night? Sophie is such an innocent girl. She wanted to save herself for our wedding night, and you ruined it.” “I didn’t,” I retorted, my voice rising. I had loved Caleb for years, but I would never resort to such a cheap, disgusting trick. “I had dinner with Sophie and came straight home. The only thing I had after that was the glass of milk you always leave on my nightstand. If it wasn’t you, who was it?” In my past life, I had always wondered why he never investigated who drugged him. I just assumed it happened while he was out and he was too embarrassed to talk about it. I never knew he thought it was me. No wonder he hated me so much. Hated me enough to want to burn our parents alive just to make me suffer. Hated me enough that he couldn't even bear the thought of my child—his child, growing inside me for six months—taking its first breath. A bitter taste filled my mouth, and my eyes stung. “Believe what you want. But it wasn’t me.” Just then, the door to Caleb’s room opened. Sophie peeked out, wearing one of his button-down shirts, looking like a startled little rabbit. “Caleb… is Kate mad at me?” 3 Caleb’s eyes shot me a warning look. “Kate wouldn’t do that,” he said, his voice softening as he looked at Sophie. “She’ll only wish us the best.” “He’s right, sister-in-law,” I said, forcing a smile. “You rescued my brother. I’ll speak to Mom and Dad for you, I’ll get them to agree to the wedding.” A flash of glee crossed Sophie’s face. Caleb’s eyes narrowed, filled with suspicion and doubt. What was there to doubt? He was willing to die for her. Even if she was a manipulative monster, I wouldn’t risk my parents’ safety for anything. “Don’t make things difficult for your aunt and uncle,” Sophie said, her voice soft and demure. “I know I’m not good enough for Caleb. I just want to be by his side.” So, that’s the type he likes. The green-tea bitch type. No wonder he never loved me. Caleb wrapped a protective arm around her. When he wasn’t looking, Sophie shot me a triumphant smirk. “Kate,” she cooed, “your brother… he ripped my clothes. Could I borrow something of yours?” “What about that dress I bought you last month?” Caleb said, not looking at me. “I’ve never seen you wear it. If you don’t like it, just give it to Sophie.” That was his birthday present to me. It wasn’t that I didn’t like it; he knew perfectly well I cherished it too much to wear it. He wanted to take back a gift he’d given me. My heart gave a painful little flutter, but the feeling quickly subsided. Sophie put on my dress and twirled around beautifully. Ignoring me completely, she threw her arms around Caleb, pouting and asking if she looked pretty. It didn’t bother me. This time, all I wanted was for my parents and me to live. My parents were on vacation for two weeks. The day they returned, Caleb immediately announced his intention to marry Sophie. When I got home, the floor was littered with the shards of a shattered teacup. My mother was grim-faced, rubbing my father’s back soothingly. Caleb sat opposite them, his expression unreadable. “Mom! Dad!” I ran over and threw myself into their arms, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. Their faces instantly softened. “Look at you, still such a child,” Dad said, ruffling my hair. Mom pulled me onto the sofa beside them. “Your brother wants to marry his secretary. What do you think, Kate?” my father asked. He doted on me the most. Caleb’s gaze, cold and distant, shifted to me as well. “I think it’s wonderful. Sophie and Caleb are a perfect match.” My mother’s brow furrowed. “Do you really think so?” “Mom, Caleb is twenty-six. He has the right to choose his own happiness. We should support him.” What good would it do to object? We couldn’t stop him anyway. Seeing my parents were still hesitant, I continued. “It doesn’t matter if you like Sophie or not. Caleb likes her. After they’re married, we can live separately. I’ll stay with you and Dad forever.” My words seemed to ease their tension. I quickly shot Caleb a meaningful look. It was a silent signal we’d had since childhood. Whenever he wanted something our parents disapproved of, I was the one who would smooth things over before he made his case. “Mom, Dad, after Sophie and I are married, we’ll take good care of you. Please, give us your blessing.” Seeing Caleb kneel solemnly on the floor, I added my own pleas. With no room left for negotiation, my parents finally, reluctantly, agreed. Caleb got his wish. He would marry Sophie. The tragedy of my past life shouldn’t repeat itself now. My clenched fists slowly relaxed. After my parents went to their room to rest, I returned to mine. I had just opened my journal to write when the door was suddenly thrown open. I looked up. It was Caleb. His eyes fell on my open journal, and his face instantly darkened. I had barely stood up before his hand was clamped around my neck. “Kate, are you still writing down those filthy thoughts you have about me?” His hand was large, his grip tightening. I couldn’t breathe. “What… are you… saying?” I choked out. Caleb snatched the journal. “Isn’t this the same kind of diary you used as a teenager to document your incestuous feelings for me?” He had read my diary. He had dared to read my private thoughts. Rage and humiliation burned through me. I clawed at his hand, wrenching it free. I grabbed the journal and threw it at his