Chapter 1

Chloe

The ropes cut into my wrists painfully as the musty smell of mold and rust permeated the abandoned warehouse. I struggled to open my eyes, my vision gradually coming into focus.

Emily sat right beside me, also tied to a chair, tear tracks still visible on her cheeks, looking utterly helpless. I tried to comfort her but discovered my mouth was sealed with duct tape.

"Awake?" A gruff voice came from in front of me.

A burly kidnapper with a rough face was playing with a knife, its blade gleaming ominously in the dim light.

"Your boyfriends should be here soon," he grinned, revealing yellowed teeth. "Let's hope he loves you enough."

My heart raced.

James will definitely come save us. He has to!

Four years. A full four years. Ever since that car accident freshman year when James pulled me back from the brink of death. From that moment on, he became my entire world.

I washed his clothes, cooked his meals, wrote his papers, I even helped him pursue other girls. Everyone called me a doormat, but I didn't care. Because I knew that somewhere in James's heart, there was a place for me.

After all, I knew him first. We spent all four college years together.

The sound of the warehouse door being forced open interrupted my memories.

"Chloe! Emily!"

James's voice! He really came!

I struggled desperately to turn and see him, tears instantly welling up. I knew it! I knew James wouldn't abandon me!

"Don't move!" The kidnapper stood up, pressing his knife against Emily's throat. "One step closer and I'll kill her!"

James stopped, raising his hands. He was wearing the white shirt I'd bought him, looking exceptionally handsome. Even in this dangerous moment, my heart couldn't help but race.

"What do you want? Money? I can give you money," James's voice was calm, reliable as always.

The kidnapper laughed harshly. "Money? Kid, we're not after money." His expression darkened. "We want revenge. Four years ago, your father's company left us bankrupt. Now it's time to pay up."

"That was just business—"

"Shut up!" The kidnapper waved his knife. "Now, I'm giving you a choice."

He pointed at Emily and me. "You can only save one. Choose, rich boy."

What?

My mind went blank. Choose one? What did that mean?

"Time's running out. Choose now!" another kidnapper barked impatiently.

I looked desperately at James, my eyes full of expectation. Though I couldn't speak through the tape, I believed he could read my expression.

Choose me, James! Choose me!

I've done so much for you. I've loved you for four years. I've given you my entire youth. You can't possibly choose anyone but me, right?

Time seemed to stand still.

James's gaze shifted between Emily and me. His face was pale, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Then, he raised his hand.

His finger slowly turned toward...

"I choose her."

Emily?

No, impossible!!!

James pointed at Emily, his voice soft but hitting me like a thunderbolt: "I choose Emily. Chloe, I'm sorry."

Sorry?

I stared at him in disbelief, unable to process what I'd just heard.

"James..." Emily's tears flowed instantly, her voice trembling, "I'm so scared..."

"It's okay, baby, I'm here." James's voice became incredibly tender—a tenderness I'd never heard before. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

Baby?

When had he ever called me that?

The kidnapper nodded with satisfaction. "Good choice. Smart man." He untied the ropes around Emily, then looked at me with malice in his eyes. "As for this one... take her away."

No!

I struggled desperately, trying to make a sound, wanting to ask James why. But the tape was too tight; I could only make muffled noises.

Two kidnappers roughly dragged me toward the back of the warehouse. I looked back at James and Emily, watching him carefully untie the ropes from her wrists, handling her as if she were made of porcelain.

"It's over now. Everything's okay," James gently embraced Emily, his hand softly stroking her back. "I won't let anyone hurt you again."

Emily leaned into his chest, crying softly. "James, I thought I'd never see you again..."

"Never. That will never happen," James kissed the top of her head. "Emily, I love you."

I love you.

He said I love you.

To Emily.

Never to me.

The corner of the warehouse was dark and cold. I was thrown roughly to the ground, pain shooting through my body.

"Pretty girl, since you're gonna die anyway, why don't we have some fun first?" The kidnapper's hand reached for me.

I tried desperately to avoid him, but tied up, I couldn't move.

From across the warehouse, I could still hear James comforting Emily: "Don't be afraid. We'll go home soon. I'll protect you for the rest of my life..."

The rest of his life.

He would protect Emily for the rest of his life.

What about me?

What about the girl who washed his clothes for four years? Who wrote countless papers for him? Who made him her entire world?

What was I to him?

When the knife pierced my body, the pain nearly made me lose consciousness.

Blood. So much blood.

I felt my life slowly draining away.

"James..." I used my last strength to try to call his name, but my voice was so weak I couldn't even hear it myself.

Why... why did I waste my most beautiful four years on someone who never loved me?

Why was I so stupid?

As consciousness faded, I heard James's tender voice: "Emily, let's get married when we get back..."

Married...

They're getting married...

And I'm dying.

How ironic.

I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my face.

If there's a next life... I will absolutely... absolutely never fall for someone like James again...

---

"Ah!"

I sat up abruptly, gasping for air.

What? Didn't I die?

Sunlight streamed through the curtains onto my bed, and the room was filled with the faint scent of jasmine. This was... my dorm room?

I frantically looked at the calendar on my nightstand. It clearly showed: September 25th.

September 25th? The first day of senior year?

My hand trembled as I touched my chest. It was intact, without any wounds.

Was it a dream?

No, it was too real. That feeling of betrayal, that sense of despair—these weren't feelings a dream could create.

I had come back.

I really had come back! One year into the past.

I took a deep breath and clenched my fists.

This time, I absolutely would not make the same mistake.

James, in this life, I won't waste another second on you!