Chapter 1

On our seventh wedding anniversary, my husband suddenly raised his glass to me and said, "I never realized how pathetic you are."

I froze, unable to understand why he would say such cruel words.

"I spent less on you than I would on a maid. You've belonged to me for seven years, and you'll belong to me for the rest of your life. So, tell me, is this the way you expect me to repay you?"

His voice dripped with exhaustion and hatred as he continued, "You're worth nothing compared to Heather."

Something inside me shattered.

Suddenly, the building shook violently. As the chandelier crashed down, he threw himself over me, shielding me with his body.

Despite being covered in blood, he managed a smile and said, "I've settled my debt to you. If there's a next life, don't be such a disgrace again."

After they laid him to rest, I stepped off the edge of a 30-story building.

When I opened my eyes, I was back on that very day.

His mother stood before me, an arrogant smile playing on her lips.

She held out a marriage contract and asked, "Would you like to become my daughter-in-law? You'll gain 100 billion dollars in assets and all the love you could ever want."

I was caught off guard. After a long pause, I whispered, "No. I'm already engaged."

Jolene Fairchild's face twisted with confusion. "But you're only 16 and an orphan. How could you possibly have a fiance?"

I lowered my gaze and forced out a lie. "He's my neighbor, and he's always been kind to me."

Jolene's fingers clenched tighter around her rosary beads. All of a sudden, she let out a sharp sigh.

I knew she held no affection for me, nor was her behavior motivated by any sense of obligation. Instead, it was driven purely by superstition. After all, I had once saved her son by the sea.

It was exactly as the fortune-teller had predicted years ago. If I joined their household, I could turn their luck around and bring them blessings.

In my past life, I had been blind to this harsh truth. But this time, I would never let myself be fooled again.

Seeing the determination in my eyes, Jolene could only relent.

The moment I walked out of the hospital, a sharp voice stopped me in my tracks.

A man rushed toward me, his head wrapped in gauze. His pale face was marked with frustration as he grabbed my wrist firmly. "Bring out that marriage contract! There's no way I'm agreeing to this!"

The fire in his eyes said it all—he had been reborn, too.

I yanked my hand free and wiped the sweat from my temple.

"What are you talking about? I don't know you," I said, my voice calm and steady.

Emmett Reid froze, his brows knitting together. "Drop the act. You risked your life to save me just because you knew my family's loaded, didn't you?"

I looked up and smiled. "So, you're the one who fell into the water, huh?"

Emmett's expression shifted. He was clearly uninterested in arguing with me, instead going straight to the point. "Did my mother give you a marriage contract? Take it out and tear it up right now."

He kept his gaze fixed on me, closely watching for any subtle change in my expression. His tension was palpable. It was clear he feared I might still cling to him in this life.

A dull ache stirred in my chest, yet I concealed it behind a mask of confusion. "Mrs. Reid did mention it, but I refused."

Emmett's features hardened, disbelief coloring his voice. "You refused?"

I waved the envelope in my hand. "Marriage aside, what I truly want is the money."

Far from easing up, Emmett's brow furrowed deeper. He grabbed my hand and snapped, "Don't play games with me. I swear, I'll never let you be my bride. Last time—"

He abruptly trailed off, cutting himself off mid-sentence.

I pretended not to understand, wearing a look of confusion. Slowly, I took a step back.

He gritted his teeth and snorted coldly. "Now that you've taken the money, you'd better stay far away. Don't think you can use some 'debt of gratitude' to worm your way into the Reid family."

Taking a brief pause, he went on, "Of course, I'm not some heartless man. I can help you find a new place to live, so you won't have to return to that shabby fishing village. I'll even pay for your college education."

His words tore at my chest.

Just then, a young woman came up and slipped her arm through Emmett's. "Hey, Emmy, why are you out here? The doctor said you need to rest!"

Immediately, Emmett's tense expression softened into a warm smile. "It's just a minor injury."

