Joan’s pov,

I woke up to the sound of rustling fabric.

When I opened my eyes, Nova was standing near the bed, holding a wedding gown. She was smiling brightly, the kind of smile that once used to comfort me.

But now, it only made my stomach twist with anger and for a second there, I honestly thought I might throw up.

“Since you left the fitting room yesterday “ she said sweetly, lifting the dress slightly, “I had to pick something out for you.”

“Oh really?” I replied flatly.

“Yes,” she nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I hope you like it.”

Nova looked genuinely happy, like today was the most beautiful day in the world.

But for me, it felt like the beginning of a slow nightmare.

The hours passed quickly after that. Stylists came in and went, fixed my hair,adjusted the dress and also they helped in dusting off excess makeup across my face like they were preparing a porcelain doll for display.

By the time they finished, I was standing alone in front of a full‐length mirror.

The woman staring back at me looked breathtaking.

Perfect.

Like the bride everyone expected.

I glanced at the tune and smiled faintly.

By now, Harry was already standing at the altar, probably pretending to be the loving groom.

The memory of his voice from my past life crept back into my mind.

The wedding was fake. Nothing was ever real. Not even the love he had for me.

My fingers curled slightly.

I turned around only to find out I was the only one left in the house, so instead of walking towards the aisle, I turned around and headed towards the house bar.

I was ready to give this performance my best shot.

I began to turn the glass— from one glass to two.

Then three.

The alcohol burned down my throat, warming my chest

until the room began to ferry lighter, softer and distant.

That was when my phone suddenly rang.

I frowned slightly, staring at the screen.

An unfamiliar number.

Honestly I was expecting Harry's angry call already, but I guess someone else won him to it.

My drunk curiosity took over and I answered.

“Hellooo?” I slurred.

There was a short pause before a deep male voice spoke calmly on the other end.

“Joan.”

I blinked slowly at the phone.

“...Wh— whooo is this?” I mumbled, my words tangled in alcohol.

Then came another pause.

“Louis.”

The name meant absolutely nothing to my drunken brain.

“Ohhh…louuuuuiiis…” I repeated lazily.

Then I just started laughing.

“You sound serious,” I said randomly.”Do you know I'm getting married today to the same man that killed me in my past life?” I said laughing.

I didn't wait for a response.

My head suddenly felt heavy as my thoughts floated

“Anyway… whoever you are.. bye.”

And just like that, I hung up.

“Oops.”

Shaking my head, I stared at the clock as I staggered slightly and made my way toward the car that was waiting outside.

The drive to the church felt shorter than usual.

When I arrived, the atmosphere outside felt tense. Guests were already whispering.

Harry must have thought I had run away.

But the moment I stepped inside, his eyes locked onto me.

Relief flashed across his face before it turned into irritation.

He rushed towards me without even asking if I was okay. The strong scent of alcohol still lingered on me, but Ge didn't seem to bother.

All he cared about was the wedding.

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me forward.

From the corner of my eyes, I sighted my mother–in–law staring endlessly at me with disgust and so was Nova.

I took a moment to look around the fake marriage setting as my mind still repeated his words from my past life.

And right behind him was Tom.

‘Crazy gay bastard’ My mind prompted.

Just then the music started and the vows were rushed.

Everything happened so quickly it felt like a blur.

Then came the final moment.

“You may kiss the bride.”

Harry smiled, as he leaned toward me.

And that was when my stomach violently disagreed with the entire situation.

I threw up.

Directly into his mouth.

For a second, the entire church went completely silent.

Then the chaos exploded.

The Guest gasped.

“What the fuck!!” Harry screamed, he staggered back in pure horror, his face already pale with shock and disgust.

Tom immediately rushed towards him and so did his mom and sister as I watched as they dragged him away so he could clean himself.

Meanwhile, dozens of eyes turned towards me.

Some were shocked.

Some were confused.

And some— they were clearly trying hard not to laugh.

My head spun as dizziness washed over me. I ignored their stares and slowly walked out of the hall.

The fresh air hit my face, but the world was still spinning.

My vision began to blur and my steps became unsteady.

And just like that I felt my body lose its stance as I began to tilt forward.

A firm arm caught me, it felt strong. But before I could even react, I was lifted off the ground.

Someone had carried me into a car.

The door shut and the engine roared.

And the vehicle sped away.

Everything after that moment became a haze, from the lights, movement and even the faint sound of a door closing.

Then finally darkness claimed me.

When I finally woke up again, I was lying on a large, soft bed in a beautifully furnished room.

The ceiling above me was unfamiliar, as I slowly pushed myself upright.

But then I felt it— something was different.

Looking down, I realized I was wearing an oversized T—shirt, my heart skipped.

I quickly lifted the shirt slightly.

