The Emerson family had two child brides. One was me. The other was Eliza Quinn.

On Hunter Emerson’s twenty-fifth birthday, Eliza died in a car accident. Just like that, I became the daughter-in-law of the Emerson family.

After our marriage, Hunter and I lived with mutual respect, a quiet harmony growing between us. I loved him. I loved the family. I gave them everything I had.

I truly believed the rest of my life would pass in peaceful fulfillment, surrounded by love and warmth.

But I never imagined that in my final years, Hunter would look me in the eye and say he wanted Eliza’s ashes moved into the Emerson family’s ancestral tomb, to take my place.

I was stunned.

I cried. I screamed. I cursed him with every breath I had left.

But Hunter remained unmoved.

To break my spirit, he coldly told me he had already written a will. After his death, I would be left with absolutely nothing.

When I learned that all three of our sons, and even the grandchildren, stood firmly by his side, a fury so deep exploded within me that I spat blood on the spot and died in front of him, wretched and heartbroken.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day the Emerson family was choosing a bride.

Weston Emerson stood at the head of the grand hall, his expression solemn and unreadable.

"Hunter, you’re not young anymore. It’s time to decide."

"Tell us, who do you want as your wife?"

Sloane Emerson offered a gentle smile. "I suppose our son will choose Maya. He’s been clinging to her since he was a boy."

In both beauty and wit, I had always outshone Eliza. Everyone in the family knew I was the obvious choice, the daughter-in-law in all but name.

But in this life, Hunter’s eyes met mine with a piercing chill. His gaze was filled with hatred, thick and unforgiving.

At that moment, I understood he had been reborn, too.

So be it if Eliza meant that much to him, I would grant his wish.

——

I rose slowly, my voice steady as I said, "Uncle Weston."

"Maya knows she lacks the grace and brilliance to be worthy of Hunter."

"And so, I respectfully withdraw."

Hunter’s eyes widened in disbelief, clearly unprepared for my surrender.

A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but it vanished just as quickly, replaced by cold indifference.

He said nothing, just turned, and left the hall in haste.

But I knew exactly where he was headed. At this moment in time, Eliza hadn’t yet gotten into that car. The accident hadn’t happened. Everything was still in place.

I stood motionless, a bitter smile curling at the corners of my lips.

Decades of marriage in my past life had crumbled into nothing more than a beautiful lie.

"Maya, what did you just say?"

Weston’s voice echoed from the head of the hall, laced with disbelief.

I looked up, meeting his eyes.

This man, who once treated me like his own, now stared at me with confusion written across his face.

I drew in a breath, the sound steady and unfamiliar to even myself.

"Uncle Weston, since Hunter's heart belongs to someone else, I withdraw from the bride selection."

Weston and Sloane exchanged glances.

But recalling the way their son had turned and walked away without hesitation, neither could find the words to comfort me.

I returned to my room in silence and began packing quietly, readying myself to leave without a sound.

The next morning, when I opened my social media apps, my feed was flooded with news about Hunter and Eliza.

In the featured photo, Eliza nestled sweetly in Hunter’s arms, her smile bright and dazzling like a spring sunrise.

He held her tightly by the waist, his eyes soft and overflowing with affection.

Without changing my expression, I swiped the notifications away, one after another.

By midday, noise erupted downstairs.

I stood at the window, watching Hunter lead Eliza into the mansion with confidence, his arm wrapped intimately around hers as if they already owned the place.

Moments later, heated voices erupted from the study.

Hunter’s voice rang out sharp and impatient. “Dad! I already told you, I chose Eliza!”

“Why is Maya still the chief designer?”

Weston’s voice followed, calm and measured.

“Hunter, Maya has always led the jewelry department. Removing her now would rattle the board and crash the stock price.”

"I don't care!" Hunter cut him off harshly. "I’ve already made up my mind. Eliza is the Emerson family’s daughter-in-law. Are you seriously choosing an outsider over your own son’s decision?"

In recent years, the jewelry line has become the heart of the Emerson Group.

In my past life, it was because of my sleepless nights, endless sketches, and countless sacrifices that the company rose to the top of Delaware’s jewelry industry.

My name had once been synonymous with its brilliance. I was the one who secured the position of chief designer with real results.

Hunter knew this better than anyone.

A while later, the butler came and silently led me to the study.

Weston sat behind a grand rosewood desk, the fatigue in his eyes impossible to miss.

He motioned for me to sit, his fingers absentmindedly tapping against the polished wood, the dull rhythm echoing in the tense air.

“Maya, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

I gently cut in before he could continue, my voice eerily calm. “There’s no need, Uncle Weston. I understand.”

He looked up at me in surprise. A flicker of guilt passed through his eyes and quickly took root, weighing down his already burdened expression.

All these years, he had placed his hopes in me, treating me no different than a daughter.

But now, faced with the current situation, Weston could do nothing.

He had already reached retirement age. Someone had to take the reins of the family.

He let out a long, weary sigh.

"You’ve always overseen the jewelry division. Replacing you out of the blue, it really isn’t appropriate."

"But you know Hunter. He’s even more stubborn than I am."

I gave a quiet nod. "Uncle Weston, I understand."

I reached into my bag and pulled out a neatly arranged folder and a diamond bracelet, placing them gently on the table.

"The folder holds all the current design documents and handover materials. Hunter knows the password."