My eyes instinctively drifted to their intertwined arms before I cut in firmly, responding to his earlier words, "Thanks, but I don't need your help."

Under their stunned gazes, I turned and stepped onto the bus.

Chapter 2

The view outside the bus blurred into motion, but that moment played over and over in my mind.

In my past life, Emmett always kept me at arm's length. We stayed in separate rooms, and even holding hands was off limits.

The night I became an adult, I offered myself without hesitation, sipping the wine Jolene handed me.

My cheeks burned bright red, while his face stayed cold and unreadable.

"Danielle, life in that fishing village shaped you into someone wild and untamed. But I'm different. I want to take things slow."

Back then, I didn't notice the rejection hidden in Emmett's eyes. All I heard were the words "take things slow".

For those three words, I wasted years waiting.

Right when he was beginning to get close to me, his cousin, Heather Barnaby, came to stay at the Reid residence to recuperate. With her education, poise, and good manners, she swiftly captured the Reid family's affection.

Emmett was no exception. Being close in age, they started spending a lot of time together.

Whenever we talked, Heather would casually drop details about her and Emmett. She told me they were known at school as the perfect couple.

Every time I heard those words, a sharp ache clenched my chest. Still, I couldn't bring myself to believe it.

Everyone around me said Heather treated Emmett like an older brother, and he saw her only as a younger sister.

It wasn't until our wedding day that I realized they had been secretly involved all along. Both the Reid and Barnaby families were well aware of it, too.

I was left standing there, feeling like a fool. Some had warned me before, but I chose not to listen.

After my parents' death, the only person who truly cared for me was Ambrose Talerico.

When I arrived in the fishing village, I didn't head straight home. Instead, I went to Ambrose's door and knocked firmly, a faint unease stirring in my chest.

What I'd told Jolene earlier wasn't entirely true. Even though Ambrose and I grew up as neighbors and he was always kind to me, marriage was never on the table. To him, I was nothing more than a younger sister.

Even so, I was determined to see him.

In my previous life, I ignored his warnings and ended up breaking his heart. From there, our connection gradually faded, and he later moved away, disappearing from my life completely.

He remained my one lasting regret.

As I stood deep in thought, the woman next door suddenly opened her door. "Are you looking for Ambrose? I heard he was in a car accident. He's in the hospital now."

A sudden tightness gripped my chest. After asking around endlessly, I finally discovered Ambrose was in the same hospital as Emmett.

Navigating the sprawling maze of corridors and wards, I unexpectedly ran into Emmett again.

He stepped right in front of me, his voice thick with mockery. "What are you even doing here? You couldn't keep up the act, could you? Stop trying to cling to me!"

His relentless words captured nearby passersby's attention. It felt like I was nothing more than a shameless woman who refused to let go.

Against the backdrop of murmurs, a sudden fury welled up inside me. But beneath that anger, my worry for Ambrose ran deeper than anything else.

So, I ignored Emmett and tried to push past him.

He paused, caught off guard by my dismissive attitude. Without warning, he yanked me back, his jaw clenched tightly. "Here we go again with the same push-and-pull game, huh?"

My indifference only seemed to fan the flames of his anger. He lashed out, his voice edged with fury. "Don't think you mean anything just because you saved me. I'd rather die than—"

"Yes! You'd rather die than marry me. Deep down, you've only ever loved Heather!"

Unable to hold it in any longer, I shouted over him, "So, why didn't you marry her? What stopped you? Or were you just too scared?"

Emmett froze, his face a tangled mess of emotions.

"Wait… Were you reborn as well? Then why didn't you ever speak up?" he whispered, disbelief in his voice.

Seeing him at a loss for words, I said coldly, "Let's just pretend we don't know each other."

Just as I turned to leave, he yanked me back again. "You've gotten bold, haven't you? How dare you hide something like this from me?"

Amid the tension in the air, his phone suddenly rang.

