In my past life, my two husbands died for saving Tessa. On the funeral, Tessa laughed and said:“They married you because I forced them to. The deep love you thought you had was just a show I made them put on.”

Bella Shaw was reborn.

Staring at her own young, smooth face in the mirror and the slender, pale fingers at her side, she froze for a moment before snatching up her phone to check the date.

June 26, 2024.

It was right after the college entrance exam, the time when she was supposed to submit her college applications. It was also the period when her two childhood friends, Sebastian Gale and Ronald Lowe, had begun chasing after her relentlessly in her previous life.

A flicker of excitement lit up her eyes. Without another thought, she grabbed her phone and dashed straight to the office.

"Ms. Scott, I want to change my application from Eastbridge College to Northfield College."

By the time she got home, she found her two childhood friends, Sebastian and Ronald, were there—along with her best friend, Tessa Moore.

"What are you guys doing here?"

When she walked in, the usually aloof Sebastian greeted her with an unusually warm smile. "Did you forget? We said we'd have dinner at your place tonight to celebrate all four of us getting into the same college."

Ronald, carefree as always, walked up to her and tapped her lightly on the head.

"Little scatterbrain. We knew you've been swamped these past few days preparing your honor graduate speech, so we've been setting everything up here for a while. All you have to do is show up and eat."

Just as Bella was about to speak, her phone rang.

It was Ophelia.

"Bella, you left in a hurry just now, and I forgot to tell you something. You were originally scheduled to give the speech as our top-performing student in three days, but two major board members suddenly spoke up and had the spot changed to Tessa."

Bella glanced at Sebastian and Ronald and immediately understood. Their fathers just happened to be board members of the school.

"I got it. Thank you, Ms. Scott." She nodded calmly, accepting it without a fuss.

Ophelia was surprised by how well she took it, and her voice showed it. "You're the top scorer. Having you give the speech makes far more sense. It's an honor, you know. Are you really going to give it up to Tessa?"

Bella remained calm and even managed a smile. "Yeah."

Not just this. She was giving Sebastian and Ronald to Tessa, too, as she refused to relive the misery of her past life.

In her previous life, Sebastian and Ronald had chased her just as fiercely, acting as if they couldn't wait to hand her their hearts.

The first time around, she married Sebastian. But in their third year of marriage, he died in a car accident while protecting Tessa. That was when she learned he had never loved her. The person he loved all along was Tessa.

Buried in grief, she completely fell apart. And then, Ronald reappeared in her life. He stayed by her side, helped her out of the darkness, encouraged her to start over, and told her she still had him.

So the second time, she married Ronald.

After marriage, he treated her just as gently as before, but there was always a polite distance, as if they were respectful roommates. At first, she assumed their romance had simply mellowed into something like family, until years later, when the elderly Tessa was diagnosed with heart disease. He ignored her pleas and donated his heart to Tessa without hesitation. It was only then did she realize he had loved Tessa too.

She couldn't understand. If both Sebastian and Ronald loved Tessa, why did they marry her at all?

It wasn't until the funeral that Tessa, drenched in self-satisfaction, revealed the truth.

"Why did they marry you? Because I planned everything. I told them if they didn't listen to me and chase after you, I'd disappear from their lives forever. They panicked, so they fought each other to win you over.

"Oh, and do you know why you never had children? Because they both got vasectomies for me. They told me that even if they married you, their hearts belonged to me alone, and they'd never have kids with you!"

Tessa laughed hysterically.

Bella's mind went blank, and she screamed at Tessa, asking why she did this. The answer was just as ridiculous.

"Why? Because I was jealous. You were born rich and never lacked anything. I had to fight for everything, while you got it all without trying.

"Of course, I wasn't okay with that. I wanted to watch you suffer and make sure you knew your happiness was nothing but a lie I allowed you to have."

With that, Tessa strutted away, proud of her cruelty.

Overwhelmed, Bella coughed up blood and died on the spot.

But now, the heavens had shown her mercy, giving her another chance.

And this time, she would never let herself be tangled up with any of them again.

Chapter 2

"What's wrong?" Tessa leaned in curiously after the call ended.

