chapter 4

"As long as you give her back to them, I can survive. She's the one who deserves this, not me."

Out in the hall, I let out a dry laugh. Esme really knew how to twist everything to her advantage.

Hadn't this marriage been what she begged for, schemed for, clawed after with everything she had?

I pushed the door open, my gaze cold as I stared at my mother and sister, who were scheming to hand me over to the Juarez family in Esme's place.

"I'm not going.

"Everyone in high society knows you're the one married into the Juarez family, not me."

Esme's gaze turned sharp and venomous.

"Why not? We're just putting things back where they should've been all along.

"Don't forget, in this house, Mom and Dad always loved me best."

True enough.

I had let that slip my mind, but that was all the more reason I couldn't give in. Not after fighting so hard for this second chance at life.

"Esme, enjoy that fortune of a lifetime while it lasts. When you're gone, I'll send flowers to your grave."

The words had barely left my lips when my mother's palm cracked across my face, the sting hot and sharp.

"Erin, she's your sister! How could you say something so vicious?

"Do you really have it in you to watch her die?

"I'll talk to your father. It may not be too late to put you back in her place."

Put me back in her place?

I was about to refuse when a low voice cut through the room, edged with frost that made my skin prickle.

"And who dares to speak of taking my wife's place?"

I turned, and there was Allan, tall and steady, each stride carrying him closer. He stopped only when he was at my side, his hand closing firmly around mine.

Esme's eyes went wide, like she was seeing a ghost. She couldn't believe it—Allan, the man thought to be lost in a coma, was standing right there awake.

"You're… Allan?"

Color drained from her face, then rushed back in blotches of red. I didn't need to guess what was going through her mind. Regret was eating her alive.

Esme cried out again, "Mom, Allan should have been my husband. Erin stole him from me!"

Hah. Some people really had no shame.

Allan drew me close, his voice cutting cold through the room.

"Erin is my wife, and no one will ever take her place. If anyone tries, the Hendricks will see to it they pay dearly, no matter the price."

My mother's face went pale with panic.

The Chambers could never afford to cross the Hendricks.

"Esme, just hold on. Maybe in time, Jake will grow to love you."

Esme collapsed onto the sofa, looking hollow, as if all the life had drained out of her. She sat there for a long moment before finally lifting her head to look at me.

"Erin, don't look so smug. I have something to tell you."

I reassured Allan I'd be right back.

He still wasn't at ease and stayed in the living room to keep watch.

Upstairs, where no outsiders could overhear, Esme dropped all pretenses. Her tone was sharp, her arrogance on full display.

"Erin, did you really think marrying Allan means you've got it made?

"Give it a month. The Hendricks will be caught up in a smuggling scandal, Allan will land in prison, and you'll be dragged down with him.

"When that happens, I'll be watching to see if you're really any better off than me."

I stared at her, stunned. How could she know this? The question slipped from me before I could stop it.

"You came back too?"

Clearly she hadn't expected me to say that. Her eyes widened, just as shaken as I was.

"So you came back as well."

No wonder. No wonder she had set her sights on Jake this time around.

I remembered all too well how I'd died in my last life. My laugh was cold as I looked at Esme.

"This time, you've brought it all on yourself. Happy now?

"The man you couldn't have before, you've finally snatched for yourself."

Esme raised her hand to strike me, but I caught her wrist before she could land the blow.

"Did you really think I was still the same Erin you pushed around back then?

"Esme, just wait until Jake makes you his perfect plaything."

Her legs gave out and she collapsed to the floor, screaming after me as I walked away.

"I won't let you go, Erin! If I go down, I'm taking you with me!"

I didn't bother to answer. I'd only returned to see just how hard she would fall.