My name is Greta Ellsworth.

In my past life, my best friend, Poppy McKellen, and I both married into the Lockwood family. They are a prestigious household with a long-standing legacy in alternative medicine.

Poppy marries the eldest son, Bruce Lockwood, while I marry the younger son, Owen Lockwood.

Poppy gives birth to three children with Bruce. They each grow up to be prodigies in medicine.

Meanwhile, I have only one daughter with Owen—Wendy Lockwood. Sadly, Wendy struggles with even the most basic math and isn't very bright.

Owen's pride takes over, and he is left feeling utterly embarrassed.

Years later, I take Wendy to a medical symposium. When she shyly whispers, "Dad," the crowd erupts in laughter.

Enraged and humiliated, Owen stabs Wendy to death. Before I can react, he turns my way and strikes me down as well.

When I open my eyes again, I realize that both Owen and I have been reborn.

I take in the scene of our families' matchmaking event once more. This time, Owen reaches for Poppy's hand and says, "I like you. Will you marry me?"

The Lockwood family was a renowned name in alternative medicine.

One day, they decided to host a lavish banquet, inviting distinguished figures from the medical world as well as the elite of Jewel Creek. The event also served as a public matchmaking event.

My family, the Ellsworths, had been practicing medicine for three generations. Unfortunately, our private hospital had recently fallen into trouble. As such, I came to the banquet hoping to seek the Lockwood family's assistance.

As the memories of my troubled marriage from my past life returned, a wave of bitterness settled in my heart.

The two sons of the Lockwood family stood at the very front, surrounded by an intrigued crowd. Their presence was commanding, radiating both confidence and charm.

Nearby, two socialites whispered among themselves.

"Owen has such a calm and gentle air about him. He really seems like a total sweetheart."

"Bruce has the looks, but he definitely comes off as more distant."

"It's not just that he's distant. Bruce is downright cold. I've heard he's incredibly skilled in medicine, but if he doesn't like someone, he won't even treat them.

"Owen, though, is the complete opposite. He's so warm and kind to every patient. If I were looking for a husband, I'd choose someone as kind-hearted as him!"

"But I heard that Owen is an illegitimate child..."

"Who cares about that at this point? He's already been officially accepted by the family, hasn't he?"

Beside me, my best friend, Poppy McKellen, couldn't hide her excitement. She gripped my hand tightly, her gaze locked on Owen Lockwood.

When their eyes briefly met, she quickly looked away, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Meanwhile, a cold, mocking smile tugged at my lips.

In my past life, I, too, had fallen for Owen's charming facade.

My grandfather, father, and older brother were all doctors, and I had followed their path.

Thanks to my skills, I earned the nickname "Magic Healer" in Jewel Creek.

It was my reputation and appearance that made Owen choose me as his fiancee.

Around that time, I also discovered that Poppy had feelings for him.

But that same night, she drank too much and ended up in Bruce Lockwood's bed.

A month later, she discovered she was pregnant. With her fate sealed, she had no choice but to marry Bruce instead.

After I tied the knot with Owen, life was blissful for a while. He was everything everyone said he would be—caring, gentle, and thoughtful.

At the time, I couldn't have been happier to have found such a wonderful husband. Little did I know that he would eventually become the source of my pain in the second half of my life.

Not long after Poppy's marriage, she gave birth to three healthy sons.

My father-in-law, George Lockwood, couldn't stop smiling with pride, calling Poppy the ideal daughter-in-law. He even gave her a million dollars as a gift.

As for me, I couldn't conceive at all.

Gradually, Owen began to change.

He grew more and more impatient with me, his temper flaring over the most minor things. He became particularly sensitive whenever our lack of children was mentioned.

He blamed me for the problem and forced me to take one supplement after another. On top of that, he insisted that I endure a series of grueling acupuncture sessions.

To ensure I focused solely on conceiving, he even made me quit my job at the hospital and stay at home.

It seemed as though he had forgotten that I was a doctor. If I hadn't managed to get pregnant by now, surely I would know how to assess my own health.

It was clear that the real problem was with him.

For years, I had tried countless treatments. Despite damaging my body in the process, I still couldn't conceive.

I was unable to bear the pain any longer. I wanted a divorce, hoping he'd find someone who could give him the family he always wanted.

But when I brought it up, Owen simply scoffed. "After all the time and effort I've put into you, do you honestly think you can just walk away?

"The only reason I married you was for your medical talent. Did you really think I loved you? It turns out you're useless. What good are your skills if you can't even bear a child? You're nothing but a waste!"

Just like that, we had a fierce argument, and I eventually collapsed.

When I woke up next, I found Owen sitting beside my bed.

With a warm smile, he told me I was pregnant. He seemed like his old self again, doting on me with care and concern.

