Chapter 1

"Lorraine, you're old enough now. Choose one of these four men to marry." A familiar voice rang in Lorraine Neale's ear. She struggled to open her eyes, raising her hands instinctively to block the blinding lights. And as she caught a glimpse of her slender, supple arm, a wave of shock washed over her. Wasn't she driven so mad by Ambrose Gale that she coughed up blood and died? How could she still… "Why are you spacing out? Are you unwell?" A warm palm suddenly touched her forehead, interrupting her thoughts. Lorraine looked up slowly and saw her father, Frederick Neale, whose face was etched with concern, and she instantly broke down in tears. "Dad…" With a catch in her throat, she touched her father's cheek, which felt warm and real. Her father was truly alive. Hadn't he died at sea a long time ago? "Why are you suddenly crying?" Frederick wiped her tears with a smile before he continued, "Alright. I know you like Ambrose. Fine. As long as he's someone you like, you'll have my support." Ambrose? Ambrose Gale? It was only then that Lorraine realized she was sitting in Frederick's study, and four tall young men were standing in the living room in the near distance. Her pupils constricted instantly. She had suddenly gone back to that day ten years ago when her father had asked her to choose a husband. In the past, Ambrose's sunny smile had made her fall head over heels for him. But at this moment, she felt nothing but disgusted and infuriated by it. "No! I don't like him," she exclaimed in an unusually firm voice. Without hesitation, she pointed at another photo on the table and said, "I choose him!" "Justin Ford?" Frederick asked. Clearly shocked, he continued with a doubt, "Haven't you always felt he was too serious and old-fashioned? Why the sudden change of mind?" It was only then that Lorraine realized who she had chosen. Justin was Frederick's most outstanding student, but he was also the hardest to get close to. At his young age, he had already made a name for himself in the famous financial district, but he had such an icy personality that he was almost heartless. "I-I think he's quite good." Lorraine forced a smile before she added, "You've often said he's the most capable, haven't you?" No matter who she chose in this life, it would be far better than choosing that jerk named Ambrose again. In her past life, she had happily chosen Ambrose, but she never expected that his heart already belonged to someone else. To be inseparable from his childhood friend, Roxanne Smith, he had bribed the lifeguard and pretended to be swept away by the waves when rescuing Lorraine. She found out he had perished at sea without a trace when she woke up at the hospital, and she almost took her life as well. After Ambrose's mother learned about the news, she rushed to the hospital and gave Lorraine a tight slap. She exclaimed, "It's all your fault! My son wouldn't have died if he hadn't tried to save you!" At Ambrose's funeral, Lorraine kneeled before his grave, crying so hard that she almost passed out. Ambrose's father, however, took a jab at her and shouted, "What's with the act? You're the cursed woman who caused my son's death!" Frederick couldn't stand to see her suffer, so he suggested sending her abroad. However, Lorraine turned his offer down. "I can't leave, Dad. I have to take care of his parents for him. This is my responsibility," said Lorraine. She even begged her father on her knees, pleading for him to search for and recover Ambrose's body, which was still at large. She could never forget the complicated gaze Frederick had before he left, saying, "Lorraine, all I wish is for you to be happy instead of being consumed by sorrow forever." Never in a million years would she expect that the rough seas would capsize Frederick's cruise. All the rescue team brought back was his watch and a shred of a life jacket that had been stained with blood. As she hugged her father's belongings, Lorraine cried uncontrollably and swallowed a big bottle of sleeping pills. Had the caretaker not found her in time, she would have died then. Ever since that incident, she lived like a shell of her former self, working hard to make money after inheriting Frederick's company. In the ten years that followed, she gave the majority of her earnings to the Gale family. Ambrose's mother bought a luxurious home with her money, yet she still called her every month without fail to curse at her. Ambrose's father kept a young woman as his mistress with the allowance Lorraine had given him, yet he told everybody she was cursed, which caused her father's and husband's death. Lorraine suffered all that in silence because she had always held onto a shred of fantasy—that if Ambrose were still alive, he absolutely wouldn't have let his parents treat her this way. Later, she fell sick from being overworked and was told by the doctor that her days were numbered when she was just in her 30s. On the day she was diagnosed, she bumped into Ambrose and Roxanne, the latter who was heavily pregnant and about to give birth soon, at the hospital. At that moment, she felt like she had been struck by lightning. For ten years, she had been feeling guilty and blaming herself, but it turned out everything was a lie. He was the man she had been missing and dreaming of for ten years, yet he said to her in a panic, "I'm sorry I've wronged you in this life… If we were to meet again in another life, don't choose me again." At that moment, Lorraine burst out laughing hysterically. Her youth and her father's life had been lost, yet all she got was a casual apology. She was so infuriated that she coughed up blood and passed out, ending her short yet absurd life. To her surprise, she had been given a chance for a do-over. In this life, she absolutely wouldn't repeat her past mistakes. She would make the jerk Ambrose hit the road and take good care of Frederick to make up for the regret she had in the past life. "Great! Justin is a man of few words, but he's very responsible. I can rest easy if he's the one taking care of you. I'll announce the good news to the public after I return from my business trip to Aster City," said Frederick. His expression of relief pulled Lorraine out of her memories. She nodded, but she felt a little anxious. With Justin's character, would he truly accept an arranged marriage like that? Lorraine came out of her father's study and saw the four young men in the living room, each with a complex expression etched on their faces. The youngest, Russell Calder, approached her with a grin, winking as he asked, "So, have you made up your mind? You must've chosen Ambrose, right? When are you going to invite us to the wedding?" Lorraine said nothing. Her gaze was attracted by Justin, who was in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. He was just sitting there quietly, flipping through a finance magazine. He didn't even look up, as if the conversation had nothing to do with him at all. The sunlight shone in through the window, tracing his perfect profile. He had a tall nose, chiseled jaw, and a pair of unfathomable eyes. His lashes were so lush that they cast a shadow under his eyes. That was the first time she surveyed him carefully. She hadn't noticed in her past life just how stunning Justin looked. He was a million times better looking than Ambrose. Right as she was lost in her thoughts, a sudden familiar force grasped her wrist. She looked back and saw Ambrose looking anxious. She frowned and wanted to break her wrist free, but he dragged her to the corner of the staircase, saying, "Lorraine, you can't choose me. I'm already in love with someone else."