Vivian Asher Alexander Novel Revenge of the Reborn Bride

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I decided to choose a new husband after being reborn.
I looked at Asher Vance, the boyfriend I'd devoted five years to, and I turned away without a second glance. Instead, I let my soft form lean into the solid, reassuring strength of his uncle, Alexander Vance.
In my past life, I'd ignored the powerful CEO who wanted to marry me and insisted on loving the wild, free-spirited Asher.
It wasn't until a sudden miscarriage ripped through me that I uncovered the truthhe'd been lacing the tonic he fed me every single day, without fail, with abortifacients.
And his reason? He believed I wasn't as refined, as pure, as my sister Celeste Lockwood, and didn't deserve to carry his heir.
Memories of our tangled moments in bed rushed back, how he'd so often whispered Celeste's name against my skin. Only then did I piece it together: every loss I'd suffered had just been a sick, flirtatious game between the two of them, a cruel inside joke at my expense.
Fine. If that's how they wanted to play, in this new life, I'd just marry someone else.
But on my wedding day, the ever-arrogant Asher collapsed in tears right at the ceremony.
Chapter 1
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the entrance of a lavish private room.
Before I could even push down the door handle, the sound of laughter and chatter spilled out from inside.
"Why didn't Asher bring his fiance today? Wouldn't Vivian die if she lost him?"
The entire room was drunk, men and women alike, teasing without restraint.
Asher Vance frowned, clicking his tongue impatiently.
"Don't bring her up. Makes me sick. She's just a woman I can't seem to get rid of. Even sleeping with her for free would make me sick."
My heart slammed against my ribs, a full-body tremor taking hold as the words hit me.
So this was what he said when I wasn't around. This was how Asher talked about methe girl who gave him everything.
He lowered his gaze slightly. The dark light cast shadows across his face, yet for a brief moment, there was an unmistakable trace of tenderness.
"But I told her I'd look out for Vivian, so I'm stuck keeping that promise. Otherwise, with all her little games? She'd never even get a second glance from me."
A wave of understanding murmurs swept the room. Glances were exchanged; everyone knew exactly who "she" was.
In my last life, Asher said these same exact words at our wedding reception. I'd thought the "her" he meant was my mom. I never dreamed it was his lifelong crush, his perfect "what if"my own older sister.
I'd just been the placeholder all along.
A sharp, acidic ache shot up behind my nose, but my eyes stayed bone-dry. A laugh, hollow and bleak, escaped me. The sound of the final illusion shattering.
I don't know who spotted me first, but a sharp gasp cut the air, and suddenly a few dozen pairs of eyes were locked on me.
The door to the section stood open. The party vibe died the second I stepped into view.
The whole crew looked from me to Asher, their expressions a mix of awkwardness and low-key amusement. They'd just trash-talked me, but not a single one was about to say they were sorry.
Asher was sprawled on the plush couch, not even bothering to look my way.
"I told you," he said, voice flat. "Handle whatever you want for the wedding. Don't interrupt me."
His tone was a perfect match for how he'd been in my last life. Back then, I'd told myself he was just stressed, same as me.
Now I knew. He was just bitter he wasn't marrying the love of his life, and I was the convenient target.
I didn't move to comfort him like I always used to. I just stood there in the doorway, perfectly still.
He must have sensed the change. His eyes narrowed, that familiar, icy once-over scanning me from head to toe.
Even after a lifetime of seeing it, that looklike I was barely worth his noticestill knocked the air from my lungs.
I dug my nails into my palm, forcing my voice steady. "Asher. I'm calling off the wedding."
Just a few words, and it felt like I'd used up every bit of courage I'd ever have.
A stunned, heavy silence crushed the room. Nobody made a sound.
But I could feel their smirks, could practically hear the silent laughter. I was the night's entertainment.
Asher let out a short, derisive puff of air, and like a switch was flipped, the room broke into uncomfortable, mocking laughter.
"Vivian, how old are you now? Aren't you tired of the drama? How many times have you pulled this 'I'm leaving' stunt? A hundred times, maybe."
He sank back and closed his eyes, utterly convinced this was just another pathetic bid for his attention.
Rage, hot and humiliating, tightened my throat. I was about to fire back when a voice, clear and sharp, cut through the noise.
"That's enough! All of youapologize to her! Asher, if you say one more word, we are done. Forever."
My head snapped toward the sound. I met the pair of warm, blazing eyes of a woman.
"Celeste?"
Chapter 2
I hadn't even processed why my sister Celeste was here before she'd grabbed my wrist and yanked me into the private room.
