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!”

“I’m fine, Dad,” I said, forcing a smile through the pain. “Just get me a new set of bodyguards.”

“Oh, and one more thing—Eleanor is alive. I’m going to marry her.”

After my father left in shock, I hobbled over to the window with the support of a crutch.

In the garden below, I spotted Hazel leaning in close to Dylan, whispering something that made his ears flush red.

That soft, tender smile on her face—she had never once smiled at me like that.

...

The day before the wedding, Eleanor finally returned, travel-worn and covered with traces of dirt and dust.

She carefully pulled out a smooth jade pendant from her coat and offered it to me with both hands.

“A wedding gift... from me to you, Young Master.”

“The bride is finally back,” I said, deliberately raising my voice as I took the jade with a smile.

Eleanor froze, and her eyes widen. A flush quickly crept into her cheeks, and her lips trembled, but no words came out.

Later, my assistant whispered to me that Hazel hadn’t shown her face in days.

I sneered. She was probably waiting for me to beg—waiting for me to apologize, crawl to her feet, and plead for her to return to marry me.

Too bad her little scheme fell flat.

That night, my phone buzzed.

Dylan sent me a video.

It showed him and Hazel entangled on a bed, half-dressed, clearly intoxicated—or pretending to be.

Seconds later, the video was unsent.

“Pathetic.” I let out a cold chuckle and shut off the screen.

How laughable. They still thought they could manipulate me.

From the window, I saw Eleanor standing under the night sky, alone.

She looked up toward my window, smiled, and waved.

Her expression was calm, warm, and unwavering.

And for the first time in a long while, I felt truly at peace.

On the morning of the wedding, my phone rang.

“If you apologize to Dylan right now, I’ll come and marry you,” Hazel said, still speaking with that haughty tone of hers.

“No need.” I hung up without hesitation, lips curving into a cool smile.

At the wedding venue, the guests whispered among themselves.

“Why isn’t Miss Hazel here yet?”

“Did she get cold feet?”

I ignored the murmurs and took Eleanor’s hand, guiding her down the aisle.

She was extra gentle, taking care not to press against the bruises I hadn’t yet fully recovered from.

“Let’s all raise a toast to Miss Eleanor and the Jacobs family’s eldest son!” the emcee’s voice rang through the grand banquet hall.

Just then, the doors burst open with a loud bang.

Hazel finally showed up—disheveled, pale as a ghost. The bouquet in her hands slipped to the floor with a soft thud.

I turned slightly and met her stunned gaze.

Then, without hesitation, I pulled Eleanor close and kissed her.