Chapter 1

My cat started talking.

On the exact day I was planning to propose to my boyfriend, my newly bought diamond ring was swiped off the counter by my cat’s paw, landing straight into the toilet with a splash.

[Stupid woman, don't propose! That cheating scumbag is on a date with your best friend right now! He even told her you’re terrible in bed, like a dead fish!]

I froze.

[Oh, by the way, he’s not some poor orphan. He’s the son of the richest billionaire in the city. He’s been gaslighting you from day one.]

[The two of them have already planned to ship you off to a human trafficking ring overseas next month, just to get you out of the picture.]

Looking at the sparkling ring swirling in the toilet bowl, I felt a wave of intense nausea.

My name is Chloe Miller. My boyfriend is Ethan Carter. We met at a charity event a year ago.

He told me he was an orphan, raised in a shelter, and had only finished college through student loans and working multiple part-time jobs.

He was handsome, gentle, and incredibly sweet. Even though he was broke, I loved him with all my heart.

My parents were just average, hard-working middle-class folks. To make sure Ethan had a good life, I pinched pennies, spent almost my entire salary on him, and bought almost everything he wore and used.

And my best friend, Serena Davis, had been my closest friend since college.

She came from a wealthy family, the quintessential trust-fund princess in everyone's eyes.

When I started dating Ethan, she was the first person I told.

She offered her congratulations, but she’d constantly drop passive-aggressive comments, telling me Ethan was beneath me and urging me to break up with him.

I always thought she genuinely cared about me, worried that I was being blinded by love.

But now, my cat was telling me that of the two people I trusted most, one wanted to sell me into slavery, and the other was waiting to take over my life.

I fished the ring out of the toilet, washed it thoroughly, and put it back in its box.

Loki, my orange tabby, trotted over with elegant steps, rubbing his head against my shin.

[That’s more like it. A piece of trash like him isn't worth your tears.]

[But what’s the plan? You’re not just going to let them walk away scot-free, are you? That’s too easy on them!]

I let out a cold laugh, stroking Loki’s fluffy head. "Of course not."

Because I had been reborn. I knew everything Loki said was the absolute truth.

In my past life, I was a complete fool.

I had joyfully planned the perfect proposal, only to walk into my rented apartment and catch them in the act.

When I confronted them, crying and broken, Ethan turned the tables on me, calling me crazy, paranoid, and accusing me of stalking him.

Serena stood by, sobbing crocodile tears, saying, "Chloe, don't blame Ethan. It was my fault, I just couldn't help myself."

Driven mad by the betrayal, I screamed at them, slammed the door, and ran into the street—only to be struck down by a speeding, out-of-control truck.

As my life slipped away on the cold asphalt, I saw them step out from the alley, looking down at me with cold, indifferent eyes, as if I were a piece of roadkill.

Ethan wrapped his arm around Serena, his voice chillingly detached: "Clean it up. Don't leave any loose ends."

Having a second chance at life, with the universe throwing in a cat-to-human translator that let me read minds, there was no way in hell I was letting them off easy.

I unlocked my phone and opened Snapchat, clicking on my chat with Serena.

[Serena! I’m planning to propose to Ethan tonight. Come over and help me pick out my outfit!]

Less than a second after sending the message, Serena’s FaceTime call came through. Her voice was filled with exaggerated, high-pitched excitement:

"Oh my god, Chloe! Are you serious?! I am so, so happy for you! Stay right there, I’m coming over now!"

As the screen went black, Loki’s voice rang in my mind again.

[Ugh, what a fake snake. Literally two minutes ago, she was lying in that jerk’s arms, laughing about how brainless and easy to manipulate you are.]

The smirk on my lips grew colder.

The show was just beginning.