She dropped onto the couch right next to Asher and started pounding her small fists against his chest.
"How could you treat my baby sister like that? If she wasn't completely head over heels for you, do you think for a second I would have stepped aside?
"I let her have you, even though it killed me. If you hurt her again, we are through. I mean it!"
She bit her lower lip, tears welling up, making them shine.
Asher's whole demeanor melted. He bent his head, his voice dropping to a low, intimate murmur as he tried to soothe herthe two of them in their own little world, acting like I was invisible.
If I weren't standing right here, they'd probably have fallen into bed together right then and there.
Even consumed with wanting each other, Celeste didn't fully ignore me. She shot me a look, a flicker of awkward guilt in her eyes, watching for my reaction.
"If he's mean to you again, you come tell me," she said gently. "I'll make sure he regrets it."
As she spoke, her slender hand slipped inside Asher's shirt and gave his side a sharp pinch. It was framed as punishment for me, but it was pure, playful flirtation.
My hands clenched into fists so tight my nails bit into my palms. The sharp pain was the only thing that cleared my head.
How had I been so blind in my last life? How did I miss the obvious games these two could barely keep hidden?
It wasn't until miscarriage after miscarriage had wrecked my body that a friend finally forced me to see the truth.
I had the tonic Asher fed me every day tested. Sure enough, it was laced with high doses of abortifacients.
I secretly hacked into his texts, determined to dig up every buried detail.
The truth was more disgusting than anything I could have invented.
He and my sister had been a thing since high school. But they were both players, constantly breaking up and making up.
Then I showed upnaive, trusting, easy to manipulatethe perfect catalyst to keep their toxic game alive.
The thrill of betraying me right under my nose became their addiction. After our wedding, they only got bolder.
That tonic I drank every day? Celeste was the one who sourced the special blend. And every time I lost a baby, she'd play the guilt-ridden sister, seeking "comfort" from Asher.
Together, they kept pushing the line, getting their kicks from the deception.
Until they finally got bored of the game and decided to discard me for good.
But by then, my body was broken. After so many losses, my health was shattered. All I could do was lie in a hospital bed and wait to die.
Every time I remembered it in this new life, a wave of nausea hit me.
The betrayal of the man I loved. The treachery of my own sister. Each memory was enough to shred my soul.
So in this life, I was done. I would not be their pawn ever again.
I stood up from the sofa, my movements sharp and final, and strode toward the door.
"Asher, we're done. This isn't a jokeit's a notice."
After I left, the room behind me returned to its noisy chaos. I could already imagine his entourage gossiping about me.
But as long as I broke this engagement, my real life could finally begin.
I'd just sunk into the backseat of my car when my phone blew up.
I answered, and Asher's furious roar vibrated through the speaker.
"Vivian, have you lost your mind?! Is this some twisted plot to destroy Celeste's life? Are you happy now?!"
Chapter 3
The shout in my ear made my head ring. I hit 'end call' on instinct.
But before I could even start the car, a pair of large hands slammed against my window. The next second, the door was wrenched open.
Asher grabbed the front of my shirt and hauled me out of the car like I was trash.
"Look what you've done! How could you hurt Celeste like that?!"
He didn't wait for an answer. He just dragged me, stumbling, back to the private room. The scene that hit me was Celeste, curled on the couch, her face a masterpiece of tear-streaked fragility.
She bit her trembling lip, looking at me with heartbroken eyes.
"Just give it back, please," she whispered, her voice cracking. "It's all I have left. I already let you have Asher. That little thing is the only piece of him I kept for myself. Don't take that from me, too please?"
She stamped her foot, a petulant gesture amidst the tears, then snatched a wine glass from the table and threw the contents in my face.
Asher's heartbreak was instant, visceral. He tore off the soft blue-and-gray scarf around his neckmy scarfand laid it gently at Celeste's feet like an offering.
To anyone else, it would have looked like a grand, romantic gesture. To me, it was just trash.
I'd spent three months knitting that scarf. My fingers had been pricked and sore, bleeding more than once.
And now, he'd placed my heart under her designer heel for her to step on.
The cold wine dripped down my neck, making me shiver.
"I didn't take anything," I said, voice tight. "I don't even know what you're talking about"
A voice cut through from the hallway.
"Found it! Celeste's diamond ring was in Vivian's glove compartment. She totally stole it!"
Every head in the room swiveled to stare at me.
Asher let out a low, ugly laugh.
