My name is Christina Scott.

In my previous life, Xavier Quinn, known as Don Quinn of the Quinn family, had asked me to choose one of his two sons to marry. The chosen one would then inherit his seat of power.

Without hesitation, I chose the one I loved—Fletcher Quinn. He married me and assumed the role of the Don, but he blamed me for choosing him.

He claimed that it drove his foster sister, Sabrina Quinn, who loved him, to leave.

After our wedding, Fletcher hired someone to abduct me, causing me to die with our unborn child.

The one who cried the hardest over my body turned out to be Lucas Quinn, a man whom the world called a cold-blooded demon. "Christina, if I had known this would be our ending," he confessed, "I would never have allowed Fletcher to have you."

...

Now that I have been reborn, I will leave Fletcher to Sabrina, his foster sister, his true love. As for me, I choose to marry Lucas this time.

However, when I chooses to marry Lucas, Fletcher begins to regret.

"Christina, I love you. I love you most in the world."

Staring at my father's urn, I, Christina Scott, knew I had been reborn—to the very day I moved into the Quinn residence.

Fletcher Quinn's subordinates stared at me, stunned. "Boss, this is bad! Is Christina really moving in? Won't this make it even easier for her to pursue you? She might even sneak into your bed and throw herself into your arms at night!"

Fletcher stepped in front of me, towering over me. His eyes were filled with the same disgust I remembered from my previous life. "I heard before Harry died, he begged Dad to let you marry into the Quinns. He really went to great lengths for you to marry into a mafia family!"

I clutched my father's urn so tightly my knuckles turned white. Dad, how could I have married a man who did not respect me in my previous life? How could I have let him humiliate me and make my life a living hell?

"Fletcher, I misjudged you. From now on, I won't pursue you anymore."

The moment my words fell, everyone at the scene froze. I caught a flicker of panic in Fletcher's eyes.

Soon after, laughter exploded around us.

"Boss, she's at it again! She's playing hard to get!"

"Remember the last time she swore she'd stop pursuing you? By that very afternoon, she'd staged a 'coincidental' meeting."

Their words made Fletcher laugh, too. "Stop pursuing me? Can you truly live with that? Marry me, and when I take over the Quinn family, everything you've been after will naturally come easily."

My pupils widened. How did Fletcher know that marrying me meant taking over the family?

That had been a secret between me and Xavier Quinn, his father and the Don of the Quinn family. No one else was privy to this, so it seemed Fletcher had also been reborn.

"Don't think I can't see right through you." He sneered. "You're after my family's power. Let's see if you can handle the consequences that come with it."

Looking into Fletcher's vicious eyes, I knew my guess was correct.

He had said almost the same thing in our previous life. On our wedding night, he slapped me and snarled, "Christina, you tore me and Sabrina apart for wealth and status. Fine. We'll see if you can take it.

From then on, our marriage became nothing but violence, infidelity, and being given the cold shoulder.

…

However, even after rebirth, Fletcher still didn't understand one thing.

He thought I had married him in our previous life for power, never realizing he had gained it because of me. Before my father, Harry Scott, died, he had grasped Don Quinn's hand, asking him to look after me.

Xavier had then promised to let me choose one of his two sons to marry. My chosen one would inherit the family and be the next Don.

"How are you so sure I'll choose to marry you?" I mocked, coldly looking at Fletcher.

"Marry? Fletcher, who are you marrying?" Sabrina Quinn blinked her doe eyes as she came down the stairs. Trembling, she looked at Fletcher with such innocence that she might burst into tears at any moment.

Fletcher had been snarling at me a second ago. Now, upon seeing Sabrina, he softened instantly, showing her a tenderness he had never spared for me.

"It's Christina. She's even using her dead father to threaten me." He pulled Sabrina into his arms, soothing her.

"Harry sacrificed himself for Dad. It's only natural that Christina would want something from our family." Sabrina mocked me between sobs, her tears making her look heartbreakingly pitiful. "But Fletcher, don't you want me anymore?

"You were the one who took me in back then. You're the only one I depend on."

"You little fool. How could I not want you? No matter who I marry, you'll always be the only one who matters to me."

With that, Fletcher turned to me as if I were the ugliest creature in the world. "Get out, Christina. I agree to marry you. Just stop upsetting Sabrina."

He then carried Sabrina upstairs.

In my previous life, seeing this would've brought me to tears.