I was completely naked underneath.

“...What?”

Panic flickered through me as I looked around the room.

No one was there.

No sound.

No movement.

Just the dull sound of the TV news playing in the background.

Suddenly it caught my attention.

“Breaking news this afternoon,” The reporter said, her voice sounded serious.

I frowned slightly as I focused on the screen.

“Montclaire heiress, Joan Montclaire, has reportedly been kidnapped shortly after her marriage ceremony with business heir Harry Valmont earlier today.”

Kidnapped?

I almost laughed— but it occurred to me that it was true and my smile diminished.

Where was I?

And who brought me here?

Those were the only questions I had ringing inside my skull.

Suddenly, the bedroom door handle began to turn.

I froze.

The door slowly creaked open.

And someone stepped inside.

Louis's pov.

There were very few people who stayed in my memory.

That was the unfortunate reality of my life. Faces blurred over time and conversations faded, and most people eventually became strangers again, even if I had met them before.

But Joan Montclaire didn't fade.

After dropping her off at her house that night, I sat quietly in the back of my car while the city lights passed across the window.

Something about the encounter bothered me.

No woman willingly married a stranger with that level of certainty.

She had looked at me like she had already made up her mind long before we met.

That wasn't normal.

“Sir?” My assistant John asked from the front seat.

I leaned back against the leather.

“Look into someone for me.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Joan Montclaire.”

The name alone was enough to make him glance at me through the mirror.

“The Montclaire family?”

“Yes.”

My fingers tapped once against the armrest.

“And find out why she gave herself to me so easily.”

The rest of the drive passed in silence.

Yet somehow, my mind kept circling back to her smile.

****

The next morning, my assistant entered my office with a tablet.

“Sir, I found something.”

I looked up.

“Miss Montclaire is scheduled to be married today.”

My eyes narrowed slightly.

“To who?”

“Harry Valmont.”

For a moment, I said nothing.

Then I leaned back slowly, allowing it all to settle in.

“So yesterday she married me…”

My gaze drifted to the window.

“And today she is getting married to someone else?”

“Correct.”

Interesting.

“Call her.”

The phone rang only once before she answered.

The moment she spoke, I knew she was drunk.

Her words were slow, careless and floating.

Then she said something that made me pause.

‘Do you know I'm getting married today to the same man that killed me in my past life?”

The call ended shortly after.

I stared at the phone for a moment before handing it back to my assistant.

“Where is the ceremony being held?”

“The grand church, sir.”

I didn't wait for these words to finish, I immediately grabbed my coat and walked towards the door.

“What are you waiting for?” I muttered, staring back at John.

“N..nothing, sir.”

“Good, cause you are taking me there.”

****

By the time I arrived, the atmosphere around the venue was strangely tense.

Guests whispered in small groups while the ushers moved nervously between the entrances.

I walked in quietly and took a seat at the back.

No one recognized me.

Which was perfect.

From there, I simply watched.

Not the ceremony — but her.

My supposed wife, Joan Montclaire.

She stood by the altar like someone who didn't belong there.

Her movement felt loose and the vows were rushed.

Her expression was distant, but the faint smell of alcohol carried through the air even from where I sat.

My mind turned over the same question again and again.

Why would she insist on marrying me…

If she still planned to marry him?

Then the moment came.

And when it happened, my lips curved despite myself.

I had never seen anything like it— it was the highlight of the event.

The reaction in the room was filled with immediate chaos.

But I wasn't watching them— not at all

I was watching her.

She looked dizzy when she stepped outside, like someone who had already reached the end of her strength.

By the time she nearly collapsed, I was already moving.

Catching her felt instinctive— because she didn't even realize who it was.

Now…

“And that,” I finished calmly, “ is how you got here.”

Joan looked at me for a moment.

Then she smiled slightly.

“So you actually kidnapped me.”

I chuckled under my breath.

“Kidnap you?”

I folded my arms loosely.

“Why would your husband kidnap his own wife?”

Her eyebrow lifted.

“What I find more interesting,” I continued, “Is something else.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“What exactly were you thinking?”

My gaze sharpened.

“Why go through with that wedding.. if you wanted me to be your husband?”

She looked away before answering.

“You wouldn't understand.”

“Try me.” I said, pulling a chair closer.

The silence stretched between us before she spoke again.

“I needed to be inside that family.”

Her voice dropped lower.

“To expose them.”

Then she leaned forward slightly and whispered.

“I died once.”

My brows knitted together faintly.

“And I'm not going to repeat the same mistake twice.”

For a moment, I simply looked at her.

Most people would have assumed madness.

But something about the way she said it didn't sound insane.

It sounded like a warning.

Eventually, I stood up. The conversation had already given me enough to think about.

