"Evelyn, today's your final day!"
That slap came fast and sharp, snapping Evelyn Mitchell awake at the edge of a towering cliff.
She winced, clutching her sore cheek, sharp pain making her gasp quietly. Her body felt like it was held together by threads.
All she could make out through her blurry, bloodshot eyes was a flash of deep red—a coat.
"Lillian!" Her voice cracked as she cried out, "Why are you doing this?!"
They'd known each other forever, or so she thought. Evelyn had truly believed they were the kind of friends who'd stick together through anything.
Back then, she'd taken Lillian Bennett into the Mitchell estate, thinking she was helping out someone less fortunate. Never imagined she'd end up raising a snake that would destroy everything she loved.
"Ugh, shut that filthy mouth of yours."
Lillian's hand came down again, loud and fast. Evelyn reeled from the sting. "Still acting like the pampered princess, huh? Newsflash, you're at death's door. That attitude won't save you now."
She stared down at Evelyn—bruised, disheveled, but still carrying some stubborn grace—and her gaze turned cold, full of venomous envy.
Every single day in that house, Lillian's heart had churned with jealousy.
Why did Evelyn get to be the cherished daughter of the Mitchells, just because she was born lucky?
And she? She was always the outsider. No matter how hard she tried, it was never enough. Evelyn was always one step above.
Evelyn coughed violently, ears ringing, blood dripping from her lips.
"You got off easy last time, but now? You're really screwed," Lillian sneered, giggling as she stepped closer. "No one knows about this place. Your precious brothers? Probably too busy saving their own skins—oh wait, that's right. They're already dead."
She laughed again, cruelty twisting her face. "Your parents died screaming your name. And those two big brothers of yours? They begged me to let you live. Pathetic. So I burned them all to ashes."
"As for you, I'll leave your body up here for the scavengers. Let the wild dogs do their thing."
"You still holding out hope Alexander's gonna show up and save you? Dream on. Once you're dead, he'll forget all about you. He'll marry me, I'll be the new Mrs. Gray, and both the Mitchell and Gray family names? Mine."
Lillian's laugh stabbed into Evelyn like a blade. Her shoulders trembled. Tears streamed silently down her face.
She knew Alexander truly cared for her. But she... she'd kept pushing him away. She even encouraged him to get close to Lillian.
He'd tried to warn her so many times, begged her to stay away from Lillian. But she'd ignored it all.
Look at her now—everything lost, all because of her own choices.
"Lillian, finish it," a man's voice cut through the air.
Evelyn felt her whole body seize.
Nathaniel Cooper.
The man she'd once loved like a fool.
He stepped forward, casually straightening his tie like all of this was just business. "Evelyn, don't blame me for being ruthless. Your family made it clear they'd never accept me marrying you. What was I supposed to do? This was the only way I could get my hands on the Mitchell fortune."
"Your parents, your brothers—they all looked down on me. I wasted years playing the nice guy. Isn't it only fair I get something for it?"
"Now Lillian's claimed the Gray family, and I've got what's left of the Mitchell name. Your death sealed the deal."
Evelyn shut her eyes, tears falling hard.
How blind had she been?
She'd fought so hard to be with Nathaniel—going against her whole family, cutting ties just for him.
Love? It was all lies. Fake from the start.
Nathaniel and Lillian had been playing her the whole time. They killed everyone who genuinely loved her.
"You'll get what's coming to you," Evelyn said with a bitter smile. Her voice was raw. "No matter how pretty a mask you wear, it won't make you real."
"You bitch!" Lillian snapped, eyes crazed, her whole face contorted with rage. The words had hit a nerve.She lunged forward and shoved Evelyn to the ground, screaming as she slapped that pale, delicate face, "Shut up! I'm gonna be Mrs. Gray, and you? You're done for—left to rot out here, eaten by wild animals!"
Evelyn didn't even flinch. Her body was too weak to resist. Compared to the mess inside her heart, this physical pain didn't even register.
"Listen up," Lillian hissed, choking Evelyn by the throat, her voice dripping with venom, "Alexander's mine now—you'll never have him. See? He didn't even come for you. By the time I get back, we're getting married, ha!"
Evelyn could barely breathe, her mouth only managing to let out a painful wheeze.
"You... you'll pay for this..."
Lillian scoffed and got to her feet, towering above her like she had already won.
"Nope. Not gonna happen. You're already dead, and finally, no one's standing in my way!"
Then she kicked Evelyn hard in the side, making her body roll and inch closer to the cliff's edge.
Evelyn realized Lillian wasn't trying to finish her off quickly. No—she wanted her to break, bit by bit. She wanted her to fall in pure despair.
Before the next kick landed, Evelyn forced herself up and started backing toward the cliff on her own.
If she had to die, at least she'd hold on to some dignity.
She stared coldly at the two twisted faces in front of her like she was burning them into her memory.
But just as she was about to step off the edge, another face flashed through her mind.
Alexander Gray.
Handsome, with everything going for him.
That guy who used to chase after her like a lovesick puppy.
Maybe he was done with her now.
She wondered if he'd even miss her.
Evelyn gave a bitter smile, tears welling up in her eyes again.
Only now, at the edge of everything, did she finally get it. She'd been ridiculously blind.
"I'm sorry, Dad, Mom... sorry, Will, Ed... I ruined everything," she whispered through her tears, edging closer to the drop. "I'm sorry, Alexander... I hurt you so much. If I had another chance..."
She just hoped her next life would let her see things clearer, not hurt the ones who actually loved her.
"Aah!" Lillian's shriek echoed in the woods.
A group of men in black came storming out, one smacking her to the ground without hesitation.
Her scream cut off instantly.
They tied her up in seconds with thick, rough rope. Nathaniel Cooper's face went pale. "Who the hell are you?!"
Realizing how bad things were getting, he tried to bolt—didn't even think about helping Lillian.
But with a sickening crack, a metal bat slammed into his leg.
He hit the ground with a howl.
Alexander came rushing in, face grim and eyes locked on the edge of the cliff.
Lillian had kept everything from him. It wasn't until news about the Mitchells reached him that he realized something was horribly wrong.
He bolted toward the edge, eyes going wide. "Evelyn!!"
But it was too late. She had already fallen.
He snatched her hand just in time, his muscles shaking with the strain.
His arm was burning with pain, but when she opened her eyes, all she saw was him—on the verge of tears.
"Please... don't go," he choked out, voice breaking, refusing to let go.
But her grip was already slipping. All she could whisper was, "Alexander, I'm so sorry..."
"I love you, but... maybe it's too late to say it now."
She forced a small smile in his direction. She knew she didn't have the strength to climb back up.
Every ounce of her strength had been burned away by pain and hate.
Her body collapsed, slipping from his grasp and plummeting downward.
"Evelyn!" Alexander screamed, voice cracking. "Don't be scared—I'm coming. I'm not letting you go!"
His mind went completely blank—and before anyone could stop him, he jumped.
The men in black looked stunned. "Mr. Gray!"
But no reply came. Only the heavy thud of two bodies vanishing into the abyss.
