Chapter 1

In my last life, my parents gave me a choice: pick a husband from the city’s three most powerful families for a strategic alliance.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I chose Liam Sterling, the man I believed I loved most.

But on our wedding day, he died in a car crash on the way to pick me up.

The Sterlings were shattered, crying their hearts out. They never dared to say anything to my family, but I was consumed by guilt. I unconditionally transferred all my assets and shares to them.

It wasn't until twenty years later, during a business trip abroad, that I saw him. He was passionately kissing my former bridesmaid, Chloe Miller, right there on the street.

The heirs from the other two powerful families, Brandon Hayes and Noah Collins, were there too, looking on with envy. "Twenty years of faking his death, and he found his one true love. Not a bad deal," Brandon chuckled.

"And that tired old hag, Aria Thorne, actually stayed loyal to him for twenty years. What a joke!" Noah added, laughing.

I lunged forward in a rage to confront them, but Liam had eight men grab me and drag me into a pickup truck, where I was humiliated.

He smirked, his face twisted in a cruel grin. "You just *had* to choose me back then, didn't you? It led to Chloe getting drunk and being assaulted by eight men!"

"Since you came looking for trouble, I'll make sure you get a taste of what it's like to wish you were dead!"

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my parents told me to pick a husband.

I pointed to the tall figure standing quietly in the corner, the nanny's son. "Him," I declared.