After ten months, I gave birth to a daughter, Wendy Lockwood. Unfortunately, the happiness of her arrival was short-lived.

Poppy's three children soon began formal training in alternative medicine. It didn't take long before they were hailed as medical prodigies, praised by both teachers and family alike.

Around the same time, George retired and passed on the majority of the Lockwood family's business empire to Bruce.

Meanwhile, Wendy struggled to grasp even the most basic of mathematical problems and was often seen as falling behind.

Owen completely snapped. He screamed at me, calling me worthless for not giving him a son. In his fury, he threw me out of the house and took everything away from me.

Nonetheless, I didn't feel wronged. Instead, I felt a sense of relief and chose to live independently with Wendy.

One day, we attended a medical symposium. When Wendy saw him, she nervously called out, "Dad."

Of course, the crowd couldn't hold back their laughter and teasing remarks.

Owen's face turned red with embarrassment. That very day, he stormed into our home and stabbed Wendy to death.

"This idiot's the reason I can't hold my head up in public! Just die already!" he exclaimed.

With every last bit of strength I had, I shoved him away, desperate to get Wendy to the hospital.

But Owen had lost all control by then. His face twisted with fury as he attacked me from behind.

In my final moments, I clutched Wendy's lifeless body close to mine. The warmth slowly drained from my blood, and darkness began to close in.

I never could have imagined that I would be reborn, let alone find myself back on the very day of the banquet.

A wave of hatred surged through me, causing my fingers to tremble.

I locked eyes with Owen, my gaze cold and unyielding. To my shock, I watched him walk straight toward Poppy.

A chill ran down my spine, and in that moment, it all became clear to me.

He had been reborn as well.

"These two sons of mine are always buried in their medical research. They're almost 30 and still not married. How am I ever supposed to have grandchildren?" George lamented with a sigh.

Everyone in the room understood that tonight's banquet was essentially a matchmaking event. George was there to find suitable partners for his sons.

His eldest son, Bruce, was born to his first wife. He was exceptionally talented and widely respected in the medical world as a master of alternative medicine.

His younger son, Owen, was born to George's current wife. Rumors swirled that Owen had been conceived out of wedlock, making him an illegitimate child.

Despite this, his reputation remained spotless. Everyone saw him as gentle and kind-hearted.

In my past life, Owen had already done his research on every socialite attending the banquet.

His medical skills were far inferior to Bruce's. Having been pampered all his life, he lacked the discipline to truly dedicate himself to medicine.

Thus, he longed for a brilliant child to make up for his own deficiencies in the field. This was also the reason he had set his sights on me from the beginning.

But in this life, he didn't even spare me a glance. Instead, he walked straight up to Poppy. To the shock of everyone present, he took her hand and said, "I like you. Will you marry me?"

The room fell into a deep silence. People soon began whispering amongst themselves, trying to figure out who Poppy was.

Although the McKellens had some wealth to their name, they weren't even on the guest list for this banquet.

In fact, Poppy had begged me to bring her along because she had a crush on Owen.

I hadn't given it much thought at the time. After all, these matchmaking events were meant for families of equal standing. I'd assumed she was simply here for the experience.

George frowned. "Owen, are you sure about this?"

Owen smiled and nodded. "I've had feelings for Ms. McKellen for a long time. I wanted to use this opportunity to confess and propose to her."

As he spoke, his gaze lingered affectionately on Poppy.

Poppy was filled with excitement. "Yes! I'll marry you!" she blurted without a second thought.

In that instant, Owen glanced at me, but all I saw in his eyes was contempt and disgust.

A cold shiver ran through me as memories of the fear and hatred I'd felt before my death in my past life came rushing back.

I clenched my fists tightly, nails digging into my palms. The sharp pain jolted through me, awakening every nerve.

Just as I was about to lose control and slap Owen across the face, a warm hand wrapped around my cold wrist.

I instinctively looked up, only to be met by a pair of dark, penetrating eyes.

The man standing before me wore a fitted suit, his demeanor cold yet composed. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Shall we get married?" Bruce asked.

The crowd exchanged glances, murmuring amongst themselves. Was there some unspoken rivalry between the Lockwood brothers?

Everyone was aware of the crisis at my family's hospital. Anyone hoping to marry me would first have to address that issue. In other words, they would need to cover my family's losses before they could reap any benefits.

When I was selected as a potential bride for the Lockwood brothers, no one considered me a serious contender.

Despite the frown on his face, George said nothing. Deep inside, he knew it was ultimately Bruce who would make the final call.

Standing next to him, Owen's expression grew colder. "I suggest you check Greta's health before marrying her. You wouldn't want to regret it later if she turns out to be infertile."

A surge of anger welled up in my chest, threatening to explode. Just as I was about to lash out, Bruce tightened his grip on my hand.

His tone remained even and calm. "Who I marry is none of your business. Perhaps you should focus on your own fiancee instead.

