Characters in this chapter:

Lyla (Main Character)

Lucas (Lyla's childhood sweetheart)

Sloane (The wealthy socialite)

Caspian (The elite young tycoon)

Chapter 1

In my past life, my impoverished childhood sweetheart was targeted by a wealthy socialite. He was forced to abandon all his dignity and become her plaything.

He agreed, but only on one condition: she had to pay for all my tuition and living expenses.

He thought that even if he became a toy, I would at least have a bright future.

What he didn't know was that his sacrifice caught the attention of the socialite’s elite friend. That man took notice of me and, with sheer cruelty, locked me away to be used at his whim.

I opened my eyes again, reborn on the very day Lucas was being coerced by Sloane.

That same young man, the one who had held me and humiliated me through countless nights in my previous life, was leaning lazily against a wall. He chimed in with a drawl, "A man who can't even afford his own tuition—you still care about dignity?"

I reached out and took Lucas’s hand, smiling at the boy. "There’s something I forgot to tell you. I won the lottery. We have enough money for school now."

1

"Lucas," the boy said impatiently. "Sloane taking an interest in you is an honor."

Hearing that familiar voice, I instinctively took a step back.

My face turned pale.

Then, my eyes met that reckless, indifferent gaze.

The boy gave me a casual glance before looking away, asking Sloane, "What exactly do you see in this pretty boy?"

At this point in time, he wasn't interested in me yet.

He was solely focused on helping his friend get what she wanted.

Sloane chuckled. "A man with a bit of a backbone is much more fun to play with."

I turned my head.

Lucas stood beside me, his tall, lean frame draped in a school uniform that had been washed until it was faded.

He lowered his eyes, then glanced at me.

I stared back at him, dazed.

It felt as if shadows of the past were flickering by.

In my previous life, I had used obedience and submission countless times just to earn a chance to see him.

Yet each time, I could only watch as the light in his dark eyes grew dimmer.

But in the end, he would always pull his lips into a faint smile and say to me in a lighthearted tone:

"Have you lost weight again? You need to eat more. Don't keep coming back to the country just to see me. You have your own path to walk."

I had stood on my tiptoes to give him a hug, my eyes stinging as I whispered, "Okay."

Then I would turn and leave.

I would walk back into that hidden room.

The walls were covered in high-definition camera feeds, a 360-degree view.

In the center of the screens, Lucas still stood in the same spot, solitary and lonely.

Sloane and Caspian sat in front of the monitors.

The cold blue light from the screens hit them, making their expressions look increasingly grim.

Sloane asked me expressionlessly, "Which hand did you just use to touch him?"

Caspian lifted his eyelids. "She's mine. You don't get to lecture her."

Sloane sneered. "Then keep a tighter leash on her!"

With that, she stomped out in a rage.

She was going to find trouble for Lucas again.

Caspian walked slowly toward me, his slender fingers tightening around my wrist with enough force to crush it.

He smiled without warmth, his voice icy:

"You truly are a pair of tragic star-crossed lovers. I suppose Sloane and I are the villains for tearing you apart."

2

And now, just like in my past life.

Sloane walked over with a sweet smile. "Lucas, you could try liking me. I'm beautiful and rich—aren't I much better than your little childhood friend?"

As she spoke, she pointed at me with fingers tipped in shimmering nail polish.

Lucas stepped in front of me, shielding me. He looked up coldly. "You aren't even worthy of being compared to her."

Sloane's face instantly darkened.

She turned back and asked through gritted teeth, "Do all you men like girls like her?"

The boy scanned me with a look of utter boredom. "Bland and tasteless," he remarked.

Sloane’s expression softened slightly. "Take her away. I want to speak with Lucas alone."

The boy gave a nonchalant hum and started walking toward me.

Lucas’s back tensed as he guarded me, his voice low and raspy. "Don't touch her!"

The boy tilted his chin toward me and muttered to Lucas, "If I remember correctly, she was selected for an overseas exchange program. Does she even have the money to go?"

Sloane understood immediately and frowned. "Hey, I can give Lucas money, but her..."

The boy gave her a fleeting glance.

Sloane realized something and shut her mouth.

Standing behind Lucas, I couldn't see his face.

I instinctively grabbed the hem of his shirt, my grip tightening.

Countless thoughts raced through my mind.

Finally, only two vivid images remained—

Sloane slowly picking at her nails with a triumphant smile.

...and the boy’s dark, bottomless eyes staring over.

Fortunately, in those deep eyes right now, there was only impatience and condescension.

In the silence, I gently squeezed Lucas’s hand. "There’s something I forgot to tell you. I won the lottery. We have enough money for school now."

As the words fell, I immediately felt two gazes lock onto me.

Lucas paused for a moment, then squeezed my hand back.

I followed him away, never looking back.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

But for some reason, my subconscious told me it wouldn't end this easily.

3

That night, I had a nightmare.

In the dream, I was being tossed around relentlessly, my voice hoarse from crying.

I sobbed over and over:

"I hate you... I hate you..."

I only heard that lazy, satiated voice reply, "Hate me? There's a thin line between love and hate, darling. Repeat after me: You love me."

I bit my lower lip, refusing to make a sound.

He didn't push me further. He just held me tightly in his arms and whispered tenderly against my ear, "No wonder Lucas likes you so much. Sweetheart, why are you so adorable?"

Suffocation...

It was so suffocating...

It felt as though I could never escape.

I snapped my eyes open, my heart pounding wildly.

The night was silent.

I was still sleeping on the modest four-foot bed in my rented room.

I wasn't in that extravagant, soft bed with the cold gold chains hanging from the headboard.

I looked down, trying to steady my breathing.

Sloane wouldn't give up that easily.

Her obsession with Lucas was plain for everyone to see.

In my previous life, Caspian had once lazily played with a strand of my hair, mentioning as if in passing:

"Sloane rejected her marriage proposal for that pretty boy again."

I didn't react.

He tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes.

He said nonchalantly:

"Sloane is willing to go against her family for Lucas. As long as he does what she wants, she’ll give him everything."

"What about you? What can you do for him?"

"You can't do anything, because you have nothing."

When I didn't respond, he gave an unreadable chuckle and slowly pulled me into his arms.

"But it doesn't matter."

"If you listen to me, I can give you everything too."

My voice was slightly raspy. "Really?"

"Of course." He kissed my eyelid. "Your voice is hoarse. I'll get you some water."

I grabbed his arm and stared into those dark eyes, enunciating every word:

"Let me go. And tell Sloane to let Lucas go."

Caspian stared at me intently.

The curve of his lips flattened.

It was replaced by a blank expression and eyes filled with hostility.

But unexpectedly, he laughed again.

"If Sloane agrees, then I'll agree too."

He called Sloane right in front of me and put it on speaker.

"I say," Caspian leaned back on the sofa, his long legs crossed casually, "how about we fulfill the wish of these star-crossed lovers and let them both go?"

I sat to the side, my back rigid, listening to the woman's voice through the phone.

Sloane gave a dry laugh. "Are you bored of her?"

Caspian glanced at me and said calmly, "Yeah."

"Oh, well I'm not bored yet." Sloane huffed. "Since you're bored, just give her some money and send her away. It’ll save her from hanging around Lucas all the time. It disgusts me."

Caspian gave a hollow smile. "What kind of star-crossed pair only has one bird left in the nest?"

Sloane understood and immediately snapped, "When did you become so kindhearted that you'd help lovers? I'm telling you, I won't let Lucas go even if it kills me!"

With that, she hung up.

The massive villa fell into a heavy silence.