At that instant, Hazel’s face darkened. “Andrew!”

She grabbed my wrist tightly, her grip sharp with pain. “He’s my cousin—he’s going to be part of our family. Can’t you be a little more understanding?”

I scoffed and yanked my arm free. “Who said I’m part of your family?”

Her pupils contracted like she’d been slapped. “You’re being ridiculous! All this over a watch? Dylan only borrowed it once! You’ve got enough luxury watches to fill an entire cabinet—what’s wrong with lending him one?”

Right on cue, Dylan’s eyes turned red, his voice catching with emotion. “Hazel, don’t say that. Andrew has always looked down on me... He’s right. I’m not worthy...”

I didn’t bother watching their little performance, and turned to leave. “I said no. That’s final.”

Back in my room, I pulled the blanket over my head and tried to sleep.

But the dizziness from being reborn still churned in my mind, until a shrill phone ring jolted me awake.

“Sir!” My assistant’s panicked voice came through the receiver.

“Miss Hazel brought Mr. Mendez and barged into the villa! I tried to stop them, but the bodyguards all listened to her!”

I shot up from the bed.

The memory of being kidnapped in my previous life flashed before my eyes.

Back then, the bodyguards who were supposed to protect me also followed Hazel without hesitation—leaving me alone with the kidnappers.

When I stormed into the villa, one of the bodyguards dared to step in front of me.

“Sir Andrew, Miss Hazel gave strict orders—no one is allowed to disturb them.”

Slap!

I struck him across the face with full force.

“You take my salary, but follow her orders?” My entire body trembled with rage. “Get out—now!”

I shoved open the inner room’s doors—and the sight before me made my blood run cold.

Steam curled in the air above the hot spring pool. Dylan leaned weakly against the edge, his cheeks unnaturally flushed.

“Hazel... I feel dizzy...”

Before he could finish, his body slumped forward, sliding toward the deeper end of the spring.

Hazel plunged into the water, her long arms wrapping around his shoulders, pulling him up.

Water streamed down her soaked white shirt, trickling over Dylan’s bare chest and pooling at his open collar.

“Hazel,” I said coldly, cutting through the mist and drama, “I told you—you’re not welcome here.”

She froze while Dylan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, wet bangs clinging to his forehead.

“Andrew!” Panic flashed in her eyes, but was quickly replaced by anger.

“Must you be so unreasonable? He nearly fainted! Can’t you show a shred of kindness?”

Suddenly, Dylan tore away from her grip, stumbling to his knees in front of me.

He slammed his forehead against the tiled floor. “I’m sorry, Young Master! This is all my fault!”

Blood streamed from his temple.

Then he lurched forward, grabbing at my pant leg—only to suddenly fall backward into the water like he had been shoved.

He thrashed violently. “Help! I’m cramping—!”

Hazel dove back in to drag him out. As they stumbled ashore, her gaze turned sharp with disgust.

“Andrew, you’re utterly heartless!”

She shoved me—hard.

With a loud bang, my back slammed into the pool’s stone edge. A dull pain bloomed instantly.

“If you keep treating Dylan like this...” she said icily, supporting his trembling body, “I won’t marry you.”

I watched them walk away.

Dripping wet, I crawled out of the pool and shouted, “Every bodyguard on duty today—you're fired!”

As I changed clothes, my assistant came running in, face flushed with excitement.

“Young Master! We’ve found a lead on Eleanor!”

Without hesitation, I jumped into the car and raced toward Sapphire Village.

The mountain roads, battered by the storm, were a mess of mud and broken branches. My SUV nearly skidded off the cliff multiple times.

Just as I finally arrived and began to settle in at the town inn—a pair of hands suddenly grabbed me.

The person yanked me into a dark alley, a warm palm clamping tightly over my mouth.

I looked up in shock—straight into a pair of bright, star-like eyes.

“Eleanor?!” I gasped.

She quickly let go, her face flushing red beneath the brim of her baseball cap.

“Y-Young Master... what are you doing here, of all places?”

“You’re supposed to be dead...” My voice trembled.

She scratched her head awkwardly, revealing that familiar little tiger tooth in her smile.

“There was a mole in the local project. The mudslide gave me the perfect chance to fake my death and flush them out.”

“You know how to pull off a stunt like that?” I raised an eyebrow.

But her smile faltered, dimming instantly. “Did I disappoint you again? You’ve always thought I was useless, didn’t you?”

A sharp pang twisted in my chest.

I grabbed her wrist tightly. “Listen to me—you must come back before the 8th. Before the wedding.”

Her body tensed. Her eyes lost their light. “...Fine. I’ll be there. For your wedding.”

“You idiot,” I snapped, stomping my foot in frustration. “I meant I want to marry—”

“Boss! The mole’s on the move!” a voice shouted from the distance.

Eleanor backed away quickly, flustered. “Y-Young Master, this place isn’t safe. You should go. But don’t worry—I’ll be at the wedding.”

Her silhouette vanished down the alley before I could stop her.

I stood rooted to the spot, thoughts churning wildly.

In my previous life, she was the one I paid the least attention to among the eight candidates.

Everyone said she was simple-minded, always messing around in clubs and outdoor circles. She was nothing like Hazel—graceful, polished, and sharp in negotiations. But now I realized, it was always Eleanor who handled the most troublesome clients, the most tangled deals.

