While others transmigrate abruptly, Ayan was given a warning. Perhaps it was due to her family's blessing that fate did not treat her harshly.

For several months now she kept on dreaming about being in a barren grey place. Voices are calling at her then there are two malnourished cinnamon rolls weeping.

First, Ayan ignored the dream. It was on the third time that she grew curious as to why she kept on repeating it. She consulted several friends and websites but only got varied answers that made her dizzy.

In fact, this wasn't the first time she had a recurring dream. During her teens, she kept on dreaming about waking up in a small hut on top of the hill with a faceless man. The feeling he gave her was warm and comforting it was so real.

When she wakes up the pleasant feelings disappear.

Either these dreams were her past life, a manifestation of stress or signs of longing for a stable life all of it has no impact on Ayan.

Her career was stable, and her boyfriend treats her well. Everything was going smoothly.

Many more days passed and she completely grew immune of her strange recurring dream.

Life was easy and happy.

Stepping on her red pumps, Ayan left the comforts of the air-conditioned car and briefly felt the dry heat blowing along with the evening breeze. Many hated the summer weather but for her who only feels excited as of the moment, this little inconvenience is nothing.

Minutes later after entering the Grand Hotel's lobby, she is now seated at the restaurant on the twentieth floor facing the man she had been with for almost two years since college.

"Yan, I have something to tell you…" the handsome man in a blue shirt said solemnly.

Ayan pretended not to know and leaned back on her chair, "Oh?"

Nathan gave her an embarrassed look. "It's been two years since we started, right? Time flies so fast."

He looked outside the glass pane drawing courage from the twinkling lights of the traffic below. Ayan swallowed subtly. It must be something serious, she thought.

"What do you want to say. Just say it." she smiled openly.

"Actually…" he prevaricated. After looking outside, he went fiddling with the folded napkin on his side.

Ayan was a little helpless. "Yes it has been years and you are still so hesitant. Just tell me if you want to propose or--"

She still had a teasing grin on her when Nathan looked up pale-faced.

"No, I want to break up with you." he said looking into her eyes. It was her bold remark that pushed him to make up his mind.

He no longer loves this woman. He already forgot about the feeling of their first encounter the moment they stepped right into society. Her growing career, the feeling of being left out has long ground the vigorous youthful love he once had.

And quite frankly, he detests her free and easy-going character. They were supposed to be lovers but they act more like friends. The only intimate thing they did was to kiss, he is a normal healthy man damn it.

If not for the mall supermarket business she funded he wouldn't put up with her until now. Ayan was generous to her people but he felt it was an insult to him. He wanted to open his own business ever since college and Ayan stepped up to help him with the dream.

At that time she was like a shining goddess in his eyes. Her family was well-off and she is used to spending money at everything she fancied and because of this, she developed a negative reputation on the campus. It also made him hesitant.

But he has his own difficulties, so despite Ayan's image he reluctantly let their relationship develop. He likes to think that he was only repaying her generosity, someday, when he is finally able to gain a foothold in society she will repay her grace.

"Ayan, let's separate."

Ayan forgot to blink when she heard him say that, she reached for a glass of water and took a sip. "I see."

She did not look hurt, nor was she disappointed. It was strange. Perhaps because she had prepared herself for this for a long time already?

When she heard rumours of him going out with several unknown women she ignored it. Several more times the rumour came but she muted them in her head. But maybe she wasn't entirely foolish because unknowingly she put up defences reducing the impact of his revelation tonight.

But still a girl her age has to undergo cleansing when met with a scumbag. That night she called an old friend living overseas and wailed like a banshee while cursing Nathan's future generations.

"I wish he becomes impotent and useless so no more good women will be harmed by him!"

"Idiot..." Monica, one of her loyal friends muttered while puffing out smoke. "Have you informed your parents about the breakup?"

Ayan wiped her nose with a Kleenex aggressively. "I haven't yet. Dad has a joint project with Nathan's family. I'd rather not disturb him during this critical period."

