Chapter 1

The sharp smell of disinfectant hit me as my eyes snapped open.

The bright fluorescent lights hurt my eyes, and I saw white hospital walls, heard the familiar beeping of machines... my heart started pounding. This was the VIP room at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, a place I knew way too well.

"Miss Winston! You're finally awake!" Nurse Linda rushed over, looking relieved. "You've been out for two days. Mr. Stone has been here every night, right by your side."

Mr. Stone?

My head was pounding.

Alexander Stone, my fiancé. The man who, in my past life, killed himself after I left him at the altar.

"Where... where is he now?" My voice came out all scratchy.

"He just left for some urgent work thing, but don't worry, the wedding's just pushed back a week. He said he wants to wait until you're completely better." Linda fluffed my pillow. "He really loves you. He's barely left this room."

The wedding in a week.

I closed my eyes, and everything from my past life came rushing back. The worst decision I ever made—running away with Brad the day before my wedding.

I was so stupid back then. I thought Brad actually loved me, and that Alexander was just some guy my family picked for business reasons. I'll never forget when Brad and Sofia had me tied up in that warehouse, when they told me the truth.

"You really thought I loved you?" Brad's smile was ice cold. "I only wanted the Winston family money. You idiot, you were part of our plan from day one."

Sofia made it worse: "Alexander Stone killed himself because of you. The news said he shot himself in the church where you were supposed to get married. What a pathetic fool."

Then she stabbed me in the heart, and the pain mixed with all my regret...

"Miss Winston? Are you okay?" Linda's worried voice snapped me back.

I realized my hands were shaking and my palms were soaked with sweat. I was alive again. Really alive. This time, I wouldn't screw up.

"I need some time alone," I managed to keep my voice steady.

Linda nodded and left. I was by myself now, looking out at Manhattan's skyline through the window, all those lights scattered across the darkness. I remembered this exact moment—one week before my wedding to Alexander, and in my past life, I was already planning to run away with Brad.

I never really got Alexander Stone. To me, he was always cold and distant, barely talked to me, even shaking hands felt like he was just going through the motions. I thought he didn't care about me at all, that our marriage was just business to him.

But Sofia said he killed himself over me. In the church where we were supposed to say our vows, he shot himself.

If that was true, what did I miss in my past life? What didn't I see?

I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and found his assistant's number. My finger hung over the screen for a few seconds before I called.

"Mr. Stone's office, Davis speaking." His voice was all business.

"Hi, this is Ivy Winston. I want to meet with Alexander to talk about our wedding stuff personally."

Silence for a few seconds. I could tell Davis was surprised: "Miss Winston? Hold on, I'll put you through right away."

My heart started racing again. This call could change everything, but I had to know the truth. In my past life, I ran away. This time, I was going to face it.

"Miss Winston." A deep voice came through, cold as ice.

Hearing Alexander's voice, I almost forgot how to breathe. In my past life, I never called him first. His voice was even colder than I remembered.

"Alexander, I... I think we should meet before the wedding to talk about things."

"Talk about things?" His tone gave nothing away. "Hasn't Davis gone over all the details with you?"

"Not that kind of talk." I took a deep breath. "I think we should talk privately, like normal engaged people do."

The phone went quiet for a long time. I could hear a clock ticking in his office and cars passing by outside.

"If that's what you want," he finally said, his voice still emotionless. "Tomorrow at three, my office."

"I'll be there."

The call ended, and I stared at the "Call Ended" on my screen, my mind full of questions.

If he really loved me, why did he sound like he was talking to a complete stranger? Why couldn't I feel any warmth from him, just cold politeness?

I gripped my phone so tight my knuckles went white. Maybe Sofia was lying. Maybe Alexander never loved me at all.

But either way, I was going to find out the truth.