The sunlight filtering through the enormous glass windows was soft and golden, warming my face as I slowly opened my eyes. It took me a moment to remember where I was not in my old, cramped apartment, but in a luxurious bedroom, draped in silk sheets and decorated with the finest furniture money could buy.
I had been reborn.
Not just reborn I was now inside the body of Amara Everleigh, a woman from a wealthy, elite family in New York City. Her life, from what I had gathered so far, was one of opulence, privilege, and...secrets. I'd only just begun to scratch the surface, but what I discovered today turned my already chaotic world upside down.
Because I wasn't just Amara Everleigh.
I was engaged to Aiden Lancaster, the heir to the Lancaster empire and one of the most powerful billionaires in the country.
"Engaged," I muttered to myself, staring at the diamond ring on my left hand. It sparkled aggressively in the light, the stone so massive it looked like it belonged in a museum display case, not on my finger.
"This has to be a mistake," I whispered.
A knock at the door pulled me out of my thoughts. A middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and a professional bun stepped inside. "Good morning, Miss Everleigh. Your breakfast is ready. Also, Mr. Lancaster will be arriving at ten."
My breath caught. "Mr. Lancaster? As in... Aiden?"
She nodded, completely unfazed by my nervous tone. "Yes. He said he wants to discuss the upcoming engagement party. I suggest you get ready soon."
And just like that, she was gone.
I blinked at the empty doorway, my heart thudding in my chest. This couldn't be real. I needed answers fast.
An Hour Later
I sat in the grand living room, sipping what was apparently my usual black coffee with a splash of almond milk. The house was silent, except for the ticking of a giant antique clock on the wall. Every second that passed brought me closer to meeting my so-called fiancé.
I had seen Aiden Lancaster before, of course in magazines, news articles, even viral videos. He was the billionaire of our time. Tall, sharp-jawed, with piercing blue eyes and a body built like a runway model. Cold. Calculating. Ruthlessly successful.
And now... somehow... my fiancé?
I didn't even have time to mentally prepare before the front door opened.
He walked in like he owned the world and maybe he did. His dark navy suit hugged his frame perfectly, his expensive leather shoes barely making a sound on the marble floor. His eyes landed on me, unreadable.
"Amara," he greeted curtly.
My throat was suddenly dry. "Aiden."
He sat across from me, fingers clasped in front of him. The silence was tense.
"I heard from your mother that you had a" his eyes narrowed slightly, "minor accident. Are you fully recovered?"
So they told him about the 'fall.' The real Amara must've hit her head that's how I ended up here.
"I'm... still adjusting," I said cautiously.
He nodded, but his expression didn't change. "I figured you'd want to go over the guest list for the engagement party. It's scheduled for next weekend."
Next weekend? I was supposed to pretend to be this woman and throw an engagement party in less than a week?
"That sounds... great," I said weakly. "Maybe you can tell me more about our relationship. I mean— just to refresh my memory."
His gaze sharpened. "Are you saying you forgot everything?"
Crap. "Not everything. Just... some details. Like how we met?"
Aiden tilted his head slightly, studying me. "You really don't remember?"
I swallowed. "Try me."
He leaned back. "You crashed into my car with your Maserati three years ago. You got out, screamed at me, and said the accident was my fault, even though you were clearly the one texting while driving."
I blinked. "Oh."
"You threatened to sue me. I found it amusing. Then you stormed off and left your bag behind. That's how I got your number. I called you to return it. You invited me to lunch to apologize. And the rest," he said, "is history."
Wow. Amara had guts. No wonder he found her interesting.
"That sounds... very much like me," I said with a forced smile.
His lips twitched the ghost of a smirk. "You've been acting strange lately. Softer."
I shrugged. "Maybe the accident made me rethink some things."
He didn't respond for a moment, then rose to his feet. "We'll keep the engagement party as planned. Your dress fitting is at 2 p.m. today. Don't be late."
And with that, he turned and left, just as abruptly as he arrived.
Later That Day The Dress Fitting
If there was one thing I could enjoy about this new life, it was the fashion.
"Miss Everleigh, this gown was flown directly from Milan," the boutique assistant said as she carefully zipped me into a stunning ivory dress. It fit like a dream.
I stared at myself in the mirror. For a moment, I forgot who I used to be. The woman staring back at me was elegant, confident, and breathtaking. Was this really my new life?
But even as I admired the beauty of the dress, a storm brewed in my mind.
Who exactly was Amara Everleigh?
And what had I gotten myself into?
That Evening
Back at the mansion, I decided to explore Amara's room further. Hidden in the back of a walk-in closet, I found a leather-bound journal. Inside, Amara had written down her thoughts, secrets, and... fears.
There were entries about her engagement to Aiden how she felt pressured by their families, how she didn't fully trust him. And something else.
A letter.
Tucked in the back of the journal, sealed in an envelope.
I hesitated before opening it, my hands trembling.
> If you're reading this... I'm probably gone. I knew something wasn't right. Someone was watching me. Listening. I was getting too close to the truth about my family's fortune and about Aiden. Trust no one. Not even him.
My blood ran cold.
What truth?
What secrets had the real Amara uncovered before her mysterious fall?
And why was I a nobody from another life now living hers?
Suddenly, the door creaked open.
Aiden stood in the doorway, his eyes locked on the letter in my hand.
His expression was unreadable.
"What are you doing?" he asked quietly.
My heart pounded.
"Just... trying to remember who I am."
He stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. "Some things are better left forgotten, Amara."
And in that moment, I knew
I was in way over my head.