A faint, shimmering gold mark pulsed on my inner wrist, a birthright that let me see glimpses of the future. It was also the reason I died. In my last life, my stepsister, Bethany Vance, with her gaudy gold bracelet, completely fooled our father, faking prophetic abilities that mimicked my own. He adored her, while I was nothing more than a bargaining chip, handed off to Ethan Blackwood' s estranged brother, Liam. I sacrificed everything for Liam, only for him to sneer, "A trick. All of it. Just to get power," moments before his fingers closed around my throat on our wedding night. Then, darkness. Now, I was back, in the same opulent ballroom, on the very day my father would announce the engagements. I watched Bethany preen as my father declared her engagement to Ethan, the Blackwood heir. Then came my turn. "And I am also pleased to announce the engagement of my other daughter, Ava, to Mr. Liam Blackwood." The applause was noticeably weaker. The familiar sting of being second-best, but this time, it was fuel. The grand doors burst open. Liam Blackwood stormed in, ignoring everyone but my father and Bethany. "I reject this arrangement. I' m not marrying Ava. I am here for Bethany." He offered a blank equity deed for her hand, dismissing me as he left. "You and I are finished. Bethany is the one with the true gift. She is the future of both our families. Not her." In my past life, I would have shattered. This time, a cold, simmering rage ignited. "Liam," I said, my voice low and steady. "You think you know what you want. But you are a fool." He hissed, "Bethany' s abilities are proven. What do you have? Nothing." I met his gaze, a cold smile touching my lips. "I have the truth." I turned my back on him. This time, I wouldn' t beg. This time, I would destroy him. And I would take everything he ever wanted for myself.
A faint, shimmering gold mark pulsed on my inner wrist, a birthright that let me see glimpses of the future. It was also the reason I died.
In my last life, my stepsister, Bethany Vance, with her gaudy gold bracelet, completely fooled our father, faking prophetic abilities that mimicked my own.
He adored her, while I was nothing more than a bargaining chip, handed off to Ethan Blackwood' s estranged brother, Liam.
I sacrificed everything for Liam, only for him to sneer, "A trick. All of it. Just to get power," moments before his fingers closed around my throat on our wedding night.
Then, darkness.
Now, I was back, in the same opulent ballroom, on the very day my father would announce the engagements. I watched Bethany preen as my father declared her engagement to Ethan, the Blackwood heir.
Then came my turn. "And I am also pleased to announce the engagement of my other daughter, Ava, to Mr. Liam Blackwood."
The applause was noticeably weaker. The familiar sting of being second-best, but this time, it was fuel.
The grand doors burst open. Liam Blackwood stormed in, ignoring everyone but my father and Bethany. "I reject this arrangement. I' m not marrying Ava. I am here for Bethany."
He offered a blank equity deed for her hand, dismissing me as he left. "You and I are finished. Bethany is the one with the true gift. She is the future of both our families. Not her."
In my past life, I would have shattered. This time, a cold, simmering rage ignited.
"Liam," I said, my voice low and steady. "You think you know what you want. But you are a fool."
He hissed, "Bethany' s abilities are proven. What do you have? Nothing."
I met his gaze, a cold smile touching my lips. "I have the truth."
I turned my back on him. This time, I wouldn' t beg. This time, I would destroy him. And I would take everything he ever wanted for myself.
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