"Besides, I'm marrying Greta because I truly care about her, not because of her fertility."

Owen's expression faltered, the weight of Bruce's jab sinking in.

Miriam Horan quickly stepped forward, trying to smooth things over for her sons. "Bruce, your brother is just looking out for you.

"Anyway, since both of you have chosen your partners, let's set a wedding date and make it official. Both Ms. McKellen and Ms. Ellsworth appear to be on board with the idea," she said.

George remained quiet, silently giving his approval to both of his sons' choices.

Seeing the situation unfold, the guests let out a sigh and began finding excuses to leave.

Owen put on his usual gentle facade as he escorted Poppy out. But as they were leaving, he let out a disdainful snort in my direction.

"Bruce, Greta may have a pretty face, but there are countless others out there who are just as beautiful.

"Don't let one rash decision mess up your future. Eventually, you'll see that looks are all she has to offer. I hope you don't regret it."

Back at home, my parents had already caught wind of the news. After months of stress over the hospital, they finally felt a sense of relief.

They wasted no time coordinating with the Lockwood family to finalize the wedding plans. At the same time, they began discussing how the Lockwoods might be able to support us.

The day before Owen's wedding, Poppy came to visit.

Her face was full of joy, but as soon as she saw me, she became visibly uncomfortable.

"Greta, I was honestly shocked when Owen confessed to me that day. That's why I couldn't defend you at the moment.

"I really like Owen. He promised me he'd give me everything I've ever wanted."

After a brief pause, she whispered, "I've heard that Bruce is pretty cold-hearted. Marrying you could just be a way for him to take over your family's hospital. You should be careful."

As I looked at Poppy's pretentious smile, I couldn't help but sneer to myself.

Before her wedding, Poppy had been a genuine friend. But once she married, she transformed into a sister-in-law who seemed to take pleasure in my misery.

In my past life, she had also told me that Owen didn't care for me and had urged me to marry someone I truly loved.

When I was tormented by Owen's cruelty, she simply smiled and said, "See? I told you so, but you didn't listen. Since you're unable to have children, just let Owen find someone else to give him an heir. You can still care for the child without all the pain."

If Poppy had experienced the hardships I endured in my past life, would she still hold the same view?

She had always envisioned a lavish wedding for herself. After all, it was her chance to display her newfound status.

But unexpectedly, Owen had no interest in a grand celebration. Instead, what he proposed was downright modest.

He simply booked a few tables at a hotel for close friends and family, arranged some flowers, and hired a host. That was the full extent of their wedding.

Poppy's frustration overflowed, and tears filled her eyes.

Owen gently comforted her by saying, "My father isn't one for extravagance. Once we have a child, we'll hold a proper celebration to make up for it."

I couldn't help but chuckle to myself.

Poppy's family was nowhere near joining Jewel Creek's high society. The only reason Owen selected her as his partner was that she had given birth to three medical prodigies in her past life.

Still, Owen was all about appearances. With Poppy's humble background, he saw no reason to spend extravagantly on a wedding.

Didn't Poppy realize that the Lockwood family had more than enough money for a grand celebration?

It was almost heartbreaking to see her fall for his excuses.

In my past life, I had been just as blinded, lured in by Owen's smooth words and charm.

I'd truly believed that his marriage to me and his kindness were rooted in genuine affection.

But after three years of trying and failing to conceive, everything changed.

Presently, my wedding day eventually arrived. Bruce arranged for the ceremony to be held at the Lockwood residence and invited many of Jewel Creek's high-society families.

He wore a white tuxedo, and his usually detached expression betrayed a flicker of joy.

Bruce pulled me close, his arm wrapped around my waist. As the crowd cheered, he lifted my veil and kissed me softly. "Happy wedding day, my love."

My cheeks flushed, and my heart raced faster with every beat.

Wasn't Bruce supposed to be cold and aloof?

Why did he seem so different from the rumors?

In my past life, he hardly ever appeared with Poppy and always seemed cold at family gatherings. Focused on his studies, he spent his days either at the hospital or locked away in his apartment.

Aside from mocking me, Poppy would often joke that Bruce was nothing more than a "working robot".

After the ceremony, Bruce took me to stay in his apartment.

I was taken aback. "Aren't we supposed to live at the Lockwood residence?"

In my past life, Owen had always insisted on living with his parents. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving them alone.

Bruce adjusted his tie. "It's fine. How would we ever have any time to ourselves if we lived with them?"

My cheeks reddened, and I didn't know how to respond.

Without another word, Bruce lifted me into his arms and carried me to the bedroom.

When I woke up next, the housekeeper told me that Bruce had left on a business trip to treat a patient.

As I read the message he'd sent me, a sense of emptiness settled in my chest.

It seemed he truly was a workaholic.