The Ashes Of The Wife I Was

It was supposed to be the happiest night of my life. Our third wedding anniversary. To celebrate all that we have accomplished I wore the dress Cassian loved—the deep red silk one that hugged my waist and spilled down like liquid fire. I did my hair the way he liked it too. Soft curls. Nothing too bold. Just enough to look effortlessly beautiful. Just enough to make him remember why he chose me. God, I was so stupid. I walked into that room thinking I was walking toward love. Instead, I walked into my funeral. The table was set for two, but only one glass had wine in it. Mine. I thought it was romantic. Thought he remembered I liked red while he preferred white. So I smiled, clinked my glass with his, and said, “To us.” He didn’t smile back. I should’ve known. I should’ve seen something in his eyes, but I was too busy pretending everything was okay. Too busy ignoring the sinking feeling that had been eating at me for months. I sipped the wine. Too bitter. Off. But I didn’t say anything. I just laughed it off and leaned over to kiss him. He turned his face away. That was the first time I felt it. The c***k. Right there. In my chest. “You’re not going to eat?” I asked him, trying to stay calm. He didn’t even look at me. “I already did.” He stood up. Walked toward the door like I didn’t exist. And then she walked in. Lilith. My stepsister. My best friend. My worst mistake. Wearing a white silk dress like she was the damn bride. Her hand casually brushed against his as they passed each other. Like it was nothing. Like I was nothing. I blinked. “Lilith?” My voice came out soft. Confused. Like a child. She smiled. “Happy anniversary, sister.” And then I knew. I knew I was dying. Not just from the poison working its way through my veins, but from everything else they had shattered. “You…” I staggered to my feet. My heart pounded in my ears. “You two—” Cassian turned back, his face cold. “You really thought you were special, didn’t you?” My whole body went numb. “Cassian… why?” “Because you're weak,” Lilith said, smiling like a cat with blood on her paws. “Because you inherited the company and I didn’t. Because you were always the favorite.” I coughed, the wine rising in my throat like acid. My hands trembled as I reached for something—anything—to steady myself. The glass fell. Shattered. “You killed my parents…” My voice cracked. “You—” “No,” Lilith cut in, stepping closer. “You did. You trusted the wrong people. You left the company vulnerable. All I did was finish what you started.” The room spun. Cassian walked over and looked me dead in the eyes. “You were just a means to an end. A name. A title. A temporary distraction.” I couldn’t breathe. The floor was ice against my knees when I collapsed. My heart was screaming, but my body was done. “Why now?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. “You could’ve just left…” Lilith crouched beside me. “Because I wanted to watch you break.” Then she kissed my cheek. My skin burned where her lips touched. Cassian turned away. She stood and followed him. No one looked back. I lay there, choking on the wine and betrayal and grief, and all I could think was—this can’t be the end. This can’t be the end. Please, God. Anyone. Don’t let this be the end. Darkness took me. --- I woke up cold. But I wasn’t in our home. I wasn’t in that room. I was… floating? Everything was black, but not empty. It was alive. Like shadows breathing around me. Then I heard it. A voice. Not male. Not female. Not even human. Just... ancient. "You have been betrayed." It echoed in my bones. In my blood. "You have been wronged." I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. I just listened. "You have one chance. One path. One countdown." The darkness pulsed, and suddenly I was falling through stars and memories and pain. "You will return. For revenge. For justice. But know this—" A pause. "When the clock runs out, so does your life." --- I gasped, sitting upright in bed, my heart racing. Same bed. Same room. Same soft sheets. But I knew. I knew it wasn’t the same. Because I was breathing. Because my skin didn’t burn. Because it wasn’t my anniversary yet. Because I was back. Back in a body that hadn’t yet been broken. Back in a life that hadn’t yet been stolen. And this time… I wouldn’t make the same mistakes. I touched my chest. Still beating. But not with love. With rage. With fire. And a timer I couldn’t see but felt ticking behind my eyes. Lilith. Cassian. This time, I’m not your little pawn. This time, I play the game. ---