Chapter 2

"Lily, think this through carefully. Our family isn't what it used to be. If you stay, you'll only suffer."

My mother, Hazel Summers' voice pulled me back from the painful memories. I watched her clutch Lily's hand, eyes brimming with heartache.

I remembered it perfectly. In our previous life, when Lily chose the cushy path, Logan and Hazel practically glowed with approval. They didn't even bother comforting me.

That was how it always worked. In their minds, I was a year older than Lily, so I should give her everything. I was the one meant to suffer. It had been that way since we were kids.

Lily put on her best look of righteous indignation. "Mom, I know you're worried about me, but I'm a grown woman now. Evelyn has never been good at handling hardship. I..."

She cut herself off mid-sentence, choking up as she shot me a timid glance, as though I had somehow threatened her into silence. The rest of the words never left her lips.

I laughed bitterly to myself. How had I not seen through Lily's act in our previous life?

Right on cue, the moment Lily buried her face in her hands and sobbed, Hazel's gaze turned cold. And Lily flashed me a smug little smile from behind her tears.

"Evelyn, what do you think? Lily can't handle that kind of pressure." Logan stared at me, his face tight with urgency, waiting to hear the answer he wanted.

It was always the same trick. They never told me what they really wanted outright. They knew I was soft-hearted, that I couldn't stand to see Lily lose out. So I was the one who lost out, every single time.

Their so-called democratic question was nothing more than a veiled threat, forcing me to fall in line so I could never blame them for it later.

"I'll respect whatever Lily wants." I lowered my gaze, hiding the chill in my eyes. I pretended not to understand what Logan really meant.

Logan froze for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

"Then it's settled. Evelyn, get ready to marry into the Whitmore family. Lily will stay and help me." He paused. "Evelyn, once you're there, keep the investment on track."

I remembered it so clearly. In our previous life, when Lily chose to marry Brandon, Logan held her hand with worry in his eyes and said gently.

"Just focus on your own life. Don't worry too much about our family. Our bankruptcy has already dragged you down and made the Whitmores look down on you. We'll try not to be a burden."

But for me, it was constant reminders to support the family. The favoritism was breathtaking.

Fine. I had already seen Logan and Hazel for who they truly were in my previous life. The pain still spread through me, but my heart stayed calm. I went upstairs and packed a few clothes.

Lily leaned against the doorframe, watching me with contempt. "Evelyn, Whitmore Estate is no paradise. Have fun being that psycho's plaything."

I glanced at Lily, my face completely blank. This time, I was the one writing the rules.

The Whitmore car was already waiting outside. I picked up my luggage and looked back at my family. Logan rubbed his temples, exhausted. Hazel held Lily close. And Lily flashed me a victory smile.

I watched the whole performance with ice in my veins. Idiots. You think stealing my path from last time guarantees a happy ending?

This time around, I was going to show her what it truly meant to wish she were dead.

Whitmore Estate was even more magnificent than I remembered. In my previous life, Lily had bragged endlessly about the luxury here.

I had been drowning in the company's cash flow crisis back then and couldn't care less. Seeing it in person, I realized her descriptions barely scratched the surface.

"Ms. Summers, we've arrived." The driver respectfully opened the car door.

I stepped out and looked up at the building. It could have passed for a European castle. The Whitmores were the true apex of the city's elite, their business empire spanning the globe.

If our grandfathers hadn't been bound by a life-or-death friendship, the Summers family would never have had a shot at a marriage alliance with a dynasty like this.

"So you're Evelyn?"

A lazy, drawling voice came from the side. I turned to find a tall, lean man leaning against a Roman pillar, his white dress shirt hanging open at the collar.

A cigarette smoldered between his fingers. Through the haze of smoke, those narrow, fox-like eyes swept over me from head to toe.

Brandon Whitmore. I turned the name over in my mind. The devil who had made Lily's life a living hell in my previous life.

"Hello, Mr. Whitmore." I dipped my head slightly, letting a strand of hair fall across my face on purpose. Lily had once mentioned that Brandon despised women who tried too hard.

To my surprise, Brandon straightened up and crushed his cigarette into the ashtray. He strode toward me and reached out to tuck that loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"Just call me Brandon." His voice was low, carrying a trace of barely concealed amusement. "No need to be so formal with your fiancé."

Every muscle in my body went rigid. Brandon was nothing like the cold, ruthless man Lily had described.

"What? Did I scare you?" Brandon raised an eyebrow, then leaned in close to my ear. "Relax. I'm very... gentle with women."

His warm breath grazed my ear. I instinctively stepped back, but he caught my wrist. "My adorable fiancée, shouldn't we be getting to know each other?"