Chapter 1

My husband, Dylan Sterling, only married me because of a family alliance. After we tied the knot, I discovered the truth: his heart belonged to Serena Hayes, the nanny's daughter. Our intimacy was a cold, distant affair, while he secretly hoarded thousands of Serena's photos, using them to fulfill his darkest desires.

I clung to the hope that I could make it work, for our daughter's sake. Until the day both my daughter and Serena’s son were kidnapped. Faced with an impossible choice, Dylan didn't hesitate. He chose to save Serena’s son, a boy with whom he shared no blood.

I watched in agony as my daughter was pushed from the towering building, her life ending in an instant. Heartbroken, I followed, leaping from the eighteenth floor.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Reborn to a time before our wedding. This time, I chose to walk away from Dylan. This time, I decisively married his uncle!

###

After my rebirth, the first thing I did was to stand before my parents, my words earnest and resolute.

"Dad, Mom, for the alliance with the Sterling family, I choose to marry Julian Sterling."

My parents stared at me, their faces a mixture of surprise and confusion at my sudden request.

"Eleanor, didn't you love Dylan? Julian is Dylan's uncle!"

A flicker of sorrow crossed my eyes as I remembered the past. My voice dropped to a pained whisper.

"Precisely because I know the consequences of loving him, I no longer dare to."

"Dad, Mom, I've never asked anything of you. As the heiress of our family's prestige, I understand a strategic marriage is my duty. I only have this one request; please, let me have it."

Seeing the redness in my eyes, my parents sighed softly and helped me up. "Since you've made up your mind, your father and I will approach the Sterling family. The only issue is Julian Sterling is a man of immense power and influence. He might not agree to this union, so you must prepare yourself."

My parents comforted me as they prepared lavish gifts for their visit. The black sedan slowly pulled away, and I turned back, gazing at the familiar decor of our living room, a surreal feeling washing over me.

Suddenly, my phone on the table vibrated.

"Bar, now."

It was a text from Dylan Sterling, a curt invitation to meet, followed by a bar address. Remembering my purpose, I wanted to clarify the change in marriage plans, so I headed over.

But the moment I pushed open the VIP room door, a bucket of ice-cold water drenched me, leaving me shivering and soaked. A chill seeped into my bones, and I heard laughter erupting from all around.

"Well, well, isn't it Eleanor Vance? Why, you're absolutely drenched and looking pathetic!"

"Serves her right! Serves her right! Who told her to chase Dylan Sterling day in and day out? This is what you get for shamelessly fawning over someone!"

Dylan Sterling approached me, his face cold, his eyes dark with annoyance.

"Are you that desperate to marry me? The news of our supposed alliance just leaked, and you immediately sent your parents to my house to discuss the wedding, making sure everyone knew. Now the whole social circle thinks we're getting married. Are you satisfied?"

I knew he had misunderstood. I wiped the water from my face, pushing my damp hair from my forehead. My gaze met his, calm and steady.

"The alliance between the Vance and Sterling families is set. It makes no difference which house discusses it. But you needn't worry, because this marriage has nothing to do with you."

Dylan Sterling paused, then let out a cold laugh. "Nothing to do with me? You're not going to tell me that the person you're marrying isn't me, are you? Ridiculous. Besides me, who else in the Sterling family would even consider marrying you?"

I was about to speak when the half-open door pushed inward. Serena Hayes burst in, her eyes welling with tears as she took in the scene.

"Young Master… I… I heard you're getting married. I came specifically to wish you happiness. I hope you and Ms. Vance have a beautiful life together, growing old and content."

With those words, she turned and rushed out, her faint sobs echoing behind her.

"Serena!"

Dylan Sterling instantly panicked. He shoved me aside without a second thought and chased after her. I stumbled backward, hitting the coffee table, a cut forming on my forehead. Blood trickled down, looking alarmingly stark against my pale skin.

A sharp pain shot through me as I watched their retreating figures. My mind flooded with memories from my previous life.

In that life, Dylan Sterling and I grew up together, and our bond was strong. When my parents mentioned the family alliance upon my coming of age, I remembered his unwavering care for me over the years and chose him without hesitation.

But after the news broke, his attitude toward me slowly changed – from anger to coldness, eventually bordering on outright disgust. I didn't understand why, but I still married him, hoping things would improve after the wedding.

Yet, even after our child was born, I stumbled upon thousands of Serena Hayes's photos hidden in Dylan's study. It was then I realized he had always loved his nanny's daughter, but their differing social statuses had prevented him from pursuing her. Serena eventually married someone else two years after our wedding, but their marriage was always unhappy. He drowned his sorrows in drink every day, grieving for her. The day her husband died in a car accident was the happiest day of his life.

I witnessed it all, my heart a desolate wasteland. I could only force myself to ignore it, dedicating my life to raising our daughter. Until a kidnapping case embroiled both my daughter and Serena's son. The kidnappers demanded Dylan choose one. He hesitated for mere seconds before picking the boy with whom he shared no blood.

The next second, our daughter was pushed from a high-rise building and fell to her death. Watching it unfold, I broke down completely and leaped from the building myself.

Now, with a second chance at life, I refused to torment myself again. I only wanted to cut all ties with Dylan Sterling!

In the VIP room, Dylan's friends continued their snarky remarks.

"A forced relationship won't bring happiness. If Dylan doesn't want to marry someone, what good is it even if they tie the knot?"

"Then Dylan won't come home, and those who only fawn over him will be left to endure the loneliness of neglect!"

Amidst the mocking, my phone rang. I picked it up and saw a message from my parents.

"Eleanor! Julian agreed! The wedding is in two weeks!"

My parents were usually so composed; three exclamation marks clearly showed their surprise and excitement that Julian Sterling had agreed. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

I forced myself to stand, looking at the laughing onlookers, my eyes holding a newfound resolve.

"Whether I find happiness in my marriage is none of your concern, and it has nothing to do with Dylan Sterling."

"Please tell him: I'm getting married in two weeks, and the groom won't be him!"

###