Her voice cracked, composure shattering. She looked like she was throwing caution to the wind.
"I'm *chasing* you! Can't you tell?"
I froze.
The next second, I bolted.
In my previous life, my brother's tragic ending was a thorn lodged in my heart. No matter what, I didn't dare get close to someone like Caroline Sawyer again.
Perhaps she sensed my terror. From that day on, she vanished from my side.
Six months passed.
Despite myself, I couldn't stop listening for news of her.
My classmates stared when I finally asked. "You didn't know? Caroline is prepping to study abroad."
My blood ran cold.
The memory of the plane crash from my past life slammed into my mind.
Suppressing the frantic pounding of my heart, I pressed for the date.
"In two weeks. December 10th."
My mind reeled.
I whipped out my phone and dialed her number.
"Don't go, Caroline."
On the other end, she let out a soft, mocking laugh.
"You won't let me go? Who are you to stop me?"
Silence stretched between us.
Before I could explain, before I could find the words, she spoke again. Her voice turned indifferent.
"I'll give you a chance. Have dinner with me on the night of December 9th."
"Convince me face-to-face. If your reasoning holds up, I'll stay."
"If you can't, I leave tonight."
I agreed without hesitation.
That night, I arrived at the hotel address she'd sent. The front desk informed me a private room had already been booked and directed me straight there.
I shoved the door open, breathless. Before I could take a step inside, someone slammed me viciously against the wall.
Jasmine McLaughlin stood there, draped in a designer gown, clinging to Landon Joyce. His eyes were bloodshot, fixing me with a glare of pure hatred.
"Daniel Joyce." Jasmine's voice dripped venom. "I told you. The day I regained my clarity, I would kill you with my own hands."
She stepped closer. "You ruined the purity between Landon and me. And now you have the audacity to seek revenge? You want his other leg broken?"
Ice crept into her gaze. "Then I'll let you taste what it feels like to be a cripple. Break three of his limbs."
A dismissive wave of her hand.
I struggled against the grip of the thugs pinning me. "I didn't! Jasmine, I didn't do any of that!"
She looked at me like I was something rotting on her shoe.
My phone buzzed. Caroline Sawyer.
Before I could answer, Landon snatched it from my pocket.