"The person giving the speech in three days got switched to you." Bella's expression didn't change, as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her.

"Me? But I didn't score as well as you, and I'm nowhere near as outstanding as you. Why would they suddenly pick me? I can't eat anymore. I need to go home and get ready!"

Her eyes lit up with excitement, and she rushed out the door.

Sebastian and Ronald didn't stop her, but their eyes followed her figure, overflowing with affection they couldn't hide, looking as if they wished they could chase after her that very second.

Bella caught that look and said calmly, "You should go after her if you want."

"What are you talking about? You're right here. Why would we follow her?" Sebastian snapped back to reality.

He turned to her again with a small smile. After a pause, he added in a soft, comforting tone, "It's just a speech slot. Don't let it get to you."

"Yeah, Bella is amazing. The school must be blind to replace you," Ronald chimed in.

Bella tugged lightly at the corner of her mouth but said nothing.

In her last life, they'd comforted her in the exact same way, yet they were the ones who arranged for her replacement.

She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get a word out, Sebastian and Ronald cut her off again. "Bella, we're taking you somewhere."

They dragged her out mysteriously, and when they finally stopped, she found herself standing in front of a field of flowers and bright, colorful balloons. Only then did she realize they'd brought her here to profess to her.

Sebastian pulled out a bouquet of white roses—no one knew where he had even gotten them—and looked at her with unmistakable affection. "Bella, you know how I've felt about you this whole time. Now, I want an answer."

Not wanting to fall behind, Ronald quickly pulled out a bouquet of red roses from behind him and held it out to her. His voice softened with emotion. "Bella, I liked you first. I've been planning this confession for three months.

"You have to pick me. If you agree to be with me, I'd go through anything for you."

Watching the two of them kneeling in front of her, Bella felt dazed for a moment. If she hadn't learned the truth, seeing how devoted they looked, she might have actually believed they loved her.

They had grown up together. She never expected the two people she thought she knew best to be this talented at acting.

Just as she was about to speak, all three of their phones buzzed at the same time.

It was a message from Tessa in their group chat.

"The lightbulb at home burned out, and I don't know how to change it. What should I do?"

A pitiful emoji followed right after.

In an instant, both Sebastian's and Ronald's expressions changed.

Sebastian forgot all about the confession and shot to his feet. "Tess is home alone. She's probably freaking out since her lightbulb burned out. I should go help her fix it."

"I'm going with you!" Ronald jumped up right after him. Then, as if remembering Bella was still there, he added awkwardly, "Bella, it's getting dark soon, and we can't leave Tess waiting. As for who you're choosing, maybe just tell us tomorrow."

They didn't spare her another glance before rushing off.

Watching them leave, Bella actually found it a little funny. They claimed to have prepared this confession for three months, yet all it took was Tessa saying she couldn't change a lightbulb for them to drop everything. There had been countless signs that they didn't love her, but in her previous life, she had been blinded and never noticed any of it.

She lowered her gaze to the roses and gift boxes they left behind. A small smile curled at her lips, but her eyes stayed cold. She picked up the flowers and gifts and tossed them straight into the trash can without a second thought.

"Sebastian, Ronald, I'm not choosing either of you this time!"

There were still two months before school started, and to avoid the three of them as much as possible, Bella simply blocked all their numbers and went traveling alone for a month.

When she finally came home after her trip, she saw two people crouching at her door. It was Sebastian and Ronald.

The sound of her luggage being dragged across the ground caught their attention. The moment they saw her, they sprinted toward her like they'd lost their minds and pulled her tightly into their arms.

"Where were you this whole month? You wouldn't answer calls or messages. Do you know we've been going crazy looking for you?"

The worry in their eyes was real. They both looked like they hadn't slept or taken care of themselves in a long time. Their chins were covered with rough stubble, and their eyes were bloodshot. In this messy state, they looked nothing like the two campus heartthrobs everyone admired.

Looking at them, she suddenly remembered something from when she was 13.

Her parents had chosen divorce because they were tired of fighting every day. But when it came to deciding who she would live with, they pushed the responsibility back and forth. Neither of them wanted her. In the end, they left her a house and a bank card that would last her until adulthood, then disappeared completely.