However, I merely smiled coldly. Oh, Fletcher, you would one day beg me to marry you. It's just too bad that I won't spare you a glance by then.

Before the engagement ceremony, I held my father's funeral.

I stood in the funeral home and stared at his portrait. I made a quiet vow there and then.

Before my father died, his last wish was for me to live in happiness. In this lifetime, I wouldn't disappoint him.

The Quinn family spared no expense. Other family members were present. Politicians and business associates also came to pay their respects.

However, I did not expect Fletcher to attend as he never cared much about things that involved me.

At this exact moment in my previous life, he had been at home, tangled up in bed with Sabrina. That was what she provoked me with before I died.

When I saw Sabrina, dolled up in heavy makeup and bright dress, trailing behind Fletcher, I understood that she might have pushed him to come to get under my skin.

Sabrina hooked her arm through his and kept flaunting their love in front of me.

"Sabrina, I can excuse the fact that you're an orphan," I questioned. "Didn't the Quinn family teach you better than to arrive at a funeral in bright color?"

Fletcher frowned in surprise. He had probably never seen me like this before, sharp and unyielding.

For years, I had played the obedient young woman he preferred. I had kept my claws sheathed, and I had never dared to talk back to his precious Sabrina.

"What's with your temper today? You should thank Sabrina for thinking of you. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't even be here!

"Don't think you can boss her around just because you'll be my wife! The Quinn family despises infighting!"

Hearing Fletcher's words, Sabrina lowered her gaze, looking all innocent. "Don't worry, Fletcher. I won't find fault with Christina. I'll let her have her way."

Then, she took the wreath from a maid and carried it forward with false grace.

I narrowed my eyes, wondering what scheme she was plotting this time.

Sure enough, as she passed my father's portrait, her hand brushed against the candle and toppled it.

As the flame inched closer toward my father's portrait, I rushed to stop it. However, I was a step too late.

The candle fell, and gasps broke out.

Ignoring the burn on my hand, I set the candle upright and wiped at the portrait.

"Fletcher, my hand hurts," Sabrina whimpered. She pretended to collapse in front of everyone. Oh, what a picture of innocence that was.

Fletcher rushed to her side, his heart aching with worry. "Where is the wound? Let me have a look. Is it bad?"

As I watched him search for a non-existent injury, I wanted nothing more than to pull the trigger and end them both.

"Sabrina, you did that on purpose. Apologize to my father!" I demanded.

Fletcher slapped me hard across the face. "I should be asking you to apologize! You saw her fall, yet you didn't even help her up. All you cared about was that damn candle! How can you be so vicious?"

For a moment, it felt like I was back in my previous life. I had been drowsy in the early weeks of pregnancy and was late in making breakfast for Sabrina. Fletcher had slapped me just as ruthlessly then.

"Oh, I'm sorry…" I apologized softly before grabbing Sabrina by the arm. Then, I seized the candle and tipped the hot wax over her fair hand. "This is what being vicious really means."

Sabrina screamed in pain.

Fletcher's eyes were bloodshot as he yanked me by the collar. "What's gotten into you today? Do you really think that marrying me means you can do whatever you want? I'll make you pay the price for Sabrina's pain once we're married!"

I stared at his twisted face, dazed for a moment.

Because of my father, I spent my childhood at the Quinn residence.

Hence, I knew Xavier's sons better than anyone.

Lucas Quinn, Fletcher's elder brother, had grown up among the henchmen. He was feared for his brutality. Fletcher, on the other hand, had been the one to bring me birthday cakes every year.

That was at least until Sabrina appeared.

I had loved him since I was six, with that love lasting for 16 years. Now, I couldn't tell whether the deep love I had for him was ever real or only a figment of my imagination.

"I know you want to torment me, but it'll only happen if I allow it. I have the final say now, so what makes you so sure I'll marry you?" I asked.

Fletcher shoved me away. He straightened his clothes, resuming his elegant air. "You're playing hard to get again, aren't you? You've pursued me shamelessly for over ten years.

"Will you bear to give up now? Besides, if you don't marry me, who will you marry instead? Lucas?

"Don't tell me you have no idea what he's like. Every woman in Nasterdam fears him. Marrying him just means you're only digging your grave."

"This is Mr. Scott's funeral. What are you turning it into with all this racket?" Lucas arrived with his men.

In an instant, the chatter died away.

