3

Raven

I stayed clear of everyone for the rest of the day. As night fell, the thoughts of what I had done earlier—the public humiliation of canceling the wedding—still hung in the air, but I didn’t feel the satisfaction I expected. Instead, a hollow emptiness tugged at me. Had I made the right move?

Not wanting to linger on my thoughts, I decided to do something I hadn’t been allowed to do in my past life: have some fun. Emerson had always been so controlling, so hellbent on keeping me locked in a box, the perfect Luna—obedient, proper, and restrained. But tonight, I wasn’t that woman anymore. I was free. Reborn. A new Raven, and this time, I was calling the shots.

I grabbed a slinky dress from the back of my closet, one I had never worn because Emerson had said it was too revealing. Well, screw him. I slipped it on, paired it with heels, and headed out into the night.

The club was packed, bodies writhing to the beat of loud, pulsating music. I could feel the bass thrumming through my body as I moved through the crowd, the flashing lights casting fleeting glimpses of strangers’ faces. I wanted to lose myself in the chaos, in the anonymity of it all. I ordered a drink and sipped it slowly, savoring the burn as it slid down my throat.

After a while, I found a quiet corner to rest. That’s when I noticed her—a woman with fiery red hair sitting at the bar, completely out of place in the throbbing club scene. She had a book in one hand and a glass of vodka in the other. A book. In a club. I couldn’t help but be intrigued.

I approached her, sliding onto the stool beside her. “A book? Here?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Why aren’t you reading that at home in peace and quiet?”

The woman glanced at me over the rim of her glass, her eyes a piercing green that seemed to reflect the neon lights flashing around us. “The noise helps,” she replied, taking a sip of her drink. “It reminds me that reality is always there, no matter how much I try to escape into fiction.”

I tilted my head, curious. “What’s the book about?”

She glanced at the cover, running her finger over the worn edges before answering. “It’s about a woman who was reborn to get revenge on her cheating husband. He betrayed her, and in her second life, she’s determined to make him pay.”

Her words hit me like a brick to the chest. I blinked, trying to keep my expression neutral, but my curiosity burned brighter. “And what would you do if you were in her shoes? I mean, would you still marry the motherfucking cheating husband?”

The woman smirked, setting her glass down with a soft clink. “If it were me? I’d still marry him.”

I frowned, confused. “Why would you do that? Why marry someone who betrayed you?”

She leaned in slightly, her voice low but firm. “Because, with the knowledge of my past life, I’d know exactly how to tear him down from the inside. I’d use the marriage as a weapon, not an end.”

I stared at her, my mind racing. I had been so quick to cancel the wedding, to cut ties with Emerson before he could betray me again, but now… Was that the wrong move? Maybe there was another way. A better way. What if I went through with the wedding but used it to my advantage? If I could outplay him, use my inside knowledge to destroy him and Lila from within, I could exact a far more satisfying revenge.

“You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?” the woman asked, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Your face says it all. You are facing the same fate, aren’t you?”

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at her, caught off guard. She was watching me closely, as if she already knew my story. “What makes you think I’m in that kind of situation?”

Her smirk deepened. “Your silence is answer enough.”

I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling exposed. I had revealed too much without saying a word. Panic clawed at me, and I hastily stood up from the stool, ready to leave before this stranger pried any further into my life.

The woman didn’t try to stop me, but as I turned to go, she called out, “I’m here every weekend. Name’s Ava Pierce, in case you need some company for your revenge saga.”

I didn’t look back, the gravity of her words clinging to me as I pushed through the club and out into the cool night air. My mind was spinning. Maybe I shouldn’t have canceled the wedding. Maybe there was still a way to make this work in my favor.

By the time I reached the house, I had made my decision.

The living room was dimly lit, but I could see Emerson pacing by the window, his silhouette tense and agitated. He hadn’t expected me to disappear like that after dropping such a bombshell, and it was clear he was worried.

When he saw me, relief flooded his features. He crossed the room quickly, reaching for me. “Raven, where have you been? I’ve been worried sick. We need to talk about what happened earlier—”

I stepped back, evading his touch. My mind was clear now, my resolve set. “The wedding’s back on.”

His eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked genuinely confused. “What? You—you want to go through with it?”

I nodded, keeping my voice cold and detached. “Yes. We’ll proceed as planned.”

Relief washed over his face, and he let out a shaky breath. “Thank the Goddess. I thought… I thought I’d lost you.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t trust myself to speak without letting the bitterness spill out. But before either of us could say another word, the sound of slow clapping echoed through the room.

“Well, what a performance,” a voice drawled from the shadows.

I turned, my heart skipping a beat. Stepping into the light was Clark Stone, Emerson’s cousin. His presence was commanding, and his sharp features were highlighted by the dim light. There was a knowing smirk on his face, as if he had been watching the entire exchange, amused by the charade.

Clark’s gaze flicked between me and Emerson, his eyes gleaming with something dark, something I couldn’t quite place. “You two always did know how to put on a good show.”

“Clark,” Emerson said, his tone wary. “What are you doing here?”

Clark ignored him, his eyes locking onto mine. He studied me for a moment, as if he could see right through me, as if he knew exactly what was going on beneath the surface. His smile deepened, but there was no warmth in it.

“Interesting choice, Raven,” he said softly, his voice laced with intrigue. “Very interesting indeed.”

I felt a chill run down my spine. There was something unsettling about the way he was looking at me, like he was playing a game I didn’t even know I was a part of. But I straightened my shoulders, refusing to be intimidated.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied, my voice steady.

Clark raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “Oh, I think you do. But don’t worry.” He turned to Emerson, giving him a pat on the back. “I’m just here to support my dear cousin on his big day.”

Emerson stiffened beside me, his unease palpable. “We should talk later, Clark,” he said, his voice strained.

Clark’s smirk only widened. “Oh, we’ll have plenty of time for that.”

He gave me one last look before turning and walking away, leaving behind a heavy silence.

I stood there, my heart racing. What was he even doing here? If I could remember vividly, he never attended our wedding in my past life and no one had heard from him till I died. There was definitely something fishy going on with him. This left me with one conclusion—Clark knew something. I didn’t know how much, but I could sense that he was a far bigger player in this game than I had realized.

As I watched him disappear into the shadows, one thing became clear: the real game was just beginning.