That night, she didn't cry or make a fuss. But once it got dark, she slipped out of the house alone.

Back then, Sebastian and Ronald had panicked the same way, searching for her the entire night until they finally found her by the lake. They had held her just as tightly and said, "Even if your parents left, you still have us. They might not want you, but we do.

"We'll always stay with you. Don't ever run off alone again. We'll lose our minds if anything happens to you."

Chapter 3

A flicker of sadness crossed Bella's eyes. They had once been inseparable, yet in her last life, the deepest wounds she carried had come from them.

She still had no idea how they had ended up falling for Tessa, but it didn't matter anymore. Everything had already happened, and the past could never be reclaimed. Dwelling on the reasons was pointless.

She pulled out of their arms, her voice steady and calm. "I went on a graduation trip."

"Why did you go by yourself?" Sebastian frowned at her answer, while Ronald shot her a look full of disapproval.

"Aren't you afraid of getting lost? Didn't we say the four of us would go together?"

Hearing how naturally they included Tessa, Bella kept her expression neutral. "We said the three of us."

Sebastian froze, as if just realizing something. "Do you not like Tess? If that's the case, we'll keep our distance from her, okay?

"I only took care of her because the four of us were going to the same college. If you don't like it, we won't spend as much time with her. You're the one who matters most to me."

If she hadn't been reborn with her memories, that might have moved her. But now, she simply walked past them toward her room. "I'm going to drop off my luggage."

Seeing her leave, Sebastian and Ronald quickly followed after her.

"Our class is having a barbecue by the beach today. Let's go together."

Her trip to Northfield College was far away, thousands of miles, with little chance of running into them again. She thought it would be a good opportunity to say a proper goodbye to her friends, so she agreed.

Almost everyone showed up at the gathering, including Tessa.

Apparently, Bella's sudden solo trip had alarmed Sebastian and Ronald, who steered clear of Tessa entirely. They didn't even greet her and stayed glued to Bella instead, handing her food, blocking the sun for her, making everyone tease them for being so sweet and devoted.

At one point, Bella went to the restroom nearby. When she stepped back out, she caught sight of a scene that stopped her cold.

Sebastian, the popular guy everyone admired, and Ronald, the untouchable rebel who feared nothing, were both standing there with their heads down, holding Tessa's hands like obedient puppies, silently begging her not to send them away.

"Please don't make us chase Bella anymore. We can't keep pretending. Every second with her is torture. The one we like is you. Why can't we stay by your side?"

Tessa stood between them with a flash of satisfaction in her eyes that was almost impossible to notice. But after hearing what they said, she didn't soften like they wanted.

"No. I said it already. If you don't chase Bella, I'll disappear from your lives forever."

The moment she said that, both Sebastian and Ronald panicked. They rushed to reassure her. "We'll chase her. No matter what, we'll win her over.

"How's our performance today? If we did well, can we get a reward?"

Tessa smiled and lifted her hand just a little.

The two of them immediately wrapped her in a tight hug, like she was the most precious thing in the world.

Bella couldn't stand another second of it. She turned and walked back to the gathering from another direction.

Soon after, Sebastian and Ronald returned one after the other. They went straight to her, handing her drinks when she was thirsty, food when she was hungry, and their jacket when she felt cold, spoiling her endlessly.

A classmate asked curiously after watching their interaction, "You've got the school heartthrob and the untouchable rebel both chasing you, Bella. Who are you going to choose?"

Hearing that, Sebastian and Ronald stepped closer, eyes glinting with anticipation. "You never answered us that day. Do you have an answer now?"

Tessa arrived just in time to hear that, a mocking glint flashing in her gaze.

Remembering what she saw moments ago, Bella's eyes darkened slightly. She didn't answer the question directly. "I'll tell you on the first day of school."

"We'll be looking forward to that day!"

Tessa's voice suddenly sounded behind them, heavy with insinuation, and she grabbed Bella's hand excitedly. "Bella, the shells here are so pretty. Let's go collect some to take home."

