Her Fiance's Betrayal, Her Brother's Sword

Jack Miller, my big brother and the powerful head of Miller Corp, was presenting university scholarships, a yearly family tradition.

He made a simple comment to a young student, Sarah Vance, noting she shared my exact birthday – same day, month, year, even the hour.

It was a throwaway line, but for Sarah, it became a spark, igniting a terrifying delusion.

In my first life, that delusion grew into a monstrous lie: she convinced herself she was the true Miller heiress, inexplicably switched at birth.

That monstrous lie led directly to my murder.

I can still feel the damp chill of the abandoned warehouse, Sarah's eyes blazing with feverish triumph, the faces of the two hired thugs, Spike and Knuckles.

But nothing cut deeper than seeing Ethan Hayes, my own fiancé, standing by, watching it all unfold.

"She deserves it," Ethan had said, his voice devoid of emotion. "For everything she took from you, Sarah."

The utter betrayal was a punch to the gut.

Liam Hayes, Ethan' s gentle cousin, tried to intervene, but they easily overpowered him.

Then, the dark, churning water of the river enveloped my head, Liam struggling beside me before falling still himself.

How could this happen? How could I be killed for a fictional claim, abandoned by the man I loved?

Darkness.

Until now.

I jolted awake, gasping, my eyes snapping open to the familiar, faded floral wallpaper.

It was the same dusty smell, the exact same day.

The day of the kidnapping.

I was back.

Reborn.

My heart hammered, a frantic drum against my ribs.

This second chance wouldn't be wasted.

I wouldn't be their victim again.

This time, I would fight back.

Jack Miller stood on the university stage, his voice smooth, confident.

He was presenting scholarships, a yearly ritual for the Miller family.

My older brother, head of Miller Corp, a man of immense power.

He smiled at a young woman, Sarah Vance.

"What a coincidence," Jack said, his tone light, "you and my sister Ashley share the exact same birthday – day, month, year, even down to the hour."

A harmless remark.

Or so it seemed.

For Sarah Vance, it was a spark.

A seed of delusion.

In my first life, that seed grew into a monstrous thing.

Sarah convinced herself she was the true Miller heiress, switched at birth.

A lie she clung to with terrifying intensity.

That lie led to my death.

I remember the damp chill of the abandoned warehouse.

Spike and Knuckles, the two thugs Sarah hired, their faces grim.

Sarah, her eyes blazing with a feverish light.

"This is justice, Ashley," she'd hissed. "You stole my life."

My fiancé, Ethan Hayes, stood by.

He watched her.

"She deserves it," Ethan said, his voice cold, "for everything she took from you, Sarah."

Betrayal.

Liam Hayes, Ethan' s cousin, a kind soul with a weak heart, tried to stop them.

He was always too gentle for this world.

They overpowered him easily.

Then, the dark water of the river closing over my head.

Liam beside me, struggling, then still.

Darkness.

Until now.

I gasped, my eyes flying open.

The same cheap floral wallpaper.

The same dusty smell.

The same day.

The day of the kidnapping.

I was back.

Reborn.

My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drum.

A second chance.

This time, things would be different.

I wouldn't be a victim.

I would fight.

The creak of the door. My breath caught.

Sarah Vance stood there, flanked by Spike and Knuckles.

Just like before.

Her expression was a twisted mix of triumph and righteousness.

"Ashley Miller," Sarah said, her voice dripping with false pity, "we came to give you a choice, a last call, you could say."

She thought she held all the cards.

She thought I was the same naive girl.

She was wrong.

"A choice?" I asked, keeping my voice steady, though my hands trembled.

"Yes," Sarah smirked, "admit you're a fraud, give up the Miller name, and maybe, just maybe, we'll be lenient."

Lenient.

The memory of cold water filled my lungs.

I reached for my phone, hidden beneath the thin blanket.

My fingers fumbled with the buttons.

"Or," Sarah continued, stepping closer, "we can do this the hard way."

I pressed call, Jack' s number already on the screen.

"I think I'll take a third option," I said, my voice loud, clear.

The phone connected.

"Jack?" I almost screamed into it.

Sarah' s eyes widened, fury replacing her smirk.

"What are you doing?" she shrieked.