chest. “What is wrong with you? Isn’t it enough that I’m letting you have her?” I screamed. “It was my mistake to love you! I don’t love you anymore! What more do you want?” I rarely got angry with him. He seemed stunned. “You love reading my diary so much? Then read it!” I sobbed. “I am writing about a man in there. It’s just not you.” With that, I shoved him aside and ran out of the room. 4 “You really agreed to date my brother? You’re really going to be my sister-in-law?” Mia’s shriek in the middle of the coffee shop turned several heads. I quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. “I ran into him the other day,” I mumbled, my face flushing. “We just… hit it off.” Mia rubbed her hands together gleefully. “Spill. You turned my brother down last time he asked you out. How did you two get together?” Mia’s brother, Leo Harrison, had indeed confessed his feelings for me six months ago. Back then, my world revolved around Caleb, and I had rejected him. This time, after I was reborn, I was determined to correct my past mistakes. But at home, Caleb and Sophie were a constant presence, their sickeningly sweet displays a daily torture. Sophie never missed an opportunity to flaunt her ownership of him. Even though I retreated again and again, assuring her I had no designs on Caleb, it was useless. I had no choice but to escape. One night, feeling miserable, I went to a bar. I had a few too many drinks and was cornered by some creep outside the restroom. Just as tears of panic started to well in my eyes, Leo appeared out of nowhere and laid the guy out with a single punch. When he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe my tears, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Leo, you’re like a character out of an old movie. Who even carries a handkerchief anymore?” He just shook the plaid cloth in his hand. “Do you have any idea how expensive this piece of fabric is?” “It’s not as convenient as a tissue,” I teased. He sighed and nodded in agreement, then tossed the priceless handkerchief into the trash. “Whatever Kate says, goes.” Mia used to complain that her brother wasn’t as cool and refined as mine, that he was more like a reckless playboy. But that “playboy” had taken over the Harrison family business and, in just three years, nearly doubled the company’s market value, earning him a fearsome reputation in Chicago’s business world. That little handkerchief brought us closer. Whenever I was in a bad mood, I would text him, and he always managed to say something strange and unexpected that would make me laugh. In this new life, the most relaxed I ever felt was when I was talking to Leo. “I thought CEOs were supposed to be busy. How do you have time to chat with me all day?” I texted him once. He replied almost instantly. “Because it’s you on the other end. I don’t want to make you wait a second longer than you have to. I’ve basically been holding my phone 24/7 these past few days.” Was this what it felt like to be loved? It was a feeling Caleb had never given me. This time, I wanted to know what it was like. I agreed to give things a try with Leo. I’ve kept a diary since I was a child. The man in my recent entries was him. I don’t know if Caleb read it or not. When I returned home, the diary was sitting neatly on my desk. Caleb was gone for several days. I took the opportunity to tell my parents about my relationship with the heir to the Harrison fortune. I made them promise to come live with me after I was married. They nodded indulgently, as if humoring a child, but I didn’t care. They had agreed. They had to stay by my side. That night, Caleb brought Sophie home for dinner. Dressed in designer clothes, she almost managed to look elegant. The mood at the table was tense, but thankfully, there were no major blow-ups. After dinner, we were all sitting in the living room. “Caleb, Sophie,” my father began, “we won’t object to your marriage, but there are some things we need to make clear beforehand.” Caleb’s gaze kept drifting to me, making me deeply uncomfortable. Sophie sat up straight, her eyes gleaming as she looked at my father. “Caleb is getting married, and Kate has a boyfriend now. To avoid any future conflicts, I’m telling you both now: the Vance family assets will be split equally between the two of you.” Before Caleb could say anything, Sophie blurted out, “That’s not fair! Kate is a daughter, after all. She’ll be marrying into another family. That’s basically just handing over our family’s wealth to outsiders!” My mother, who had barely looked at Sophie all evening, spoke up, her voice dripping with ice. “You’re not even married into this family yet, and you’re already trying to call the shots. Isn’t it a bit early for that?” I looked at Caleb. He was looking at me, a strange smile playing on his lips. “Maybe Kate’s boyfriend is only with her for our family’s money.” He pulled Sophie closer. “I agree. A 50/50 split isn’t fair.” Sophie snuggled against him. “Kate is the adopted one. I don’t mind supporting her for the rest of her life. She can marry whoever she wants and continue to live here.” My parents’ faces turned terrifyingly grim. I saw my father’s shoulders begin to tremble slightly. “Who told you Kate was adopted?” my father’s voice was dangerously low. “The one who was adopted… was you.”
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