Bella frowned and was about to refuse, but Tessa pulled her along.

The farther they walked, the more Bella's unease grew. She yanked her hand free and scowled.

"Aren't we collecting shells? Why are we going so far?"

"There are more over here." Tessa smiled innocently and leaned closer, pretending to be curious. "Bella, why do you have to wait until school starts to give an answer? I'm really curious. Can't you tell me now?"

"No." Bella's tone was cold as she rejected Tessa without hesitation.

Tessa pretended not to notice and kept going. "You can't decide yet, right? Do you want me to help? I can tell you who loves you more."

A sudden bad feeling shot through Bella. She frowned and was about to say she didn't need help when a sharp pain exploded at the top of her head. Instinctively, she turned around and saw Tessa holding a fist-sized rock, grinning smugly.

The next second, her vision went black, and she lost consciousness completely.

Chapter 4

Bella woke up to the salty tang of the sea filling her nose, and in her horror, she realized that both she and Tessa were completely submerged in the water.

"Help… Someone help!"

Bella couldn't swim. She thrashed instinctively, but the more she struggled, the more seawater she swallowed, and her voice grew weaker.

Through the blurred haze of her vision, she caught sight of two figures diving into the water like madmen.

The two figures were none other than Sebastian and Ronald.

A faint spark of hope rose in her chest, but it vanished the moment she saw where they were heading. They were swimming straight for Tessa. Her strength drained away in an instant, and she sank toward the deeper water.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in a hospital bed. Sebastian and Ronald were both there, keeping watch. The moment she stirred, they began apologizing.

"Bella, we're sorry. It was too dark, and we mistook Tessa for you. That's why we went to her first. Please don't be mad at us."

The lie was painfully obvious. She and Tessa didn't look alike in any way. They had saved Tessa first because she was the one they truly cared about.

Bella let out a bitter little smile and turned away from them, refusing to meet their eyes. Just then, a nurse walked in. "The patient in the next room is awake too. Do you two want to go see her?"

At once, Sebastian and Ronald grew visibly restless. After waiting a few seconds and seeing Bella still turned away, refusing to speak, they exchanged a quick look and said, "Tess caught a chill too. She's all alone there. We'll go check on her and come right back."

They got up and left the room together without looking back.

Right then, Bella's phone buzzed. It was a message from Tessa.

"Bella, I just wanted to see who liked you more, but I didn't expect both of them to save me. Sorry, maybe they just felt bad because I'm alone and helpless. Don't blame them."

Bella wasn't bothered by the thinly veiled jab at all. She simply ignored the message and powered off her phone.

For the next few days, Sebastian and Ronald ran back and forth between the two wards. Whenever the nurses came in to change dressings, they would sigh about how devoted the boys were. But Bella knew the truth.

They had never cared about her. Every second they spent by her side felt like torture to them, which suited her; she didn't want to see them either.

"If you guys have things to do, go take care of them."

Her words made them hesitate, but they quickly reminded themselves that their top priority was still winning Bella's heart. They forced stiff smiles and stayed.

"What would we even be busy with? You're hurt. Nothing matters more than you."

"Exactly. What could be more important than taking care of you? By the way, Bella, are you hungry? It's almost lunchtime. I'll grab something for you."

Bella didn't bother responding. She only reminded herself silently that it was fine, and that once school started, all of that would end.

By then, the three of them would be heading to Eastbridge College while she was going to Northfield College, thousands of miles apart. After that, they'd have nothing to do with each other.

A few days later, both she and Tessa had recovered enough to be discharged. On the day they left the hospital, all four of them received phone calls saying their acceptance letters had arrived.

"I'm heading home then. School starts soon. Please take good care of me when the time comes!"

Tessa waved at Sebastian and Ronald with a smile, and they both returned the gesture.

"We will."

"Tell them my name when you get there. I'll look out for you."

Their eyes were full of affection as they watched her walk away.

Bella, however, was already tired of their showy affection and left first. It was only then that Sebastian and Ronald snapped out of it and hurried after her.

