I'm the heir of the York family in Yarrowdale.

My parents request that I choose either June Langley, my female bodyguard or Jasmine Turner, the low-income student that my family has been sponsoring as my wife.

I had had a crush on Jasmine for a long time. On the day I was supposed to draw lots, I tampered with the box and chose her as my wife.

But after we got married, Jasmine plotted to let the butler's son, Marcus Lockwood, take my place as the new heir.

Just like that, I fell from grace and became the impostor that everyone looked down on. Then, I was cast out of my own home.

Jasmine then introduced Marcus and their illegitimate child into the York family. Her actions gave my parents heart attacks, leading to their deaths.

Before my death, I witnessed Jasmine gifting the Yorks' shares to Marcus. She even shattered my parents' urns just to appease him.

"Tristan, you had spent your life in luxury. Now, it's Marcus' turn."

When I open my eyes again, I've returned to the day I'm meant to choose my wife by drawing lots.

This time, I've changed the names on both lots to June Langley, my loyal bodyguard.

"June Langley?"

My parents glanced at the name on the lot, then back at me with concern. "Tristan, have you thought this through? Weren't you always fond of Jasmine? It's only the three of us here. If you're not satisfied with the result, we can change—"

"I'm fine with it," I cut them off. "Since I drew June, she'll be my future wife."

Seeing my parents so close to me again made my eyes sting. In my previous life, I never got to see them one last time before they died.

Since Jasmine Turner's heart had already belonged to Marcus Lockwood, I'd decided to let her have him.

After reassuring my parents, I left the office. As soon as I reached the ground floor, I saw Jasmine and June.

Jasmine was the scholarship student our family had sponsored. She had talent in business, and my father intended to train her as a successor. If she married me, her position in York Group would be completely justified.

June, on the other hand, had once risked her life to save mine. My parents favored her for that and made her my personal bodyguard. But in recent years, her quiet loyalty had been overshadowed by Jasmine's ambition.

The moment June saw me, she stepped forward and greeted me. "Mr. York."

She stood respectfully before me with a calm expression.

In contrast, Jasmine's face screamed arrogance.

"I heard you drew my name, Tristan," she sneered. "You should know your place. I like Marcus. You can't force me to marry you!"

Word about the drawing had already spread, so it wasn't surprising they knew. But how was Jasmine so sure I had drawn her name?

"It was my fault. I overheard Mr. York and Mr. York Senior talking about switching both lots to Jasmine's name," Marcus said in a strange tone. "Jasmine, you should keep your distance from me from now on. Mr. York has never liked me anyway."

I hadn't said a single word, yet Jasmine's gaze toward me immediately filled with disgust.

"Tristan, I told you I don't like you. Are you really that desperate? I know your father is about to take over the family business. You must be panicking without an heir. Since you value me so much, I'll give you a chance. There's a class reunion tomorrow. Come with us!"

It was absurd.

I was the family's only son, yet she claimed the York family had no heir.

Marcus had buttered up Jasmine so much that she believed her business talent was unmatched and that marrying me would be beneath her. She didn't realize it was the York name that gave her status.

Without York Group, she couldn't achieve a thing, no matter how talented she was.

As for that class reunion, Jasmine had used it as an opportunity to help Marcus twist the truth and accuse me of being the impostor in my previous life. I let her control me and endured three hours of humiliation without saying a word.

She wanted a repeat of the same trick, but that would depend on whether I was willing to play along again.

"Oh, and don't bring June. I find her annoying."

With that, Jasmine walked away with Marcus, leaving June behind.

June looked at me with concern. "Mr. York, you shouldn't attend the reunion. If you must go, please take me with you. I'll protect you."

She spoke calmly, but I knew she would keep her word.

Warmth rose in my chest. I patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

The next day, I attended the class reunion as promised. The moment I stepped into the venue, I was met with hostile looks from every direction.

They were all from former classmates who used to flatter me because of my status.

"Tristan, you've got some nerve showing up. If Jasmine and Marcus hadn't told us about you, we wouldn't even know you're a fraud!" one of them said, reaching out to shove me. Before he could touch me, June stepped forward and slapped his hand away.

The moment Marcus saw June, he immediately put on a pitiful expression. "Jasmine, look at how arrogant he still is. He doesn't take me seriously at all…"

Jasmine and June had always been rivals, and Jasmine clearly disliked her. She shot me a furious glare.

"You brought her along, Tristan? All these years, and all you've got is this bodyguard to prop yourself up. Make her leave right now, or forget about our promise!"

By "promise", she meant marrying me through the drawing.

I smiled. For the first time, I didn't bend to her will.