Chapter 3

As luck would have it, I saw the caller was Heather. Her voice trembled on the other end. "Something's happened at home."

Without a word, Emmett spun around and walked out.

I watched his silhouette fade from view, a quiet sigh escaping my lips. Each step he took felt like a needle pressing deeper into my chest.

After racing through the hospital corridors for what felt like forever, I finally learned that Ambrose's ward was on the top floor.

The nurse glanced at my sweat-drenched face, her eyes softening with a hint of pity. "Patients up there are usually in critical condition," she said. "Visitors aren't allowed at this time."

Dizzy and weak, I shook uncontrollably. Tears slipped down my cheeks before I even realized.

Determined to see Ambrose, I stayed at the hospital for several days.

Eventually, I landed a job as a carer. Since I lacked experience, I was assigned to the general ward.

It was there that I saw Emmett again. He was still in his hospital gown, his expression dark with irritation.

The moment our eyes met, his frown eased just a little. Then, he led me to a quiet corner by the elevator and placed a document in my hands.

"Don't think you can manipulate me with such petty tricks. If you want to stay by my side, it's not entirely off the table."

I stared at Emmett, convinced he'd lost his mind.

He continued talking, gesturing toward the agreement. "But here's the deal—you can only assume the identity of my younger sister. That's already my biggest concession. After all, Heather and I are getting married."

Hearing that, I froze. But he went on speaking, as if I wasn't even there.

It turned out that Heather's father, Paul Barnaby, had accidentally hit someone with his car. The victim was revealed to be the Talerico family's long-lost heir.

Because of the accident, Paul soon found himself targeted by the Talericos. Determined to keep him safe, Emmett had even confronted the Talericos head-on.

The only way to resolve the situation now was for him to marry Heather. By doing so, their two families could come together and end the feud.

"Being my sister isn't so bad. I've always treated you well, haven't I?"

I met Emmett's eyes with a blank expression. But inside, I was drowning in feelings I couldn't begin to untangle.

Emmett was right. If he had truly hated me, I wouldn't have been able to hold on for seven years.

He used to bring me gifts from summer camp. After school, he would tutor me and make sure I had all the study materials I needed.

To boost my chances of getting into university, he had even painstakingly handwritten hundreds of pages of revision notes.

Those words had once anchored me through the storm. But now, they stirred only bitterness. I didn't know how to respond.

"Actually—" Emmett paused, struggling to find the right words. "After I 'died' in my last life, my consciousness lingered for a while. I saw what you did, and I'm determined to make it up to you."

"Enough!" I cut him off, breaking free from my trance. "Emmett, I don't need your pity or gratitude. Haven't we already settled our debts?"

Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked away. He remained rooted in place, not chasing after me this time.

A few days later, I finally received permission to access the top floor.

As I pushed the treatment cart down the corridor, Jolene stopped me. She pulled a check from her bag, her voice tinged with regret.

"You haven't reached out to me all this time. I suppose there's no chance for you to join our family now. Here's a small token."

I glanced at the numbers on the check and shook my head. "Mrs. Reid, you've already given me money before. Emmett and I have been square for a long time. I don't need this."

Just as I turned to walk away, the door to a nearby ward swung open abruptly. Emmett stood there, fury blazing in his eyes.

"Don't bother wasting your breath on her!" he barked. "Danielle's always putting on that high-and-mighty act! She visits me every day but refuses to own up to it!

"I'm telling you—Heather and I are getting married!"

He held my gaze, his voice steady and determined.

I felt my whole body tense. Even though I had long expected this moment, it still felt like a thousand needles piercing my heart.

My fists tightened, but my voice remained calm and composed. "Is that so? Congratulations."

Suddenly, Jolene smacked Emmett and frowned. "What's the matter with you? Just the mention of Danielle gets you riled up. You're completely heartless."

She then reached out and gently grasped my arm, her voice softening with a hint of regret.

