Chapter 2 Aria and Asher Vaughn had just gotten engaged . Tessa , heartbroken , had run away from home . Asher chased after her , and the two of them had vanished for the entire night . Aria remembered how she had thrown a fit back then- drowning herself in alcohol , even slitting her wrists in a desperate attempt to force Asher to return . Over the phone , Asher had said coldly , " Do whatever you want . Live or die - I don't care . " Aria turned her head weakly and spotted a man standing near the doorway , phone pressed to his ear . He was tall , broad- shouldered , and dressed in a black dress shirt that accentuated his imposing frame . Everything about him exuded the controlled dominance of a man who commanded respect . " Yes . Something came up , " he said . Hearing movement , he glanced over his shoulder , his gaze sweeping over her with detached indifference . " I'll call you back ." The moment he hung up , his eyes - sharp , calculating - landed on her . " You're awake ." Chapter 2 When Aria finally saw his face , her blood ran cold . Dread and despair crashed into her like a tidal wave , choking the air from her lungs . Instinctively , she recoiled . It was Bennett Rhodes . His lips curled into a cold , mocking smile as he regarded her . His voice was smooth , controlled , yet laced with an unspoken threat . " Hello . I'm Bennett Rhodes . Juliet's cousin ." He studied her pale face , his gaze lingering on the way she shrank into the hospital sheets - fragile , sickly , yet undeniably beautiful . This was Aria Whitmore , Juliet Fairchild's classmate , the heiress of the Whitmore family . The girl had resorted to drunken self - harm in a pathetic bid to win back a man. It was pathetic . Bennett's voice was deep , magnetic - deceptively pleasant . But to Aria , it felt like the edge of a guillotine. Bennett hailed from Founinth , a name that struck fear into Chapter 2 most . A business titan with unrivaled influence , he operated mostly overseas , yet the Rhodes family empire - under his iron grip - stood as one of the world's most formidable financial powers . He controlled half the economic landscape . Countless people survived by his grace . And Bennett ? He was Juliet's cousin . More importantly , he adored Tessa , treating her like a treasured gem . क In her past life , Bennett had founded an entire entertainment empire just for Tessa , pouring endless resources into making her the brightest star . Because of him , Tessa had been elevated to Yealchinn's most coveted socialite - radiant , untouchable . And those who sought Bennett's favor ? They had gone out of their way to humiliate Aria . Even the Vaughn family , swayed by Bennett's influence , had once tried to break off Asher's engagement to Aria - just to pair him with Tessa instead . In her past life , Aria's death had finally given them what they wanted . Bennett's gaze darkened as he poured a glass of water , his Chapter 2 expression unreadable . He handed it to her , his tone deceptively mild . " Don't do something so foolish again . If you want love , find another man . Why fight over someone else's ? " Aria froze , her chest tightening . Is he warning me not to compete with Tessa ? But Asher was her fiance . C Aria clenched her teeth , her eyes burning with unshed tears . The grievances of her past life - the betrayal , the slit throat - all surged to the surface at Bennett's words . The injustice and terror she had endured could no longer be suppressed . She pushed herself upright , her voice raw and trembling . " He was my fiance . " Her fingers dug into the sheets . " Why is it always me who has to step aside ? If they were so in love , they should've gone to the elders and called off the engagement . Instead , they flaunted it right in front of me - disgusting me with their little affair " Her fiance had fallen for Tessa . Chapter 2 Her brothers had accused her of being cruel , selfish , and domineering . Tessa had taken everything . And in the end ? She had been murdered . Bennett stood motionless , his expression unreadable . Aria's gaze was a mix of fear and simmering resentment . She's got quite the temper , he mused . Suddenly , his eyes narrowed . He reached out , his fingers brushing against the chain around her neck - then yanked it free . A dull , weathered ring dangled from it , engraved with the fierce visage of a wolf . The aura it carried was primal , untamed .