Dumb girl, her friend thought. She should tell her parents sooner to peel off those jackals' masks, in her opinion, Nathan and his relatives are opportunists. If not for Ayan's family, they wouldn't have any standing in this city at all.

Now that they are about to elevate their status they will turn their backs discarding their benefactors like used tissues.

"So what's your plan now?" Monica asked grumpily.

"What else but go out to heal."

Monica wished she could cross over the screen and give this girl a few hundred slaps to wake her up then she would jump and castrate that asshole, Nathan, next.

"Ayan, Nathan is not a good guy."

Ayan nodded, seemingly absorbing her words. Looking at her reaction made Monica madder. But before she could let out a barrage of curses she heard the other say, "I know he is a little rotten inside,"

A little? Peh! Monica spits inwardly.

"I admit he is not good, that is why I have long sold out the apartment I bought for him and took back the car I lent his sister. Those good things are wasted on them."

Monica was still huffing mad when her words sunk in. Wait, what did this girl say again!?

"Oh, another thing," Ayan sighed innocently like a harmless white rabbit, "I also sold my share of that shabby business we founded to his rival company."

Monica sucked in her breath.

"What now? Do you still think I'm stupid?"

Monica: Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Ayan planned to avail her unconsumed leave, to rest for a while and refresh her mind. The plan was put into action the day after. The dear girl happily packed up and left her apartment to run into a mountain resort for her much needed mental health vacation.

It was during the rest period that she had a strange dream again.

"Mommy!"

"Mother!"

"You belong in this family now. I'm telling you, no matter how much you regret it you can never leave!" said a chilly voice.

"W-Who?"

Ayan moved through the fog but her body felt heavy as though she had been carrying sandbags.

"You wanted to become marchioness, then I am granting your wish. You should be glad."

Ayan sweated profusely and wanted to step towards the voice. She wanted to understand why all this hatred was pointed towards her.

Aiy, she is innocent! Aside from teaching that scumbag a lesson she was never mean to anyone.

"Ayan, in this life, you are already tied to me!"

"No!"

She bounced from the bed covered in sweat. When Ayan came to her senses, she was faced with the wooden ceiling of the cottage she rented.

That was one angry man. She thought wryly. The faces of the children in her dreams also became more vivid.

They look thin and pale like fleeing refugees. Ayan sighed heavily.

This is definitely abnormal. The longer she dream, the more her emotions gets disturbed. How could a mere dream weigh heavily on her heart?

After a short breakfast, she explored the cliffside hoping to shake off the odd melancholy.

She walked absently until she arrived at the back of the resort, then she dialled Monica's number again to chat.

"Are you sure you're fine?" Monica frowned slightly.

Ayan looks tired.

"It must be because I've been working nonstop," she reasoned. "I think I came to a fairly good place. The air here is fresh and the surrounding calm the mind."

She was showing off the view from the top when a couple approached her. Ayan placed the phone on the stone bench to stretch her waist.

"The bed here is too soft for my back though."

Monica on the other side of the planet recorded her awkward callisthenics and laughed to seizures. Later she will edit the video and show it to the rest of their friends.

"What are you doing here?" Ayan suddenly stopped stretching and looked at the two people standing in front of her.

Monica also stopped laughing. What the hell? This scum male came towing along a mistress!

"Ayan, I know you hated me but I did not expect you would do such a thing to that extent." Nathan accused with an ugly scowl.

Ayan frowned at him, "I just took back the things I owned. What's wrong with that?"

Nathan is not someone to easily let go when his ego was injured. He looked at the woman he had been with for the past two or more years and clenched his fist.

"The house and the car all belonged to me. They were lent, not given. We separated, it's only natural you return them. Or am I wrong?"

The girl with a sweet tender face looked at Ayan and said, "Miss Rose…"

"You don't have to explain. I knew you have been dating behind my back so save your excuses."

The girl abruptly changed her face. "Nathan was kind enough to tolerate you. Why do you have to treat him like this?"