I immediately turned towards the wardrobe and opened it.

“You should freshen up,” I said calmly.

“There are clothes in here for you.” I said, as she watched me cautiously.

“And when you're done,” I added, “ My driver will be downstairs.”

Her expression immediately shifted slightly.

“Where are we going?”

I turned towards the door, as a slow smirk played over my lips.

“Our honeymoon.”

Then I walked out leaving her alone with my answer.

Louis's pov.

There were very few people who stayed in my memory.

That was the unfortunate reality of my life. Faces blurred over time and conversations faded, and most people eventually became strangers again, even if I had met them before.

But Joan Montclaire didn't fade.

After dropping her off at her house that night, I sat quietly in the back of my car while the city lights passed across the window.

Something about the encounter bothered me.

No woman willingly married a stranger with that level of certainty.

She had looked at me like she had already made up her mind long before we met.

That wasn't normal.

“Sir?” My assistant John asked from the front seat.

I leaned back against the leather.

“Look into someone for me.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Joan Montclaire.”

The name alone was enough to make him glance at me through the mirror.

“The Montclaire family?”

“Yes.”

My fingers tapped once against the armrest.

“And find out why she gave herself to me so easily.”

The rest of the drive passed in silence.

Yet somehow, my mind kept circling back to her smile.

****

The next morning, my assistant entered my office with a tablet.

“Sir, I found something.”

I looked up.

“Miss Montclaire is scheduled to be married today.”

My eyes narrowed slightly.

“To who?”

“Harry Valmont.”

For a moment, I said nothing.

Then I leaned back slowly, allowing it all to settle in.

“So yesterday she married me…”

My gaze drifted to the window.

“And today she is getting married to someone else?”

“Correct.”

Interesting.

“Call her.”

The phone rang only once before she answered.

The moment she spoke, I knew she was drunk.

Her words were slow, careless and floating.

Then she said something that made me pause.

‘Do you know I'm getting married today to the same man that killed me in my past life?”

The call ended shortly after.

I stared at the phone for a moment before handing it back to my assistant.

“Where is the ceremony being held?”

“The grand church, sir.”

I didn't wait for these words to finish, I immediately grabbed my coat and walked towards the door.

“What are you waiting for?” I muttered, staring back at John.

“N..nothing, sir.”

“Good, cause you are taking me there.”

****

By the time I arrived, the atmosphere around the venue was strangely tense.

Guests whispered in small groups while the ushers moved nervously between the entrances.

I walked in quietly and took a seat at the back.

No one recognized me.

Which was perfect.

From there, I simply watched.

Not the ceremony — but her.

My supposed wife, Joan Montclaire.

She stood by the altar like someone who didn't belong there.

Her movement felt loose and the vows were rushed.

Her expression was distant, but the faint smell of alcohol carried through the air even from where I sat.

My mind turned over the same question again and again.

Why would she insist on marrying me…

If she still planned to marry him?

Then the moment came.

And when it happened, my lips curved despite myself.

I had never seen anything like it— it was the highlight of the event.

The reaction in the room was filled with immediate chaos.

But I wasn't watching them— not at all

I was watching her.

She looked dizzy when she stepped outside, like someone who had already reached the end of her strength.

By the time she nearly collapsed, I was already moving.

Catching her felt instinctive— because she didn't even realize who it was.

Now…

“And that,” I finished calmly, “ is how you got here.”

Joan looked at me for a moment.

Then she smiled slightly.

“So you actually kidnapped me.”

I chuckled under my breath.

“Kidnap you?”

I folded my arms loosely.

“Why would your husband kidnap his own wife?”

Her eyebrow lifted.

“What I find more interesting,” I continued, “Is something else.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“What exactly were you thinking?”

My gaze sharpened.

“Why go through with that wedding.. if you wanted me to be your husband?”

She looked away before answering.

“You wouldn't understand.”

“Try me.” I said, pulling a chair closer.

The silence stretched between us before she spoke again.

“I needed to be inside that family.”

Her voice dropped lower.

“To expose them.”

Then she leaned forward slightly and whispered.

“I died once.”

My brows knitted together faintly.

“And I'm not going to repeat the same mistake twice.”

For a moment, I simply looked at her.

Most people would have assumed madness.

But something about the way she said it didn't sound insane.

It sounded like a warning.

Eventually, I stood up. The conversation had already given me enough to think about.

I immediately turned towards the wardrobe and opened it.

“You should freshen up,” I said calmly.

“There are clothes in here for you.” I said, as she watched me cautiously.

“And when you're done,” I added, “ My driver will be downstairs.”

Her expression immediately shifted slightly.

“Where are we going?”

I turned towards the door, as a slow smirk played over my lips.

“Our honeymoon.”

Then I walked out leaving her alone with my answer.