After 99 Times

Adrian left in such a hurry that he didn't hear what Zoey said.

Zoey calculated how many chances were left in the contract—only two more.

Two more times, and then this contract, and everything between her and Adrian, would be over.

But when she thought about leaving him now, her chest didn’t ache anymore.

Instead… she felt relief.

She turned off the lamp beside her and drifted into a dreamless sleep.

—

The next morning, as Zoey walked downstairs, she was startled to find the dining table covered in a full spread of breakfast.

In the kitchen, Adrian stood smiling in an apron, stirring a pot of soup.

He looked up, voice warm.

“Zoey! Go wash up—breakfast’s ready. I made your favorite soup!”

For a moment, Zoey couldn’t believe her ears.

Adrian had been pampered since birth. He never lifted a finger. Meals were always prepared for him—there’s no way he’d ever set foot in a kitchen, let alone cook.

And yet here he was… cooking. For her.

No one had ever treated her like this.

She sat down and took a few bites, still stunned.

Then Claire came down the stairs.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the table.

“Adrian! You made this for me? You actually cooked for me? I’m so touched!”

Adrian froze, tugging off his apron as he stumbled over his words.

“No—Claire, this was for Zoey. You’ve got your own meal plan, remember? That’s why I didn’t make you any.”

Claire’s smile dropped in an instant.

When Adrian left for work later that morning, all the sweetness vanished from Claire’s face.

She finally snapped—grabbed the pot of soup and dumped it all over Zoey.

The boiling soup scalded her thigh, burning her skin raw.

“Who told you that you could eat what Adrian made?

“That’s mine.

“You don’t deserve any of it!”

She flung the rest of the food to the ground and stormed out of the villa.

Zoey quickly tore off her clothes and grabbed the first-aid kit, applying burn ointment to her leg.

She didn’t tell Adrian. There was no point.

She was leaving soon anyway, and even if she said something… he’d never believe her.

What she didn’t know—was that Claire had already spiked her water with sleeping pills.

The moment Zoey drank it, she blacked out.

When she opened her eyes again, flames were everywhere.

Smoke. Heat. Fire roaring at every corner.

She rubbed her eyes, thinking it was a dream—but the blaze only grew bigger.

The villa was on fire.

And she was trapped inside.

Panicked, she reached for her phone—only to find it gone.

That’s when she saw Claire, standing in the doorway, holding her phone.

Claire gave her a twisted smile.

Holding Adrian’s number on the screen, she said with a smirk, “Wanna guess who he’ll save this time?”

Zoey froze.

The fire hadn’t been an accident. Claire had set it on purpose.

Her blood ran cold.

“You’re out of your goddamn mind! Are you seriously ready to die over this?!

“Give me the phone! If we don’t call for help now, we’re both dead!”

But Claire ignored her.

Instead, she burst into tears and started wailing into the phone.

“Adrian! Help! The house is on fire! Zoey and I are trapped—please come quick!”

The second the call ended, the tears vanished.

She looked at Zoey with a manic calm.

“You shouldn’t have eaten what he made. That was mine.

“If it takes my death to prove how much Adrian loves me, then so be it.”

Zoey backed away, horrified.

“You’re insane, Claire.”

Minutes passed. The fire spread fast.

Zoey’s strength was fading. She curled into the corner, too weak to shout, unable to move.

And then—Adrian burst through the flames.

His voice was hoarse as he shouted Claire’s name over and over.

No reply.

He ran into the room—and saw both women huddled in opposite corners of the bedroom.

He rushed toward Claire first, instinctively wrapping her in his arms.

And then… he froze.

There was only time to save one of them.

The fire was growing too fast. Whoever he didn’t grab now might not make it.

Claire whimpered, “Adrian…”

That was all it took. His resolve snapped.

He picked her up and ran.

As they reached the door, he turned back.

“Zoey! Just hang on—I’ll come back for you!”

But those words—those same words—shattered something in Zoey for good.

The flames licked at her skin, but what chilled her more was the realization:

He had chosen Claire.

Again.

Every time Claire was there, she was the one left waiting.

Even when her life was on the line, Adrian didn’t hesitate.

She was never the priority.

Never the one who got picked.

Just the one left behind.

But it was okay.

After this… there’d only be one chance left.

One more, and then she’d be gone.

Smoke filled her lungs, fire closed in.

Her vision blurred—until she couldn’t fight it anymore.

And finally, she passed out in the flames.