Miriam looked at Cedric standing next to her and said with quiet resolve, "I understand the responsibilities that come with being the heir to Wiley Group.

"But I believe running this conglomerate effectively requires competence and savvy, not leveraging on a spouse's connections. I intend to earn the status I want on my own merits, and not through anyone else."

With these words, the banquet hall fell into a brief, dead silence.

Fabian's face turned ashen, a vein throbbing visibly at his temple.

I lowered my head and fiddled with my fingers, the corner of my mouth curling into a faint smile.

Miriam was truly as proud and unyielding to the bone as ever.

Unfortunately, she'd forgotten that when Wiley Group was in crisis years ago, it was precisely because my family extended a helping hand that Fabian was able to turn things around.

After that, Fabian made a verbal agreement with my father, Bruno Keller, that Miriam would marry me.

"Fine, very well." Fabian, furious to the extreme, slammed the table with a sharp bang. "Since you're so capable, I'll grant your wish. We'll just see how long you can hold out!"

With that, he stormed off. Verna also hurriedly rose to follow him.

Miriam fell into Cedric's arms and promised solemnly, "Don't worry. The position as my family's son-in-law will always be yours. No one can ever take it from you!"

Watching the two of them lost in each other's affection, I was just about to leave when Miriam softly called out, "Wait a moment."

Pushing aside Cedric's supportive hand, she stumbled slightly but caught herself and came after me alone.

She leaned close to my ear and said in a voice only the two of us could hear, "Quintin, have you also been reborn with your memories? I suppose you've learned better this time—you don't stand in Cedric's way again.

"If it weren't for you meddling in our previous lives, causing me to lose Cedric, I wouldn't have been so ruthless toward you. As long as you stay in your place in this life, I can spare you and your family.

"But if you insist on staying by my side, I'll be blunt—I won't give you any title or status."

I raised an eyebrow slightly, feigning confusion. "Ms. Wiley, what are you talking about? Though my family may not be some distinguished clan, we still have our pride. There's no such thing as me being your 'kept man' in our principles."

I looked up, meeting her gaze straight on. I didn't want her to learn more, nor did I want the bloody grudges of our past loves to bring disaster upon my family once again.

Glancing down, I caught sight of her still-blackened arm and laughed inwardly.

Did she think a few pleasant words could erase the blood debt from our past lives?

Miriam must have underestimated me.

As soon as the poison took hold in her right arm, she would be fighting for her very life.

Not wanting to engage any further, I scoffed and mercilessly shook off her hand.

"Ms. Wiley, did you wake up on the crazy side of the bed today? You're making zero sense."

With that, I stepped around her and walked briskly away.

Miriam rushed to catch me. Then, to my surprise, she lost her balance and fell.

Cedric let out a terrified shout, "Miriam!"

I straightened my cuff without so much as looking back.

Heaven had granted me a new life, and I would never let anyone harm my family or me again.

Early the next morning, I heard the frantic shouts of household staff downstairs, warning of intruders.

Cedric stormed in, eyes red with fury. He then pointed at me and shouted accusingly, "Quintin Keller, as the heir of a distinguished family, you lack for nothing! So, why must you steal Miriam away from me? Don't you know she was supposed to be mine?"

I sat up straight away, my hair still a mess.

"I think you've got the wrong person. When have I ever competed with you over anything?"

"Why you!" Cedric trembled, eyes becoming even more bloodshot. "Then what did you two talk about yesterday? After Miriam fainted, she kept calling out your name!" he asked resentfully.

I raised an eyebrow, my tone so light it was almost amused. "Didn't she tell you? She's begging to marry me now."

Cedric's face instantly paled. He gritted his teeth, his voice suddenly low and dangerous.

"How is that possible? You must have used some dirty, underhanded trick, you low life!"

I was about to explain when he let out a roar and lunged at me, landing a punch squarely on my face.

The next moment, the fluffy ball of white fur in the corner shot out like lightning and sank its teeth deep into his wrist.

Cedric shrieked in pain and stumbled backward several steps before collapsing onto the floor.

Instinctively, I reached out to help him up, but the front door was suddenly kicked open with a loud bang.

Miriam stood at the doorway, her expression icy. "Quintin, how dare you incite this beast to harm Cedric?"

Her dark eyes swept past Snowball and finally came to rest on me, her thin lips forming a cold, hard line.

"I've said it before—anyone who hurts Cedric deserves to die. What are you all standing around for?"

Her words shattered every last shred of my hope.

"Grab that beast!"

The two bodyguards stationed at the door immediately lunged forward and grabbed Snowball by the scruff of her tiny neck.

Snowball's eyes were filled with terror and fury, her four paws struggling desperately. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break free from the bodyguard's thick, powerful arms.

My heart leaped into my throat as I shouted, "Stop this!"

But one of the bodyguards held me firmly in place, preventing me from moving an inch.

One of the household staff, Dorothy Hoover, spoke up indignantly on my behalf. "Ms. Wiley, Snowball only bit Cedric because he came here to insult Mr. Keller!"

"That's a lie!" Cedric whimpered, clutching his injured hand. "He deliberately keeps a rabid dog to harm me."

Miriam shot me a cold, disdainful glance before bending down to help Cedric to his feet.

"Get rid of that rabid dog, now."

Snowball was lifted into the air, her neck visibly contorted, on the verge of snapping.

A chill shot through my heart. Without a second thought, I lunged forward, desperate to snatch her back from their grasp.

"Miriam, Snowball was only trying to protect me! Cedric was the one who started this by throwing the first punch."

But she didn't even glance my way. Instead, she casually tossed Snowball aside.

Snowball struggled weakly on the ground for a moment before her neck went limp, and all signs of life faded away.

I knelt on the floor, stunned, as painful memories from my previous life flooded back.

In that lifetime, Miriam had been just as merciless. She had bribed a vet to use Snowball as a test subject. In the end, Snowball died on a cold, sterile lab table.

I clenched my teeth, forcing the choked sobs back down my throat.

"Miriam, can't you even tolerate a dog I've raised since it was a puppy?" I asked hoarsely, my hands balled into fists.

But Miriam remained unmoved, her expression dismissive.

"Quintin, you should be grateful—sparing your life is already an act of mercy on my part. My heart has only ever belonged to Cedric. If you dare cause him any more trouble, you'll be the next one dead."

With that, Miriam wrapped her arm around Cedric and led him away without so much as a backward glance.

I lowered my head, my nails digging deep into my palms.

Cedric glanced back and shot me a glare, his lips curling into a contemptuous, triumphant smirk.

Miriam probably had no idea that what she had killed wasn't just Snowball, but also her last hope for survival.

Forget about inheriting the family business, for it'd be a miracle if Miriam managed to live another month.

Snowball's body had already turned stiff. With trembling hands, I scooped her up and headed to the garden to dig a grave.

Ever since I was little, Snowball had always been there for me. Even in my previous life, when she was tortured to death, she never let go of my hand.

Tears fell like raindrops onto the soil.

At this moment, I was in so much pain that even breathing hurt.

"Need any help?"

I looked up and met Edwina Simpson's dark, gentle eyes.

At yesterday's banquet, both Miriam and Edwina were struck by snake venom.

In my previous life, I was so fixated on saving Miriam that I slashed my own wrist to give her my blood as an antidote. This caused Edwina to miss the critical window for treatment and ultimately die from the venom.

But this time, I had the foresight to send someone with a special antidote made from my blood to Edwina in advance. She took it immediately after being bitten, which was why she survived.

I wiped the tear stains from my face, then said with utmost seriousness, "Edwina, would you be interested in a partnership? I'll help you bring down the Wiley Group, and you marry me."