Going back to what she had asked before, she said, "And what about your fiance? Has the wedding date been set? Please accept this check as a gift."

Suddenly, Emmett's sharp voice pierced the room. "What?"

Chapter 4

Emmett's sudden outburst made Jolene flinch.

Meanwhile, he remained completely unfazed, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on me. Through clenched teeth, he growled, "Since when do you have a fiance?"

I met his gaze in silence. It was all I could offer him now, since I was afraid I'd lose control and blurt out, "Why is it okay for you, but not for me?"

Once she regained her composure, Jolene scolded Emmett and quickly tried to explain the situation.

With a steady breath, I turned and walked away. Their voices trailed behind me, fading with each step.

A heavy bitterness weighed on my heart.

By the time I reached the elevator, I had finally managed to steady myself.

But just as I pressed the button, a hand suddenly grabbed mine from behind.

"Where do you think you're going? You haven't even answered me! What fiance are you talking about? You’re barely grown! Don't ruin your future just to spite me!"

I stared silently at Emmett's anxious face, a laugh nearly escaping me.

In that moment, it dawned on me that he never truly loved me. All those acts of kindness from before meant nothing. Maybe they were only fleeting moments when he saw me as nothing more than a little sister.

"And what does that have to do with you? Why should you care?" A bitter, mocking smile tugged at my lips. "Didn't we agree we owed each other nothing?"

That one sentence left Emmett utterly speechless. But even after regaining his composure, he kept a tight grip on my hand, his brows drawn together.

"I'm only doing this for your own good. If you truly loved me, why would you force yourself to marry someone else?"

I stared at him, my expression steady and unreadable. "Because I don't love you anymore. And, just so you know, my working here as a nursing carer has nothing to do with you. Don't flatter yourself."

Emmett's gaze flickered, his face clouding over.

Just then, the elevator doors slid open, and Heather emerged. As we crossed paths, her expression froze.

A surge of satisfaction swept through me. I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

Almost instantly, Emmett released my hand. He turned to Heather, a touch of awkwardness in his voice. "What are you doing here?"

As the elevator doors closed, I caught a glimpse of Heather rising on her tiptoes to kiss Emmett's cheek.

I pressed the close button, my face betraying no emotion.

When I reached the top floor, I whispered under my breath, "It's finally over."

Without hesitation, I hurried toward Ambrose's hospital room. Summoning every ounce of courage, I pushed the door open.

To my surprise, the bed lay perfectly made.

A chilling thought gripped me, causing my heart to race.

Panicked, I stumbled into the hallway and asked nearly everyone I passed, "Where is the patient from this ward?"

But no one had any answers.

Noticing my shaken state, a colleague gently said, "Please accept my condolences."

I closed my eyes and steadied myself against the wall, refusing to believe what I'd just heard.

Suddenly, a hand gripped my arm.

I spun around. It was Emmett yet again.

A flash of disappointment passed over my face, but he didn't seem to notice.

In a low voice, he said, "I just heard that the Talerico family's heir is fine. It looks like Heather and I won't have to rush our wedding after all."

I hid my feelings behind a blank expression. I was too drained to push him away.

Emmett frowned, looking both awkward and uneasy. After a long silence, his face flushed red, and he finally blurted out, "I'm saying I can call off the wedding."

Still, I remained completely unmoved.

"By the way, I looked into your so-called fiance. He's nothing special." Emmett frowned, struggling to keep his voice steady. "I'm advising you to think carefully. Since you saved me last time, I'm willing to help you find someone better."

I shrugged off his hand, stumbling forward in a daze and whispering, "Let go of me. I have to find him."

With bloodshot eyes, he yelled, "What did you just say?"

I shut my eyes and turned away without a word. But before I could take a step, he yanked me back, gripping me tightly.

At that moment, a deep, commanding voice from behind us cut through the tension. "Let go of my fiancee."