Chapter 1

To save my boyfriend, Lucas, I was hit by a car, which left me in a vegetative state for three years.

When I finally woke up, he was holding the hand of my best friend, Chloe, telling me they were true love.

Even my own parents had adopted Chloe as their surrogate daughter.

Everyone told me to step aside and bless their relationship.

I refused.

I crashed their engagement party, only to end up getting run over and killed by a car.

My parents said I had it coming, giving all the wealth I had earned to Chloe.

Lucas and Chloe lived happily ever after, raising a son and a daughter together.

My rage burned so fiercely it felt like my chest was going to explode.

Then, I opened my eyes again—back to the very day I woke up from my coma.

Lucas stood by my hospital bed, holding Chloe's hand.

"Scarlett, Chloe and I are getting engaged soon. I hope you won't cling to me anymore."

Seeing this scumbag and his mistress standing together once again, I forced down the fury burning inside me. I could still faintly recall the agonizing, bone-crushing pain of being hit by a car twice in my past life.

My father chimed in from the side.

"Scarlett, grow up. Chloe has been by our side taking care of us these past three years while you were unconscious."

"She stayed with Lucas and took care of you for three whole years too. Whatever debt we owed you for saving him, it's more than paid off."

My mother took Chloe's hand and added, "Now that you're awake, you can be Chloe's bridesmaid at their wedding."

In my past life, I was devastated by my parents' blatant favoritism toward Chloe.

I couldn't understand why they didn't care about their own flesh and blood lying in a coma, but instead defended an outsider at every turn.

Having died once, though, I saw through it all.

Neither family nor romance was worth more than my own life.

In this lifetime, I would make everyone who betrayed me pay the price.

I locked my eyes onto Lucas and said, "A breakup is fine. But I want compensation."

"What?"

Lucas seemed unable to process what I said and asked again.

The corners of my lips curled slightly. "Three years ago, you weren't watching where you were going and almost got hit by a car. I pushed you out of the way, which put me in a coma."

"If it weren't for me, you would've died three years ago, or you'd be the one lying in this bed as a vegetable."

"How much do you think your life is worth? Name your price."

Lucas froze for a long moment before saying flatly, "I know you're bitter that I fell in love with Chloe, but why degrade yourself like this?"

I let out a cold laugh. "Degrade myself?"

"I saved your life back then. Did you really think you could just brush off those three years of my life so easily?"

Lucas pressed his lips together and shamelessly said, "We loved each other back then. You were good to me, and I've kept that in my heart."

Looking at his sanctimonious face, I couldn't help but laugh.

What a piece of trash!

He just didn't want to pay up.

No matter how many times I lived this, he was always equally disgusting.

In my past life, as soon as I woke up, Lucas told me he fell in love with Chloe at first sight.

Back then, my memory was still frozen three years prior, when our relationship was at its peak.

Three years changed everything.

I couldn't accept that I had risked my life for him, only for him to love someone else.

I cried, I screamed, throwing fits like a madwoman.

The only result was their growing annoyance with me.

The day I was discharged happened to be the day of Lucas's engagement.

I stormed straight into their engagement party, causing a massive scene.

Everyone thought I had lost my mind, including my parents.

They had security drag me out.

Cruel irony struck—right outside the venue, a car ran me over and killed me.

What made it even more ridiculous was that the truck that hit me was loaded with hundreds of roses Lucas had ordered for Chloe.

After I died, with no obstacles left in their way, Lucas and Chloe lived happily ever after.

My parents acted as though I had never existed, pampering Chloe like their own daughter.

This time, I was done begging for their love. I was going to live for myself.

Of course, before that, I was taking back everything that belonged to me.

"Lucas, save the pathetic emotional speech. If you had any real feelings for me, you wouldn't have found someone new."

"Five million dollars for your life. That's more than fair."

"Or I can just post everything online and let the public judge. Let's see if I'm being unreasonable, or if you, the wealthy heir, are just an ungrateful scumbag!"

I dragged out the last few words, turning Lucas's face a furious shade of green.

Three years ago, I was a prodigy admitted to an elite university on a full ride.

Lucas couldn't afford to compensate for the three years I had lost.

He thought he had me wrapped around his finger, thinking I would never dare step out of line.

He thought that even if he cheated, I would swallow my pride and accept it quietly.

Instead, I was going to rip off his dignified facade.

"Scarlett, I know this is hard for you to take in right now, but don't worry. We can still be best friends."

"Chloe is a wonderful, kind person. She'll help me take great care of you from now on."

Lucas's sheer audacity left me speechless.

Before I could fire back, the door pushed open.

"Scarlett, you're finally awake!"

Our eyes met, and Chloe's eyes welled with tears of apparent excitement.

I had to hand it to her; she was an incredible actress.

"Yeah. If I didn't wake up, my whole life would have been stolen."

Hearing this, Chloe immediately defended herself. "No, that's not true! I never wanted to take anything from you."

Still playing the scheming victim.

Utterly pathetic.

I smirked, speaking coldly. "It's fine. What's stolen is stolen. I don't care anymore."

"As long as Lucas gives me what I'm owed, you have my blessing."

Chloe stared at me in disbelief. "You... why aren't you... causing a scene?"

She mumbled the last part quietly.

Because my focus was entirely on her, I caught every word.

A realization struck me, and my smile deepened.

It seemed she had gone back in time too.

Playing dumb, I asked, "Lucas said you two are getting engaged soon. Would making a scene change anything?"

I stared directly at Chloe. A flash of smugness crossed her face.

Things were definitely different from my past life.