Chapter 1

Sylvie Clarke realized she was just the villainess in a story on the day she died in the middle of a bitter winter. As death closed in, her short 26 years flashed before her like a movie reel.

When she was seven, she met Soren Parker for the first time and was instantly drawn to him. He was her handsome yet aloof childhood friend.

At 15, she followed him around like a shadow, but his indifference toward her never changed.

At 18, the Parker family went bankrupt. Soren's parents, Rodney Parker and Joyce Fanning, jumped to their deaths. The once-promising Soren, now crushed by overwhelming debt, lost everything.

Sylvie found Soren at the bar where he was working to pay off his debts. She cleared his balance and made him sign a financial agreement that turned him into her kept man.

"You're mine starting today," she told him. "You'll never leave me for the rest of your life."

By the time Soren turned 22, he'd fought his way back to the top, rising to the highest ranks of global wealth. But just then, he fell for Zoe Lasky, an intern with nothing but her fierce determination.

He tried to buy his way out, offering Sylvie ten times the original amount he'd owed. All he wanted was to break free from the toxic relationship and start over with Zoe.

Soren upped his offer again and again, but Sylvie wouldn't budge. Her answer never changed. "You promised me a lifetime. I won't settle for even a second less."

When Zoe turned 25, heartbreak sent her fleeing overseas. But her plane crashed in a tragic accident, and her remains were never found.

Devastated by the loss of his beloved, Soren sought revenge. He systematically destroyed every company under Clarke Group, driving Sylvie's parents, Larry Clarke and Carolyn Warner, to take their own lives.

At the age of 26, after enduring a year of Soren's relentless torment, Sylvie met her end. Snow covered her lifeless body, and in her last moments before darkness swallowed her, she saw the impossible.

Zoe was alive after all, weeping as she ran into Soren's arms. "Soren, I survived! The plane fell into the ocean, but I was rescued... It took me so long to find you..."

Meanwhile, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in Sylvie's mind. "Soren and Zoe are the chosen leads of this story, Sylvie. You exist solely as a plot device, a villainess meant to drive the story forward.

"You were claiming what was never yours to take. Your time is up. Countdown initiated. Ten, nine..."

Those seconds dragged on forever, each heavy with the weight of a lifetime.

When Sylvie's eyes fluttered open again, she came to a startling realization—she hadn't reached the end of her story after all. She'd been given a second chance at life!

Roy Harding, Soren's assistant, stood before her, sliding a bank card across the table with a detached professionalism.

"Ms. Clarke, this is my third visit as Mr. Parker's representative to discuss terminating the financial agreement. Mr. Parker has significantly increased his offer. You would receive five billion dollars for releasing him from your agreement..."

His flat delivery slowly cut through the fog of confusion in Sylvie's mind. The memory of that cold, mechanical voice before her death made her shiver uncontrollably.

Had she traveled back three years in time?

Roy had delivered the message exactly as instructed. Noticing Sylvie's stunned expression, he braced himself for yet another rejection.

As he leaned down to gather the items from the table and leave, she suddenly placed her hand over his. "I accept the terms."

Roy's eyes widened in shock at her response, his voice betraying surprise. "You're willing to terminate the agreement and let Mr. Parker go?"

Sylvie signed the papers confidently. Then, she took the bank card and slipped it into her pocket.

Once Roy had left, her hands began to shake while unshed tears glistened in her eyes. She immediately reached for her phone to call Larry and Carolyn.

"Mom, Dad, you need to apply for permanent residency abroad right away and transfer all assets under your names overseas. I'm moving us out of the country for good."

Larry and Carolyn froze at her abrupt demand. "What's wrong, Sylvie? Did something happen?"

Sylvie didn't know how to explain her rebirth and was desperate. She quickly came up with an excuse and said, "I had a nightmare last night. I dreamed that our family would be ruined if we stayed in the country, and we'd die with nowhere to be buried."

