Part 1The Asylum Games

My best friend, Chloe, had begged me for the eight-hundredth time to break up with him. I sniffled, hesitating.

"But he treats me pretty well."

Chloe told me I might as well be dead.

It wasn't until I found another package of lingerie sent to Liam by one of his flings that I finally listened to her.

Even when he knelt and begged, I didn't look back.

Just as I was about to call Chloe with the good news, I saw her announcement on Instagram:

"Dust can never understand the brilliance of the moon. She doesn't get you, but I do."

The photo showed Liam with red, teary eyes, and Chloe planting a comforting kiss on his cheek.

Someone commented, calling her a homewrecker.

She didn't care at all.

"If she was fooled by a few pieces of lingerie I mailed, how can she say she truly loved him? Besides, she's so plain. She doesn't deserve Liam like I do."

I frantically turned the car around.

But I didn't check the traffic. I died instantly in a crash.

After being reborn, I immediately cut ties with Chloe and got into my car to leave.

But a woman covered in blood slammed her hands against my window, crying:

"Bestie! Help me! That's not me!"

* * *

I froze just as I was about to start the engine.

Outside the car, the blood-soaked woman was frantically pounding on the glass.

Although her features were obscured by gore, I knew her. Thirteen years of friendship told me it was Chloe.

But hadn't I just argued with her upstairs?

She was currently sulking in her apartment. I had just gotten into the car. How could she be banging on my window, covered in blood?

"Maya! Open the door! Hurry!"

She yanked at the handle while looking behind her in panic.

As if something terrifying was chasing her.

Remembering Chloe's betrayal in my past life, goosebumps erupted all over my skin.

Could it be... that Chloe had really been replaced?

The Chloe I knew wasn't the type to fight over men.

Looking at the desperate, bloodied Chloe outside, I decided to trust her.

"Hurry! Get in!"

I snapped my eyes open.

I found myself still sitting in the driver's seat.

I turned my head. The window was down.

The wind blew against my face, waking me completely. There was no one banging on the window.

Did I... just fall asleep?

"Maya, get back here!"

Chloe stormed down from upstairs, furious.

Her face was clean, without a trace of blood.

"What do you mean he treats you well? You don't want to break up?!"

Her exasperated look was exactly the same as in my past life.

"This is the third package of lingerie some fling sent him! This time it's used! The mistress is dancing in your face, and you're still nostalgic about the good times?!"

The exact same speech.

In my past life, whenever I received those packages, I would cry to her.

Every time, she didn't hesitate:

"Dump him!"

But I always felt I should listen to Liam's explanation.

Every time he explained, I would text her:

"It was all a misunderstanding. We made up!"

It would drive Chloe crazy.

But now, looking at her angry face, I clearly remembered the post she made after taking Liam in my past life:

"It wasn't in vain that I advised them to break up for so long. Every time, I was terrified she would figure out I sent the packages. I tried so hard to confuse her. Finally, she's not 'love-brained' anymore. I succeeded."

I opened the car door.

I looked down at her.

"Chloe, we're done. Friendship over."

Her pupils shrank.

"You're cutting me off because of a scumbag?"

"Did I stutter?"

"Maya, we've known each other for thirteen years! You've only known him for three!"

Exactly. So why did you stab me in the back?!

I stared at her. "Yes. We're done."

"Fine."

She pointed at me.

"Don't come crying to me when he ruins you!"

She turned and marched upstairs without looking back.

I had a moment of trance—

She seemed so much like the Chloe I knew.

The Chloe I knew wouldn't react any differently to what I just said.

I shook my head.

The truth of the past life had been revealed. I had to accept it, even if I didn't want to.

Although the bloodied Chloe was just a dream.

The Chloe who plotted against me was no different from a stranger wearing her face.

This friendship had ended in such an ugly way.

I rolled up the window.

Just as I was about to leave, my gaze locked onto the glass.

There were dense, bloody handprints.

Right where the Chloe in my dream had pressed her hands!

I looked up.

Behind the window of Chloe's bedroom, a pair of eyes seemed to be staring straight at me.