Chapter 1

I got a second chance at life.

This time, Grandpa wanted me to choose one of the Thompson sisters for a family alliance.

No one expected me to pick Victoria, Chloe Thompson's older sister.

Everyone knew I'd been obsessed with Chloe since childhood.

I'd gone to desperate lengths to make her my wife.

I forced a bitter laugh, remembering the last life.

On our wedding day, Chloe ran off with Leo, the young man our family had taken in.

She declared she'd only marry him, abandoning me at the altar.

I stood there in my long-awaited tuxedo, utterly humiliated.

Only then did I realize her agreement to the engagement was just a twisted plan to get revenge on me at the wedding.

After being reborn, I started avoiding her at all costs.

Later, when I held her sister close, my lips swollen from kissing, Chloe–who'd always looked down on me–suddenly lost it.

Once the wedding date was set, I started preparing everything needed for the ceremony.

I never expected to run into Chloe and her friends at the mall.

"He follows you everywhere, your man's got you on a pretty tight leash, huh?"

Her friend teased her with a playful grin, making Chloe frown.

"He is not my man. Say that again, and I'll stitch your mouth shut."

Chloe spotted me from afar and marched over, annoyance etched on her face.

"Liam, seriously, what is your problem? Why are you following me everywhere?"

"You forced our families to tie us down, and now everyone knows you're marrying a Thompson. Are you happy now?"

I stayed silent for a moment, my expression calm.

"I'm not trying to tie you to me. You're mistaken."

Her emotions flared, and she gripped my wrist tightly, a dull ache spreading through my hand.

"Then why are you here? Isn't it just to track me?"

I pulled my hand away, instinctively rubbing my reddened wrist, and explained,

"I'm here to pick up some things for the wedding. I didn't expect to see you."

Her friends noticed the tension between us and immediately gathered around.

"Wedding stuff? Chloe, you're so lucky, your fiancé handles everything, you don't have to lift a finger."

Chloe shot a fierce glare at her friend, ignoring the comment.

"Liam, don't think that just because our families are merging, you can get me this way."

"You'll get my person, but never my heart. I despise manipulative, toxic men like you."

Her eyes were cold, her voice thick with suppressed anger.

But I felt nothing. I just wanted to escape this drama.

I looked up, meeting her gaze calmly.

"Who said I want your heart? Don't flatter yourself. And I'm not marrying you."

At my words, Chloe's face instantly fell.

"What are you even talking about? You used every trick in the book to force me to marry you before, and now that you've finally succeeded, you're saying I'm not the one you're marrying…"

Her friend nudged her shoulder.

"Chloe, can't you see? He's just playing hard to get, saying things to spite you."

"He's personally out here picking out wedding decorations, and you're still being sarcastic. Do you think Liam would be happy?"

Chloe's expression softened slightly.

She stared at me, her face a mix of emotions, before finally managing a sentence.

"I'll be there for the wedding on time, but I stand by what I said: don't think I'll ever like you."

Suddenly, something dropped behind us.

Chloe and I turned simultaneously, seeing Leo standing there, dressed in casual clothes, a look of shock on his face.

He was the young man our family had taken in. He had poor health and was a frequent patient at the hospital. My mother pitied his difficult living situation and brought him to live with us.

Now, he looked like a delicate young man, with clear eyes framed by fluttering eyelashes.

Chloe immediately let go of me and darted over to him.

"Leo, let me explain! It's not what you think!"

Leo turned and walked away, not giving her a chance to explain.

The group dispersed, following Leo's exit.

As Chloe left, she spat a threat at me.

"If Leo gets sick because of this, I swear I'll make you pay."

I let out a self-deprecating laugh, wondering for a second if the Chloe I grew up with had been swapped out for someone else.