Chapter 1

As the clock struck twelve on my birthday, Elion Lennon's call came through, his tone filled with an eerie determination.

"Vernia Keller, happy birthday. Let's end our lives today and make your parents sorry for everything!"

"They're the ones who won't accept our relationship," he added, his words piercing my heart.

Clouded by affection and hopelessness, I couldn't say no. I hurried to his home, my chest pounding with a mixture of anxiety and loyalty.

As we stood together, he began counting down. At three, I leaped, only to hear his mocking laughter behind me.

Elion remained where he was, his phone pointed at me, recording the moment with cruel accuracy.

"Look at this idiot," he mocked, his laughter empty and harsh. "I told Vernia to jump, and she actually did it!"

The following day, my mother, her voice shattered with sorrow, phoned him. She implored him to come to my funeral.

Without any guilt, he answered coldly, "I'm occupied. I'm obtaining my marriage certificate with my fiancée today."

When I awakened in this new existence, Elion was at my doorstep, tears flowing down his face as he begged.

"Die with you? Why would I squander my second chance on someone so pitiful? You're so destitute; all you have left is your dignity. Meanwhile, I have billions in inheritance waiting for me."

Elion stood motionless, shock etched on his face before anger distorted his features. "Vernia, you sorceress! You never cared for me!"

"You're correct. My love for you is gone. But my desire to see you suffer? That's very much alive."

…..

Just then, the faint sound of my home's security code being entered broke the tension. Elion barged in with his group of unsavory companions. I recognized them from before; these were his spectators, the same ones who had encouraged him when he humiliated me in my previous life.

"Vernia, if you truly cared about me, you'd leap from a building right now!" he yelled, his voice quivering with rage.

I turned and motioned towards the luxurious villa behind me, its opulence speaking volumes. "And why should I?" I chuckled, a sound sharp enough to slice through his ego. "Look at this property, two thousand square meters of extravagance. I have a fortune worth billions to inherit. And you? What do you possess, Elion? A heart? Even that's corrupted."

He stood there, astonished, as the facade he'd maintained for years crumbled. His friends shifted uneasily, their amusement fading as they exchanged nervous glances. Elion's humiliation hung heavily in the air, a delicious taste of the vengeance I'd waited so long to relish.

The taunts erupted like a swarm of wasps. "Elion, didn't you boast that Vernia was like your submissive pet? That she'd leap at your every command? Looks like your control has vanished!"

In my former life, I was truly blind. I idolized him, invested over a hundred million in his aspirations, and followed his every whim, only for him to literally drive me to the brink. His test of my devotion ended with me plummeting from a building while he laughed and filmed the spectacle. He didn't even grieve my death. The next day, he had a hasty wedding and a fresh start.

My parents had seen through his facade from the beginning. They'd pleaded with me not to marry him, and for that, I severed ties with them. They were right all along.

Elion's jaw tightened as his anger boiled over. Gritting his teeth, he rushed at me. "You filthy tramp! You've embarrassed me in front of everyone. Let's see how smug you are when I'm finished with you!"

I tried to escape, but he seized a handful of my hair, jerking me back like a ragdoll. Pain shot through my scalp, but his smirk only widened as he turned to his friends. "Watch this. I'll show her what it means to obey. I'll demonstrate how to train a dog!"

I hadn't expected that refusing to die with him would trigger such madness. He had invaded my villa with his pack of lowlife companions, ready to destroy whatever remnants of dignity I had left.

At that moment, I cursed my own carelessness. Why hadn't I updated the security code after my rebirth? How could I have been so negligent?

The villa was quiet, its vast spaces echoing with menace. I was on my own. My parents, who had always disapproved of Elion, had been right to caution me. But back then, I couldn't recognize their love. I had allowed Elion to poison my thoughts, convincing me to cut off contact with them, block their calls, and completely isolate myself.

Elion had even manipulated me into dismissing all the housekeepers and security personnel, claiming it was for our future.

He told me there wasn't a child in this world who didn't love their parents. The more I tormented myself, the more my parents would suffer, and in that anguish, they'd be forced to accept him for my sake. Only then, he said, would we finally be able to wed.

"Release me, Elion! If you don't, I'll call my dad, and he'll thrash you!"

He kicked me hard, sending me sprawling to the floor. His boot pressed against my face, and his voice turned venomous. "Your dad? The man you haven't communicated with in a month? Accept it, Vernia. They've given up on you. Do you really think they'd still be concerned?"

Desperation gripped me as I reached for my phone, but he was faster. One swift kick sent it flying into the swimming pool.

I watched helplessly as it sank to the bottom, my last hope disappearing beneath the water.

Agony wracked my body as I lay there, and regret flooded every part of my mind. My parents had been right all along.

They had implored me to see the truth, that Elion was a man with no education, no employment, and no integrity.

I had dismissed their warnings, blinded by love that now felt more like a curse.