Fletcher reigned in his temper. "We were talking about Christina's engagement. She just said she might not marry me."

Lucas' eyes searched mine, brimming with quiet anticipation. It was so unlike him, usually so cold and unreadable.

Instead, he made me think of my previous life.

Before I drew my last breath in my previous life, he had cradled my blood-soaked face and wept, his eyes full of grief and regret.

"If I had known it would end this way, I never would have let Fletcher have you."

The look in his eyes broke my heart, and I almost blurted out that I had chosen him this time. However, I remembered Don Quinn's words. "Although you've chosen Lucas, keep it to yourself," he mentioned. "There's too much unrest in the family."

My silence left Lucas disappointed. "Enough. It's her marriage, so the decision is hers to make. Get ready. It's time for the burial."

"Fletcher will always be mine! Don't think marrying him means you'll win his heart!"

Sabrina's spiteful voice startled me, and her gaze told me she believed I was still hopelessly clinging to Fletcher.

I chuckled and couldn't even be bothered to explain.

She mistook my silence for defeat. With a triumphant shake of her arm, she flaunted the bandage Fletcher had wrapped for her. "Even if you have Fletcher physically, you'll never win his heart. The only woman he cares for is me."

I nodded in agreement. "Scums attract scums. Only by staying together can you avoid ruining others."

In my previous life, Fletcher had cheated with Sabrina while I was pregnant. I caught them in bed together.

Furious, Xavier had then cast Sabrina out of the family and stripped Fletcher of all power.

With no money and no influence, Fletcher quickly became worthless to Sabrina. Yet, he blamed me for it all.

In the end, he had even helped her hire killers to murder me and my child.

This time, I wanted to see what fate had in store for them.

"Why you!" Sabrina trembled with rage, but she couldn't lash out. She stormed away in frustration instead.

…

A week after my father's funeral came my engagement banquet. I dressed in haute couture, with flawless makeup, and joy stirred in my heart.

After all, my own happiness is what I'll choose this time.

"There's no point in being all dolled up. Fletcher only has eyes for me." Sabrina's voice rang out. She glittered in a fall-season limited gown.

Anyone who didn't know better would've thought she was the star today.

"Why are you even trying?" I shot back. "No matter how good you look, you're not even the star of the banquet."

Sabrina was stung by my words, thinking that I was flaunting my victory over Fletcher. "Hmph! Don't get smug. This gown here—it's a limited edition. Fletcher compensated me with this and even said he'll give me more in the future."

I didn't bother arguing further. "How touching, but it has nothing to do with me."

Soon enough, she and Fletcher would have their surprise.

But my silence only fed her anger.

"You don't believe me, right? I'll prove it, then! I'll show you who matters more to Fletcher, his shameless fiancée or me!"

Before I understood what she meant, Sabrina dragged me into the pool nearby. "Help me, Fletcher!" she cried out.

At her cry, Fletcher rushed over and pulled Sabrina from the water first. When he moved to dive into the pool again, she clung to him, feigning terror. "Fletcher, I'm so scared. Christina saw the gown you gave me and tried to kill me."

He hesitated after hearing her words.

"That's not true, Fletcher! Save me! I'm terrified of water!" I fought to keep myself afloat, but memories of drowning resurfaced.

That summer, I had risked my life to keep Fletcher afloat, praying that he would survive even if I didn't. I then pushed him to the shore with the last of my strength before the current dragged me under.

I had never recovered from it. Since then, water was my greatest fear.

"Christina, you are wicked! Sabrina had once saved me and nearly died. Yet, you would drown her over a gown?" Fletcher snapped.

Right then, I finally understood why he had brought Sabrina home and cherished her so much. She had stolen my credit for saving him.

Fletcher's face blurred before me.

Was this how I was destined to die in this life?

Regret clawed at me. I hadn't even had the chance to tell Lucas that I had chosen him this time.

…

"Christina? Wake up, Christina!"

I opened my eyes to see Lucas' striking face, etched with panic, hovering above me.

When I stirred, his expression eased, and a smile spread across his face. "Thank God you're safe. Were you frightened?" he asked.

Lucas actually smiled, which left me a bit abashed.

Droplets fell from his hair and down my cheek, thickening the air between us.

At that moment, Fletcher cleared his throat and uttered, "Lucas, isn't it inappropriate to gaze at my woman like that?"

I immediately turned to look at him.