As Jastrelle's golden girl, I draw lots to pick my groom, and fate finally hands me Felix Ledger, the childhood sweetheart I've wanted forever.

During the impromptu wedding, a funeral convoy belonging to a scion of a rich family in Jastrelle passes right outside. I hate the omen.

Felix laughs, pulls me into his arms, and places the veil over my head himself.

"I'll take it as a good omen. With you, I'm covered from first breath to last," he says.

His adoptive sister, Winnie Ledger, hears him, bursts into tears, and bolts outside. The funeral convoy runs her down, and she dies.

Felix barely reacts.

Three years later, Dad is framed, driven into bankruptcy, and falls gravely ill. He dies, and I lose everything.

At the funeral, Felix sends everyone off, shoves me into the open grave, and buries me alive.

He spits, "You rigged everything to get me. You left Winnie ruined. She bolted outside, and that funeral convoy ran her down. For three years, remorse has eaten me alive. I want you torn apart!

"With your last protector gone, I can finally make you suffer a hundredfold the pain Winnie felt and ease my hatred!"

When I open my eyes, I'm back at the groom-selection ceremony. Dad smiles as he hands me the lots.

I shake my head, look out the window, and point at the funeral convoy passing outside.

"I'm not choosing anyone. I'll marry that dead man!"

Dad, who'd always pampered me, went pale and rushed over to feel my forehead.

"Ariel! What are you even saying? He might've been the Roosevelts' eldest and the heir to the richest family in Jastrelle, but he's gone. Don't even think about something that morbid!"

But all the other candidates were Jastrelle's infamous trust-fund brats, guys who lived to gorge and loaf. There was nothing they wouldn't stoop to. I would rather die than marry any of them.

The only man I ever admired, Felix Ledger, sat in the waiting area by the window, making eyes at his adoptive sister, Winnie Ledger. They were practically glued together, looking sweet enough to rot teeth.

"Felix, that bitch won't stop clinging to you. What if she actually picks you?" Winnie asked.

Tears streaked both her cheeks, leaving her small and fragile.

He snorted. "She thinks she has a claim on me just because she saved us when our family collapsed. She's vicious. If she's shameless enough to force me into marrying her, I'll make sure her married life is anything but easy!"

When I remembered how Felix had buried me alive in my last life, shovel after shovel, my resolve hardened.

The Roosevelts' eldest, Raphael Roosevelt, had been aloof and sharp-tongued since we were kids, and we'd never gotten along. But he would never speak again, and a quiet, peaceful life for me didn't sound like a bad trade.

I started to spin the lie. "I'm serious, Dad. Raphael and I practically grew up as childhood sweethearts. I loved him long before this. He died out of nowhere, and I can't accept it.

"I want to marry him now. I'll live as his widow if I must. If you refuse, I'll go after him anyway!"

Dad frowned and pulled me down from the windowsill into his arms. "If you love him that much, I'll speak to the Roosevelts. But how could I bear to marry the apple of my eye to a dead man when you're in your prime?"

I gave him a bleak smile. "We're in a financial bind. Marrying him would serve both ends and ease the pressure on you."

He let out a long sigh and finally nodded. "The accounts are tight, but I'd rather see the family fall on hard times than let you suffer. Still, if you insist, I'll take care of it.

"Since you have no interest in the others, I'll send them away. As for Felix, since you didn't choose him, I'll cut off the support for him and Winnie."

As soon as Dad left to call the Roosevelts, the crowd figured the groom had been decided.

Felix slid an arm around Winnie's waist and came over, icy as ever. "I saw you rig the draw yesterday. If you're set on picking me, I'll hold my nose and marry you for the kindness Mr. Magnussen's shown me.

"But I made Winnie a promise. If I have to marry someone else, my bride will show up in a bridesmaid's dress, and Winnie will wear the wedding gown.

"She cares about looking her best, and she's not getting outshone on a day like this. You're not going to say no to something that simple, are you?"

I gave a helpless smile.

Before the Ledgers adopted Winnie, Felix only had eyes for me. He was a straight-A bookworm, earnest to a fault, and he blushed every time he saw me.

When Raphael and other spoiled heirs tried to mess with me, Felix was the one who stepped in. Raphael mocked him for years as "Felix the simp", but Felix couldn't care less.

