Chapter 2

“Chloe, Chloe!”

My colleague’s shout snapped me awake.

My head still felt fuzzy. I looked up and realized I was slumped over my desk.

I… I was back?

In my past life, I somehow, unknowingly, became bound to that rag doll Jake had given to his sister, Luna, through an “empathic link” system.

That girl, banking on her fragile mental state, would take out all her frustrations on the doll whenever things didn’t go her way.

She’d pinch it, throw it, dunk it, cut its hair—anything you could imagine.

But all that pain? I was the one who suffered it.

Random aches and pains were a constant.

Worse, sometimes I had no idea what she was doing, then suddenly felt wet—my dress would have mysterious damp spots.

My deals kept collapsing, one after another, and clients started calling me unprofessional.

Someone even posted on the company’s internal forum, claiming my private life was a mess and I couldn’t control myself.

When Jake heard the rumors, he stormed up to me, demanding answers.

I tried to steady my breathing, desperate to explain the whole empathic link situation.

But he wouldn't listen. He snatched the doll, which Luna always kept close, and tossed it straight into the fireplace.

“Chloe, I know you’re jealous of how much I care for Luna. I get it. But you can’t make up such a ridiculous story to hurt her.”

“You say you have a connection with the doll? Well, it’s burned to ashes now. How are you still standing here, perfectly fine?”

I was in too much pain to speak, my entire body feeling as if it had been set on fire.

But deep down, I felt a strange relief—finally, finally free.

That night, though, that familiar feeling returned.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the past.

It was the very day Luna ruined my first important collaboration.

I silently pulled open my drawer, my gaze hardening as I looked at the proposal I’d spent several sleepless nights perfecting.

“Ms. Miller, when are the clients expected to arrive?”

My colleague glanced at the time and held up two fingers. “Four o’clock, so about two hours.”

I nodded, quickly reviewed the proposal, and told her, “If I’m not back in two hours, don’t wait for me. Just start the meeting.”

With that, I grabbed my bag and left.

These two hours were my chance at salvation.

To figure out what Luna was up to, I went to a grocery store and bought a fruit knife.

On the way, I SnapChatted Jake: “Are you with Luna right now?”

He replied with a “Yep,” and I hailed a cab, heading straight for his place.

If I could get the truth, great.

If not… then I wouldn't go to hell alone.

About a mile from Jake’s house, that familiar torment began to surface again.

I glanced down at my phone, my heart sinking.

Something was wrong. It wasn’t even three o’clock yet. Why…

It shouldn't be happening this early.