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.

Fletcher was holding Sabrina in his arms, yet he still had the gall to talk about us.

The calm mask on Lucas' face cracked. His fury flashed through his features as he demanded, "So, you know she's your woman! You'd just stand by and watch your woman die?"

For the first time, I could see how much Lucas actually cared about me. When he said "your woman", his steady voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

It seemed Xavier hadn't told him that I had chosen him.

"She's the one in the wrong! She's about to marry me and still throws a tantrum over me giving Sabrina a gown! How could someone like that be a worthy Madre of the Quinn family?" Fletcher barked.

I pushed myself up, trembling from the cold. "I never even touched Sabrina. She was the one who dragged me into the pool. If you don't believe me, check the surveillance footage."

Sabrina's face blanched as her eyes darted to the corner where the surveillance camera hung. Clearly, she had been too busy trading barbs to remember that detail.

"Fletcher, I'm so cold. Please take me somewhere to rest," she said quickly. "Let Christina off the hook this once."

Fletcher gathered Sabrina tenderly in his arms. "For Sabrina's sake, I'll let this slide. But if you still want to marry me, you'll apologize to her today."

I laughed coldly. Even now, after all this, he still believed I would choose him. "If you want an apology, sure. We'll watch the footage first."

"Fletcher, forget about it," Sabrina whispered.

"How can I? She's not even my wife, and she's already this arrogant. If I don't teach her a lesson now, she'll never respect you in the future." With that, Fletcher turned and gestured to his subordinates. "Pull up the security footage."

At the sight of them together, so close and intimate, a wave of chill swept over me. I shivered, and Lucas shrugged off his coat and draped it around my shoulders.

…

Moments later, the footage arrived.

On the screen, it was as clear as day—Sabrina was the one who had pulled me down.

She paled instantly.

"Sabrina…" Fletcher stared at her in disbelief.

"Fletcher, you're getting married. I just… I feel so insecure. You know you're the only one I can depend on."

Sabrina's performance was flawless. That helpless expression could make anyone feel sorry for her, let alone Fletcher.

"What a fool…" he consoled her. "Even if I marry her, no one will ever replace you."

The sight of him made my stomach turn. I cut him off, my voice edged with impatience. "Well? Is it time for an apology now?"

For the first time, shame flickered in Fletcher's eyes as he looked at me. This might be one of the first glimpses he had of Sabrina's other side.

"Christina, I apologize on Sabrina's behalf. Sorry." He then added, "However, let me be clear. You're the one insisting on marrying me. You'll have to accept that Sabrina saved my life. She's the most important woman to me."

A bitter smile broke across my face when I responded, "Not only will I accept it, but I'll even give you two my blessing."

I would also make him see how great a mistake he'd made.

Fletcher's expression lit with a flicker of joy. Maybe he thought I finally accepted their affair.

"Fletcher, do you even hear yourself? A man of the Quinn family doesn't get to shrug off responsibility like that!" Lucas' voice rose, bristling with anger on my behalf.

Right then, Xavier's assistant approached, urging everyone into the main hall for the engagement banquet.

"Lucas, this is between Christina and me. What right do you have to lecture me?" Fletcher snapped. "Do you think you're more responsible than I am? Then, why doesn't she choose you instead?"

Lucas' expression darkened with hurt, and he had no words to fight back.

By family tradition, the son who married first was the presumed heir. Fletcher was so sure I'd choose him that he already carried himself like the future mafia Don of the family. That was despite the fact that he was far inferior to Lucas when it came to managing family affairs.

Xavier's assistant clearly pieced the story together by now. He looked stunned but said nothing, only urging us inside.

As we entered the hall, Fletcher caught my arm, leaning close to whisper, "Turn a blind eye to me and Sabrina. I'll give you wealth and power beyond your dreams."

He had said the same thing in my previous life, but all I'd wanted then was his love. That was why I lost my composure when I discovered their affair and paid the price for it.

Since God had given me a second chance, I wouldn't make the same mistake again.

Xavier soon made his way down the stairs. With the air of a benevolent father, he handed me a bouquet of flowers. He then announced, "Harry was like a brother to me. He died saving my life and entrusted Christina to my care. Today, I hold this engagement banquet as a promise to him.

"Christina will choose one of my sons to marry. I'm old now and ready to step down. The one she chooses will become the new Don of the Quinn family and inherit 90% of the family's fortune."

The bouquet trembled slightly in my hands. Xavier patted my back, encouraging me.

I drew a deep breath and searched the crowd for Lucas.

At that moment, Fletcher's lips curled into a smug smile he couldn't hide.

…

Meanwhile, Lucas stood tall and handsome at the far end of the hall, holding a glass of champagne, his expression tinged with a hint of loneliness.

Under the glow of the chandeliers, his eyes shone like starlight. Yet, I wondered why it had taken me so long to find the right man.

I walked toward Lucas, my bouquet in hand.

As I passed Fletcher, he was practically trembling with excitement, as if power itself were walking toward him.

However, I didn't stop.

In his stunned gaze, I walked straight to Lucas and asked, "Lucas, will you marry me?"