Back at home, they saw three packages waiting at the door. Sebastian and Ronald didn't think twice before opening theirs. When they looked over, they saw Bella calmly holding her package, preparing to leave without even opening it. They exchanged puzzled looks.

"Bella, why don't you open it?"

"Do you need help? We can do it."

Before Bella could say anything, they had already taken the package from her and opened it. The moment they saw what was inside, they froze.

"Bella, why is your acceptance letter different from ours?"

Chapter 5

"Maybe it's because we're going to different colleges." Bella quickly snatched the acceptance letter out of Sebastian's and Ronald's hands and brushed it off without blinking. "I'm tired. I'm heading back."

Sebastian and Ronald frowned; something felt off. They were about to press her for more details, but she moved too quickly. She stepped inside and slammed the door shut, leaving them outside with their unanswered questions.

The two exchanged a look, irritation rising in their chests.

Lately, Bella seemed different—like something was slipping out of their grasp, though they couldn't pinpoint what.

"Why don't you go smooth things over?" Sebastian assumed Bella was mad and immediately tried to dump the job on Ronald.

Ronald ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "I'm sick of pretending. If you're up for it, you go."

"I'm going to find Tess. She should have her acceptance letter by now, and I bet she's eager to share the news with us."

"I'm going to see Tess too."

And just like that, neither of them mentioned comforting Bella again. They left without hesitation, unaware that Bella was watching the whole scene unfold through the video doorbell from her living room.

Seeing their backs as they walked away, Bella gave a bitter little smile. She thought that soon enough, the three of them could be together forever.

That night, however, Sebastian and Ronald still showed up at the Shaw residence, smiling as if nothing had happened. Their cheerful facade was a complete reversal of their earlier argument about who should coax her.

"Bella, you haven't seemed like yourself lately. Didn't you say you wanted to check out a bar after the exams? We thought it'd be unsafe before, but we're free tonight. Let us take you."

Bella remembered saying that once. Back then, they had shot her down hard. Now that they were finally offering, she had no interest. "No thanks. I don't feel like it anymore."

She turned them down, assuming they'd drop it after a couple more lines of persuasion. She didn't expect them to misinterpret her refusal as teasing and immediately drag her to a nearby bar.

At the bar counter, they ordered her a cocktail with barely any alcohol. Flashing lights hit her face, and with so many people inside, the air-conditioning was freezing. A chill ran through her, and she shivered uncontrollably.

Sebastian immediately pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around her. Not to be outdone, Ronald picked up an apple from the fruit plate and carefully peeled it. When he finished, he presented it proudly. "Bella, give it a try."

They were doing everything they could to show how attentive they were, while also making their jealousy obvious.

All Bella did was glance briefly toward the dance floor at a guy dancing, and Sebastian and Ronald instantly stepped in front of her as if she were in danger.

"Bella, don't look. What's so great about those guys?"

Someone walking by saw the scene and immediately shot her a knowing, teasing look. But the next second, both Sebastian and Ronald froze, their bodies stiff.

Bella turned, following their gaze. Through the crowded room and loud music, she spotted Tessa nearby, in a work uniform and carrying a tray of drinks. A drunk thug had cornered her, leering and saying something vile.

Tessa looked utterly terrified, her eyes red with unshed tears. Too scared to fight back, she froze as the man started to lay his hands on her.

Seeing the person they cared about being harassed, Sebastian's and Ronald's breaths caught sharply. Thought ceased, and pure instinct immediately took over.

Forgetting Bella entirely, they charged, each man landing a solid punch that sent the drunk thug crashing to the floor. They lost all control then, kicking and punching the man mercilessly, their eyes bloodshot with rage.

The place erupted into chaos. The drunk guy was soon coughing up blood and begging for mercy as Tessa screamed in fear. "Sebastian! Ronald! Stop! Please stop. You're going to kill him!"

Chapter 6

Tessa's voice finally snapped Sebastian and Ronald back to their senses. They stopped immediately, but not before shooting one last warning at the bruised thug on the ground. "Apologize to Tessa, or next time we see you, it'll be worse!"

By now, the thug had sobered up enough to realize he was outmatched. Trembling, he scrambled to his feet and muttered a clumsy apology. Only after being told to get lost did he scurry away as fast as he could.

