After my fiancée returned from six months of traveling with her childhood friend, she realized I had changed.

For his sake, she broke protocol and promoted him to be the CEO's personal assistant. I obediently stepped aside and gave up my position.

When he took over the project I had spent three sleepless months completing, I handed it over without a fight.

My fiancée found my sudden compliance strange.

Her childhood friend, on the other hand, was smug about it.

He said with a grin, "Looks like your cold treatment finally worked. If you want him to behave, you just have to train him like a dog."

My heart was calm and unmoved as I listened to their conversation.

No one knew that I had been reborn.

No one knew that I had finally accepted the truth: she never loved me from the start.

No matter how reluctant I felt, from this moment on, I would cut ties with her completely.

One clean break, free of all entanglements.

Rowena Atkinson's expression was dark. There was not the slightest hint of joy in her eyes, none of the happiness one would expect from someone about to get married.

"Nathan Wilde, my parents kindly raised you, and this is how you repay them?" she snapped. "You actually dare to think about marrying me? Let me tell you right now: even if we do get married, don't expect me to ever fall in love with you!"

I stared at her in a daze. Her flawless makeup, the bridal gown designer standing beside her for the fitting...

It finally dawned on me: I had gone back to eight years ago.

At this time, Rowena's childhood friend and his family had not been in that car accident. He had not been driven to despair, with nowhere to turn, and jumped from a building.

Thank goodness. Everything was still on time.

The bitterness of my past life surged all at once. My eyes reddened as I looked at her.

I said quietly, "Don't worry; I know someone else has your heart. This time, I'll let you have what you want."

Rowena froze in disbelief, then huffed a mocking laugh. "Let me have what I want, you say? How exactly? The whole city knows we're about to get married!"

She continued, "I treated you like a younger brother and took care of you in every way, and what about you? You twisted the truth in front of my parents. If it weren't for you, how would they have ended up disliking Preston so much?"

With that, she shot up from her seat and gently touched a photo of herself with Preston Keller. Her pale fingers lingered on his face in the picture.

I remained silent for a long time.

Then, I walked over to the bridal gown designer outside the room and calmly gave Preston's measurements.

After that, I took the wedding invitations and replaced the groom's name with Preston's.

When I finished, my gaze fell on the gold bracelet around my wrist, and I could not help but drift off.

It was a gift Rowena had given me eight years ago.

Back then, my father had been framed. The company was crushed under massive debt, and he could not survive the blow. The next day, he jumped from the company building.

Not long after, my mother–overwhelmed by grief and depression–passed away as well.

It was Rowena who begged her parents to take me in. She stayed by my side every day.

Her parents often joked that I was her shadow, yet Rowena never got angry. Instead, she would just smile at me gently.

When the household staff looked down on me and whispered that I was an orphan, she never hesitated. She walked straight up to them and slapped those who spoke ill of me.

"Nathan is my little brother," she said fiercely. "Got a problem with him? You got a problem with me!"

She was good to me.

The entire city knew it: I was Rowena's one and only soft spot.

My feelings for her…had long since grown beyond control.

Her parents knew everything I did, and they were more than happy about it. In fact, they tried to bring us together through various attempts.

I once believed that I had a place in her heart.

However, everything that happened in my previous life made one thing painfully clear: I was never the person she loved.

Thinking of that, I let out a long sigh and looked at Rowena as if nothing had happened.

I said casually, "Rowena, we're still missing a diamond ring for the wedding. Let's go take a look together."

Rowena withdrew her gaze from the photo and turned to look at me, her eyes filled with bone-chilling coldness.

She sneered. "We just finished choosing the wedding dress, and you're already in a hurry to buy a diamond ring? Nathan, are you that eager to marry me?"

She added coolly, "Unfortunately for you, I already have a date with Preston today. I'm afraid I won't be able to go with you."

I forced down the bitterness welling up in my chest. "Since you've made plans, go see him first. I'll come find you later. It'll be late enough that your parents won't notice."

Rowena froze for a moment, then looked at me suspiciously.

"Why are you being so considerate today? You'd typically get angry the moment Preston is mentioned.

"What? Do you think now that we're getting married, he's no longer a threat?" she asked.

I smiled bitterly at her words. Before I could respond, Rowena turned and walked out.

I left as well, wandering around the streets for a long time. It was not until nearly seven in the evening that I finally headed back to the Atkinson residence.

I did not see Rowena, but I ran straight into her parents.

The wedding date was approaching, yet I was out shopping for wedding items alone, accompanied only by the housekeeper.

They immediately understood what had happened.

Rowena's mother, Ophelia Barnes, stepped forward and took my hand with a pained expression.

"Nathan, that girl has really wronged you! Believe me: once you're married, she'll change these bad habits. She's always saying one thing and meaning another.

"Look, she even had her assistant buy several different styles of rings. Come, see which one you like. Marriage is a big deal, so you have to choose carefully."

She added warmly, "I've been hoping the two of you would work out. Don't worry, I'll make sure your wedding is grand and proper."

In their eyes, Rowena and I clearly loved each other–that she was just too stubborn to admit it.

I knew better, though.

Rowena did all this out of guilt and long-standing habit, nothing more.

In my previous life, even without Preston, Rowena and I could never have lived as a loving couple.

