Chapter 2

In a daze, Adrianna stared blankly at James, who was trying to resuscitate Cecilia. Cold water dripped from her hair, but it couldn't compare to the sinking feeling in her stomach. In her past life, James had always been aloof and reserved. He'd even scrub his hands repeatedly if he so much as touched her. She had assumed that he was a germaphobe, and he simply wasn't interested in women. She thought she could change him. But now, she finally understood. His heart already belonged to someone else—it was never hers to begin with. With every ounce of strength she had, Adrianna clawed her way to the pool's edge, her nails digging deep into the ground. She couldn't die. She still had to marry Derick. Not far away, James finally ended that long "resuscitation" process. Cecilia cleared her throat twice and slowly opened her eyes. "Ceci!" He heaved a sigh of relief and scooped her into his arms. "I'll take you to the hospital." He turned and walked away without even glancing at Adrianna, who was completely drenched. At the same time, the other three men snapped back to their senses and finally noticed Adrianna. She was struggling to climb out of the pool. "Anna!" Nolan rushed over first. Dressed in a navy blue suit, he remained sophisticated despite the chaos they were in. Conrad and Liam hurried after him. The three of them stood before her, looking like a scene straight out of a movie. "Anna, are you okay?" Nolan reached out, trying to steady her. "It was too chaotic earlier. We…" "We mistook Cecilia for you," Conrad quickly added. Liam handed her a towel. "Yeah, the water was murky. We couldn't see you." Adrianna took the towel, her fingertips cold as ice. She found their excuses absolutely laughable. The water was clear, and Cecilia was in a white dress while she was in red. How could they possibly not tell them apart? "You should go to the hospital," Nolan said warmly. "We'll keep you company." She looked up, noting the anxiety in their eyes. They weren't trying to keep her company—they were just using it as an excuse to visit Cecilia at the hospital. "No need." Adrianna tossed the towel back to them. "I'm fine." "No way!" Conrad frowned. "You're drenched. What if you catch a cold—" She cut him off. "If you feel like going to the hospital, go ahead." The three men exchanged a glance. "We're not sick. Why would we go to the hospital?" Liam finally said. "Don't be upset, okay? We really mistook her for you earlier. We'll make it up to you by skipping work in the next few days to keep you company, okay?" Adrianna left without another word. The wet fabric clung to her body, each footstep heavier than the last as she trudged into the distance. Yet, she kept her back straight without looking back at them. Over the next few days, three men tried every trick they knew to please Adrianna. Nolan had sent over the latest haute couture gown, and Conrad had a rare pink diamond flown in. Liam simply handed her the keys to a limited-edition sports car. "Anna, there's an auction going on tonight," Nolan said, handing her an invitation. "Would you like to go together?" The way they desperately tried to please Adrianna made her snicker inwardly. The auction hall glittered with gold and opulence. A magnificent crystal chandelier bathed the entire space, illuminating it brightly. Adrianna strutted in carefully. Her champagne colored gown hugged her curves nicely, and yet in the next instant, she froze right away. In the VIP section, James was carefully helping someone into her seat. He wore an immaculate black suit, his tall, straight frame exuding effortless elegance. His eyes, which had once captivated her, were now brimming with affection for the woman beside him. When James saw her, he frowned and walked toward her. "Has your mother mentioned choosing a fiancé for you?" he asked evenly. Adrianne met his indifferent gaze. "I know you like me," he continued bluntly. "But I don't reciprocate your feelings. So, don't pick me." With that, he turned on his heel and strode off. He held Cecilia close to him, so protective of her as if she were some treasure. "Anna, don't be upset." Nolan immediately hurried over, gently placing his hand on her shoulder. "James has bad taste, but it doesn't mean others don't fancy you." Conrad adjusted his glasses, his eyes sparkling with affection as he chimed in, "Yeah. The three of us are all smitten with you. We'll always be by your side." Looking worried, Liam took a glass of champagne and handed it to her. "Come on, take a sip," he urged. "Let's not dwell on those unhappy marriages." Adrianna stared at them, noting the feigned look in their eyes. A self-deprecating smile crossed her face as she took the glass, her fingers so cold that it was unlike her. "I'm fine," she said flatly. "But I'm curious about something, Anna." Nolan leaned closer, his warm breath tingling her ear. "You chased Derick away back then, so there are only four of us left. So, who are you going to pick as your fiancé?" Adrianna was about to tell him the truth—she didn't want any of them. But as the words reached the tip of her tongue, she changed her mind. "You'll find out in a while." Those words sent the men shifting in their seats. She smirked. In her past life, she had suffered for two decades. Testing their nerves for just a few days was nothing compared to that. As the auction officially began, the three of them kept asking what she liked, but she simply shook her head. Meanwhile, James bought Cecilia everything she had her eye on. A diamond necklace, an antique pocket watch, an emerald bracelet… The list went on and on. Adrianna glanced over, but her heart no longer throbbed as it did in her past life. She kept her calm and stared straight ahead. But the moment the auctioneer lifted the red cloth off the final item, her eyes widened.