"Anything else to say for yourself? That ring was a custom design. Our senior thesis project.
"You stole it out of pure jealousy. Are you trying to wreck your own sister's career?!"
The ring box was handed to him. I'd never seen it before in my life.
Celeste just kept cryingnever once directly accusing me, yet making sure every tear pointed my way.
Asher closed the distance, his fingers digging into my jaw, his eyes glacial.
"Did you actually think saying 'yes' to you meant you could get away with anything? If you ever disrespect Celeste again, I will make this marriage your own private hell."
His jaw was tight, the words ground out between his teeth.
"Get on your knees. Apologize to Celeste. Or the wedding is off."
My whole body went rigid. I met his gaze, pure hatred burning behind my eyes.
"No."
His temper exploded. He grabbed my collar and kicked my legs out from under me. My knees hit the hardwood with a sickening crack of pain.
I tried to push myself up, but his hand closed around my throat, shoving me back down.
"Apologize, or I call everything off right now!"
A familiar, primal terror seized meflashbacks of the violence from my last life crashing down.
He used to lock me in the wine cellar, taking out his and Celeste's bad moods on me whenever he felt like it.
His fists, hard as stones, would pummel my ribs, my back, as he snarled, "If it weren't for you, Celeste and I would have a family by now. You think you're worthy of carrying my child? Trying to one-up your sister?"
Now, he loomed over me again, sleeves pushed up, his face twisted into that same monstrous mask.
"Stop!"
Celeste's scream cut the air. Asher froze.
A desperate hope flared in my chest. I looked up, tears of relief already spilling over.
I thought, for a second, she was saving me.
Her next words plunged me into an ice bath.
"As her elder sister, I can't just stand by while she becomes this this jealous, petty person. We have to teach her a real lesson. A permanent one. How about sever her tendons"
A cruel smile touched Asher's lips. A flick-knife appeared in his hand.
"Celeste always knows what's best."
Pure panic shot through me. I scrambled backward, crab-walking across the floor. Celeste stepped forward, planting her stiletto heel in the center of my back. Her expression was one of pained concern.
"Don't hate me, okay? This is for your own good."
The more I writhed, the deeper the heel dug.
The cold edge of the blade touched the skin of my wrist, pressing down, seeking the right spot.
I was cried out. I shut my eyes, waiting for the slice.
Thena sharp, insistent ringtone shattered the tension.
Asher clicked his tongue in annoyance and answered. After a few short, grunted replies, he snapped the knife shut, tossed it aside, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and hauled me toward the door.
"We're done here! The reception's startingwe have to go. Now, move!"
Chapter 4
I had never seen Asher look so tenseno, it was closer to fear.
"My uncle just got back from overseas. My whole future, my entire position it's all in his hands now."
He gave a thin, mirthless smile.
"I know he likes you. He'd burn this whole family down for you.
"If I were to send you to his bed who knows how much that would be worth? Enough for me to live very, very comfortably."
My mind flashed to Alexander VanceAsher's unclea man of imposing silence and a gaze that could cut glass, who had a habit of materializing whenever I was truly in trouble.
In my last life, blinded by my obsession with Asher, I'd completely overlooked someone who could have been my salvation.
Asher accelerated toward the hotel, hauling me through the grand lobby and into the packed reception before I could even catch my breath.
"Mom, I got her."
He pushed me forward. I staggered, almost losing my balance.
The woman before me, stout and severe in a silk dress, looked me over with pure contempt, her nostrils flaring.
"A wild girl unfit for society, not a trace of your sister's grace. Later, you will kneel and present my tea. That is our family's rule."
My brow furrowed. I tried to pull back, but Asher's grip on my arm was like a vise.
"Don't cause a scene. I can still call this whole thing off, right here. Your precious sister isn't here to save you now."
He thrust a scalding teacup into my hands, then shoved me down until my knees hit the polished floor.
His mother looked down her nose at me, a smirk playing on her lips.
"This is tradition. Anyone wishing to marry into our family must show their humility."
All eyes in the vicinity were on me. The room had fallen silent. To kneel was to submit; to refuse was to be branded irrational.
My palms burned against the hot porcelain. A sharp kick to the back of my calf made my legs shake.
Then, from the entrance of the banquet hall, a low, commanding male voice echoed.
"I set the rules in this family. I don't recall this being one of them."
His footsteps echoed on the marble, each one a hammer strike on the quiet.
The arrogance drained from Asher's face in an instant, replaced by a pallor of pure dread. He began to tremble, his voice a strangled whisper.
"U-Uncle"