Chapter 1

Everyone on campus knew I was totally obsessed with the Student Council President, Tristan Vance.

To stay close to him, I went out of my way to please the faculty advisors and every council member, just to earn the position of vice president.

In my past life, I was accused of drugging his drink to climb into his bed, later using an unexpected pregnancy to force him to marry me.

Yet on the day of my agonizing labor complications, he locked me in the dark basement of his estate.

He stood by, watching me die in excruciating pain.

Right before I took my last breath, his twisted, spiteful voice rang out: "It’s all your fault. If you hadn't drugged me..."

"How could I have lost Serena? She never would've taken her own life!"

Serena Moore—his pure, untouchable first love.

It turned out everything I sacrificed was just my own pathetic delusion.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the very night someone spiked his glass.

Watching him drink every last drop of the poisoned bourbon,

I didn't hesitate for a single second. I pulled out my phone and dialed his dream girl.

This time, I was done. I wanted nothing to do with him ever again.

"Chloe, call Serena. Now!"

Hearing Tristan's familiar, strained voice, I couldn't help but look back.

His cheeks were flushed a deep crimson, his eyes feverish and wild as he stared at me.

The spiked drink was finally taking full effect.

Without an ounce of hesitation, I pulled out my phone and dialed Serena Moore's number.

Once the call went through, I gave him a quick heads-up:

"Hang in there, Tristan. Serena will be here in ten minutes."

With that, I turned around and walked out the door without looking back, closing it firmly behind me.

In my past life, I was the idiot who picked up the wrong cup, drank from it, and ended up carrying the blame for drugging him, only to meet a horrific death.

In this life, I simply watched with cold detachment as he tilted his head back and finished the drink.

Then, the moment the drug stripped away his control and he struggled to look at me, I called Serena.

Right as the door clicked shut, I thought I heard him rasping my name.

I acted completely deaf to it and quickened my pace down the hall.

Ten minutes later, Serena rushed out of the elevator.

She cast a wary, suspicious glance at me. Seeing that my clothes were neatly in place and my eyes completely clear, she breathed a visible sigh of relief.

Before pushing the suite door open, she sneered at me, "You can leave now. Your services aren't needed here."

I turned around, took the elevator down, hailed an Uber, and went straight back to my dorm.

The next morning, Serena and Tristan walked into the Student Council office side by side.

Tristan took a casual sip of his iced latte, then nonchalantly announced to the department directors:

"Starting today, Serena is my girlfriend and our new executive vice president. I expect all of you to show her proper respect."

He paused, turned his gaze toward me, and pointed his Montblanc pen directly at my face.

"Especially you, Chloe."

I knew exactly why he singled me out.

Who on this campus didn't know I was utterly head-over-heels for him?

Instead of breaking down, I just nodded blankly, not showing the slightest flicker of emotion.

Serena curled her lips, throwing me a smug, triumphant smirk.

I pretended not to notice, gathered my meeting notes, and got up to leave the boardroom.

Just as I pushed my chair back, Serena let out a pathetic, dramatic whimper.

"Tristan... does Chloe not want me involved with council business?"

"I know how important she is to your team. If she’s unhappy with me being here, maybe I shouldn't join after all..."

Tears welled up in Serena's eyes, looking as delicate and wronged as humanly possible.

Tristan frowned. Before he could speak, I stopped in my tracks and answered cleanly:

"Not at all. Since my presence makes you uncomfortable, I'll do my best to stay out of your sight from now on."

Without waiting for Tristan's reaction, I walked straight out and headed to the library to study.

Half an hour later, someone sharply tapped on my desk.

I looked up, only to be met with Tristan's dark, brooding glare.