"You say I'm a fraud, but do you have any proof? I'm the eldest son of the York family—one of the Yorks. Marcus is just a nobody."

"Ridiculous!" Jasmine exploded. "All Marcus did was keep his father's surname. Are you trying to twist the truth?"

The crowd jeered, "Marcus, the impostor's getting way too arrogant! Show him your family heirloom! That can't be faked!"

I turned to Marcus. He slowly raised his hand. On his middle finger was my mother's diamond ring.

I had been waiting for this moment.

In my previous life, Jasmine helped Marcus steal my mother's ring and twisted the truth using it. She threatened me with the marriage, and I compromised out of love.

I stepped forward and slapped Marcus. "Marcus, you stole from us?"

That ring was my father's token of love for my mother. It was also a York family heirloom. It was custom-made and priceless.

I had to take it back.

Marcus' head snapped sideways at the strength of the slap. Tears immediately streamed down his face.

Jasmine raised her hand to hit me back, but June blocked her.

"What?" she growled but couldn't get past June. She turned her anger on me instead.

"Calm your dog down. It's Marcus' time to shine today. If you ruin his moment, forget about marrying me," she threatened near my ear.

Those words stopped me from saying anything back to them. I let those snobbish classmates crown Marcus and humiliate me.

To make things worse, I had listened to her and didn't bring June along. I was defenseless when the crowd took advantage of the chaos to lay their hands on me. I begged Jasmine for help, but all she did was look at me coldly.

"You've never served a woman before. Let them teach you. Make sure to study up."

Later on, private videos of me spread everywhere. I became the subject of ridicule and abuse. I hadn't been able to lift my head ever since.

My parents were old. Jasmine used those videos to threaten me. I became her puppet and her tool in bed.

But now, Jasmine is nothing.

"June, get the ring."

June carried out my order. In just a few moves, she subdued the drunken fools and took the ring from Marcus. Then, she held it out to me respectfully.

I didn't take it and simply extended my hand. "Put it on."

She froze for a second, then quickly recovered and slid the ring onto my ring finger.

It amused me, but before I could smile, Jasmine rushed over with red eyes and grabbed my wrist. "Tristan, what are you doing?"

It was the first time I had seen her lose control. Her eyes were rimmed red, her gaze flickering between June and me.

But she quickly regained her composure.

"What? Had you realized clinging to me doesn't work, so now you're playing hard to get? You're really putting on a show, Tristan. Take the ring off and give it back to Marcus right now. You know the consequences for not doing so."

"I understand you, Tristan. It's priceless jewelry. Maybe you've never seen something like this before," Marcus said, letting tears fall as he lowered his head. "This is a token of love from my parents. If you like other jewelry, I can get it for you. Just not this one. I can't do it…"

Jasmine snorted beside him. "You hear that, Tristan? Marcus is being so kind to you, yet you're still just standing there? Kneel and apologize to him!"

The two of them played off each other. It was as if I were the villain.

June flexed her wrist lightly. "Mr. York."

She was ready to handle it for me, but I shook my head.

"Not yet."

Jasmine still believed I couldn't live without her. It was a great opportunity to let her witness my wedding. After that, I could deal with them properly.

My two-word answer sparked a misunderstanding as Jasmine barked, "What are you waiting for, Tristan? Are you waiting for me to marry you?

"I'm warning you. If you don't kneel and apologize to Marcus, don't even think about bringing me into your house!"

What a joke!

In my last life, how did I not see that she demanded everything while giving nothing?

"Forget it. If Tristan likes the ring, I'll give it to him. My parents' anniversary is coming up anyway. I'll just get something new for them," Marcus said in a wounded tone.

The classmates still lying on the ground were wary of June, but they continued to flatter him.

"Marcus, you're too kind. That ungrateful bodyguard of his will get what's coming."

"Exactly! You're the real heir, yet she doesn't even know that. Isn't she just some lapdog?"

Jasmine seemed tired of arguing. She wrapped her arm around Marcus and brushed past me, waving as she spoke. "Let's go. Since Tristan has the talent to charm Marcus' bodyguard into losing her mind over him, tonight's bill is on Marcus. Eat and drink your fill!"

Even as she left, she couldn't resist smearing my name. I didn't argue and just smiled faintly.

Then, I made a call and froze the card I had given Jasmine.

That afternoon, she sent me an angry voice message.

"Tristan, why did you freeze my card? You took Marcus' ring, so I'm at an auction house buying him a new one! I'll even get you a watch as compensation. Wire the money now!"

I glanced at June, who was trying on a custom gown. "What watch? I can get one myself."