Weston’s gaze locked on the bracelet. His fingers trembled faintly.

That bracelet was the Emerson family heirloom, a symbol of the future daughter-in-law, said to be priceless.

I had worn it since I was eighteen. It had never once left me.

Even in my past life, when I breathed my last, it was still on my wrist.

Looking at my composed expression, Weston wanted to speak, but the words never left his lips.

I rose to my feet and bowed slightly.

"Uncle Weston, thank you for all your kindness over the years. I am truly grateful."

The study door swung open without warning.

Hunter strode in, with Eliza trailing closely behind.

“Dad, are you done talking?”

He didn’t spare me a single glance, walking straight to Weston’s side.

Weston gave a weary nod and gently pushed the folder and jade bracelet forward.

"Maya has agreed to the handover."

Before Hunter could respond, Eliza reached out eagerly and grabbed the bracelet, her eyes sparkling with pride and triumph.

The sight made Weston’s brow crease slightly.

“Wait.”

I broke the silence. Hunter's expression darkened. "Maya, are you trying to take back your word?"

I shook my head and retrieved another document from the folder calmly.

"This is the jewelry project’s confidential core, agreements with top clients, and exclusive terms with key suppliers."

Hunter took the folder with a hint of suspicion, flipping through it quickly as the crease between his brows deepened with every page.

"If these details are mishandled," I said in a steady voice, "they could bring heavy losses to the Emerson Group in the future. But with Eliza’s abilities, I’m sure that won’t be a problem, right?"

A flicker of unease passed over Eliza’s face, but she quickly masked it with a confident smile.

"You’re overthinking it. I know exactly what I’m doing," she said lightly.

I said nothing more.

Eliza had only finished junior college. She knew nothing about design, let alone the intricacies of running a business.

The jewelry division thrived solely because I never stopped designing and continued to work diligently to maintain delicate client relationships and supplier connections.

There was no margin for error, not even a sliver.

"You can leave now," Hunter said coldly. "From this day on, the Emerson Group has nothing to do with you."

I had just turned to go when Eliza’s voice rang out behind me, sharp and arrogant.

"Wait!"

I paused mid-step but didn’t look back.

"Since Maya’s no longer chosen, she’s not part of the Emerson family, right?"

"According to tradition, she shouldn’t keep anything from the Emerson household either. She should leave with nothing.”

“Hunter, don’t you agree?"

The air in the study turned suffocatingly still.

I turned around slowly, letting my gaze cut past Eliza’s smug expression and fall directly on Hunter.

"Is this what you want?"

He stood frozen, his face shifting through a range of fleeting emotions.

His lashes trembled.

Then his eyes started to dodge mine.

And finally, he looked away.

Those few seconds of silence said more than words ever could.

Weston suddenly slammed the table and rose to his feet.

"Enough! Maya has been part of this family for twenty years. Even if she’s no longer our daughter-in-law, she’s still half a member of the Emerson family!"

"Dad!" Hunter finally opened his mouth. "Eliza’s right. Since we’ve made the decision, we should cut ties cleanly."

I looked at him, and then, unexpectedly, I smiled.

That calm, composed smile unsettled him.

"Uncle Weston, if this is truly Hunter’s decision, then I’ll respect it."

I glanced around the study, my eyes finally landing on Hunter.

He flinched and instinctively turned his face away, his fingers nervously twisting the hem of his sleeve.

"Uncle Weston, since things have already come to this, some accounts need to be settled too."

Though my voice was soft, the room fell into a heavy silence.

"I’ve been managing the family’s jewelry business since I was eighteen. It’s been five full years."

Eliza let out a mocking laugh, but it died instantly when Hunter shot her a warning glance.

"In the first year, the jewelry I designed won a national award, bringing in three hundred million in revenue and forty million in profit."

"In the second year, I earned an international award. Revenue soared to eight hundred million, and net profit reached one hundred twenty million."

"In the third year, I led Emerson Jewelry into the markets of Finland and Sweden..."

I listed the accomplishments one by one, each figure sharper than the last. With every word, Weston’s expression darkened further.

"In total, over five years, I generated more than two billion in net profit for the family."

Hunter bit lightly on his lower lip. He understood exactly what those numbers meant.

In my past life, these very projects had built the foundation that vaulted the Emersons into the top tier of Delaware’s elite.

"You raised me for twenty years, and I earned two billion for the family." My voice remained steady, devoid of emotion. "We’re even."

"The Emerson family owe me nothing, and I owe them nothing."

"I walk away with nothing, starting today, our ties end here."

Eliza suddenly let out a cold sneer. “What a noble speech, but is this what you call leaving with nothing?”

She strode up and yanked sharply at my dress. “This haute couture gown, it’s worth over a hundred thousand, isn’t it?”

Then she tugged up my sleeve, exposing the watch on my wrist. “Damn, a Richard Mille… women’s model starts at a million at least.”

Next, she reached into my bag and pulled out a key. “And this, your limited-edition supercar. Costs over ten million, right?”

“All of these luxuries, weren’t they paid with Emerson family money?”

I didn’t resist her rough, humiliating gestures. I simply stood still, my eyes locked on Hunter.

His fingers had curled so tightly into his palm that the skin had turned white, yet he said nothing.

“Hunter,” I asked quietly, “do the years we spent together really mean nothing to you?”

His eyelashes trembled slightly. His lips parted, but in the end, he said nothing.