Chapter 1

Elian Cole and I traveled back in time at the same time.

In this life, he knew in advance that he would be a legendary business tycoon.

He knew that one day he would hold the reins of most of Kingsford's business empire, that he would send countless companies into bankruptcy as long as he wanted.

And his only regret in his previous life was not marrying his true love, Claire Gray, whom he never forgot.

So, without a second thought, he left me standing there waiting to exchange wedding rings and went to search for Claire, who was about to take her own life.

And I, instead of crying or making a scene, chose to let him go.

*****

At the wedding, the host asked with a smile, "Do you take her to be your lawfully wedded wife, for richer or for poorer—"

Before he finished speaking, Elian's smile instantly stiffened.

He covered his head in pain and began to wail.

After a few seconds, he looked up again, and only indifference remained in his eyes. "I do not."

Then, without giving anyone time to react, he threw the ring from his hand to the floor and left without looking back.

There was an uproar, and everyone hurriedly came to comfort me.

But I didn't cry or make a scene, just stared blankly at his back.

Could it be that he traveled back, too?

If he was in such a hurry, he must be heading to the rooftop.

That was where the woman he had loved all his life was. She was threatening to end her life because of his wedding.

In the same situation in my previous life, I chose to hold a knife to my neck and let him make a choice. "If you dare to take a step out of this door today, I will die in front of you immediately."

And his parents were also putting pressure on him. "Elian, don't be foolish. You know full well what today is. If you dare go see that woman, we'll act as if we never had a son."

The guests had also tried to talk him out of it.

With everyone chiming in, they had succeeded in keeping Elian there.

But I didn't expect Claire's death to come at the end of the wedding.

I heard that after she jumped from a tall building, her blood stained the ground red.

Elian went crazy and pushed away everyone who tried to stop him and rushed downstairs, hugging her body and wailing.

He didn't say a word to me on the way back.

Even though I kept apologizing, he refused to acknowledge me.

I used all my private savings to properly settle Claire's family and arranged an extraordinarily grand funeral for her.

Elian was finally moved by my sincerity and finally made up with me after half a month.

I originally thought that this little episode would be over, and we would still be as happy as ever.

Even Elian never mentioned Claire again, as if she had never existed.

In order to make up for the indifference towards me on my wedding day, Elian was compliant with me after marriage.

Whatever I asked for, he did his best to give it to me.

Even after I was diagnosed with infertility, he took the blame upon himself.

He lied to his family that he had no sperm.

As time passed, I thought he had truly let go of the past and was willing to build a life with me.

I secretly took confidential documents from my family and handed them over to him, along with all my connections and resources.

For his sake, I attended countless high-society gatherings I despised and learned the art of empty flattery.

With my help, in just a few years, the once poor man transformed into a hot business upstart.

His real estate assets were countless.

A single move of his could send many small businesses in this city into bankruptcy.

I was finally satisfied, thinking I could ease up and enjoy life.

But I never expected the sudden turn of events.

At my dad's birthday party, a group of people suddenly rushed in and arrested him.

It turned out that he was suspected of leaking state secrets and wanted to be taken away for investigation.

I had thought Elian would use his connections to get my dad out of prison quickly, but he didn't. After my dad was executed and my mom, unable to bear the blow, was sent to a mental hospital, I went crying to Elian.

Only when I saw him crying before Claire's portrait did I finally understand that he hated me.

I asked why, and he shot me in the heart.

"If it wasn't for you, how could Claire have died?" he said.

Looking at the man I had spent years with, I could only hate myself for being so blind as to trust a devil.

Maybe even heaven couldn't bear to watch my suffering, because when I opened my eyes again, I had somehow returned to the day of the wedding.

This time, I wanted to see how Elian planned to rise without my help.