"Treat him what? Our family helped his family when they were in dire straits. Do you still have the cheek to ask?"

The girl looked hurt and shrunk to Nathan's arm. "But still, for old time's sake, you shouldn't have embarrassed him like this."

"Did he care when he cheated and stepped on my pride as a woman? Oh, wait, you probably don't even know what pride is."

The girl's eyes flashed viciously.

"Enough Ayan, Mia was only defending me so no need to vent your anger on her."

Mia bit her lip and sighed, "It's my fault. You should have told her sooner so it shouldn't have ended like this. Nathan was embarrassed because of Miss Rose's family's prestige. He was afraid to offend you because--"

"So you admit you have been together while he is dating me." Ayan cut in rudely. "Don't use my family as an excuse for his adulterous behaviour, I never forced him. He was the one who approached me in the first place. And because he can still use our family he has not separated from me."

Mia's face paled.

Ayan laughed sarcastically. "Do you think you're in some kind of soap opera? I don't care whatever you do from now on as long as you stay away from me. Why go up here by the way? I have no business with you."

"Miss Rose, you grew up in a wealthy family and you are used to having your way that is why you look down on us common people. But you cannot humiliate Nathan this way."

Ayan rolled her eyes at her. "You deserve each other."

"Ayan," Nathan sighed impatiently, "I come here to talk about the business."

"Oh, that?" she replied dryly.

"Since we have broken up, why don't you sell your shares to me?"

"I'll think about it." she said dismissively.

Monica wanted to laugh out loud on the other line. She always thought Ayan was a docile and cuddly rabbit, she didn't know she would have fangs.

When Nathan stepped to the side, Mia moved closer, "Miss Rose, I understand you hate both of us but for the sake of our child, please agree to Nathan's request."

Even Nathan wasn't ready when Mia suddenly spoke about their secret. He wanted to cover her mouth but it was too late.

Ayan looked at Nathan with obvious ridicule in her eyes, "It has only been three days since we broke up and you already have a bun in the oven. Congratulations."

Mia raised her chin proudly. She had long known of the Rose family daughter when she saw her walking with Nathan in their college. Like a flower in the high loft, she was cut above the rest. Unattainable to someone of her status. Mia hated spoiled rich princesses like her. If not for their family's money, would they have the face to walk around like proud peacocks?

So what if she's rich and beautiful? Her boyfriend belongs to her now and they are going to have a child soon. Mia did not notice Nathan's irritated gaze towards her.

"It's still not confirmed yet." he said unemotionally.

Mia was taken aback, "Nathan!"

"Ayan, I'm sorry."

He wants to deny it? Mia was feeling panicky for some reason. Didn't they agree to come here today to tell her about them? So why can't she talk about the baby?

"Ayan," Nathan changed his tone to persuasion. "Mia and I are still not sure about the child… I, I hope this does not affect our family's cooperation. We have been friends, haven't we? The project is about to begin… I admit everything was my fault and I will bear the punishment your elders will give me so..."

"Nathan, you saw me suffering from morning sickness. You said that once the things are settled we are going to get married. You promised me!"

Nathan glared at her.

Ayan had long been numb. She is no longer in the mood to continue looking at their faces for fear of vomiting her breakfast. After cheating behind her back, he still wanted to use her as his cash machine? Monica was right, she should have told her parents. These kinds of faces are harder than diamonds.

Looking at Nathan's face softening and coaxing Ayan in front of her. Mia became delirious with anger.

"Bitch, why don't you just die and let us be!" she screamed hysterically.

Using her body's inertia she bumped into Ayan's body. Ayan was standing unguarded several feet from the cliffside. She wouldn't easily fall with just that nudge but Mia seemed to be possessed by demons. She grabbed Ayan's parka with all her strength and pushed her to the edge.

"Little bitch what makes you so proud? I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

Nathan was alarmed by his girlfriend's crazy behaviour. Monica on the other line was shouting frantically but the earphones were plugged. She ran to find her other phone and dialled the number of Ayan's big brother.

