“Dean, guess what? That idiot Sienna actually agreed to it on her own.”
It was Caitlin’s voice.
My boyfriend, Dean, who had just told me minutes ago that he was too busy to talk, was now on a call with her.
Dean laughed, sounding completely relaxed as if they were sharing a private joke.}]
“Caitlin, she’s just an orphan. What right does she have to compete with you? Without the West family, she’d be nothing. At least she finally figured out where she stands. But she’s marrying the Sterling family’s eldest son in three days. As her boyfriend, doesn’t that bother you even a little?”
Then, Dean added, “Caitlin, come on. You’re teasing me again. Weren’t you the one who told me to go after Sienna in the first place?“%
Caitlin cooed, “That was only to test your loyalty to me. I never thought you’d actually do it.“}
Dean replied, “I did it for you, didn’t I? My little princess. Also, I just didn’t want a clichéd soap opera scene where the adopted daughter takes everything from the real heiress. You’re too pure, Caitlin. You wouldn’t survive going head–to–head with someone raised in an orphanage.”
Caitlin’s voice grew soft and sweet as she said, “Dean, I always knew you were the best.“}
“I’d walk through fire and blades for you,” Dean stated. “Thank God that fool Sienna backed off on her own. Or else, I wouldn’t have hesitated to crush her.”
I clenched my phone so hard my fingers started to ache. Every word they said dug deeper than the last, lighting a fire in my chest that I could barely contain.}
In my past life, I’d loved Dean with everything I had. Truly, madly, stupidly.
Once, just because he casually mentioned he was craving clam chowder from a small spot on the south side of town, I sprinted through a thunderstorm, completely soaked, carrying a takeout bag as if it were sacred, just to ensure it was still hot when he received it.
And that soup? It hadn’t even been for him.
It had been for Caitlin.}
They’d sat there, side by side, sipping it and laughing at how desperate and gullible I looked, soaked and shivering.
Dean hadn’t lied. For Caitlin, he would have done anything.
I remembered it all.
In my last life, after Caitlin drew the ‘marriage‘ lot, she ended her life in the wedding car.
And somehow, everyone turned to me.
Everyone blamed me.
Dean toyed with me like I was some kind of pet until my final breath.
But this time around? I didn’t want to be part of their twisted game anymore.
I wanted nothing to do with their twisted drama.
All I wanted was to live for myself.
So when I woke up this time, I sent Dean a message:
[Let’s break up.]
He never replied.)
I didn’t see him again until Caitlin’s congratulatory party for ‘getting into university. After I agreed to the marriage alliance with the Sterling heir, the West’s fortune underwent a complete transformation, all thanks to the support of the Sterling family.
Caitlin didn’t waste any time taking full advantage of the opportunity. She threw such an extravagant school party. It was practically a red–carpet event.
No one except the West family knew about my entrance exam results, so Caitlin had no problem taking my score and enrolling at Southridge Tech University in my place.
Meanwhile, everyone around me, my teachers and my classmates, was left dumbfounded.
To them, I had always been a top student. So when it looked like I’d bombed so badly I couldn’t even get into a junior college, the gossip spread like wildfire.
Classmates who showed up to the party whispered to each other in hushed, confused tones while Caitlin soaked in every ounce of praise, glowing as if she’d won the lottery.”
“Oh my god, Caitlin! You’ve been hiding your brilliance all this time. You’re like a total dark horse!“}
“Yeah, I seriously thought Sienna was the one aiming for Southridge Tech. You completely threw me.“}]
“Didn’t you say you were gonna study abroad? Were you secretly grinding for the domestic exams the whole time?”
“But Sienna’s score? That’s wild. She’s never even come close to missing the cutoff for a top–tier university before.”
Doubt started to spread among them.
Caitlin, who’d been so confident, suddenly looked cornered, unsure how to respond.
And right then, Dean walked in. He strolled over to Caitlin as if our relationship meant nothing.N
Loud enough for everyone to hear, Dean spoke, “That’s because Sienna always copied Caitlin’s answers. Caitlin just didn’t want to
embarrass her by calling her out.”
