Chapter 1

In my previous life, at Gavin Hart's birthday party, his supposed best friend, Vanessa Troy, bragged about knowing every size he'd ever been throughout the years. He just laughed it off, acting like it was normal for the two of them to pee side by side since childhood. I slapped them right then and there and demanded a divorce. Gavin said I was overreacting and ordered me to apologize to her. I ran out in tears, lost control of myself, and was hit by a car on the street. I died before anyone even knew what happened. Gavin lost his mind after my death. He made sure Vanessa paid for it too, trapped between his guilt and obsession. In the end, neither of them could live in peace. Meanwhile, I wept every day in the Court of the Underworld, begging for justice. Why did I have to be the one suffering from love and pain? The Lord of Souls finally had enough of my crying and threw his hand in the air, saying he would let me start over on one condition. "Since you clearly haven't suffered enough, go back and collect a hundred heartbreak points. Only then will I consider letting you live." When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the same birthday party, my arm looped through my best friend, Samuel Reed's. He offhandedly announced my exact measurements in front of everyone. "I just measured you. Still the same as in high school." I gave him a playful glare, pretending to be annoyed. "Shut up. With hands that slow, you're nothing compared to my husband." Gavin smashed his glass from across the room. His face darkened, and he pointed at Samuel. "Clara Whitlock, what the hell do you mean by that?" The reaper assigned to watch me whispered, "You're here to collect heartbreak points, not to get yourself killed." As he said that, my heartbreak meter increased by five points. That discovery surprised me. Who said collecting heartbreak points meant I had to be the one getting hurt? Making the cheater suffer should count just the same. The room went completely silent. Samuel acted as if he didn't notice Gavin's murderous glare. He leaned back, crossed one leg over the other, and met Gavin's eyes with quiet ease. Vanessa, who was sitting beside Gavin, watched the scene unfold with a smirk, clearly enjoying the show. I looked at Gavin innocently. "What's wrong, Hubby? Why are you so mad on your birthday?" A vein throbbed at his temple. "What did you do with him? And you're asking me what's wrong?" I let out a soft "oh", as if I'd suddenly realized something, then reached for his hand. "Are you jealous? It was just a bit of teasing between friends," I said gently. "A joke. Don't take it seriously." Gavin stared at me, looking dumbfounded. "Friends? He's a man!" His voice thundered through the private room, echoing off the walls. Vanessa slapped him playfully on the back. "What's your problem? Didn't I tell you women like your wife needed to be kept close? She's gorgeous. Of course, men get drawn to her. She and Mr. Reed grew up together, so it's normal for them to be close. But I doubt she'd actually cheat on you, right?" Her tone was full of mockery. I nodded in agreement. "Exactly. These days, if your wife hasn't run off, it means your hard work hasn't gone to waste. I really don't get why you're so upset." Vanessa froze, her smirk faltering. Gavin's eyes were bloodshot. "I'm upset? You let another man measure your body, and I'm overreacting?" I cut him off, already losing patience. "Why are you so hung up on men and women? Friendship doesn't have a gender. Didn't you and Vanessa grow up doing everything together?" He stiffened, lowering his voice as he said, "That's not the same. Vanessa has always seen me as a sibling." "Oh? And Samuel has always seen me as a sibling, too. What's the difference?" He opened his mouth but couldn't get a word out. My heartbreak meter ticked up another five points, and I almost laughed. In my past life, Vanessa had always been around, meddling in our marriage. Gavin used to throw the same lines at me, accusing me of overreacting. Now that I was the one saying them, he was suddenly thinking it was ridiculous? Samuel, as perceptive as ever, tugged lightly at my hand. "Clara, maybe Gavin doesn't like me much. Don't argue because of me. I should go." I picked up a wet napkin and calmly wiped the wine that had splashed onto his jacket. "Don't worry. You did nothing wrong." Then, I turned to Gavin and met his disbelieving stare. "Apologize to Samuel." He let out a bitter, almost incredulous laugh. "What did you just say? You want me to apologize to him?'' Oh? Did I hit a nerve? In our last life, he'd made me apologize more times than I could count. Typical. He still loved me, yet never cherished me. This time around, I was going to make sure that pain landed squarely on him. "Of course," I said evenly. "Samuel just got off a plane and didn't even rest before coming here to celebrate your birthday. You, the host, threw a glass and splashed him with wine. Shouldn't you apologize?" The air in the room froze again. Before Vanessa could speak, Samuel pressed my hand lightly. "Clara, let it go. Maybe Gavin's just in a bad mood today. It's just a jacket. Don't ruin your marriage over something so small." That gentle, almost self-effacing tone was the last straw. Gavin kicked the coffee table with a crash, shouting, "Who the hell do you think you are? Samuel, stop pretending to be some saint. Clara's my wife—let go of her hand!"