Jewelry Box

In this world, I known nothing but love. I believed—naïvely—that the man destined to be my husband would love me just the same. But dreams are fragile things, and mine shattered into nothing but pain and sorrow. My father arranged what I thought was my dream marriage, to the man I had admired from afar all my life. James Kendrick, the most handsome duke in the empire. The man every woman longed for. But unlike them, I had not craved a fleeting night. I had longed to marry him. And I did. Only to discover the cruel truth: his family wanted nothing but my fortune. The dowry my father had entrusted to me became James’s playground—wasted on another woman, while I, his wife, was discarded like nothing. And now, here I am. On the floor. Blood pooling at my lips. Fire in my stomach. “Y-you bastard!” I gasped, reaching feebly toward the polished brown shoes before me. “Tsk. You’re troublesome,” came that cold, familiar voice. Through blurred vision, I met his eyes. The eyes of the man I once loved, now twisted with contempt. “If you had stayed obedient, this wouldn’t have been necessary,” James growled, shoving my head away. “But you had to pry where you shouldn’t.” Tears streamed down my face, hot and bitter. How could I have been so blind? “How could you?” I coughed. “I love you! I gave you everything—even me!” My nails dug into the wood beneath me, fury sparking even as my body weakened. He had poisoned me, the coward. “Yes, but I never loved you.” His smirk cut deeper than any blade. His fingers gripped my chin hard. “All I wanted was your money. You were always just a stupid, useful little bitch.” Rage burned through my failing body. I clawed at him, but he only laughed and released me, letting me collapse to the ground. I tried to rise. My legs betrayed me. James turned his back, casually rifling through a shelf. “We’ll tell your father you were attacked by thieves,” he mused, his tone mocking. “He has plenty of enemies, no one will question it. Don’t worry, wife. I’ll even weep for you.” The bile of hatred rose in my throat. “Don’t worry,” James chuckled darkly, turning back to me. “It will be quick.” His boot slammed into my stomach. Again. Again. Pain split me in two. And then I saw it—gleaming in his hand. An axe. “No—don’t!” I cried, my voice breaking into desperate sobs. He laughed, raised the weapon, and brought it down. The edge bit into my throat. No scream escaped me. My life ended in silence. Gods above, if you exist… hear me. Give me another chance. Let me live again. Let me destroy the monsters who used me, who led me to this death. Please… let me return. *** My eyes flew open. White drapes hung above me, the familiar canopy of my own bed. I sat up, disoriented. My hand flew to my throat. Smooth. Unbroken. Didn’t I die? The memories struck like lightning, the poison, the axe, the pain. My chest heaved. Sweat ran cold down my spine. It was real. I died. So why am I here? A knock rattled the door. “My lady?” I jolted. That voice… The door creaked open, and in stepped a face I thought was lost forever. “Nora…” My voice broke as tears spilled freely. Her warm smile faltered. “My lady, what’s wrong?” She rushed to my side, patting my back, soothing me as if I were simply nervous. “This must be overwhelming—you have your engagement today, after all.” My breath caught. “Engagement?” “Yes, of course,” she said, tilting her head. “What’s gotten into you this morning?” I staggered to my feet, crossing the room like one in a trance. The mirror stopped me cold. I stared at the reflection. The younger me, untouched by betrayal. By death. My trembling fingers brushed my face, my hair, my body. The engagement with James… It was a year before our marriage. I came back. I’ve returned to the past. My hand lingered at my neck, phantom pain making me shiver. It was all real. The betrayal. Death. But I’ve been given another chance. “Today is the party, isn’t it?” I asked softly, eyes never leaving my reflection. “Yes, the engagement party,” Nora answered, still watching me with confusion. “Good. Let us prepare,” I whispered, a smile tugging at my lips, not from joy, but from resolve. Nora’s excited squeal faded as she rushed into the bathroom. Alone with my reflection, I studied my face, then my neck. My chest tightened, and I forced my eyes shut, taking a deep breath to tame the wild rhythm of my heart. “This time,” I said, voice low and sharp, “I’ll make them pay.” The gods had given me what I begged for. A second chance. And with it, I would carve my revenge into the Kendrick family, and every soul who dared stand with them.