Chapter 1

My eyes shot open.

The date on my phone screen burned into my memory: October 12th. The day my sister, Stella, lost everything. The day our father chose his new wife over his own blood. The day that started our slow, agonizing descent into ruin.

In my last life, it all began with a lawsuit. A frivolous, but vicious, claim against my sister' s small graphic design business. The stress caused a placental abruption, putting her and her unborn baby in mortal danger.

I had called our father, Brian Clark, a top corporate lawyer in New York City. He was on an anniversary trip in the Caribbean with his wife, Debra. I begged him to come back. He was the only one with the specific expertise to stop the immediate financial judgment that would ruin Stella.

He came back. He saved her business.

But Debra, furious about her ruined vacation, faked a suicide attempt. She left a note blaming me and Stella for years of emotional abuse.

That was the end for us.

Our father, consumed by rage and grief, turned on us. He destroyed our careers. He sabotaged our finances. He framed us for a crime we didn't commit.

I remember the last day vividly. The anniversary of Debra' s "attempt." He called a family meeting, looked me in the eye, and confessed his hatred. He told us we were no longer his daughters.

We died, ruined and alone.

But now, I was back. It was October 12th again. My phone buzzed. A text from Stella' s husband, Matthew.

"Jocelyn, something' s wrong with Stella. She' s in a lot of pain. Can you come? I' m scared."

The nightmare was starting all over again.

"I' m on my way," I typed, my hands shaking. "Call 911. Now."

I didn' t wait for a reply. I grabbed my keys and ran out the door, my heart pounding against my ribs. This time, I wouldn' t make the same mistake. This time, I wouldn' t call our father. This time, I would save her.