Once he was gone, Sebastian and Ronald turned to Tessa, fear and anger mingling in their eyes. They wanted to scold her, but the thought of her getting hurt held them back—all they could do was sigh. "Why are you working in a place like this?"

She lowered her head timidly and quietly muttered, "I haven't saved enough for tuition…"

"We'll pay for you!"

The words burst from them both at once. With their family backgrounds, why would she need to earn it herself?

They yanked off her apron immediately, their tone leaving no room for argument. "This place is a mess. You're not coming back here."

They were about to lead her out when something occurred to them. Turning, they finally noticed Bella had walked over at some point.

Seeing her made them stiffen, remembering how abruptly they'd left her side. "Bella, don't get the wrong idea. We're all classmates, and we'll be at the same college soon. We just don't want her to go down the wrong path…"

"My life has nothing to do with you!"

Their words somehow struck a nerve in Tessa. Her eyes reddened, and she stomped her foot before running straight out of the bar. Sebastian and Ronald barely had time to react, and without another word to Bella, they dashed after Tessa.

Having seen enough, Bella had completely lost interest. She was about to call a cab when a hand suddenly clamped over her mouth. Despite her struggles, she was dragged into the restroom, and the door was locked behind her.

It was then she saw who it was—the same thug Sebastian and Ronald had just beaten.

"Help! Somebody!"

She screamed in panic. This was a bar; there should've been people everywhere, but no one answered.

The thug didn't look worried at all. If anything, he seemed relaxed. "Go ahead and scream all you want. I hung an 'out of order' sign outside. No one's coming.

"Lucky me—running into a college student who paid me to come after you. I get money and have my fun. Why wouldn't I take the deal?"

Hearing that, Bella's heart sank. Of course, this thug had been hired by Tessa. The earlier assault had been staged. Her real target wasn't Sebastian or Ronald—it was her.

As the thug lunged, trying to tear at her clothes, Bella scrambled into a stall. Desperate, she dialed for help.

The police would take too long to arrive. There wasn't time for that.

Sebastian and Ronald hadn't gone far. If they came back, they could save her.

She called Sebastian first. The phone rang until it disconnected.

He didn't pick up.

She then tried Ronald's number again and again. Once, twice, thrice… Over ten attempts and all went unanswered.

At the same time, the stall door was forced open. The thug lunged with a twisted grin.

A wave of despair washed over her. Just as he charged, she shoved past him and searched wildly for anything she could use as a weapon. Her eyes landed on a candle holder beside the sink.

A loud crack followed.

…

Covered in blood, Bella ran out of the restroom. When she stepped outside the bar, she saw Sebastian, Ronald, and Tessa still standing there.

"Bella called you so many times. Are you really not going to call her back?"

Tessa's eyes held a strange glint. She sounded concerned on the surface, but unmistakable disdain lay beneath.

Sebastian frowned and let out a cold huff. "What could she possibly need? You're what matters right now. Promise me you'll never come to a place like this again."

Ronald turned off his phone, his tone utterly indifferent. "She could drop dead, and it'd have nothing to do with me. The only person I care about is you. Stop worrying about her. What you need to do right now is quit this job immediately."

Chapter 7

"Fine. I was only trying it out for a day. If you don't want me to work here, I'll quit. I just didn't want to take your money." Surrounded by Sebastian and Ronald, Tessa lowered her head, feigning shyness and hiding all her pride in the shadows.

Sebastian's frown eased, and a trace of a smile appeared in his eyes. "My heart, my life, everything I have is yours. Does a little money even matter?"

"Exactly, Tess. Don't say stuff like that again." Ronald's voice and expression softened without him even noticing.

The three of them hovered around one another, so close and comfortable that it felt as if no one else could ever fit into their world.

Bella thought she wouldn't feel anything this time, having already lived through it once. But watching this scene, her heart felt pierced by a knife.

These were the same boys she'd grown up with for over ten years, the ones who once promised they'd always stay by her side. Now, they'd toss her life aside for someone else without hesitation.

