Chapter 1My best friend fucked every single guy I ever dated.
"Just testing them, Giselle! I'm protecting you!"
I ran. New city. New life.
That's where I met Caspian Hawthorne—Manhattan's most ruthless mafia boss.
Finally, my forever.
On my wedding day, the makeup artist leaned in.
"One last test, babe. Pass it, then you can marry him."
LAILA. AGAIN.
The next second, she drugged me, wore MY dress, and fucked MY fiancé in OUR bed.
I woke up in time, sent her straight to jail.
Nine months later, I was bleeding out in labor.
Caspian wouldn't sign the papers to save me.
"Laila died in jail pregnant with MY kid. You killed her!"
"You and that bastard in your belly—will pay for it."
That's when it hit me: my so-called true love had always loved that bitch.
I died screaming.
Then I opened my eyes again.
Back to the wedding. Back to her fake smile in the makeup chair.
This time? I smiled back.
"Sure."
"Let's fucking play."
...
I saw Laila's face again—familiar, stunning, fake as hell.
Just like last time, she pointed at my face, laughing her ass off.
Everyone around her had their phones out, snapping pictures of me.
Didn't need to guess what they were laughing at.
I looked in the mirror.
There it was—same as before.
A big blue stamp across my face that said "USDA INSPECTED PORK."
"What's going on? Why's everyone laughing?"
The door swung open. Caspian walked in, all smiles in his tailored suit.
Laila giggled and lunged at him, grabbing his wrist.
"Mr. Hawthorne, I prepared a fun little wedding prank for you two. You like it?"
She stumbled. Let out a soft gasp.
"Lost her balance" and fell straight into Caspian's arms.
She looked up at him, cheeks flushed.
"Oops. Sorry."
Her ususl seduction trick. I'd seen it a thousand times.
Last life, I opened my eyes to this nightmare.
Saw my dream wedding makeup ruined.
Watched her pull the same tricks to seduce my husband.
Fear and rage flooded through me.
I screamed. Shoved her off him. Slapped her across the face.
"Get out! Are you trying to seduce my man again?! Not this time!"
Caspian rushed over, had the bridesmaids hold me back.
Laila cowered in the corner, face red, looking pitiful.
"I didn't—Mrs. Hawthorne, you've got it wrong."
"It's just a harmless wedding prank."
No matter how I tried to explain:
That she was a seduction expert.
That she'd seduced every guy I'd ever dated.
Laila just cried, voice trembling.
"I swear I didn't. I don't even know you. I'm just a makeup artist."
"I'm so sorry. I'll get on my knees and apologize if you want. Please stop lying about me..."
Everyone whispered.
"Boyfriend tester? She's been reading too many novels."
"Probably one of those paranoid wives who thinks every woman's after her man. Embarrassing."
My explanations fell flat. Drowned out by their mockery. By Caspian's tired eyes.
Caspian sighed, walked over, pulled me into a gentle hug.
"It's okay. If you don't like her, we'll fire her. How's that?"
"But next time, just tell me directly instead of accusing the poor girl like this."
I thought he was just fooled by Laila's lies like everyone else.
But when I died, I finally understood.
His heart had already chosen her.
........
This time, I watched Laila fall into Caspian's arms without expression.
Didn't miss the flicker of desire in his eyes.
But a second later, he glanced at me sharply.
Shoved her off. Face cold.
"That's not funny. Apologize to my wife, clean that stamp and redo her makeup."
"No need."
I said it calmly.
Caspian relaxed, patting Laila's head gently.
"You should thank my wife. If she wasn't so kind and forgiving, you'd be—"
I cut him off.
"Caspian Hawthorne, forget the makeup. Cancel the wedding."
Chapter 2
Caspian stared at me in disbelief. After a long pause, he forced a laugh.
"That's not funny."
"I'm not joking."
I stripped off the wedding dress—the one he'd pulled every string to get shipped in from overseas.
Tossed it aside like trash.
"Wedding's off. We're done."
I threw on my coat and headed for the door.
"Giselle!"
That's when it hit him—I was serious.
He grabbed my wrist hard. Veins bulged on his forehead from suppressed anger.
"You're really calling off the wedding because of some makeup artist's stupid prank?"
He stared at me, eyes full of hurt and confusion.
"Giselle! Stop this!"
"We put everything into this wedding. Our families are here. You can't just—"
I yanked my wrist free, ignoring the whispers and stares.
Looked him dead in the eye. Cold. Mocking.
"Caspian. You know exactly why I'm calling this off."
"I'm giving you a chance. Go be with your TRUE love."
I thought I'd see panic on his face.
Instead, he looked perfectly calm. Hurt. Confused.
"Giselle, what the hell are you even talking about?"
"Everyone knows YOU'RE the only one I love."
He pointed at Laila.
"Is this about her?"
He sighed helplessly.
"I didn't know she was gonna pull that prank."
"Plus, I already told her to apologize. If that's not enough, I'll fire her. Done."
Laila burst into tears and bolted out the door.
Caspian didn't even look at her, his eyes locked on me.
"Is that good enough now?"
I stared back. Didn't say yes. Didn't say no.
His parents walked in, voices laced with blame.
"Caspian already apologized, Giselle. Don't push it."
"He's been so good to you. Or did you forget who paid for your mother's surgery? Don't be ungrateful."
A sharp pain stabbed through my chest.
My mom had a brain hemorrhage because of Laila.
At my ex's wedding, Laila deliberately showed everyone their sex tape.
Then ran off with him in front of everyone—left me standing there like a joke.
Mom collapsed right there.
I had to transfer her here to Manhattan for treatment. That's how I met Caspian—most ruthless mafia boss, the king run New York.
That's how we fell in love.
I knew what Cordelia's words really meant. They were a threat.