"You're jealous because Nathan and I are having a baby. You want to seduce him again? I'm telling you not a chance! He's mine."

Ayan was fighting to break away but her strength wasn't enough. She only managed to scratch Mia's face and arm.

"Damn it, you lunatic let go of me!"

"Once you're gone the business will be ours. Nathan said he will give it to his son. Don't you know, he has long been disgusted with you?"

"Your mother, you'll never get away with this!" Ayan spat.

Mia's bloodshot eyes and malicious smile was so close to her. Then she suddenly felt weightless. She saw Nathan giving her the last push and hugged Mia's body close to his.

"Ayan… ahhhhhhhhhh!" Monica cried out in horror and dropped the phone.

Ayan was dreaming again.

A girl in a flouncy white dress hugged her father tightly. Tears were streaming down her face like a waterfall.

"Father, why must you do this?"

"Good girl, father has exhausted everything. From here on father can no longer shelter you. Stay with the marquess, only he can protect you from here on."

"No! You can't leave me. Father... father!"

***

"My lord... I'm sorry I have to trouble you." she said heavily.

The bright and proud face no longer bore its usual vibrance. Before him, she was humble.

***

"Congratulations to the Marquess and Marchioness Rozenberg for having twin sons."

Cheers erupted in the perpetually stagnant hall.

The man stood in solemn silence yet it did not hide the joy flickering within his blue eyes.

And then, there was a storm.

***

"Why?" she cried brokenly. "You could have helped him..."

Ayan blinked her tear-stained eyes at the conclusion of that dream. The scenes of parting from a loved one, of a union to another and finally giving birth to new lives. Every interval felt so long it was almost real.

She opened her eyes and realized she was awake. Ayan is sitting under the blooming jacaranda tree planted on a tiny island in the middle of a quiet lake.

In front of her is a small boy wearing a loose robe sipping black tea. He had a small cherubic face, cute pointy ears and two translucent rainbow wings like a fairy.

"Um, where is this?" she prompted after the long stretch of silence.

She remembers falling into the cliff. She should be dead, right?

Because of her voice, the solemness of the place was broken. The lake rippled and the blossom above them swayed and scattered its sweet scent.

Fairy ring. The thought came into Ayan unbidden.

There was neither sun nor moon in here but the sky was bright.

Fairy ring, huh. Is this the same as heaven? Ayan sighed dejectedly. Her mom and dad, big brother and Monica what will happen when they find out she's gone?

"You are not dead yet." the boy spoke.

Ayan lifted her drooping head in surprise.

"At least not for now." he added. "But soon you will be if you do not reconcile the fault of your other life. If you want to live in this world again, you must correct the mistakes of your past self and heal the souls you hurt in your previous incarnation."

Ayan's mouth hung open. What does that mean?

"H-Have I done something wrong?"

The boy looked at her meaningfully and refused to answer.

"Just know that you only have two days left in this world. You can see your loved ones but you must not be seen by them. A little advice, use the remaining days to get ready for a long journey. You will be arriving at a place more backward than this world."

Wait, wait a minute. Too much information! Her head hurts.

"I will tell you once the time limit is over."

Then Ayan opened her eyes on the side of the road still wearing her blue parka and leggings. When she rubbed her face to sober up, she noticed a silver ring dotted with gemstones on her left forefinger.

This is…? The place with a mystical jacaranda tree appeared again. Then she saw an additional house in the middle of an orchard, a pavilion on the bank with a small boat tied at the pier. The boy is nowhere in sight.

Rubbing her head. Ayan patted her body and found her credit card and ID tucked on the left pocket of the parka. She hurried to the taxi bay nearby and told the address of her city apartment.

While waiting for the long journey to end, the driver turned on the radio to listen on some news to entertain his passenger.

In the speaker, the anchorman delivered the latest update of the current huge case. "Currently, the comatose Miss Ayan Rose is under observation and still hasn't passed the most critical period…"

Ayan was dumbfounded. This… what is this?