Then Winnie showed up, sugar-sweet on the surface and always whispering in his ear. Little by little, I turned into the calculating villain in his head, someone he learned to hate.

With her in his ear long enough, he had even convinced himself I'd orchestrated the Ledgers' collapse just to take advantage of it and force him into marrying me.

I wasn't about to tangle with them. I'd just turned to go when Winnie suddenly dropped to her knees.

"Ariel, Felix just can't let me go. Please don't blame me. I'm begging you, don't bully me like before..."

Felix's eyes went cold. He lifted her with careful gentleness. "Don't be scared. She won't touch you while I'm here."

Then he seized my collar, yanking hard. "Apologize to Winnie—now! Otherwise, I won't agree to this marriage."

I looked down at my phone.

Dad texted, "The Roosevelts agreed."

I smirked and slapped Winnie across the face. "If you want to be bullied so badly, consider it done today!"

Felix's eyes widened. He clamped down on my wrist so hard that a bruise bloomed almost instantly.

"Winnie said you're vicious and you put on the helpless act around me. Looks like she was right!"

I looked at a man who no longer had anything to do with me and shook him off. "What difference would the truth make? You don't listen or look. You never see people for who they are."

Felix's face twisted with rage. He swung for me, but a hand caught his wrist in midair. When he and Winnie saw who it was, the blood drained from their faces.

Mr. James and Mrs. Ruby Roosevelt, the wealthiest couple in town and the ones hosting Raphael's funeral, had arrived.

"Ariel will soon carry our name. We won't let the likes of you lay a hand on her."

Before Felix could react, Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt softened their expressions and turned to me with warmth.

"Ariel, we've heard the Magnussens have been tight on funds lately. Don't worry. After what you've given up, we'll back Magnussen Group in full."

Winnie curled her lip and leaned in toward Felix. "I've known about the Magnussens' money troubles for a while. They probably can't afford a proper wedding.

"Ariel's too vain to stomach that. She must have latched onto the richest couple in town, calling them her godparents to scrape up wedding money. I wouldn't debase myself like that."

Felix's brow tightened, and he looked me over with open contempt. "You and Raphael were always at each other's throats. Now you're throwing away your pride for a little money?

"Mr. Magnussen's still alive, and you're already cozying up to people you can't stand, calling them your godparents. You're disgusting. Even if that money paid for our wedding, I wouldn't thank you for it!"

I didn't bother defending myself. Instead, I followed Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt to the nearby funeral home.

When the wealthiest family in town held a funeral, every big name showed up. Felix trailed behind with Winnie, afraid I'd pull something and ruin his reputation.

Dad couldn't bear the thought of me marrying a dead man. He locked himself in a nearby villa and cried himself dry.

The Roosevelts, deeply grateful, took me to get my hair and makeup done first.

"Ariel, when Raphael was home, he spoke of you often. I didn't realize how close you two were, or how well you matched. With you here, we can make his marriage official.

"In a little while, we're afraid we'll have to ask you to wipe him from head to toe as the rite that stands in for the wedding night."

Raphael's portrait wore that same cocky smile, and the thought of facing his body alone sent a chill through me.

But I remembered my last life. Marrying Felix meant there was no one to resolve our family's finances. After all, he'd only taken advantage of the situation and driven us to bankruptcy. Dad had even ended up dead.

With the Roosevelts behind me now, at least Dad could live.

I clenched my jaw, steeling myself. I just wanted to get it over with. "Where's Raphael? Let's start."

Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt wiped their tears and led me toward the room where his body lay.

As I passed Felix, he caught sight of where I was heading and stepped in front of me. "You and Raphael were never close. Why act like you cared so much just to gawk at that awful corpse?

"Here's the deal. Apologize to Winnie now, and I'll agree to a simple wedding. You won't have to go through the rite against your will."

I was speechless.

With the rite about to start, I had no time to argue. I shoved him aside. "I actually want to see Raphael. Even a dead man's easier to stomach than you and Winnie."

Felix froze, stunned that I'd talked to him like that when I used to be so soft-spoken before.

Winnie smirked. "See, Felix? I wasn't lying. She's always nasty to me behind your back."

