Chapter 1 The world snapped back into focus with Caleb Vaughn walking toward me . And in that instant , I knew I hadn't made it home . The ninth failure . The tenth beginning . 09:57 He stopped a few feet away , a lazy , cruel smirk plastered on his handsome face . " You just don't give up , do you ? I've never met anyone so pathetic . Now , be a good girl and go ... " His words blurred into a meaningless drone . I was done listening . I looked up , my gaze locking onto his , and for the first time in a long time , it was perfectly clear . My hand moved , a fluid motion , pulling the pin from the knot of my hair . In the space between one heartbeat and the next , the sharpened metal point was buried in his throat . He gasped , his hand flying to his neck , his eyes wide with a question I had no intention of answering . A spray of warmth misted my face . " You're the pathetic one , " I said , my voice eerily calm . " You don't even deserve to live . " I had been reborn nine times to win Caleb Vaughn's heart . Success was my only ticket back to my own world . But it didn't matter what I did the outcome was always the same . Failure . This was the tenth time . I was done trying . I just wanted Caleb Vaughn dead . 1 My eyes opened again . Caleb was walking toward me , a storm cloud of irritation on his face . A familiar , sterile tone chimed in my head . Ding ! New objective issued : Successfully win the affection of Caleb Vaughn and ensure his happiness . Upon completion , the Host will be returned to their original world . The tenth time . The first seven loops were a masterclass in dying . Car accidents . Cliff falls . Drowning . Some were the result of his cruel pranks , some happened while I was trying to save him , and once , he killed me with his own two hands . On the eighth loop , I considered a new strategy : maybe he just hated me . For his happiness , " I tried to disappear . I left the country . But he hunted me down , dragged me back , and locked me in a basement to starve . All so I would stay by his side . On the ninth loop , I endured . I swallowed his insults , bandaged the bruises from his rage , and stayed . I became his perfect , docile wife . I held his hand as he died of old age , having devoted my entire existence to him . I had suppressed every urge to run , to fight back , to end my own life or his . I thought , finally , that had to be it . As I closed my eyes for the last time in that life , I let myself dream of my real parents , of the joy on their faces when I reappeared . God , I was so tired . I missed them so much . I would have killed for a plate of my mom's cooking . But the universe had other plans . And now , seeing Caleb's face again , I felt nothing . A complete and total void . He stormed toward me , his voice a low growl . " Ava , you are so fucking pathetic . Can't stay away , can you ? One call and you come running . " I remembered this night . He'd made a bet with his pack of jackal friends . He bet that I'd drink three bottles of champagne for him , even though he knew - everyone knew - I had a deadly allergy to alcohol . Behind him , his buddies were laughing . 09:57 Chapter 1 " Damn , Caleb , you've got her trained . Didn't even change out of her pajamas . " " Guess she was in a hurry to get into your bed . " " The girl's desperate . No way she doesn't drink it . Shit, looks like I owe you a G - Wagon . " I have a severe alcohol allergy . In my real life , a bad stomach ulcer from my college days meant my mom had spent six months consulting with nutritionists and cooking special meals just to heal me . In my last life , my ninth life , I drank the champagne . I wept while I did it , apologizing to my mom in my head , but I had to . I wanted to go home so badly . They ended up removing half of my stomach . Caleb's face was a mask of impatience , his handsome features twisted with a familiar , simmering violence . " Are you deaf ? Go drink the champagne . And don't give me any of that allergy bullshit . The bet's for my car . I'm not losing . " Last time , when I tried to explain , he'd slapped me so hard my ears rang . He'd grabbed my hair and dragged me to the table . He'd shattered a bottle and held the jagged neck to my throat . " Don't be a bitch , Ava . You came here , so you're going to drink . Don't em- barrass me , or I swear to God I'll kill you . " I drank it all . His only comment was , " Pathetic . " After that night , in that ninth life , he married me . Our life together was a special kind of hell . My skin was a constant patchwork of bruises . He was a monster . He hit me when he was drunk , he hit me when he was angry , and sometimes , he hit me for no reason at all . My fists clenched at my sides . I ground my teeth . This time , I wasn't going to endure it . This time , he was going to die . Seeing my silence , his brow furrowed . He took a step closer , raising his hand . It was moving toward my face , an all - too - familiar trajectory . My eyes narrowed , my focus absolute . My hand shot up to my hair , pulling the metal pin free . With all the force I could muster , I lunged forward and plunged the sharpened end deep into his throat . Blood erupted , hot and wet against my skin . His eyes bulged , his hand clawing at his neck , a look of pure disbelief on his face . " Ghk ! Ghk ! You ... you ... " He tried to speak , but only a torrent of red spilled from his lips .