Chapter 1

I loved Eric for ten years.

But at his twenty-eighth birthday party, I watched him propose to his first love, Serena Miller.

He mocked my foolish devotion, me, his foster sister.

When Serena faked a fall down the stairs, Ethan slapped me, whipped me, and even locked me in the basement.

He looked at me with disgust. "You're too malicious. Who could ever love someone like you?"

In the end, I died tragically in that cold, dark basement.

Reborn, I knelt before my adoptive mother, declaring with absolute resolve, "I'm willing to marry Damian Vance."

Aurora POV

At the twenty-eighth birthday party of billionaire heir, Eric Owens, he gave me the biggest "surprise" of my life.

In front of all the powerful elites and media, he walked onto the stage, holding hands with his freshly returned first love, Serena Miller, and took the microphone.

"I'd like to use today's occasion to announce something. Starting tomorrow, the core 'Stardust' project of Owens Corp. will be fully managed by Serena as its chief director."

For a moment, the entire banquet hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone's eyes, sharp like needles, were directed straight at me.

I, Aurora Hayes, was the orphan adopted by the Owens family, Eric's adopted sister.

The entire city knew that I loved Eric like a lunatic.

And the 'Stardust' project? I'd spent three grueling years, countless sleepless nights, pushing myself to the point of collapse and even landing in the ER with severe stomach issues, just to secure that project for Owens Corp. It was my life's blood.

Now, with a single, dismissive sentence, he took what I'd literally fought for with my life and handed it to his beloved.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for me to snap, waiting for me to charge the stage like a madwoman and claw at Serena's hair, waiting to see the Owens family become a laughingstock.

After all, I had once, to drive away women around Ethan, slit my wrists, jumped from a building, and even intentionally crashed my car into Serena's.

But I didn't.

I calmly placed my red wine glass down, took a pre-prepared document and a velvet box from my bag, and walked onto the stage step by step in my high heels.

I pushed the documents and the box towards them.

"Congratulations, and happy birthday. Here are all the core data and official seals for the 'Stardust' project. Serena, welcome back."

The velvet box opened, revealing a priceless Patek Philippe antique watch. I'd saved five years' worth of earnings to bid on it.

At the sound of "Serena," Ethan's hand, reaching for the documents, suddenly froze.

He lifted his eyelids, his deep, sharp eyes staring intently at me, as if trying to drill a hole through my face.

After scrutinizing me for a full thirty seconds, his brow furrowed, and he let out a cold laugh.

"Aurora, what game are you playing now?"

His tone was full of mockery and suspicion.

I looked at the face I had been obsessed with for ten years.

He had sword-like brows and star-like eyes, with a cold, rugged facial contour. I once loved this face so much that I would have given my life for it.

But now, my heart felt like stagnant water.

"No games."

I lowered my eyes.

"I genuinely wish you both well. Since Serena is back, I'll apply tomorrow to transfer to the struggling branch office out in the Pacific Northwest region, to make room."

The Pacific Northwest branch office was the most peripheral, most unprofitable part of the Owens empire, constantly losing money. Going there was like being exiled.

Ethan's brows furrowed deeply.

He stared at me, seemingly searching for a trace of pretense on my face, but found nothing.

A strange irritation inexplicably rose in his heart. Just as he was about to speak, Serena gently tugged his sleeve.

"Ethan, is Aurora angry with me? If she doesn't want to, I'd rather not take this project..."

Her voice was weak and pitiful.

Ethan immediately clasped her hand, giving me a cold glance.

"If she wants to leave, no one can stop her. Aurora, remember your words. Tomorrow, you'll go to the Pacific Northwest, and don't you dare come back without my permission!"

"Okay."

I turned and walked off the stage without hesitation, leaving the banquet hall.

No one knew I had died once before.

In my previous life, at this very birthday party, I had thrown a terrible fit, publicly slapping Serena.

To avenge her, Ethan locked me in the basement for an entire month.

Later, relying on my adoptive mother's affection, I pestered him relentlessly, even resorted to drugging Ethan and forcing myself into his bed, practically blackmailing him into marrying me.

But a forced marriage was hell.

After we married, he treated me like an enemy, constantly suppressing me. He even leaked Owens family secrets to rivals to spite me for Serena, leading to Owens Corp.'s bankruptcy, my adoptive father jumping from a building, and my adoptive mother dying of depression.

And I? I was kidnapped by Serena's rabid fans and tortured to death.

Before I died, I called Ethan a hundred times for help. When he finally answered, he only said one thing.

"Aurora, what pity are you trying to evoke now? Just die."

Then he hung up.

Living this life again, I finally understood: if he doesn't love you, he just doesn't love you.

My unrequited love ruined the Owens family, and it ruined me.

Back at the Owens family mansion, I walked straight to my adoptive mother's room.

I knelt straight down before her.

My adoptive mother gasped in surprise, rushing to help me up.

"Aurora, what are you doing? Did Ethan bully you again? I heard about him giving the project to Serena. Your mom will go scold him tomorrow!"

I shook my head, looking deeply into her eyes.

"The Owens family has raised me for ten years. It's time I repaid their kindness. I hear the company's cash flow has been cut off, and it desperately needs funding from the Vance family."

I looked up, my eyes filled with resolve.

"I am willing to marry Damian of the Vance family."