Chapter 1: Stolen Futures

My little sister stole my birthday—and my future—just to wed a tall, decorated Army major.

Meanwhile, I found myself married to all three Foster brothers, sharing their name and their bed.

Major Harris was stationed out West. After my sister’s wedding, she lived like a widow, day after day, longing for a man who was never home.

But me? I was the one cherished, spoiled, and adored by my husbands every night.

In the end, eaten alive by jealousy, my sister plunged a knife into my chest, cursing me for daring to serve three men as their wife.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of choosing a husband.

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I picked the Foster family.

I pinched my thigh under the table, desperate to stop myself from leaping up in shock.

This couldn’t be real. Last time, at this exact moment, Tanya had caused a scene, insisting she’d marry Adam Harris.

Mrs. Franklin stared at me, her brows knit in confusion. “Natalie, yesterday you were dead set on marrying that young major from the Harris family. Why the change of heart?”

I shrugged, trying to sound casual. “I wasn’t thinking straight yesterday. Army wives can end up alone for years—if someone wants that, be my guest. Besides, I’m not brave. I couldn’t stand worrying every day, wondering if I’d end up a widow.”

“How lucky to marry into a family like the Fosters! All that money, staff at your beck and call, and three men taking turns to spoil you… Tanya, don’t you think so?”

At my last words, Tanya shot me a sharp, searching look.

I held my expression steady, but inside my heart hammered against my ribs.

What was that look? Could Tanya… could she have come back too?

Since we were kids, anything I wanted—even if Tanya didn’t care for it—she’d fight me for it.

Last time, I only glanced at Adam Harris’s photo, and she scrambled to marry him, only to live miserably.

I snuck a glance at her face—flushed, excited, just like the day she killed me, driven mad by jealousy over the love I received.

I dropped my eyes, fighting to hide my shock.

If Tanya thought I’d lived well with the Fosters in my last life, would she try to steal that life for herself this time?

My palms went clammy. The scent of gardenias wafting through the window suddenly felt suffocating. My mind raced through old memories—Tanya snatching my dolls, my friends, even my diary. Could she really be back?

I dug my fingers into my skirt, forcing my face to stay calm. The southern sunlight slanted through the curtains, painting gold stripes across the tension in the room.

“Oh, my sweet girl, you finally came to your senses.”

Mrs. Franklin beamed. “The Foster family’s the new business powerhouse in Savannah, rich as kings. With your looks, you should be living in luxury.”

She turned to me, her smile sticky-sweet. “My eldest daughter’s so sensible—one’s got brains, one’s got bravery, so pairing you with the major is just right.”

I smiled politely. “Aunt Lisa, you’re absolutely right.”

I caught the faint click of Mrs. Franklin’s bracelets as she gestured, her Southern drawl honeyed but her eyes sharp as broken glass. The words sounded sweet, but the stakes were real as any poker game on River Street.

When I finally left the parlor, my legs felt like jelly. It was as if heaven had cracked open and dropped me right back into this moment.

This time, I wasn’t the one jumping into the Foster family’s fire pit.

Stepping out onto the porch, I breathed in the thick Georgia air, letting the heat and cicada hum ground me. In my mind, I whispered a quick thank-you—not to God, but to fate—for handing me a second chance.