**Chapter 1 **
This Life is Ruined Too**
*Tap, tap, tap…*
I was in a daze.
My head hurt, and my blurry vision wasn’t coming back anytime soon.
But going to a hospital or pharmacy was a luxury that could only happen in a dream.
While I was running home, crying loudly, I didn’t have the energy to take care of myself.
I was frustrated. I had no idea how to deal with this never-ending office bullying.
Maybe I should’ve accepted the offer from the 47-year-old uncle introduced by the office queen. Maybe I should’ve gone on the Jirisan wild mushroom stew date just once.
If I had, the mocking rumors around me wouldn’t have even started.
They said I seduced the department head to get a promotion, or that I went out with a young, handsome company employee to drink and make deals.
How long do I have to endure such disgusting and vile gossip?
I was boiling with anger. I thought it would be better to just get hit by a car and end it all.
Then, I saw a figure standing outside my house, dressed in a neat suit.
“…Oppa! Woojin Oppa!”
“…?”
A man turned around with a frown at my desperate shout.
It was my boyfriend, Park Woojin, the man I had supported through his exams for the past few years.
I ran into his arms, my eyes swollen.
But his words were like a bolt of lightning.
“What’s your relationship with Kim Jihoon from Donghan Distribution?”
“What? How do you know him?”
“His girlfriend came to the district office and caused a scene. She said you seduced him, and now we should get what we deserve.”
“That woman’s a psycho, isn’t she?”
“…”
“If there’s a misunderstanding, you should come to me, not cause trouble at your work. How did she even know where you work…?”
I started yelling but then clenched my fists tightly.
I looked up at Woojin, whose eyes were cold and emotionless, and whispered with a trembling voice.
“Oppa, you doubt me.”
“Then how am I supposed to trust you in this situation?”
“…”
“They say there are pictures of your legs on Jihoon’s phone. Did you sleep with him?”
My mind went blank.
The bag I was holding dropped to the ground.
Everything around me started spinning, and my body went limp.
It was all over.
Everything turned dark.
Even Woojin’s voice, shouting “What’s wrong with you?” drifted away like a dream.
—
“…”
“…If you’re awake, get up. There’s no time.”
I was dazed, and someone lightly tapped me, urging me to get up. Slowly, I lifted my head.
But something felt wrong.
I had collapsed in front of my house, but when I opened my eyes, the world was covered in white clouds.
A middle-aged woman sitting across a gray table wasn’t the least bit surprising either.
“Excuse me… I might be asking a silly question, but… did I die?”
The woman, wearing a purple scarf, nodded once. Her silver bobbed hair shimmered like starlight.
“Yes, you died a little while ago. A brain hemorrhage at 23… so tragic.”
“Ah… I see… so this is how it ends…”
I propped my elbows on the table and buried my head in my hands.
The woman, ignoring me, pulled out a tarot card and mumbled to herself.
“Three swords, and ten swords… you must have suffered a lot. But… hmm… The card of regeneration and resurrection… and also the devil and lovers cards…?”
I felt an intense wariness as she muttered like a crazy person. I gripped my body tightly.
Then, she looked up at me with an almost meaningful gaze.
“God must feel sorry for you. You’re being given another chance.”
“A chance…? What do you mean?”
“A new life. Another life, given to a hurt child like you.”
“…!”
“In that life, you can achieve anything you desire. So, tell me, what kind of life do you want to live?”
What? I could achieve anything I wanted?
Wow! I totally hit the jackpot!
Without thinking, I jumped up and clapped my hands.
Then, like a child receiving a birthday present for the first time, I blushed and started babbling.
“I want a life full of love. A life where I overcome any hardships with someone who believes in me.”
“Ah, yes… Love over money, right?”
“And also a life with lots of money! A life where I’m beautiful, slim, and popular!”
The woman smiled, but then quickly furrowed her brow as if she didn’t quite approve of my answer.
I ignored her and whistled as if to brush off the awkwardness.
Suddenly, a strong wind started to whirl around me.
The wind was so strong it could have been called a tornado, and I was lifted high into the air.
“I’m sorry! I was just joking! I’ll live a simple life! I’ll just roll around in the dirt! Please, put me down!”
I screamed, but it was no use.
Once again, everything around me turned pitch black.
And I lost consciousness.
—
“Ahh! I said, put me down, lady!”
“Liliana! What’s wrong?”
Someone yelled angrily, and I sprang out of bed, trembling uncontrollably, my body cold as if I had caught frostbite.
“What’s going on? Was it a nightmare?”
“There was a tornado… I got lifted up high into the sky… huh?”
I stopped mid-sentence and looked up in surprise.
It was strange.
I was sitting in a huge bedroom that looked like something out of a medieval documentary.
A room decorated with gold marble, red velvet accents, ruby-colored luxury items, a massive chandelier, and a distant, fancy walk-in closet.
Not only that, I was gently holding a feathery nightgown.
I slipped toward a large mirror that covered one wall.
I couldn’t believe it. The reflection in the mirror was incredibly beautiful.
Rich, canary-colored blonde hair, snow-white skin, softly arched eyebrows, big, beautiful eyes, and aquamarine-colored pupils.
My nose was delicate, my cheeks were rosy pink, and even my lips, naturally red like cherries, were beyond any painting I had ever seen.
“This is impossible… You did it, didn’t you, lady?”
“Liliana, you’re acting a bit strange today.”
“Ah… Is my name Liliana…?”
I turned around in shock and blinked.
A man stood there.
A man with messy hair, tilting his head slightly.
He had pale skin, black hair, straight eyebrows, sharp eyes that looked cold, gray pupils, and a clean, sharp jawline.
He was wearing a translucent shirt, the buttons undone, revealing a sculpted chest and abs.
His pants were loosely hanging down, exposing the lower part of his waist.
I swallowed nervously, watching this strange sight.
How could I be so entranced by a man I didn’t even know?
Then, the man frowned and quickly approached me.
I took a step back in surprise, but he immediately pulled me close, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“I guess I overdid it last night. Your face is pale. But still, you’re more beautiful than anyone else.”
“Um… who are you… And what do you mean by ‘overdid it’?”
“You’re joking, right? You seem fine.”
He smiled faintly and pressed his lips to my flushed cheek.
My heart sank.
A man this handsome… kissing me and whispering that I’m beautiful?
Could this be the fated man I prayed for in the afterlife?
No way… Is this charming, cold, and attractive man really him?
“Wow\… I think I’m already falling in love…”
“Really? I’m glad to hear that.”
His eyes softened with a smile.
My heart raced wildly, and I felt happy.
Ah, this is how my second life begins. How much more fun and happy will it be from here on out?
With bright eyes, I imagined how full of joy this new life would be.
The man observed my bright face, then smiled subtly, and suddenly lowered his head quickly toward me.
My lips were claimed without warning.
I was lost in the wave of sensations as my body trembled.
But through it all, I thought this:
As long as this man didn’t commit any crimes, I wouldn’t turn him down.
If he was the protagonist of my life, it’d be better to adapt quickly and get closer.
So, I closed my eyes tightly and let his kiss take over.
But suddenly, the door burst open.
I quickly pulled away, my face turning pale as I turned toward the unexpected visitor.
And that was only the beginning…
“Carlos! How could you do this?!”
“Your Highness, the Crown Princess! You can’t go in!”
“Skipping my birthday banquet and doing this in the bedroom you gave me?! With another woman?!”
What…?
Wait, am I the ‘other woman’?
What is going on here?
It’s over.
This life is ruined too.
My last life was ruined, but this one… is even worse.
—
