chapter 4

4.

The day before the wedding, I sat quietly in front of my mom's photo, lost in thought, when Dad called me into his study.

"Isla, are you really sure about this? He's still in a coma. If you want to back out, it's not too late."

I nodded without hesitation. "Yeah, Dad. I've made up my mind."

His fingers tightened around mine, tears brimming in his eyes. "Isla, I'm sorry you have to go through this. If you ever run into trouble… just come to me, okay?"

Unlike him, I didn't feel sad at all.

When I left the study, the sun was sinking, painting the sky in red and gold.

By the rose garden, someone was waiting.

Chloe.

I didn't even bother acknowledging her and walked straight past.

But she stepped in front of me, grabbing my wrist. "Isla, you're getting married tomorrow. You should learn how to be a proper wife. Stop thinking about other men."

I snorted. "You're warning me now, Chloe? You must be feeling guilty. What's wrong—afraid I'll steal Liam? Or maybe…"

Her face drained of color in an instant.

"Isla, Liam loves me. He's mine. Stop dreaming about him. Just marry into the Weston family and bring some luck to that coma patient."

A sly smile tugged at her lips. "Who knows—maybe he'll wake up on your wedding night and serve his new bride."

"Get lost!" I shook her off.

I hadn't even used much force, but she stumbled backward dramatically.

"Chloe!"

Liam appeared out of nowhere, rushing to catch her before she could fall.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice soft, full of tenderness and concern.

Chloe clung to him, blinking rapidly until tears slid down her cheeks.

"I just wanted to wish her a happy wedding, but she didn't appreciate it. She even pushed me…"

"Isla!" Liam's voice thundered, rough and raw. "Why are you so cruel?"

It felt like a fishbone was stuck in my throat.

Before I could even react, he shoved me hard.

I crashed into the rose bushes behind me. The thorns tore into my skin—my arms, my face, my legs.

Blood dripped onto the ground.

But Liam didn't even look back. He just wrapped an arm around Chloe and walked away.

I struggled to rise, only to see blood spreading across the floor at my feet.

"Help! Somebody help me!" I screamed with everything I had.

But no one came.

My voice grew weaker with each word.

At last, I'd exhausted the last ounce of my strength.

Death felt like it was closing in.

Just then, I heard footsteps rushing toward me.

"Go get the family doctor!" It was Liam's voice.

A few servants carried me inside.

Slowly, awareness seeped back into my mind.

Liam stood over me, looking down. There was a flicker of pity in his eyes—gone in a second—replaced by something far darker.

"Remember this," he said coldly. "This is what you owed Chloe in your last life. And now, I'll make you pay it back—piece by piece."

A chill ran straight through me, freezing me to the bone.

He had loved Chloe then.

He still loved her this time.

That realization seared my chest like fire, leaving nothing but ashes behind.

In that moment, I understood—compared to the thorns that cut into my skin, his love was the thing that truly hurt.

"You know I'm marrying into the Weston family tomorrow," I said quietly. "From now on, you don't know me, and I don't know you."

Liam's hand shot out, gripping my wrist so hard I thought he'd crush it.

"Isla!" His tone was sharp, yet twisted with a strange possessiveness.

"Since we were married in our last life, I can crash your wedding and take you away—as long as you cooperate. You won't have to marry that comatose man. I'll keep you by my side."

He paused, then added coldly, "But there's one condition—you'll have to behave and get along with Chloe."

A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

"Liam, what makes you so sure I don't want to marry into the Weston family? What if marrying Owen is exactly what I want? And the one I don't want to marry… is you."

"Isla, you're just angry. Don't ruin your entire future over a moment of spite. I know you still care about me. So just do as I say. When the time comes, I'll send someone to pick you up."