"According to the resort staff, Miss Rose was last seen jogging around the vicinity and allegedly slipped causing her accident, but the authorities still do not exclude the possibilities of a foul play..."

The driver clicked his tongue in sympathy. "The poor girl was only having a vacation, who knew it would end up like this."

Ayan on the other hand had long turned into a statue on her seat. She forced her paralyzed tongue to move and ask.

"Did they find my-- err, Miss Rose's body?" she asked stiffly. She felt kind of eerie referring to herself as another person.

In fact, sitting here and knowing that her body is in there lying in the hospital has flipped her cognition. Her body was found when she's clearly in here?

Her eyes went to the rearview mirror. It was still her face.

"Ah, yes. Miss Rose was rescued under the cliffs. The branches have broken her fall and lessened the impact that is why the rescuers were able to save a breadth of her life. It was a miracle she was able to stay alive down there for several hours. I heard it was her best friend abroad who called the family. They seem to be talking to each other when the incident happened."

Monica… her heart felt painful. Right now she wanted to fly back home as soon as possible and tell everyone not to worry. Unfortunately, she cannot do that. She is afraid she might do something irreversible that she will regret.

As soon as she arrived in her apartment. She paced around at a loss of what to do next.

"Please come out, I want to talk to you." she murmured.

The surroundings changed and she was brought into a familiar yard in front of the house. The boy stood at the steps leading to the front door.

"I want to know who the person inside the hospital is."

"It is you."

Ayan nodded. Then this body is only temporary.

"If I leave this world and do as you told me, will I be able to return?"

The boy's expression did not change, "Of course. That is only natural."

"Then, can you tell me where you are taking me?"

Ayan looked at him, eager to get an answer. The boy stood and walked slowly to the paved stone path leading to the garden.

"Haven't you been dreaming recently? Those things are only a part of it, they are real."

The voices she heard. The vague images she saw.

"They were a glimpse of the life you once had. You will be arriving in that world."

A cold empty house. A place so destitute and a helpless situation. Ayan looked at her cosy nest of six years, she is leaving all these in exchange for that.

Nah, such a waste, ah.

If she's going to the place of abuse…

Ayan looked at the boy with a glint in her eyes. "You know I've read a lot of novels in my free time," she mumbled.

"Say it," the little fairy boy held his forehead.

She rubbed her hands suspiciously, "If you're going to bring me over there. Can I bargain a little?"

The boy still had no expression. This made her jumpy.

"I already gave you the fairy ring. This place is its domain and now your space. Use it as you see fit," he said, then added in a flat tone. "Just don't lose it."

Ayan burst into a smile like a blooming sunflower, "Thank you so much!"

She had long wanted to have her very own Doraemon pocket. Who does not envy those novel protagonists who have one? Aiy, she can put anything in there like her luggage for example, even a cow or a tank is not a problem.

The boy looked at her with suspicion, did he choose the wrong soul? This one seems a little broken in the head.

When Ayan got out of the space she hurriedly tested the fairy ring on her finger with great fanfare. A throw pillow disappeared from the bay window and reappeared in the middle of the house inside the space. Ayan has also played a few games before and knew of such a thing like an item box where you can put an infinite number of things but the fairy ring is more promising. After all, it has a house, plants and a pretty lake.

She happily repeated the action towards the other things in her apartment and successfully arranged them all inside the space house.

This actually follows her will much to her surprise. Every inch, every position, it will appear where she wanted them to be.

In just an hour all the things in this place were swept clean from the hanging drapes to the down to the carpets. A complete replica of her apartment now lies inside the space. Hm, much better.

Next, Ayan took a bath.

On the other side of the city, Nathan is watching the news about Ayan's 'accident'. The hospital is crowded with reporters, but none of them can get past the gates. Mia wrestled the remote from him and complained.

"I want to watch anime." she said, acting like a baby.

"Shh, quiet," Nathan said intent on the news.