She kept smiling, but her eyes welled with tears. A moment later, she wiped them away and prepared to leave without a word.

But the movement caught their attention. Seeing her covered in blood and in such a pitiful state, they rushed over. "Bella, what happened to you?"

Before she could speak, Tessa—who had been trailing right behind them—suddenly spoke up. "I think I drank too much. My head is spinning. Can one of you take me to the hospital?"

The moment her soft, delicate voice reached them, Sebastian's and Ronald's expressions shifted. In a flash, both were hovering over her, speaking at the same time.

"I'll take you!"

"I'll take you!"

Neither would back down, each subtly trying to outdo the other as they escorted her away.

In a blink, Bella was left standing alone again.

…

The next morning, she got up early, washed up, and went to the police station with the recording she had made in the restroom the day before. After listening to it, the police immediately summoned Tessa.

But a few minutes later, Sebastian and Ronald showed up, and Tessa was nowhere to be found.

They didn't ask a single question or show the slightest worry. The moment they stepped in front of the officer, they brushed everything off as a misunderstanding, then grabbed Bella without giving her a chance to struggle or explain and dragged her out of the station.

Once outside, their expressions darkened as they turned on her. "Bella, why would you frame Tess?"

She'd expected this. She didn't even bother defending herself and simply pulled out her phone and played the recording again.

"Lucky me—running into a college student who paid me to come after you. I get money and have my fun. Why wouldn't I take the deal?"

The thug's voice played loud and clear. Sebastian and Ronald stiffened, but in the end, they just looked at her coldly. "Tess is so pure and kind. How could she ever do something like this? You can even fake recordings now?"

Hearing how blindly they trusted Tessa, Bella laughed, but her eyes burned red.

Sebastian and Ronald only had eyes for Tessa now. No matter what she said or showed them, they would never believe her.

"Fine. If this police station won't take it, I'll go to the next one."

Refusing to look at them, she lowered her gaze and turned to leave.

Neither of them followed. Sebastian even said coldly, "We've already talked to people. No police station in the whole city will take your case."

Bella spun around in disbelief. Seeing their hardened expressions, she felt like she'd been struck by lightning, her legs barely keeping her upright.

They'd grown up together. Seeing her breaking down like this, Ronald softened his tone slightly and tried to persuade her. "Bella, don't make a scene. This isn't something Tess would ever do. And even if she did, you're classmates.

"School's starting soon. There's no need to ruin her future over this."

In that moment, they felt like strangers—people she'd never known. She had nearly been assaulted, and they were telling her not to ruin someone else's future.

Chapter 8

A hot mix of anger and hurt twisted inside Bella. Of course, next to Tessa, she meant absolutely nothing to Sebastian and Ronald.

"Right. She's the kind one. I'm the vicious one. I only almost got assaulted, so how could that ever compare to poor her? Her reputation and future were nearly ruined because I reported the crime.

"I should've never gone to the police. Compared to her tears, I guess I deserved to be violated, humiliated—almost raped by some thug."

For the first time in their lives, Sebastian and Ronald saw Bella truly furious and shattered. Her eyes brimmed with tears, but she forced herself not to let a single tear fall.

Their hearts tightened. Remembering how she'd looked yesterday, covered in blood, they started to speak. However, Bella had already turned away.

The moment she did, she couldn't hold back anymore. Her tears finally fell.

She told herself that everything was fine. Everything would all be over soon. Soon, they wouldn't cross paths again.

Whether it was because of her final phone call that night that shook them, or because Tessa still hadn't given up on making them chase after her, the next few days saw Sebastian and Ronald shower Bella with gifts and apologies.

But she never opened the door once. She was busy preparing to sell the old house.

She had already decided to settle in Juville and never return.

Since the house was in a prime location, it took only five days for an agent to show up.

"Ms. Shaw, I have a client who likes this property a lot and is willing to pay above market price. However, they plan to burn it down as part of a memorial for a deceased family member—a symbolic farewell. Would that be an issue for you?"

"I don't mind." Bella shook her head. She wasn't planning on coming back anyway. Whether they burned it or not had nothing to do with her.