Larry and Carolyn couldn't make sense of her reasoning, so they tried to talk her out of it. But Sylvie kept insisting on moving abroad and even started crying.

Since Larry and Carolyn had always indulged her, they eventually gave in. After the call ended, Sylvie wiped away her tears, and the heavy weight in her chest finally lifted.

Yet the very next moment, Soren, who had been missing for a long time, pushed the door open. When he saw her tear-streaked face, his expression turned cold.

"You still haven't signed it? I admit that breaking the agreement is my fault, but five billion dollars is more than enough compensation. What else could you possibly be unhappy with?"

Sylvie froze momentarily when she heard his steely tone.

It hit her suddenly. Roy must not have told Soren she'd already agreed to terminate their financial agreement. That explained why Soren still thought she hadn't signed the papers.

She wanted to explain, but he cut her off mid-breath. Scowling, he seized her wrist and yanked her through the doorway.

"You're coming with me," he said.

The car sped through the streets until it reached a hospital. Sylvie was dragged to the emergency room doors. There, she heard a doctor speaking gravely.

"Mr. Parker, we're ready to begin Ms. Lasky's kidney transplant surgery."

Suddenly, everything came flooding back to Sylvie. In her previous life, she'd been in a car crash that injured her kidney, forcing her to undergo emergency surgery.

At that time, Soren hadn't even visited her once—the memory was so painful, it was still fresh in her mind. But none of this mattered to her now.

Why had Soren brought her here?

Sylvie suddenly shuddered, as if struck by some thought. "Did you bring me here to make me donate a kidney to her?"

Soren glanced at her and said flatly, "Not yours, mine."

"Yours?" Sylvie's shock deepened.

His attention moved to the fragile form behind the operating room window. "The accident destroyed Zoe's kidney. I'm a compatible donor."

Sylvie had already decided to leave him behind, but upon discovering he'd go to such extremes for Zoe, she still felt like a knife was twisting in her chest.

"Do you actually… love her that much?"

"Absolutely. That's why you're here. You'll stay where I can see you. No funny business while Zoe's fighting for her life!"

With a quick gesture, he motioned for his security team to hold Sylvie back. Then, he changed into a hospital gown and walked into the operating room by himself.

The status light turned red as the surgery began. Sylvie sat numbly in her chair, waves of dull pain throbbing through her chest.

A group of nurses walked by arm in arm, chatting about the hit TV show everyone had been talking about.

"That villainess was pure evil. Losing everything and having a mental breakdown was exactly what she deserved. How could she not see the main characters were meant to be together?"

Sylvie listened without a word, her lips curling into a faint, bitter smile. The main characters were always supposed to end up together. That was how these stories usually went.

And that was exactly why she was determined to take control of her own future in this new life she'd been given. She was done playing the villainess and refused to be just a side character in someone else's story!

Chapter 2

The surgery was a success. When the status light outside the operating room turned off, Sylvie stood up to leave, but the bodyguard held her back.

"Mr. Parker said you can't leave for even a second before he wakes up."

Sylvie had no choice but to sit back down and keep waiting. Time passed minute by minute, and then a sharp, stabbing pain shot through her abdomen.

Her face contorted in pain, and beads of sweat dripped down her forehead. She knew it was her gastroenteritis acting up again.

With dry, pale lips, she spoke weakly to the bodyguard. "I don't feel well. Can you please g-get me some medicine for gastroenteritis o-or at least a glass of water?"

The bodyguard stared at her coldly, unmoved by her pain. His reply was firm. "No, Ms. Clarke. We can't leave no matter what happens to you. Those were Mr. Parker's direct orders."

Was Zoe's life more important than hers?

The words weighed heavily on Sylvie's chest until she could hardly breathe. The pain became unbearable, and she collapsed to the floor, biting her lip as her vision faded to black.

When she woke up, her fingers brushed against the icy floor.

The bodyguard noticed she was awake and informed her matter-of-factly, "Mr. Parker is awake now, Ms. Clarke. You can go ask for his permission to leave."