Her fake innocence made me sick. I slipped past and caught up with the Roosevelts.

"It's been less than a day since Raphael passed, so his body hasn't fully stiffened yet. We kept the bed warm so it would be easier to wipe him down. Thank you for doing this."

Felix stared like he'd misheard, then clamped down on my arm.

"You agreed to wipe a dead man down just to raise money for our wedding? You think degrading yourself will make me love you? When will you stop trying to guilt-trip me? You suffocate me!"

I shoved his hand away. "That's why I chose Raphael. At least he won't suffocate because of me."

I stepped inside. The door closed behind me, and the sight of Raphael's colorless face sent my heart racing.

I clenched my teeth and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed, wrestling with myself for what felt like forever. In the end, I shut my eyes and fumbled to unbutton Raphael's shirt.

"When we were kids, you pissed on my bike tire. Never thought I'd end up dealing with you now..."

I cursed under my breath, my hands trembling as they moved lower.

When I finally reached his zipper, the bulge underneath made my heart leap into my throat. I screamed before I could stop myself.

Felix pounded on the door like a madman until the bodyguards dragged him off.

Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt rushed in. When they noticed the involuntary reaction below Raphael's waist, they gave me an embarrassed smile.

"Sorry, we forgot to mention it. The doctor said that a man's body can still respond for up to three hours after death. Don't worry. It should go back to normal in about half an hour. Once you two are finished here, we'll announce the union of our families!"

I nodded shakily and watched them leave, regret already creeping in.

"You bastard. Even dead, you're still messing with me! I should've just drawn lots and married Felix. At least I could've been happy for three years!"

Everyone was still outside waiting for me to finish, so I sped up. I stripped off Raphael's clothes, kept my eyes shut, and got it done fast.

Maybe it was my nerves, but something felt even stranger. His skin had been chalk-white, but a faint flush was creeping back below the waist. His body felt warm too, not the cold anyone would expect from a corpse.

When the rite ended, they set Raphael in the casket on the bier in the viewing room. I changed into a wedding dress and walked in.

Felix stiffened in the bodyguards' grip and let out a long sigh. "Do you really have to announce our marriage here? You're not even embarrassed? This is sick!"

Winnie shot me a look of undisguised contempt. "Felix, you don't get it. She's piggybacking on the Roosevelts' spotlight. If she announces it here, you can't say no with the whole room watching. Neat little trick!"

Everyone was stunned.

"I heard a while back that Ms. Magnussen had a soft spot for Mr. Ledger, even after he fell from grace. Now look at her, throwing her dignity away just to force a marriage."

"And she's supposed to be Jastrelle's golden girl? What a disgrace!"

"Mr. Ledger may be down on his luck, but he's got a spine. If Mr. Magnussen hadn't kept bailing the Ledgers out every time there was trouble, Mr. Ledger never would've agreed to that groom-selection ceremony."

"An heiress who has to strong-arm a man into marrying her? That's the biggest joke in the whole circle!"

I kept my cool as I walked through the whispering. I stopped beside Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt, both grieving, and faced the guests in front of the altar.

"I'm announcing the result of today's groom selection—"

Felix waved his hand. "Forget it. Get on your knees and apologize to Winnie in front of everyone, and I'll grant your little plea. Oh, and since my parents died, I've gotten used to sharing a bed with her. So you'll get two days a week as my wife. Satisfied?"

The crowd fought to keep a straight face. If this weren't a funeral, they would've laughed out loud.

I smirked. "Are you people deranged? What does any of this have to do with you?"

I turned to the confused crowd. "I choose Raphael Roosevelt as my groom."

The room erupted.

Felix snapped. "Are you insane? He's dead! You'd marry a corpse to cover your family's debts?"

I frowned at him. "Shouldn't you be thrilled? No one's forcing you anymore. Go home and play lovey-dovey with Winnie. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Tears sprang to his eyes as he lunged and grabbed me. "I object! He's a heartless bastard who never cared about you. If he were alive, he'd never agree to this marriage. How could you pick him over me?"

Before I could answer, a familiar, mocking laugh floated up from the casket behind me.

"Who said I'd never agree? If I didn't care, I wouldn't have stuck around for years, playing her game."