From Ashes: A Second Chance

I had loved my fiancé, Dominic Watts, since we were children. Our marriage was supposed to be the perfect seal on a merger between our two family empires.

In my last life, he stood outside my burning art studio with my stepsister, Julia, and watched me die.

I screamed for him, the smoke choking me, my skin searing from the heat. "Dominic, please! Help me!"

Julia clung to his arm, her face a picture of false terror. "It's too dangerous! You'll get hurt! We have to go!"

And he listened. He looked at me one last time, his eyes filled with a pity that cut deeper than any flame, and then he turned and ran, leaving me to burn.

Until I died, I didn't understand. The boy who promised to always protect me had just watched me burn to death. My unconditional love was the price I paid so he could be with my sister.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my bedroom. In one hour, I was due at the family board meeting. This time, I walked straight to the head of the table and said, "I am breaking the engagement."