Mia lost her patience and slapped the bowl of popcorn on the table spilling its content. "You have been watching it since last night, are you still worried? Or maybe you want to see more of that slut? She will die so stop watching it."

He felt impatient, "Mia, stop screaming."

"She will not survive that height. Even if she did she will become a vegetable so there is no evidence of it okay?"

Nathan was not comforted by her complacent words. How did it happen that she was rescued after they left? Who called? Who saw them? There must be someone! Mia finally took the remote and changed the channel to watch her favourite anime series.

He sat on the couch with a headache. He is now living temporarily in Mia's apartment. His movements are limited because it is small, unlike the one he lived before. The thing's Mia ordered online are also scattered all over the place. Plus, there was a rotten stench coming from the overflowing trash can in the kitchen.

The couch he is seating smells of mold and a lot of things he couldn't name; it's nauseating. Abruptly, he stood up.

"Where are you going?" Mia asked, shaking her legs while gnawing on popcorn.

"I'm going to the warehouse to check the goods," he said briefly and took out his car key.

After a short bath. Ayan took the key to her minivan and credit card to start buying all the things she needed. First food, the rest are carefully listed by her. Thankfully she knew the places where to buy a lot of daily and personal necessities.

It wasn't unusual for other families to have six to eight carts of groceries when shopping so no one paid her any mind when she strolled around the aisles picking things up casually.

Ayan thought of her family, if her mom was the one doing groceries, it is estimated that there will be more carts lining up to the counter and the nannies will be more tired. Her eyes started to water, she suddenly felt sad. Her family...

No! She cannot afford to waste time. For the sake of coming back alive, she has to do her task.

From one grocery store to another, she used the car as camouflage when putting everything inside the fairy ring. The items are now in the basement of the house.

Then she remembered something, the warehouse for the business she funded for Nathan. Ayan's eyes narrowed playfully. It's time to collect some debts.

The next day, there was another explosive news story about her accident. The case suddenly made a lot of progress when she thought she wouldn't be able to get justice. Unexpectedly, Monica became the key to solving her grudge.

"The former boyfriend of the Rose Group heiress and his girlfriend were arrested in their home last night after the evidence was submitted to the authorities."

The cheap couple with no conscience is now fighting each other on the live broadcast after Nathan pushed everything on Mia's side.

Inside the cell, Mia was howling nonstop. Wishing to tear off Nathan's skin, "Why? Why?!"

Their faces on the screen looked lifeless and haggard. Obviously, they did not expect to be caught and hug the cold prison bars so soon. They were still cuddling in their house when the police stormed in with an arrest warrant. Now that they are under custody, there is no hope of getting out unless it is to attend the trial.

When Ayan went out again for another shopping, she saw the case flashing on the television. Everyone who had their eyes glued on the screens cursed and shouted.

"Disgusting people!"

"Who knew that Miss Rose was cheated and then pushed to the cliffs by those lawless people."

"The video of her falling has been circulating on the internet and became solid evidence of attempted murder. That man and his girlfriend are both blackhearted and evil to kill someone just like that."

Ayan's whole family is determined to bring Nathan down. His family is not doing well either, her dad cancelled the partnership and many others followed. Their company will fall soon.

For the past two days, Ayan drove around the metro until the last item on her list was crossed out. She avoided coming near to their home and deliberately made herself busy to the point of exhaustion.

Now sitting in an empty apartment, Ayan faced the boy once again.

"Are you sure you do not want to see your family for the last time?"  he asked.

Ayan shook her head. Seeing them will make her even more reluctant. Besides, this isn't the last time. When she finishes what she's tasked with, she can return.

Truth to be told, thinking about going to another world made her palms sweat profusely. She doesn't know what kind of despair-stricken place she is coming to. She went on a mad shopping spree like someone about to face the end of the world and she finished them all in just a couple of days!

Ayan lay on the cold floor until the moon rose higher in the sky. Nothing happened until she became drowsy and fell asleep.