Sylvie felt utterly drained. Her sweat-drenched clothes clung to her skin, and a chill crept through her body.

Mustering all her energy, she pushed herself up and trudged wearily to the hallway outside the hospital room. There, she overheard Zoe's soft voice.

"Soren, why do you look so pale and weak? Also, did you find out who that kind person was, the one who donated a kidney to me? I want to thank them in person. I might not have woken up at all if it hadn't been for them."

Soren's hand, which had been holding the spoon, hesitated briefly before he quickly returned to normal. He blew lightly on the soup before carefully feeding it to her, his voice gentle and comforting.

"Don't worry about me. I only look like this because I was so worried while you were in surgery. The kidney donor has already passed away, but I'll thank his family for you. You don't need to think about it anymore. I've taken care of everything."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Zoe threw herself into Soren's arms. She must have accidentally bumped his surgery wound because his face became noticeably paler from the pain.

Despite that, he kept his composure and continued feeding her the soup. Unaware of his discomfort, she snuggled into his arms, her eyes shining with tears.

"By the way, didn't the bodyguard say Ms. Clarke's gastroenteritis acted up and she passed out from the pain? Aren't you going to see how she's doing?"

The second Sylvie's name came up, Soren's face turned grim. "She's probably faking it for attention. Don't bother with her."

Sylvie stood quietly by the window, listening, her chest tight with a dull, suffocating ache.

When it came to her relationship with Soren, she had done everything to close the distance between them, only for him to do everything to push her away instead of staying by her side.

But with Zoe, he would give his all without her even having to ask, and he would stay with her. He loved her enough to donate his kidney to her, yet he would never mention it, worried she might feel sorry for him or be burdened by that guilt.

Finally, Sylvie realized just how huge the gap was between being loved and being unwanted. No one in the room knew she was standing right outside.

Zoe took a few sips of the soup but didn't want any more. "This soup isn't good. It's too rich. I remember there was a soup place near my college. I used to go every morning to get some. It's been so long since I've had it, and now I kind of miss it!"

When Soren saw the wistful look on her face, he immediately put down the bowl, stood up, and grabbed his car keys. "I'll go get it for you."

"No, don't worry about it. We can just have someone else pick it up!"

Soren shook his head. He helped her lie down and tucked her in. "Anything that has to do with you—the places you've been, the food you've had, or the things you've seen—I want to experience them myself. Wait for me. I'll be back soon."

As soon as he finished speaking, he pushed open the door and ran straight into Sylvie. The smile on his face disappeared instantly, and his usual cold, detached expression returned.

"Why are you here? Are you planning to give Zoe a hard time again?"

Seeing the sudden shift in his mood, Sylvie's fingers shook. She took a quiet breath before speaking softly. "I came to tell you I won't bother Zoe anymore. You don't have to worry about it."

Soren had never trusted her, and this time was no different. "If you really want to ease my mind, then end our agreement and let me go!"

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, unaware of the quiet words she muttered under her breath.

"I've already let you go, Soren. For good."

Chapter 3

After coming home, Sylvie had a light meal and started packing her things. Most of the things in the house were hers. Soren only owned a few items, and even some of those had been purchased by her.

She got rid of everything—his suits, ties, razors, cologne, mug, and toothbrush. She also tossed out the candid photos she'd taken of them, the love letters she'd written him when they were younger, and all the other little keepsakes.

On the day she finished cleaning out the villa she'd once thought of as their home, Soren returned. As soon as he walked in, he could tell something was wrong.

He looked around the room and demanded, "Where are my things?"

"I threw them out," Sylvie answered honestly.

Soren gave her a cold glance, his eyes narrowing. "I've only been gone a few days, and you're already pulling this?"

"I only got rid of what I bought. I didn't touch your stuff. And it's not like you used any of it much anyway."

Soren took it as her being resentful about him breaking their agreement by staying away from home lately. His expression turned cold, and his voice was cutting.

