wandered for hours. After dark, with nowhere else to go, I found myself back at the penthouse that smelled of Donovan. As I walked in, I saw him sitting on the sofa. I steeled myself and walked right up to him. 'Mr. Black," I said, my voice steady. "Our contract ended six months ago. Now that Ms. Rhodes is back, isn't t time for me to leave?" The contract had expired, but he'd never said a word about me leaving. In fact, in the months since, he'd gift- ed me a small fortune in jewelry. It was one of the reasons I'd so easily believed Tiffany's lies in my first life. Donovan slowly looked up at me, his expression one of confusion. "What Ms. Rhodes?" 7/12 13:54 13:54 Chapter 2 I could feel the housekeeper's eyes on me, but I didn't care. "Camilla Rhodes," I said, my voice rising slightly. "The woman you're engaged to. Isn't she back? She already had someone trash my restaurant because I'm still here, clinging to you!" Deep down, I resented him. Whatever love story or drama he and Camilla were tangled in had nothing to do with me. He had no right to drag me into it, and he had no right to play dumb now. "If the restaurant was trashed, we'll just open another one," he said coolly. "And if I recall correctly, it was all my money anyway. What exactly are you so upset about?" It's true what they say. Sometimes, when you're speechless, you laugh. I laughed for a long time, until tears streamed from my eyes. I wiped them away. "You're right," I said, my voice empty. "I was overthinking it. So, can I go? The contract stipulated that I have the right to leave when it's over." For five years, I had rarely dared to meet his gaze. But this time, I looked straight into his deep, dark eyes and didn't flinch. "You do have the right to leave," he said slowly. "But are you sure? If you walk out that door, I won't let you come back." Without a second of hesitation, I nodded forcefully. "I'm sure. I will never come back." A corner of his mouth twitched into something that wasn't a smile. "Fine. If you want to go, go now. You can't take anything with you except the purse on your shoulder." The image of my notebook, hidden under the bed, flashed in my mind for a single instant. Then, I gave Don- ovan one last nod, turned my back on him, and walked out the door. I was blocks away before I finally let out a long, shuddering breath. I checked my purse. My bank cards and ID were there. I was overcome with relief. I didn't usually carry my cards with me, but after opening the new account, some instinct told me to keep them on my person at all times. That instinct had just saved me. I took a taxi to the airport and bought a ticket for the next flight out, leaving the city I had lived in for eight years without a backward glance. After one night in a coastal city, I still felt a deep unease. I bought another ticket, this time to a place known for its beautiful winters. As soon as I landed, I went to a bank and opened a new account, transferring all my money over again. I bought a small, furnished condo and found a little shop for lease nearby, planning to become a small business owner. The days passed, one by one. When the calendar reached the anniversary of my death in the last life, I stayed in my apartment all day. watching the snow fall outside my window. I watched the sky turn from black to gray to white. I watched the time on my phone, and when the day passed, a final, heavy weight lifted from my soul. I knew then that I had truly changed my fate. 8/12 13.54 13.55 Chapter 2 On New Year's Day, as I was cooking dinner for myself, the doorbell rang. I assumed it was my neighbor, co- ming to borrow something again. But when I opened the door, I saw a face I hadn't seen in months. Donovan Black. I stared at him, stunned, convinced I was dreaming. "Aren't you going to invite me in?" he asked. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!