Back then, I didn’t see it. But thinking about it now—those so-called “minor tasks” she was given, they were full of landmines. Without sharp instincts and incredible people skills, how could she have navigated them so flawlessly?

On the drive back, I had a new digital wedding invitation made and sent it to Eleanor.

It wasn’t until the middle of the night that my phone finally lit up with her reply.

[Young Master, the bride's name is incorrect. Please update it.]

The "typing..." bubble flickered for a long time. Then another message came through.

[Don’t worry. I’ll definitely come to the wedding.]

I couldn’t help but smile.

She wouldn’t believe anything I said right now anyway. I’d just have to wait until she came back—and tell her everything in person.

My phone buzzed again.

Message after message from Hazel popped up.

[Dylan deserves an apology.]

[Stop being so childish.]

I opened the chat and blocked her without hesitation.

Just knowing Eleanor was still alive—and far more capable than I ever imagined—filled me with a joy I hadn’t felt in years.

I began making serious preparations for the wedding.

One afternoon, I stepped into a luxury tailor shop—and immediately heard a voice I recognized.

“Hazel, how do I look in this?” Dylan stepped out of the fitting room.

He was wearing my custom wedding tuxedo. The sleeves were casually rolled up to reveal his slender wrists.

Hazel was adjusting his collar, her voice light with laughter. “The waist is tailored perfectly.”

“You’ve got such great taste, Hazel.” Dylan lowered his head shyly—but his fingers deliberately traced the satin trim on the pocket.

I forced down my fury and walked over.

Hazel froze when she saw me. She quickly shifted to block Dylan from view, her voice softening.

“Andrew... Dylan’s heart hasn’t been doing well. The doctor said it could be serious, and he just wanted to try it on—”

Dylan coughed weakly and clutched the hem of her shirt like a wounded bird.

“Take. It. Off.” I said coldly.

Dylan's face pale. “M-Sir Andrew, I didn’t mean to—please don’t blame Hazel...”

Dylan glanced at Hazel in a panic, his eyes rimmed red.

She immediately stepped in front of him like a protective shield. “It’s just a suit! Is that really necessary? He’s had a weak constitution since he was a child—”

“I said—take it off.” I shot a cold glance at the staff.

“Since when were outsiders allowed to wear something custom-made for me?”

The two sales assistants fumbled as they hurried to help Dylan remove the suit. He stumbled suddenly, pretending to lose his balance.

“Careful!” Hazel caught him and spun around to glare at me.

“Andrew!” she shrieked.

Dylan shook his head weakly. “It’s my fault, Hazel. I shouldn’t have...”

“Disinfect it. Three times,” I said with a look of disgust. “I don’t want a single trace of his scent on it.”

Dylan lowered his head and hurried away, his shoulders trembling.

Hazel shot me one last venomous glare before chasing after him.

That night, my assistant leaned in close, his voice gleeful with gossip.

“Young Master, guess what? That guy Dylan—you know, the one always faking sickness—got hit by a car today and broke two ribs!”

He gestured animatedly, unable to contain his excitement. “Tsk. Serves him right! Always hanging around Miss Hazel like some pitiful little puppy, knowing full well she’s supposed to be your fiancée. Absolutely disgusting.”

I swirled the whiskey in my glass, a cold smirk curling at my lips. “Who told you Hazel was my fiancée?”

My assistant blinked, stunned. The files in his hands nearly slipped.

“Y-Young Master, you mean...?”

“Call the wedding planner,” I said calmly, taking a slow sip. “Change the bride’s name to Eleanor.”

The assistant practically pumped his fist.

“Finally! That Hazel always pretends to be so proper and cultured, but she’s been glued to Dylan like they’re joined at the hip. Always playing the saintly victim—it’s revolting.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Even my assistant saw her clearly.

How did I let myself be so blind in the past?

Love really did make people blind.

I sighed quietly.

—

The next morning, just as I stepped out of the office building, darkness swallowed my vision—a burlap sack was yanked over my head.

“Who’s there?!” I struggled violently.

They shoved me into a van. My head slammed into the doorframe with a sickening thud. Pain exploded at the base of my skull.

Familiar fear flooded through me—the same terror I felt in my past life during the kidnapping.

“Name your price!” I panted, my shirt already drenched in cold sweat. “Whatever it is, I’ll pay!”

Silence.

Suddenly, I smelled the faint scent of magnolia perfume—Hazel’s favorite.

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach.

“You....” My voice cracked. “What the hell do you want?”

A deliberately distorted voice responded, “Someone paid me to teach you a lesson.”

Even though I’d already broken off the engagement, the betrayal still cut like a blade.

“Bang!”

A metal rod slammed into my calf. The searing pain made me bite through my own lip.

I curled into the corner of the van, shaking—but I said nothing. I didn’t expose her.

Right before I lost consciousness, I heard her cold, detached voice.

“Remember this lesson.”

The blunt strikes of the rod came again.

Once.

Twice.

Three times...

Fifteen hits in total. I could hear my bones splinter.

The pain dragged me into darkness.

When I came to, I was lying at the gates of the Jacobs estate.

The acrid scent of hospital disinfectant burned in my nose.

In the VIP room next door, I heard Dylan’s soft voice. “Hazel, you’ve been by my side every day. You must be exhausted.”

My chest twisted so hard I thought it might shatter.

Hazel—just to vent for Dylan, you were willing to go this far?!

“Son!” My father burst into the room, his voice trembling with rage.

“Who did this to you?! I’ll make sure they suffer worse than death!”