Chapter 1: The Ninth Confession

After Ethan Miller rejected my confession for the ninth time, I told myself I was done chasing him. My hands shook, but I shoved them into my pockets, pretending I was already over it.

The heavy hush that followed was interrupted by the familiar ping of my phone. Group Chat: One more try, Anna! Tenth time’s the charm, right? The messages poured in, the screen lighting up like a pinball machine—like the universe itself was determined to keep my heart in play.

Group Chat: He’s just shy, Anna. You know he’s crazy about you.

Group Chat: Seriously, did you see the way he looked at you? Guy’s obsessed.

Their optimism buzzed in my ears, but I couldn’t ignore the old ache in my chest. I remembered my previous life, every detail sharp as glass: after my confession finally worked, we fell in love, got married on a dock dusted with spring pollen, the lake behind us sparkling like a thousand camera flashes. We had kids, and Ethan made it big—like, Fortune 500 big, with headlines and all.

But later, he said—

“Anna, do you think everyone comes from the same background as you?”

“I’m just helping her, don’t be unreasonable.”

So forget it. There won’t be a tenth confession this time.