They finalized the details. The money was transferred soon after, and the client even asked her to oversee the burning ceremony. She personally walked the agent out, and on her way back, she ran right into Sebastian, Ronald, and Tessa walking in together.

Sebastian frowned immediately, looking toward the man who had just left. "Who was that?"

Ronald's brows were drawn tight, his tone edged with irritation. "Haven't we told you repeatedly not to let salespeople in when we're not around? It's not safe when you're alone."

"Don't be so tense," Tessa cut in gently, sensing their concern for Bella. She feigned a tone of understanding, trying to defend her. "I'm sure Bella knows what she's doing."

Casually, she lifted the design sketch in her hand. "Bella, look. My design just won an international award. The organizers have even invited me to the ceremony."

Bella didn't care about her bragging. She glanced at it, ready to leave, but her gaze froze.

She snatched the sketch and looked closely. It was nearly identical to the one she had drawn. No, not nearly. It was her sketch.

"How did you get my original draft? Do you realize that's stealing?"

Her anger shot up, but before she could finish, Sebastian cut her off with a frown. "Tess came up with this herself. How could it possibly be yours?"

Tessa immediately hid behind him like a frightened child, her voice shaking. "Bella, what are you talking about? I worked so hard on this. How could I have stolen from you? I know you don't like me, but you can't take credit for my work…"

Bella didn't bother listening. A thief would never admit to stealing anyway.

She tightened her grip on the sketch and looked at Ronald. He was the only person she had ever shown that design to.

And sure enough, the second their eyes met, Ronald instantly looked away, guilt written all over his face. A heavy, helpless ache settled in her chest. As her eyes drifted back to Tessa, something else caught her attention—the pendant hanging around Tessa's neck.

She turned abruptly to Sebastian, her expression darkening. "Did you give her what I gave you?"

Years ago, after Sebastian's serious car accident left him in a coma, she had been desperate. Hearing of a pendant said to offer protection, she went through hurdles to obtain it, hoping it would keep him safe.

And now, he had given it to Tessa.

Chapter 9

Sebastian also averted his gaze, guilt-ridden and unable to meet Bella's eyes. In that moment, Tessa only poured fuel on the fire with a proud, little smile.

"I liked it, so he gave it to me. Is that really such a big deal?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Sebastian and Ronald instinctively moved to shield Tessa, fearing Bella might lash out. But Bella only closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, all emotion had vanished.

"From now on, I won't be showing you my designs first," Bella said, looking at Ronald. Then, she turned to Sebastian. "And I won't pray for your safety anymore."

With that, she turned, closed the door, and severed everything between them.

She never saw Sebastian or Ronald again. Their apologies arrived without fail every day, but Bella knew they weren't sorry—they were only panicking at the thought of losing Tessa if they couldn't win her back.

This continued until the day before school started.

Bella decided to visit the secret spot they had all shared. After her parents' divorce, Sebastian and Ronald learned she loved roses. They bought a piece of land in her name and planted it full of the roses she adored.

Whenever she was sad, she'd go there, and they'd always find her there. She was leaving for Juville tomorrow, and this would probably be her last visit.

But when she arrived, she found the roses ripped apart, petals scattered everywhere because Tessa had wanted them that way for photos. And the two who had once planted that garden for her stood there smiling, taking pictures of the one who had destroyed it.

They didn't notice her until they heard a sound. When they turned and saw Bella at the entrance, panic flashed across their faces. They rushed toward her.

"Bella, let us explain. Tess wanted to take pictures here, so we just—"

But her eyes held none of the anger or hurt they expected—only calm.

"It's fine. Enjoy your photos."

She turned to leave.

"Bella!"

"Bella, wait!"

Their voices rose behind her, but she didn't look back. Only when hands grabbed hers from both sides did she stop and face them.

"School starts tomorrow. I'll drive you. You said you'd give us your answer tomorrow." Sebastian gripped her hand tightly, a strange unease creeping into his chest.

As if competing, Ronald quickly added, "Take my car. I'll drive you. I'm waiting for your answer too."

They were still vying with each other, but Bella freed her hands easily and offered a light smile. "Relax. I've already made my choice."