Chapter 1
A month before I turned 20, my dad put four files on the table. They were profiles of the heirs from Northbridge's top four families. He told me to pick one. An arranged marriage.
Without a second thought, I chose Nathan Payne.
Everyone was stunned.
In Northbridge, everyone knew I, Evelyn Hart, the only heiress of the Hart family, was the ultimate simp for Alexander Grant—hopelessly devoted to him since childhood.
But only I knew that in my previous life, I actually got to marry Alexander.
The day after our grand wedding, he told me Rosalind Stone, the delicate girl my father had sponsored, was the one he truly loved.
He publicly announced that our marriage was just for show, and that he'd be with her in every sense but name.
When he went to pick her up the next day, she left him a cold farewell letter and vanished.
He was absolutely convinced I was the one who forced her to leave, and from then on, he saw me as his mortal enemy.
Every week, he paraded a new lover right in front of me, getting all cozy with them. They all looked like her. Same smile, same eyes.
Then, on the day he officially took over Hart Corporation, I ended up dying in a brutal "accident" on the road.
Given a second chance at life, I made up my mind to marry someone else—someone with nothing to do with him, and keep my distance for good.
But when Alexander heard I chose another man? That perfect, untouchable heir to the Grant family? He completely lost it.
*****
"Wow, Alexander, she actually followed you all the way to Lioren," one of them snickered.
"No way. She crossed half the world for you. Your stalker game just leveled up," another joined in, his voice dripping with mockery.
The sleazy, mocking voices crashed into my ears. I turned around coldly.
Alexander's face darkened, and he frowned at me. "What are you doing here?
"You had no shame following me around Northbridge, but now you've even tracked me all the way to Lioren?"
He put on a stern face and lectured me, "You're the only heiress of the Hart Family. Don't you have any sense of dignity?"
That fake righteous look, with the disgust barely hidden underneath.
I'd spent over ten years watching that expression in my previous life. I knew it by heart.
Back then, in front of everyone, I'd force myself to smile, but as soon as I got home, I'd cry my eyes out, feeling completely lost.
I'd lie awake at night wondering what was so wrong with me. Why couldn't he stand me?
But now, I just threw out a chilly line.
I said, "My dad sent me here to bid on some jewelry for my twentieth birthday. What does that have to do with you?"
Alexander was totally stunned by my attitude, left speechless for a moment.
Before he could even process it, his crew went wild.
"Evelyn's great grandfather, Mr. Gordon Hart's will says she has to choose one of the heirs from Northbridge's top four families to marry when she turns 20, and whoever she picks gets to run Hart Corporation," one of them said.
"All four families owe everything to the Hart family. This is basically the godfather handing out dynastic marriages!" another said.
Alexander's eyes flickered, and he cast me a subtle sidelong glance.
"The Hart family's got a whole business empire. If you end up running both Hart Corporation and Grant Group, you'll literally own Northbridge!" another said.
"Alexander, when you're running the whole city, don't forget your friends. Look out for us," yet another said.
"Congrats, Alexander! Best wishes, man," yet another said.
While everyone else was busy congratulating him, I just watched Alexander with icy indifference.
His expression barely changed.
But after two lifetimes of knowing him, I still spotted a fleeting hint of happiness in his eyes.
"Alright, let's just follow Mr. Gordon Hart's arrangements," Alexander said.
His expression softened a little, and he looked at me like he was doing me a favor. "Fine, you can stay, but keep your distance. I'm here to work."
Suddenly, he leaned in close and whispered, "I'm bringing Rosalind home with me on our wedding day.
"If you dare say no, I'll call off the wedding and make sure you never get me."
My heart clenched. So he'd come back from the future, too.
"Alex." A soft, sweet voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
In an instant, Alexander's icy face softened with unexpected tenderness.
He said, "You must still be jet-lagged. Why not rest a bit longer?"
"I heard Evelyn was here, so I wanted to come say hi," Rosalind said.
She gave me a nervous, pale smile. "Hey, Evelyn. Please don't get the wrong idea. I'm just here as Mr. Grant's assistant this time."
"Why bother explaining to her?" Alexander pulled Rosalind behind him, glaring at me. "There's nothing between us right now."
"Your health matters most. Everything else can wait," he said, his voice suddenly gentle.
He was always lecturing me about having no shame. But with Rosalind? Suddenly everything else could wait.
*****
At the auction, Alexander went all out, snapping up three pieces of jewelry, and Rosalind couldn't help but beam with excitement.
I still hadn't found anything I liked, even as the event was wrapping up.
Just as I was about to leave, the auctioneer gave a mysterious smile and revealed an antique ring.
Anyone with an eye for these things could tell at a glance. It was worth a fortune.
For the first time tonight, I actually sat up, finally interested.
But before the auctioneer could even say a word, Alexander coolly raised his paddle. "30 million dollars."
"Sorry, Mr. Grant..." the auctioneer said.
"Pounds," Alexander added, his tone flat and unbothered.
I glanced over, catching Alexander's icy stare, while Rosalind was shrieking and clinging to him, kissing him like she'd just won the lottery.
"Sorry, Mr. Grant," the auctioneer said with a grin, then turned to me. "This one's reserved for Ms. Hart."
"But we bid first!" Rosalind complained, sounding pretty upset.
"Mr. Hart set this aside. It's not up for auction. He said Ms. Hart's got picky taste, and if nothing else caught her eye tonight, maybe this one will do the trick," the auctioneer joked.
The staff member bowed politely as he handed me the ring. "Wishing you a happy birthday, Ms. Hart."
Rosalind's face went even paler.
Alexander pulled her close by the waist, his eyes flashing with fury.
"Evelyn, if you keep bullying Rosalind, I swear I'll call off the wedding," he said.