Chapter 3

Serena's words were a key,

unlocking the most painful box deep within my memory.

I steadied my breathing, lowered my lashes,

forcing the storm raging within me back behind my eyes.

This time, I wouldn't fall into your trap.

Dinner unfolded in a strange atmosphere.

Serena commanded all attention,

speaking softly, occasionally furrowing her brow in a way that seemed playful and sweet.

Damon's gaze barely left her.

Just like in my previous life, he gently blew on her soup to cool it, his tenderness overflowing.

But he fed her nourishing broth, and he fed me poison.

Eight years of deep affection hadn't earned me a shred of his true heart.

My father and mother's attention was entirely on her,

offering me only a few perfunctory questions.

After dinner, my mother seemed to finally remember my presence,

speaking with an apologetic tone: "Autumn, your room is on the second floor, right next to Damon's. It'll be convenient for you to…"

"Mom,"

I softly interrupted, looking up amidst everyone's surprised stares, my voice calm yet firm.

"The guest room is fine. I just got home, don't want to inconvenience Damon."

The air solidified for a moment.

Damon lifted his eyelids to look at me, his eyes unreadable, cigarette ash silently falling from his fingers.

He clearly hadn't expected me to refuse so decisively, to be so eager to draw a line between us.

My mother looked a little awkward: "But… the guest room is a bit simple."

"It's fine, I'm used to simplicity."

I managed a faint smile, no longer looking at anyone.

"I've been traveling all day, I'm a bit tired and just want to rest."

Eventually, I was assigned the smallest guest room at the end of the hallway.

The room was indeed simple, but clean.

I locked the door and leaned against the cold wood.

Only then did I allow myself to drop all pretense, sliding wearily to the floor.

Late at night, everything was silent.

But a knock suddenly echoed.

An alarm blared in my mind. I walked to the door but didn't open it.

"Who is it?"

"Autumn, it's me."

Serena's voice came through the door, laced with a hint of a smile.

"Can't sleep, thought I'd chat with you."

I remained silent.

She didn't seem to mind, lowering her voice further as she continued.

"Didn't expect this, did you? We both came back. Last life, I miscalculated, really thought I'd just fall and die… Lucky you, you got to live for eight extra years."

My heart clenched, a sharp, piercing ache.

"But,"

She chuckled, "Damon, he took revenge for me later, didn't he? I bet it was quite spectacular."

Her tone was filled with malicious speculation and delight.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my flesh.

The pain I had deliberately tried to forget surged through me again.

Outside the door, her voice suddenly moved closer to the crack.

"Autumn, this lifetime, Damon is mine, from beginning to end. You can't steal him, and you don't deserve him."

With that, her footsteps receded.

But I felt a strange unease.

I rushed to the window, yanking the curtains open.

On the balcony of the neighboring guest room, Serena, in a thin nightgown,

was standing barefoot on the narrow ledge of the railing!

The night wind ruffled her long hair,

and in her hand, she held a fruit knife, its blade glinting coldly in the moonlight.

And on her pale wrist, a stark, crimson cut had already appeared!

"Serena!" I cried out.

She turned at the sound, giving me a twisted, pathetic smile.

Then, she leaned back.

"BANG!"

My room door was flung open with brute force.

Damon stormed in like a wild beast,

"Autumn!"

He roared, his eyes blazing with undisguised hatred.

"I knew it! You came back too, and you're still up to no good! You want to drive her to her death again, don't you?!"

He didn't even give me a chance to explain.

The next second, a stinging slap landed hard on my face.

"SMACK!" The sharp sound exploded in the room.

My head snapped to the side, my cheek instantly burning.

My ears rang, and a metallic taste filled my mouth.

The disgust in his eyes was sickeningly familiar.

It was the same look he'd given me when I was dying in my previous life.

Then, without hesitation, he turned and rushed towards the adjacent balcony.

I clutched my stinging cheek, sliding down the cold wall,

my numb heart aching violently.

In my past life, I had tried to explain to Damon countless times,

but he had only ever nodded, expressionless.

"It's all in the past, no need to dwell on it."

Outside the window, Serena's weak sobs and Damon's frantic reassurances drifted in.

Soon, ambulance sirens wailed.

Downstairs in the living room, lights blazed.

My father's face was ashen, my mother's eyes red from crying.

Damon left with the ambulance for the hospital.

My father looked at me with exhaustion and disappointment, as if I were an unavoidable burden.

He rubbed his temples, then finally spoke in a cold voice,

"Autumn, things have been… unsettling around here. You just got back, you might not be adapting well."

He paused, then continued, "Liam Kingston, the eldest son of the Kingston family, is accomplished, and the Kingstons are interested in an alliance. You… should meet him. Settling down early would be good for you, and for everyone."

Liam Kingston?

The notorious playboy, always surrounded by rumors?

A cold despair settled in my chest.

Yet, I suddenly felt a clarity, and a bitter amusement.

In my previous life, they had always favored Serena, the adopted daughter.

Fine. This time, I'd give them what they wanted.

I lifted my swollen face,

meeting my father's gaze, my voice calm, without a ripple of emotion.

"Alright, I'll meet him."