She was good to me, but only as a sister.

I carefully chose the most exquisite diamond ring for her future husband.

Not long after, I received a message from Rowena.

[Since the ring has been chosen, learn to behave yourself. Stay in your place in the Atkinson family, and don't even think about meddling in my affairs.]

A wave of sorrow surged through me. With reddened eyes, I typed back in the chat window.

[You don't need to tell me. I know my limits. Don't worry.]

When Ophelia saw the message on my phone, she flew into a rage. "That wretched girl! Where did she go?"

The housekeeper answered softly, "Ms. Atkinson… She's at the Keller residence."

"That ungrateful girl!" Ophelia snapped. "She's sneaking off to see Preston again!"

"Nathan, don't be upset," she finally said, turning to me. "I'll talk some sense into her for you!"

Just as her words fell, Atkinson Corporation's personal assistant rushed over in a panic.

He reported that Rowena had given out large sums of money and even gifted a brand-new car in order to help smooth things over for Preston's father, Callaghan Keller, who was under investigation.

Rowena's father, Edwin Atkinson, exploded in fury.

Meanwhile, Ophelia frowned deeply, then quickly patted my shoulder, afraid I might feel hurt.

Looking at the concern written all over their faces, my throat tightened painfully.

Ever since my parents had passed away, they treated me as their own son.

They knew how deeply I loved Rowena, so they tried everything–scheming and arranging opportunities–just to bring us closer together.

No matter what was done, though, Rowena and I were never meant to be.

After a moment of thought, I got down on my knees in front of them.

I said softly, "Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson, I've failed you. I'm sorry for making you worry. You've treated me like your own, and I know that in my heart. But matters of the heart can never be forced.

"We all know that the person Rowena loves is Preston. She and I are only siblings in name and feeling. Since that's the case… I'll step aside and fulfill Rowena's wish."

"I've already made preparations to return to my hometown in the south," I said quietly. "Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson, I hope you can grant me this simple wish."

Ophelia's gaze looked forlorn as she turned to me. "Don't be so impulsive, Nathan. We've seen how well Rowena treats you; she just doesn't realize her own feelings yet.

"Don't be angry. Once she comes back, I'll speak up for you!

"Think about it. If she truly had no feelings for you, why would she have begged us to take you into our home back then?"

Edwin let out a helpless sigh. "The Keller family has poor morals, and they're just as scheming and ruthless in business. Sooner or later, they'll fall apart. Rowena's only been deceived by Preston. I'm sure she'll come around sooner or later."

He then added, "Besides, you haven't been back to the south in so many years. How could we possibly feel at ease letting you go back alone?"

They spoke earnestly, trying to persuade me to change my mind.

Little did they know that past-me, who followed their wishes in my previous life, ended up with misery when I married Rowena with a heart full of hope.

This time, I refused to walk the same road.

I led the two of them to Rowena's room and pointed at a large delivery box.

"These are all the gifts I've given her over the years. She never even looked at them. She just tossed them all into this box. But the stuffed toy Preston bought on a whim? She treats it like a treasure. She hugs it to sleep every night.

"It's clear as day who she truly loves.

"I really can't keep lying to myself anymore. If you can't bear to part with me... How about you take me as your godson? That way, we preserve the bond between our families, and Rowena can finally have her wish fulfilled."

Seeing that my resolve was firm, Ophelia and Edwin let out a long sigh and accepted my suggestion. They no longer tried to persuade me.

Ophelia pressed a black card into my hand, urging me to take good care of myself.

Holding her hand, I smiled through tears. "Please don't tell Rowena about this yet. I want to give her a surprise."

Back in my bedroom, I slipped the card into my wallet.

Then, I had my assistant bring out all the gifts Rowena had given me over the years.

Since I had decided to let go, these things needed to be dealt with sooner rather than later.

I had the boxes sent to the backyard, then flicked the lighter…and set everything ablaze.

As the flames rose, Preston suddenly rushed out from nowhere. He wordlessly grabbed my hand and slammed himself violently into the wall.

Before I could even react, Rowena–who arrived moments later–struck me hard across the face.

"Have you lost your mind, Nathan?! Preston only came today to thank the Atkinson family for their help!"

My cheek burned and swelled as I stared at her in shock.

Preston's eyes were red as he said innocently, "I knew you two were getting married. I wanted to congratulate you in person, but I didn't expect Nathan to hate me so much… He even attacked me…"

Rowena's expression darkened instantly as she looked at me, fury blazing in her eyes.

She snapped, "We're not even married yet, and you're already acting like the master of the Atkinson household? It seems stirring up trouble wasn't enough, and you even resorted to violence! Nathan Wilde, how did you become like this?

"And tell me: did you have someone smear the Keller family today and ruin Mr. Keller's reputation?"

I stared at her in disbelief, as if seeing her for the first time.

I explained slowly, "I don't know what you're talking about. The Keller family's affairs have nothing to do with me. I've never spoken a single ill word about Preston in front of your parents. I told you that I'd help you, and I won't go back on my word."

Rowena frowned, then noticed sharply that many of the items in the boxes were gifts she had once given me–even the photos she had taken of me. By then, half of them had already been burned.

Her expression grew uglier.

"What are you doing?" she demanded. "Are you trying to play some kind of push-and-pull game with me?"