Chapter 1

The husband who hated me most died in a roaring fire just to save my life.

Moments before the flames consumed him, he tore our marriage certificate to shreds.

"If there's a next life, I hope to God I never meet you."

I finally understood the depths of his hatred.

Three years prior, his close friend Victoria Ashford’s family had been swept up in a massive federal investigation. She’d begged him for help. But that day, he was with me at a church prayer service, missing his only window to save her.

Victoria later took her own life in despair. Grant spent the next ten years punishing me for it.

After his death, the crushing weight of the blame fell squarely on my shoulders. I couldn't take it anymore. I took a blade and slit my own throat.

But instead of darkness, I opened my eyes to find myself standing ten years in the past—on the exact day Grant and I were supposed to get engaged.

This time, I decided to give them exactly what they wanted.

Grant Harrington stared at me, his eyes dead. Not a trace of the warmth a man should have on his engagement day.

"My parents took you in, Evelyn. They gave you a home," he said, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "I never expected you to be greedy enough to demand a marriage, too."

He stepped closer. "Let me make this clear. We can go through with this wedding, but don't you ever expect me to love you."

I looked at his young, unscarred face, then down at the stack of unsent wedding invitations resting on the mahogany desk. The realization hit me like a physical blow.

I had woken up ten years in the past.

Right now, the Ashford family hadn't fallen yet. Victoria hadn't made her desperate plea for help.

There was still time to fix everything.

The brutal memories of my past life flashed behind my eyes. Forcing down the sting of tears, I met his gaze evenly.

"I know your heart belongs to someone else," I said, my voice perfectly steady. "Don't worry, Grant. I'm stepping aside. You can have exactly what you want."

"Step aside?" Surprise flickered across his face, quickly replaced by a cold scoff. "How? Half of Manhattan already knows the Harringtons are hosting a wedding."

He shook his head, disgust radiating off him. "I treated you like family. I looked out for you. And this is how you repay me? Manipulating my parents? Backing Victoria into a corner? They wouldn't be targeting her if you weren't constantly whispering poison in their ears."

Without waiting for an answer, he turned his back to me, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows toward Greenwich. His thumb absently stroked the silver band on his finger—a cheap ring Victoria had given him.

I didn't argue. I simply turned to Martha, the head seamstress waiting by the door, and calmly recited Victoria’s dress measurements.

Then, I picked up a pen, crossed my own name off the top wedding invitation, and wrote Victoria Ashford in its place.

As I set the pen down, the emerald bracelet on my wrist caught the light.

Grant had given it to me ten years ago.

Back then, my parents had died in a sudden accident, and my relatives had swarmed like vultures to strip away everything they left behind. I had nowhere to go.

Grant had appeared like a savior. He begged his parents, Robert and Margaret, to take me in as their ward. He stayed by my side, helping me navigate the daunting world of the Harrington estate.

His parents used to joke that I was his little shadow. Grant never minded. He would just smile and ruffle my hair.

When the estate staff realized I was just an orphaned ward, they started cutting my allowances and mocking me behind my back.

The day Grant found out, he fired them on the spot.

"Evelyn is family," he had said, his voice like ice. "Anyone who disrespects her can pack their bags."

He kept his promise. He protected me fiercely. Whether it was the spring charity polo matches or the governor’s gala, he was always my escort. Everyone in New York high society knew Grant Harrington would never allow anyone to look down on Evelyn Carlisle.

It didn't take long for a young, naive me to fall hopelessly in love with him.

Robert and Margaret saw it, too, and happily pushed us together, assuming it was a natural match.

I used to think he felt the same way.

But my past life had violently proven otherwise. He never loved me.

Pushing the memories aside, I dismissed Martha and looked back at Grant.

"Grant, we still need to select the rings. Let's head to the Cartier Fifth Avenue Mansion."

He turned away from the window, his brow furrowing.

"You just handed over your dress measurements, and now you want to go ring shopping? Are you really that desperate to lock this down?"

He checked his watch. "Too bad. I'm seeing Victoria today. Go by yourself."

A dull ache pressed against my chest, but I kept my face blank.

"If you have plans, go see her. We can meet at the Cartier entrance at six."

Grant eyed me suspiciously.

"Why are you being so agreeable? Usually, just hearing Victoria's name sets you off. What, you think because the wedding is announced, she's no longer a threat?"

I offered a faint smile but didn't bother answering. He didn't wait for one, turning on his heel and walking out.

I left the estate shortly after, wandering aimlessly through Manhattan until late afternoon.

When I finally returned to the Harrington mansion, Grant wasn't there. Instead, I ran into Robert and Margaret.

Seeing me return alone with Sophia, my maid, carrying shopping bags, they immediately put the pieces together.

Margaret stepped forward, taking my hands in hers.

"Evelyn, did Grant leave you by yourself again?" She sighed heavily. "That boy needs to take responsibility. I'll make him apologize the second he gets back."

She gestured for the butler to bring forward a velvet tray.

"He had Cartier send over their best selections. Pick whichever one you like, sweetheart. A wedding is a massive milestone; we won't let you feel slighted."

"We've always wanted this for you two," Robert added gently. "Don't worry. We'll make sure this wedding is a celebration, and you won't have to handle it alone."

They both genuinely believed Grant was just being stubborn, that deep down, he loved me.

But I knew the truth. He only sent these jewels out of guilt and a lingering sense of obligation.