The Hawthornes had power. Connections.
If I ruined this wedding and embarrassed them, they'd kick my mom out of the hospital.
"Mom."
Caspian cut her off. Firm but not harsh.
"Giselle's my wife. Her mom's my mother-in-law. Taking care of her is what I'm supposed to do."
He turned to me, voice soft.
"Babe, please. Don't make a scene at the wedding today. For me. For saving your mom."
I dug my nails into my palms, putting on a hurt expression.
"Caspian, you really don't know that makeup artist?"
"She whispered to me that you told her to make me look ugly on purpose. To get back at her for something. That's why I got upset."
At my words, the guests who'd been judging me suddenly looked sympathetic.
Caspian's jaw twitched. Then he put on a reassuring smile.
"She's lying. Just jealous you're marrying well."
When I stayed silent, he sighed.
"I'll file a complaint against her right now. Okay?"
I finally smiled.
"Then swear it."
"If you're lying—if you really do have something with her—we'll divorced."
Caspian played along, raising his hand to swear.
Guests chuckled.
"You're overthinking it—Caspian only has eyes for you."
Outside the door, Laila's fleeting, frustrated expression passed by.
I ignored it.
The wedding ended.
I was about to head back to the room to change out of my dress when someone covered my mouth and nose.
I held my breath. Closed my eyes. Played along.
Just like last time.
Laila and Caspian stumbled into the room next door, tangled up in each other.
Fell onto the bed. Moaning.
I snapped my eyes open and rushed downstairs, finding Caspian's parents to expose them.
This time, I didn't do what I did last life.
Didn't tell them Laila drugged me and tried to sleep with Caspian.
I just acted worried.
"Mom, Dad—I think Caspian had too much to drink. He doesn't look good."
The Hawthornes and their nosy relatives followed me upstairs in a rush.
The second we got to the door, we heard it.
Moaning. Gasping.
Their faces went dark.
They tried to cover it up—shut it down before anyone else saw.
But I shoved the door open first.
"Caspian, are you okay?"
The door swung wide.
Two naked bodies on the bed shot apart, scrambling to pull the sheets over themselves.
Through the crowd, Laila shot me a triumphant smile.
Chaos exploded behind me.
"Oh my God—that's the makeup artist from this morning."
"Giselle was telling the truth. Holy shit!"
Stellan's face turned red with rage.
"Caspian! What the hell did you do?!"
Cordelia lunged at Laila, trying to drag her off the bed.
"It's all you! You drugged my son! Made him think you were Giselle!"
"That's it, right, son? We're calling the cops! Sending this bitch to jail!"
Laila's smug smile vanished. Tears filled her eyes.
She shrank back into Caspian's arms.
"Enough!"
Caspian roared. Wrapped his arms around Laila. Shielded her.
He looked through the crowd at me.
Eyes dark. Cold.
Not a trace of panic. Not a hint of guilt.
"Giselle. We need to talk."
Chapter 3
Stellan and Cordelia cleared everyone out.
Just the three of us left in the room.
I didn't think we had anything left to talk about.
I was just wondering—
Why was he still standing here, looking me in the eye without a shred of guilt?
This time, I hadn't sent Laila to jail. Hadn't gotten her killed.
So why was he still so fucking shameless?
I couldn't tell if what I felt was bitterness or pure hatred.
I pulled off my wedding ring, tossed it in the trash.
"You made a promise. If you lied to me, we'd get divorced."
"Caspian. I'll have the papers drawn up soon."
"Giselle!"
He called after me.
"I'm not divorcing you!"
I whipped around. For the first time, I looked at him with pure hate.
"Then I'll sue for divorce!"
"Go ahead and try."
Caspian's face was dim in the shadows.
"You file for divorce, and I'll stop your mom's treatment immediately."
"I guarantee you—no hospital in Manhattan, hell, no hospital in the entire New York will take her."
"Caspian!"
I clenched my jaw. My whole body shook.
I must've looked pathetic.
Because Laila was smiling again. Smug as hell.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"If you love her, just divorce me! You two can be together! Why drag me into this?!"
Tears blurred my vision.
"I already gave you what you wanted. I never did anything to hurt you! Why won't you just let me go?!"
Caspian's voice was ice cold.
"You didn't hurt me. But you hurt Laila."
My eyes went wide.
"When did I—"
He sneered.
"Every guy Laila ever dated? You stole him."
"You called yourself a 'boyfriend tester.' Seduced every man she loved. Slept with them. Drove her into depression."
"She almost killed herself because of YOU."
"You stole so many men from her. It's time you know what that feels like."
My head exploded, and almost instinctively I lunged at them.
Slapped him hard across the face.
Then I swung at Laila.
Caspian shoved me back.
"Enough! You're still trying to hurt her?!"
I wiped my tears and bit out every word.
"I didn't do it! I didn't do any of that!"
"Caspian! Laila's the one who stole my boyfriends!"
"She's the one who ran off with my ex at his wedding and sent my mom into a coma!"
"There are witnesses! Chat logs on my phone! You can check—"
"Enough!"
He slapped me across the face. Cut me off.
His face twisted with disgust.
"You still won't admit it. Even now."
"Giselle, I had no idea you were this shameless."
"Won't admit it? Still lying? Fine. Let's see how stubborn you really are."
He grabbed me by the arm, dragged me downstairs.
"Caspian! Let go of me!"
Ignoring my struggles, he shoved me into the walk-in freezer in the basement.
Slammed the door. Locked it.
"Let me out! Caspian!"
I pounded on the door wildly.
but all I got was his cold, merciless reply.
"You won't admit it? Fine. Let's see what breaks first—your body or your mouth."
"When you admit it, kneel, and apologize to Laila, then I'll let you out."
