Chapter 1My father adopted two orphan brothers as bodyguards for my sister and me.
The older one was tall and strong - fell for my sister at first sight.
That left me with his "autistic" little brother.
I didn't want Ethan sent back to the orphanage to get bullied, so I just accepted it.
He wouldn't talk, so I dragged him to the best psychiatrists in the country.
Spent two hours every day telling him jokes, even though he never responded.
He couldn't protect me, so I learned martial arts myself and begged Dad not to send him away.
I thought he was just traumatized. That with enough patience, he'd get better.
Until the cruise ship capsized.
He ripped the last life jacket right off my body.
First words he ever said to me:
"Sorry, but Madison's life jacket is broken."
Madison - that's my sister.
He watched me sink into the ocean, squeezing my hand one last time:
"I failed you in this life. I'll make it up to you in the next."
Huh. Turns out his autism was just an act. Only around me.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day we chose our bodyguards.
---
I froze in my father's office, staring at the two brothers.
Madison glanced at me and bit her lip." Actually, I'll take Ethan. Ava should have Jason. She needs the stronger protector." She stepped away from Jason's hulking frame toward his younger brother.
Jason's face fell instantly.
I stayed frozen, processing this twisted déjà vu.
Last time around, I'd fallen hard for Madison's Oscar-worthy performance.
When she'd offered to switch bodyguards, I actually thought she was being selfless—trying to give me the "better" option.
Right until our yacht sank.
Madison had wept prettily as they strapped my life vest onto her—never mind that Jason was a certified lifeguard, or that there was a damn lifebuoy floating right beside her.
Classic Madison. All performative resistance, zero actual sacrifice.
But this time, I shrugged. "Fine by me."
Madison paled. She'd been so sure I'd say no.
Ethan stared at me too, his eyes filled with confusion and shock.
"Absolutely not!" Dad cut in.
"You're the Blackwood heiress. Your safety is what matters most. This boy has severe autism—he can barely function, let alone protect you."
I smiled. So he'd known about Ethan's condition all along.
But he'd still brought the younger brother here for us to "choose" from. This whole selection process was just for show.
"But maybe—" Madison quietly exhaled in relief, dabbing at her eyes as she started to speak, but Ethan interrupted:
"I can talk."
My head jerked up in shock.
Ethan—the guy who hadn't said a word to me in seven years—was actually talking now?
When our eyes met, I saw that calculating look—too mature for his age—and I finally knew for certain:
He'd been reborn too.
So much for his dying promise to "make it right."
Even with a second chance, he was still trying to ditch me, huh?
Little did he know—I'd already written him out of my story.
"My combat skills can be tested," Ethan continued smoothly.
Oh, I bet he could.
After I died, my spirit had watched him fight off sharks with nothing but a broken spear, keeping Madison alive until rescue arrived.
How pathetic that I'd spent my past life learning martial arts, terrified Dad would send this "helpless" little bodyguard back to the orphanage.
Sure enough, once Ethan stopped pretending, it took him exactly three moves to put our nationally-ranked trainer flat on his ass.
Dad's resolve began to crumble.
The disappointed expression on Madison's face completely vanished.
Between the brothers, Ethan had always been the more handsome one. If not for the autism, Madison would've chosen him from the start.
"Fine then. Ethan will serve you, and Jason, I'm entrusting you with Ava."
Hearing that, Jason shot me a look, his gaze lingering on the scar across my cheek with obvious disgust.
Then he dropped to his knees.
"Sir, I'd rather return to foster care!"
Chapter 2
Father's brow furrowed.
"You'd rather go back to eating scraps than take fifty grand a month?"
Jason didn't bother hiding his disgust at my scarred face.
"I'm not qualified to protect Miss Blackwood, sir."
I sighed.
Ever since I got these scars at ten trying to save Madison, this face had been nothing but a source of revulsion for everyone.
Maybe that's why Ethan treated me like garbage in our past life too.
"Jason! You can't abandon my sister!" Madison frantically grabbed his arm, trying to pull him to his feet.
Jason looked at her with pure adoration. "I didn't come here for her."
I remained silent.
Madison's momentary triumph vanished behind a practiced pout. "No! This is outrageous! I won't allow you to go back there!"
"Easy fix," I cut in: "Madison can just keep both brothers. Problem solved."