"I've already told you I'm not sticking to that agreement. I don't want to spend my life with you. Think about it and sign the termination agreement."

"Didn't Roy tell you? I already—"

Before Sylvie could finish, Zoe entered with quick, light steps and said quietly, "Ms. Clarke, Soren's been watching over me at the hospital this entire time. That's why he couldn't come home. If you're mad, you should blame me instead."

Seeing Zoe lower her head in apology, Soren frowned and immediately intervened. "My relationship with her is purely transactional, Zoe. There was never any real emotion between us, so you don't owe anyone an apology."

His words hit Sylvie like a physical blow, sending a faint tremor through her body.

Soren was right. To him, their relationship had always been about mutual gain. That explained why he'd repeatedly tried to buy his freedom. The one who'd given her heart from the beginning was her, and her alone.

She noticed the soft and lingering gaze Soren directed at Zoe before turning away quietly and retreating to her room. A little while later, there was a knock at the door.

Zoe walked in with a cup of coffee, giving her a hesitant look. "Soren is in a meeting right now, Ms. Clarke. I made some coffee and thought you might want some, too. I was also hoping we could talk."

In her past life, Sylvie had refused immediately and sent Zoe away. But now that she had decided to leave, she no longer felt the same bitter resentment toward Zoe. She remained calm.

"What did you want to talk about?"

Zoe clenched her hands nervously, her eyes brimming with sadness. "I know you and Soren have known each other since you were kids, but you can't force love. Keeping him tied to you with an agreement will only make him miserable.

"And you'll never get the love you want. In the end, you'll both just end up hurt. Is that really what you want?"

Sylvie's expression grew more conflicted with every word. She stared at Zoe for a long moment before letting out a quiet laugh. "And who are you to tell me these things?"

"I-I love Soren just as much as you do. That's why I can't stand seeing him in pain. He doesn't love you. Just being near you makes him remember the worst, most humiliating time of his life.

"He isn't just trying to break free from the trap you've set with your love; he's also running from his own past. He's too proud to ever let anyone see his scars, but he can't get past them either. That's why he's always so cold and distant with you."

Sylvie was stunned. For the first time, she understood why Soren was so desperate to get away from her.

She'd stood by him during his darkest four years and had seen him at his lowest. She'd believed those shared struggles would bring them closer and nurture love between them.

Yet for him, someone who only wanted a fresh start, those memories were nothing more than an unshakable nightmare.

And if he'd confided his deepest, most private feelings to Zoe, didn't that prove he'd never considered Sylvie close to him and let her into his world?

All at once, a crushing pain overwhelmed her. The stubborn hopes she'd held onto in her heart shattered into nothing.

Sylvie refused to show weakness in front of Zoe, but she couldn't hold back her anguish. She forced herself to stand, determined to walk away.

However, Zoe mistook it as Sylvie refusing to talk. Not wanting to miss her chance, she rushed after her to stop her. "Ms. Clarke, I just wanted to tell you—"

Before she could finish, she accidentally knocked into a nearby shelf in her haste. Several vases tipped over, hitting Sylvie.

A muffled groan escaped her lips as she collapsed to the floor, her clothes drenched in blood. All the color drained from her face. White-hot pain shot through her, leaving her struggling to breathe.

Zoe was also terrified, and before she could react, Sylvie's dog, Remy, rushed over to protect her, frightening Zoe badly.

Having been bitten by a dog as a child, Zoe instinctively turned and ran when she saw the strong, muscular golden retriever. Remy chased her without stopping.

Zoe twisted her ankle in her panic and tumbled down the stairs. Her piercing scream echoed through the entire villa.

Chapter 4

Hearing the noise, Soren stepped outside and took in the scene. His eyes instantly darkened. He rushed over and scooped Zoe into his arms.

When he saw the gruesome, bloody gash on her forehead, his heart clenched in pain. He raised his reddened eyes, his gaze locking onto Remy standing on the stairs. A fierce wave of anger surged in his chest.

