Chapter 1

In my previous life, Ash locked me in his world.

He controlled my phone, my friends, my every step.

He used his illness as a chain and treated my fear as loyalty.

When I tried to leave, he broke my bones and called it love.

I died in that cage.

Then I woke up on the day I confessed to him.

This time, I cut him off before he could touch my life again.

No hesitation. No mercy.

I’m alive again, and I’m not his cure or his possession.

I’m here to take back everything he stole—starting with my freedom.

I was tortured to death.

When I opened my eyes, I was back to the day when my crush rejected me.

As we were cutting the cake, they encouraged me to confess.

Gathering my courage, I said, "Ash, my birthday wish is you."

Ash's hand holding the cigarette trembled. He smirked and said, "Sorry, you're too good. Not my type."

In my previous life, because of these words, I went crazy, thinking about my miserable end.

My whole body felt cold, and I wanted to kill Ash right then and there.

"Nova, are you okay?"

"Ash, can't you say something nice?"

Ash maintained his laid-back and nonchalant attitude, lazily blowing smoke rings. "I'm not good at lying."

His lazy British accent was quite alluring.

But hearing it now, I only felt disgusted.

In front of everyone, I coldly made a new birthday wish.

"Ash, I hope that for eternity, you and I will never cross paths again."

I blew out the candles.

They tried to stop me, but couldn't.

Ash's smile froze on his face.

"Nova, are you serious?"

"I'll give you one more chance. Make a new wish, and I'll pretend I didn't hear anything just now."

No need.

I ignored him and started cutting the cake.

Ash rushed towards me, grabbing the blade with his right hand.

"Nova, I'm talking to you."

The blade cut his finger, drawing blood.

Someone exclaimed, "Blood! Ash, you're bleeding!"

I knew he was having an episode again.

Ash had a severe psychological disorder.

In my previous life, only I could stop him from having these episodes.

Oh, to be precise, only I could before that poor junior girl appeared.

Because of this, I always thought I was special to him.

Until I heard him comforting that poor girl in his lazy tone.

"She's different from you."

"At most, she's just a placebo. Only you are my sole medicine."

"Without you, I'd die."

I let go of the knife and said, "If you like it so much, you can have it."

As I turned to leave, Ash threw the knife aside and grabbed me.

His bloodied finger stained my white shirt.

"Nova, who are you trying to impress with this attitude?"

The blood terrified me.

Uncontrollably, I remembered the things from my previous life. Feeling dizzy and overwhelmed, I fainted.

When I woke up, Ash was by my bedside.

"Awake?"

"You made me angry, yet I had to carry you back. Nova, how do you plan to make it up to me?"

Ash was a player. He often said these ambiguous things, making me harbor inappropriate hopes.

But I was no longer who I used to be.

I knew very well that when faced with someone he truly liked, Ash couldn't utter a single flirtatious word. Even when confessing, his voice would tremble.

I sighed and said, "I'm tired."

"Ash, let's not see each other anymore."

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