Zephyrine Cloutier's vision blurred, her body trembling beneath the luxurious sheets. The big bedroom, once a sanctuary, now felt like a prison yard.
Nathaniel Roy's smiling face hovered above her pain-stricken face, his eyes gleaming with malice. Her husband?
"You'll never leave me, Zephyrine," he whispered, his breath cold against her skin.
She tried to speak, but her voice was barely a whisper. Her throat burned from days of silence, and her lungs struggled to draw air.
The poison coursed through her veins. Memories flashed before her eyes, her grandfather's warmth and Nathaniel's deceit.
As darkness closed in, Zephyrine felt her life force its way away. If only she had the chance to exact her revenge. Her last thoughts were of regrets, trusting Nathaniel, ignoring her grandfather's warning. The world went black.
........
She opened her eyes to a familiar yet strange world, Zephyrine's consciousness resurfaced like a lotus blooming in the darkness. And her mind stirred.
Zephyrine felt herself being pulled into the world, her eyes fluttered open and she gasped, inhaling the scent of jasmine tea.
The familiar ceiling of her bedroom came into her focus, and a sense of Deja Vu washed over her as if she had lived this moment before. Nathaniel's betrayal flooded her memory.
Zephyrine sat up, her eyes locked on the calendar, the date started back: February 10th, two years back to her tragic death.
She threw off the covers, her heart racing with purpose. A second chance? This time she would reclaim her rightful place. This time she will make him pay. She rose from the bed, and her reflection in the mirror showed a younger version of herself. But her eyes told a different story, eyes that had seen betrayal, loss, and death
She smiled, a cold calculating smile. Those who wronged her would soon discover the meaning of regrets.
Zephyrine sat in front of the mirror, she knew this day. And it was the perfect day to start her revenge. Every moment was priceless, she stood up and retreated to the sitting room where her family was.
Eleanor, Zephyrine's cunning, manipulative step-sister sat beside Mattew, Zephyrine's father. They looked quite happy and Zephyrine knew exactly why.
"Today is your engagement day, Eleanor will help you get ready." Sapphire said with a smirk on her face. With that look, there was more to it than the eyes saw. Sapphire was now like an open book to Zephyrine because she had already seen Sapphire doing her worst. Now it was time to pay her back.
Zephyrine nodded silently before she went back to her room. She needed to analyze some things before the real show. Once it was 5:30 pm, Eleanor knocked on Zephyrine's door before she entered.
Zephyrine had already sat in front of the mirror waiting for Zephyrine. Eleanor was not happy to dress Zephyrine up, but it was her mother's decision, so she had to follow it.
Zephyrine didn't know how to dress well in her past life, but now, she will dress to kill. She was no longer the foolish girl. She would make sure to be the trend setter. She would no longer be blinded with work and love, instead she would make every men beg for her attention.
After Eleanor dressed Zephyrine up, they were told that Nathaniel's family had arrived. Zephyrine couldn't wait, and the happiness reflected on her face. Eleanor sneered with the thought that she was happy because of the engagement.
Eleanor went down before Zephyrine appeared in front of everyone.
Nathaniel smiled brightly when he saw his only true love. The only person he needed to succeed in life. But little does he know that Zephyrine had something in store for him.
Zephyrine stood beside him, but she didn't reciprocate his smile. Why is Zephyrine acting moody on such an auspicious day?
"It's time for you both to exchange rings. With the way I am looking at the two of you, I can see that you can't wait to get engaged." Sapphire laughed it off as a joke.
Why did Sapphire look so eager to get them engaged? Is it that she has another plan under her sleeve but Zephyrine was more than ready?
Nathaniel brought out the ring and took hold of Zephyrine's hand. Just when he was about to slip the ring into her beautiful finger, she withdrew her hand. Nathaniel was stunned for a moment. He stared at Zephyrine demanding an explanation.
Nathaniel's mother, Darlene, moved closer to them to whisper something into Zephyrine's ear. She couldn't bear the embarrassment Zephyrine was causing her. But Zephyrine stepped away. The distance between them was very clear.
"I don't want to marry him any longer," Zephyrine said with a determined look. Her eyes looked through the house, keeping in mind everyone's expression.
"Zephyrine, stop this joke," Nathaniel pulled her closer but Zephyrine moved away again.
"Are you dump and deaf? I understand that your brain is slow, but I didn't expect you to be this slow. My words are simple and clear, this marriage is off!" Zephyrine raised her voice since he refused to understand.
Sapphire rolled her eyes, definitely not in for Zephyrine's trick. "Mattew talk sense to your daughter. Why is she creating a scene?" Sapphire held her husband's arm.
Mattew opened his mouth to speak but before he could utter a complete sentence, Zephyrine cut him off.
"I don't need you to make any rash decisions for me," Zephyrine's words were sharp like a knife.
Nathaniel still finds it difficult to believe that his flower, Zephyrine, had changed so suddenly. The last time they met, she was as soft as anything.
"Zephyrine we-"
"Get out of my house," Zephyrine pointed at the door. They might have forgotten their way outside. It's probably their first time coming to a big manor.
"Zephyrine, I bet with you that you will come back begging for my son," Darlene scorned. "Son let's go," Darlene never disappointed in giving that rich vibe around her while it was very clear that it's not by their power if not for Zephyrine who had been their strong back home for some years.
"Well, the next time I see you I promise to drag you through the mud."
That was Zephyrine's last sentence before she went back to her room with a satisfied look. But there was a hidden desire between her eyes. Grandpa Cloutier was not present at the engagement, and he would surely blame Mattew for being irresponsible.
But will Nathaniel just let go of Zephyrine knowing her significance in her life? What exactly transpired between them in her past life?