Chapter 1: The Angel's Bargain

After I died, my boyfriend’s grief was so deep, it felt like it could move heaven itself.

An angel gave me a shot at being reborn, letting me come back to my boyfriend—but with someone else’s face. If he fell in love with me again… then maybe, just maybe, I could come back to life. But when I returned, he already had a new girlfriend.

My name is Autumn Rivers. I died in Ethan Maddox’s arms five years ago. Stomach cancer. After death, I met an angel who didn’t believe in love. He made a bet with me: if Ethan Maddox could fall in love with my soul, hidden beneath a stranger’s appearance, within 100 days, I’d get a chance at rebirth. If he couldn’t, I’d lose the right to move on.

The memory of that moment with the angel is seared into my memory: the cold hush of the in-between, the weight of hope and fear pressing on my chest. Even if it was impossible, I had to try. I remember thinking, even if the odds were impossible, I’d take any chance to see Ethan again—even if it meant risking everything.

There were two rules. First, I couldn’t reveal my identity to Ethan by any means. Second, I could only return to him five years after my death. If, after five years, he could still love my soul through another’s face, only then would it count as true love.

It was brutal, but the chance to return to Ethan’s side was enough for me to accept. I was so caught up in hope, I didn’t even notice the angel’s silent pity.

I can still picture the angel’s eyes—blue as a Midwestern sky before a storm, full of something I couldn’t quite name—maybe regret. But I was too blinded by longing to care.

I spent five years alone in a boundless, empty fog. Ethan was my only reason to hold on. I believed he loved me as I loved him. Even if I had to crawl, I would crawl back to him. That thought kept me going. I endured five years in that wasteland. Then, finally, I was reborn.

Time didn’t work the same way there. It was like being stuck in an endless winter, where even the idea of warmth was just a memory. The only thing that got me through was picturing Ethan’s smile... the way he’d brush my hair behind my ear, or how he’d call me ‘sunshine’ when I was having a bad day.

I woke up as Savannah Cole—a rich girl who’d died of alcohol poisoning. The day after I came back was her birthday. At her birthday party, I met Ethan. My father was a board member at his company.

It felt surreal, walking in Savannah’s skin, feeling her memories like faint echoes. The world looked brighter, sharper, almost too real after so long in the fog. The party was a blur of designer dresses, laughter, and the clink of champagne glasses. It was overwhelming. I clung to the banister, steadying myself, heart pounding as I prepared to face Ethan for the first time in half a decade.

A reunion after five years. I must have looked out of place: the ballroom, the scent of expensive perfume, the dazzling lights. Under a grand crystal chandelier, I descended the spiral staircase, my father holding my hand as he introduced me, “Ethan, this is my daughter Savannah. She just moved back from Europe. Please look after her.”

The chandelier’s light scattered across the marble floor like stars. I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirrored wall—Savannah’s face smiling, but my soul trembling inside. My father’s grip was warm and steady, a lifeline as I stepped into the crowd. The hum of conversation faded as Ethan looked up, and for a heartbeat, the world held its breath.

Five years had changed Ethan. His features were more mature. His presence was more refined. Amidst the noise, he stood quietly, exuding an elegance shaped by time.

He wore a dark suit, perfectly tailored, the kind of confidence you can’t fake. His eyes—still the same slate gray I remembered—swept over the crowd before landing on me. There was a gravity to him now, a quiet strength that made my heart ache.

I tried to hide my excitement as I looked into his eyes, trying to play it cool. I offered my hand and said, steady and serious, “Ethan Maddox, hello. Let me introduce myself: I’m Savannah Cole, your future girlfriend.” My heart hammered as I waited for his reaction.

I felt the room’s attention shift. I could hear a few people snicker, others just stared. But I didn’t care. I squeezed his hand, forcing myself not to tremble. I wanted to reach through the years and remind him of us, but all I could do was hope he’d feel something familiar.

I knew love took time. But I didn’t have that luxury. I had to force my way into his world. I needed him to remember me—fast.

I could almost hear the angel’s clock ticking in my head. I’ve never been the type to sit back and wait. If I was going to win Ethan back, I had to be bold, even if it made me look desperate.

I didn’t expect his reaction. He looked at me, face calm, and nodded politely, “Sorry, Miss Cole, I’ve already got a girlfriend.”

His voice was polite, but there was a wall behind it—a careful distance that stung. It hurt. For a second, I wondered if he recognized anything in me, any echo of Autumn. But he only gave me a polite smile, the kind you give at a networking event.