Madison's cheeks flushed. "What are you even saying?"
Both Cross brothers were gorgeous, and I knew Madison's eyes had been glued to them since they walked through the door.
Dad looked thoughtful. "You really don't want either of them?"
"Nah, I'm not into either of those guys."
Both brothers stared at me, probably wondering what gave me the right to be so picky.
Ethan's expression was more complex—like there was something deeper than just confusion.
Whatever. Not my problem anymore.
"Can you even guarantee your own safety?"
"Probably can't." I shrugged.
Dad blinked in surprise.
"So just ship me off to my brother Marcus. He's got a whole security team."
***
In my past life, I'd poured every ounce of my being into Ethan.
The family business? An afterthought.
Madison and I weren't treated the same way at all. Sure, Dad always said he loved us equally, but when it came to trust funds? Those were all reserved for Madison and my older brother Marcus. Marcus was out there building his empire, making the family trust grow by millions every year. Madison's annual dividends alone could set up ten families for life.
Meanwhile, I had to practically beg Dad for money to cover Ethan's medical bills.
If I wanted any real power in this family, I'd have to earn it myself.
Marcus hadn't even met me once and just had his assistant throw me some meaningless position and forgot I existed.
Fine by me. I wasn't here for his approval anyway.
Throwing myself into work, then I shocked even myself with how good I was at this shit.
After I landed that impossible Castellano account, Marcus finally agreed to see me.
He threw me a belated welcome dinner and actually started giving me real projects.
The company was hitting some major roadblocks, even if he preferred Madison, he had no choice but to acknowledge me now.
Gradually, my reputation in the business world started growing faster than Madison's Instagram following.
Then one day, she stopped me at home.
"Ava, darling, don't you think you're being... excessive?"
"You're everywhere these days—making headlines, doing interviews. I'm not trying to be mean, but this sudden success feels more like luck than skill."
"If you screw things up later, it'll lose the whole family's face."
"Plus, with your scars and all this attention-seeking, no man's ever gonna want you."
Then she glanced meaningfully toward Ethan.
"Why don't you stop bothering Marcus? I'll mentor you instead."
I cut straight to the point: "You're just scared I'm stealing your spotlight, aren't you?
Chapter 3
She froze.
"Madison, what gives you the right to tell me to stay in my place? The family's pampered princess, the trust fund shareholder?"
"You're the one always sitting pretty on unearned privilege. Who are you to lecture me about not fighting for what's mine?"
"You—!"
Her eyes reddened instantly.
"Ava, I—"
Her eyes filled with crocodile tears on cue.
But I wasn't done.
"And since you brought up my scar, let's talk about how I got it. Do you remember what you did to me when we were ten?"
"I was trying to help you stop that attacker, and if you hadn't pushed me, how would I have ended up crashing right into him? How would my face have gotten ruined?"
"That's not—I never meant—" she sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks like she was the victim here.
"Save the waterworks. You got what you wanted—the pretty face, the money, the perfect life. Just be good and continue to be Daddy's little princess."
I turned to leave, but she started sobbing, her voice breaking:" It wasn't like that, Ava... I was just worried about you... How can you think so little of me?"
Each tear hit the marble floor like she was performing for the Met Opera.
"That's enough!"
Jason, who had been following behind Madison the whole time, immediately pulled her into his arms.
"You've crossed a line, Ava!"
Madison clutched his shirt, shaking her head weakly.
"No, it's okay... I'm fine... really, I'm fine..."
Her shoulders trembled.
Ethan's eyes flickered with something like pity, then he looked at me in cold.
"You really did go too far. Apologize."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Apologize to Madison."
SMACK!
My palm struck his face before anyone could react.
Madison gasped, immediately stepping between us. "Ava! How could you hit him?"
I flexed my fingers, satisfaction warming my chest.
"Maybe you should train your dogs better, Madison. They seem confused about who's the owner and who's the pet."
"You—" Jason started forward, but I was already walking away.
I was planning to pack my shit and move out that night—get as far away from Madison and her devoted puppies as possible.
But at six AM, someone started pounding on my bedroom door like the house was on fire.
Jason didn't wait for permission—the second I cracked the door, he grabbed my arm hard enough to bruise.
"Madison's been kidnapped. You're coming with me. NOW."