Sylvie had heard the scream as well. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she forced herself up to see what was going on.

But the moment she appeared, Soren's voice, rough with unrestrained fury, cut through the air. "Zoe just had surgery and is still weak. She's terrified of dogs, so why did you let yours out to go after her?"

Sylvie had never expected things to turn out this way. The pain left her breathless, and she could only manage a faint, strained voice as she struggled to explain.

"S-She was the one who knocked over the vases first. Remy only chased her because he saw I was hurt. You know how well-behaved Remy usually is. He's just scared of strangers, and he was only trying to protect me—"

"That's enough! I don't want to hear any more of your pathetic excuses! If you can't control your dog, and he's hurt Zoe this badly, then he needs to be put down before he hurts someone else!"

Soren didn't even listen to her explanation. Instead, he immediately called his bodyguards and ordered them to take Remy away. When Remy saw several burly men approaching, he instantly went on high alert.

Meanwhile, Sylvie, who'd heard everything, felt a shiver run down her spine. Acting on instinct, she tried to pull Remy into her arms, sobbing and begging them to let him go.

But the bodyguards were ruthless. They shoved her hard against the wall and went straight for Remy. Remy grew aggressive at the sight and lunged at them.

One of the bodyguards swung a baton, striking him hard. Even as blood covered his body, Remy kept barking wildly, still trying to protect Sylvie.

Then, a bodyguard grabbed his leg and lifted him off the ground. Remy thrashed violently, struggling to break free, and the bodyguard suddenly lost his grip.

A second later, Remy fell from the second-floor hallway and slammed onto the marble floor below on the first floor.

"Remy!"

When Sylvie saw what had happened, she completely lost it. She rushed down the stairs and pulled Remy into her arms, but all she saw was the life fading from his eyes.

He nuzzled her hand one last time before his eyes closed forever.

At that moment, Sylvie felt like her heart had been torn apart, and the pain was unbearable. Cradling his lifeless body as it grew cold, she turned to Soren with a tear-streaked face, her voice filled with utter despair.

"You can hate me all you want. But why did you have to be so cruel? Why did you have to kill Remy? H-He didn't do anything wrong."

Yet, Soren's mind was consumed by concern for Zoe, who'd passed out.

He shot Sylvie a cold glance. "He's not to blame because you're the one who's at fault for everything! Did you really think you could get away with it just because he died instead of you? Listen, I won't let Zoe's suffering be in vain!"

After that, Soren motioned to his bodyguards and gave them brief instructions. The sound of an ambulance approaching grew louder. Without wasting another moment, he left with Zoe.

Remy's broken leg hung limply in Sylvie's grasp. Watching Soren walk away, she couldn't hold back her tears any longer. Her sobs grew louder, eventually turning into a scream of anguish.

"Remy saved you years ago when debt collectors pinned you down in that alley, Soren! Those men beat him so badly that he lost a leg. That's why he's terrified of strangers. He loved you more than anything.

"When you were at your lowest, he stayed by your side night after night and waited for you to come home every day. How could you… How could you be so heartless?"

Her words were full of pain as she insisted on an answer. But Soren didn't even slow down.

The only response came from a bodyguard, his tone cold and detached. "Ms. Clarke, Mr. Parker has instructed us to lock you up in the walk-in freezer for letting your dog attack Ms. Lasky."

Without another word, three men seized Sylvie and dragged her inside, leaving her trapped in the freezer.

Sylvie held onto Remy's lifeless body, her bloodshot eyes staring blankly. A bitter cold swept over her, the damp, icy chill seeping deep into her bones.

Her body shook uncontrollably as frost formed on her skin, her face turning ghostly pale. Her heartbeat grew slower and weaker with each passing moment until everything went dark.

She had no idea how long she'd been unconscious before she woke up in a hospital bed.

