Chapter 1 Reborn

Kate Jennings was dead.

She lay motionless on the cold floor of an abandoned warehouse by the harbor, her blood staining the snow crimson. Her soul hovered above, watching as the man beside her, his limbs severed, clung to the last threads of life. Somehow, he seemed to see her.

He managed a faint smile. "Kate, is that you?"

"Yes, it's me!" Kate desperately tried to embrace him, but her ethereal form passed right through his body. She collapsed to her knees, weeping in agony.

"Ethan, why? Why did you try to save me?"

She had been so cruel to him, yet he risked his life to rescue her.

"Because... I love you," Ethan Levington seemed to hear her cries.

"I'm sorry, Kate. I couldn't... save you in the end. But perhaps... this is better... dying together... at least we're... together now."

Ethan smiled and closed his eyes forever. Kate threw her head back and let out a heart-wrenching scream. "No!"

Her scream still echoed in her ears when suddenly, a gentle male voice spoke beside her.

"Kate, it's time to put on the ring."

The scene instantly changed. Blake Hamilton's hypocritical face appeared before her, smiling as he offered her a ring. Kate stared at him blankly, her mind empty.

Wasn't she... dead?

Where was Ethan? Where had he gone? Was this all a dream? No, it couldn't be a dream. The pain had been too real, too profound—impossible to forget.

What exactly had happened?

"Kate?"

Receiving no response, Blake called her name again softly.

Kate looked around and pinched herself hard. The pain confirmed this was real.

The familiar dress, the familiar scene, the familiar faces—everything triggered memories of the day she had desperately tried to forget. Today, June 9th, was her engagement party with Blake.

Had she... been reborn?

Blake held out a massive diamond ring, a tender smile on his handsome face.

That smile overlapped with the expression he wore when he plunged a knife into her heart in her previous life. Her eyes flashed with regret.

Now, she wanted him dead.

She stared at Blake, struggling to suppress her murderous intent.

Kate didn't respond, and an awkward silence fell over the gathering.

A soft, delicate voice broke the silence.

"Kate, let Blake put the ring on you. Don't embarrass him."

Hearing this voice, Kate whirled around. The moment she saw who had spoken, the flames of hatred reignited in her eyes, and her fists clenched tightly.

Sophia Jennings, her half-sister—a daughter born out of wedlock.

She used her fragile appearance to gain sympathy from others, pretending to be Kate's devoted sister while secretly plotting her destruction. In the end, she had conspired with Blake to murder Kate, and when Ethan tried to save her, they hadn't spared him either.

Kate struggled to stay calm as she continued staring at Sophia. Misinterpreting her gaze as a plea for comfort, Sophia moved closer.

"Kate, it's alright. Everyone gets nervous during their engagement. Marrying Blake, your savior, has always been your dream, hasn't it? If it were me, I'd be just as nervous."

As she spoke, she gently touched Kate's arm, her eyes full of envy. Kate laughed inwardly with contempt.

Still playing the disgusting "sisterly love" card—no wonder she hadn't seen through it in her previous life!

Savior? He was nothing but a despicable demon!

Kate now seriously doubted whether Blake had ever saved her at all. This time, she was determined to uncover the truth!

After being reborn, she would never let them use her again.

"I'm not getting engaged today!"

Kate forcefully threw the bouquet to the ground. Though her voice wasn't loud, it plunged the venue into a deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned, including Blake, Sophia, and Kate's father, Richard Jennings.

"Kate, what are you saying? Have you lost your mind?" Richard shouted.

Kate looked at him coldly. He was just as much of a bastard as Blake.

Richard had married into the Morgan family, just as Blake planned to marry into the Jennings family. Richard had squeezed every ounce of value from her mother, and Blake similarly intended to drain Kate of everything.

Birds of a feather, indeed.

"Have I lost my mind? I'm perfectly calm. Dad, can't you see? Or are you deaf? Can't you hear what I'm saying? I'll say it again: I'm not getting engaged today!"

Kate tore off her veil.

Richard raised his hand to strike her, but Blake stopped him.

Blake signaled that he would handle this, and Richard sat down with a grim expression.

"Kate, now is not the time for tantrums," Blake said with a slight frown, his tone carefully modulated to sound gentle.

"I know I was late today, and that upset you. I promise to make it up to you after the engagement ceremony, okay?"

"Upset? Make it up to me?" Kate laughed, her gaze sharp as a knife. "Blake, do you really think you're worth getting upset over?"

"You're marrying me for my status and fortune, don't think I don't know. Getting upset over someone like you? Is that even possible?"

Hearing these words, the smile on Blake's face instantly froze.

He seemed unable to believe that the typically compliant Kate would say such things; he stood momentarily stunned, completely failing to maintain his facade.

The guests sensed the dramatic moment and collectively fell silent, hoping to catch every word.

Seeing the situation, Sophia quickly stepped forward to mediate.

"Everyone, I'm so sorry. Kate has never been scolded by our father. I think she just feels that Dad wasn't as gentle today as usual, which is why she's saying these strange things."

Then she turned to Kate, her voice soft and pleading:

"Kate, Blake isn't that kind of person. He works hard, is ambitious, and always considerate. Don't let anger dictate your conversation, and don't hurt his feelings."

Her words were flawless—praising Richard, diffusing Blake's embarrassment, and portraying Kate as a "spoiled, immature" girl.

Kate looked coldly at her performance and scoffed, "Sophia, you seem to know him better than I do. What's going on? Are you two betraying me?"

Sophia looked at Kate in disbelief, her eyes brimming with hurt tears.

"Kate, what are you saying? What's wrong with you today?"

Ignoring her, Kate's gaze traveled through the crowd and landed on a Bentley parked outside.

It was Ethan's car.

In her previous life, on the day of her engagement, he had waited outside the venue. But that day, she had said things to him that she deeply regretted.

She practically ran to the entrance. When Ethan stepped out of the car, her heart felt as though it had been struck by lightning.

Seeing him again was pure bliss.

With tears in her eyes, she walked forward and embraced him tightly.

This scene shocked everyone present.

"What's happening? Did Kate betray Blake?" someone whispered.

"Isn't that Mr. Levington? Aren't he and Kate enemies?"

"Kate, what's wrong..."

Ethan's body stiffened. Kate pressed her face against his chest and said clearly and firmly:

"Ethan, let's get engaged."

As her words fell, the entire venue went completely silent.

Deep emotions surged in Ethan's profound gaze, then darkened.

Hadn't she told him before that she looked down on him and would never marry him in this lifetime?