Chapter 3

Perhaps the universe finally took pity on me, for when I opened my eyes, I was back at my wedding with Fiona, the one from forty years ago.

By then, Fiona had already walked up to the stage and was standing right next to me.

While the whole room erupted in cheers and blessings, her eyes were clouded with loneliness as she kept searching the crowd, looking lost.

Watching this all unfold, I was struck by déjà vu: I'd lived this moment before.

Last time around, right here, Fiona met Michael's gaze and decided to drop everything and leave with him.

But back then, my pride wouldn't let me lose her, and I also couldn't bear the thought of her suffering with penniless Michael.

So I grabbed her hand and pleaded with everything I had. I even invoked her parents, begging her desperately to stay.

I pleaded, "Fiona, please, think about your parents. Don't go. I love you. I swear I'll make you happy."

With all the guests murmuring and watching, Fiona finally stopped in her tracks, gave up on leaving, and stood by my side to finish the wedding.

This time, when she rushed after Michael, I grabbed her arm, just like I did in my previous life.

She gave me that same contemptuous look from my previous life.

She snapped, "David, let go of me. If anything happens to Michael, I'll never forgive you, even if it kills me."

I gave her a small, wry smile and quickly slipped the car keys into her hand.

"Drive after him," I said.

Fiona glanced at me with a hint of suspicion in her eyes, but it quickly turned into a look of self-satisfaction.

She said, "Good, you know what's best. Relax, I'll be back before you know it."

Watching her storm out, I just gave a nonchalant smile.

Then, raising my glass to the chattering guests, I called out, "Thank you all for coming. Fiona and I are calling off the wedding party today. Sorry for the trouble. But the party's still on, so eat, drink, and have a good time."

After that, I asked my assistant to take care of things and headed back to the Harper residence.

In my previous life, afraid Fiona wouldn't feel at home here, I couldn't bring myself to sell the villa, even when the Harper Group was barely hanging on.

But as soon as she was gone, she left it all to Michael.

Back in the house where I'd spent half my life, a flood of bittersweet memories and regrets washed over me.

Now that the universe had handed me this second chance, I was done trying to force anything.

I put together a detailed handover plan and made a thorough report on the Harper family's assets and the Harper Group's finances.

If history repeated itself, the Harper Group's next major disaster was coming up in about three months.

Armed with all the hindsight from my previous life, I jotted down every issue I knew was coming for the Harper Group and mapped out how to fix them, one by one.

I just want to make sure the Harper Group stays afloat and thriving. At least that way, I can finally repay Fiona's parents for all the kindness they showed me.

Before I knew it, it was almost midnight, and the party at the hotel had long since broken up.

But Fiona, who had sworn she'd be back, still hadn't shown up.

Good thing I'd already expected this.

Those glaring "Just Married" banners were so blinding, I couldn't stand to look at them. I tore them all down, the ripping sound echoing through the room, then just crashed into bed and passed out.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by a frantic pounding on the door.

When I opened it, to my surprise, Fiona was standing right there, with Michael following close behind her.

Fiona glared at me, her face full of anger.

She snapped, "Where the hell have you been? Why did it take you so long to open the door?

"Send 650 thousand to Michael. He needs it for a business deal."

She didn't even mention the wedding, didn't bother explaining herself at all.

The moment she opened her mouth, it was all about money.

Just like in my previous life, the only thing she ever talked to me about was money.

I was so pathetic back then: throwing cash her way, desperate for a crumb of attention, only for her to hand it all to Michael without a second thought.

Back then, I figured as long as she was happy, it didn't matter to me what she did with the money.

But as far as I remembered, Michael was never the business type. He was a total layabout, blowing through cash like water. He couldn't even scrape together enough to get hitched.

Yet Fiona actually bought into the idea that he was being noble, staying single his whole life just for her.

But her parents had just passed away, and the Harper Group was strapped for cash, so I couldn't pull that kind of money.

Seeing that I didn't react at all, Fiona immediately flipped out on me.

She snapped, "David, I'm talking to you. Are you even listening?

"Don't forget, our wedding still hasn't even happened yet. Unless you want it to be on hold forever, you'd better do as I say."

So she seriously still thought I just postponed the wedding because I actually wanted to marry her?

I said, "Forget the wedding. It's canceled.

"And about the money, I'll get it all sorted and hand everything over to you soon."