A doctor adjusted her IV drip and spoke in a serious tone. "How did you end up locked in the freezer? If they'd found you just two minutes later, you would've frozen to death!"

When the phrase "frozen to death" reached Sylvie's ears, that same bone-chilling cold rushed through her body as if it had never left.

She remembered her past life—how Soren had struck her with his car, crushing her organs, before abandoning her in the snow to die a slow, frozen death.

Now, even with a second chance at life, she'd almost died the same way.

Was this how it would always end? Would she be doomed if she ever loved Soren or even got too close to him? Would everyone she cared about meet the same tragic fate?

Sylvie thought back to Larry and Carolyn, who'd been forced to jump off a cliff to save her in their past lives. She also remembered Remy, who'd just fallen to his death right before her moments ago.

Her heart ached uncontrollably as her fingers dug so deeply into her palms that they drew blood. While she was lost in grief, Larry and Carolyn called her.

"Sylvie, your dad and I have already moved all our assets out of the country, and the immigration paperwork has been submitted. The approval will come through next week. Are you sure you want to leave? What about Soren? I thought you had feelings for him."

Sylvie stared blankly at the white ceiling above her, her voice devoid of emotion. "I'll never have feelings for Soren again. Never!"

Before the last word had left her lips, Soren pushed the door open and fixed her with a conflicted look.

Chapter 5

When Sylvie's eyes met Soren's, she quickly looked away as if she'd been startled.

Having known her for so long, Soren had always seen her as a tireless top, spinning endlessly around him without pause. She'd shamelessly confessed her love for him over and over, and her gaze had always followed him with unwavering devotion.

He was utterly worn out by her and had tried everything to push her away, even wishing her fierce devotion would shift to someone else.

Yet when Sylvie finally said she didn't love him anymore and began keeping her distance, he wasn't as relieved as he'd thought he would be. Instead, he felt oddly annoyed.

He couldn't explain why he felt this way and refused to let Sylvie notice. So, he maintained his usual cold, indifferent expression.

"If you don't have feelings for me anymore, why did you hurt Zoe? Why did you keep faking being sick just to get my attention? Why did you refuse to sign that termination agreement? The doctor said your injuries were bad, but you seem completely fine, seeing how you're still putting on this act for me."

Sylvie looked down at his harsh accusations, her voice rough with exhaustion. "Everything I've said is true. I'm not into you anymore. I really am sick. And that termination agreement you were so desperate for? I already signed it."

Just then, Jacob Poole, the Clarke family's butler, entered. "Ms. Clarke, the designer finished the suit designs for Mr. Parker you ordered last month. Would you like to review them for any changes?"

Soren let out a bitter laugh as he took the thick stack of design sketches and tore them to pieces right in front of Sylvie.

Under Jacob's stunned gaze, he turned and walked away, only saying one sentence. "Since you don't know how to be honest, I'll teach you. I don't like a single one of these suits."

The door slammed shut with a loud bang.

Jacob looked at Sylvie helplessly. "Ms. Clarke, I'll have the designer send over new drafts right away."

Sylvie gave a slight shake of her head and stopped him. "Don't bother. Get rid of all the surprises and gifts I prepared for Soren. None of them matter now."

After all, she would soon be gone from his world for good. She just had to make it through one last week.

That same afternoon, Sylvie left the hospital and took Remy to the crematorium. The loyal dog who'd always stayed by her side and obeyed her every command was now just a box of ashes.

She carried the urn home and stood still before the toys he'd left on the couch. Memories flooded her mind.

She remembered Remy happily chasing after gifts Soren had thrown away and bringing them back to her. She remembered how he'd stayed with her all night when she'd cried over Zoe.

She even thought of Remy's past life, when he'd lived up to 15 years of age and passed away peacefully, his eyes calm and content.

Sylvie squeezed her eyes shut, but the tears came anyway, streaming down her cheeks and falling silently to the floor. Remy would never curl up in her arms again or nuzzle her hand to comfort her.