After the car accident, I had lost every memory of my past.

By some twist of fate, my arch-enemy Eliana’s family drew lots for a son-in-law, and the lot fell to me. Bewildered, I accepted the marriage without hesitation.

On our wedding night, a servant from the Anderson Residence was humiliated in a hotel and leapt to his death.

When Eliana Anderson received the news, she hung up the phone with calm indifference, then turned back to me in the bridal chamber, continuing to wrap herself around me.

Life drifted on, calm as still water, until my birthday arrived.

While I slept, my hands and feet were broken. She tied me to a chair, her shadow looming over me.

“Pretending to have amnesia? Sneaking into my family? Getting someone to humiliate Jovan Gutierrez?” She spat, gripping my chin and smirking coldly. “Louis Briones, you truly disgust me.”

“Oh, and one more thing, your family’s company collapsed, and your parents jumped to their deaths.”

I watched helplessly as my blood drained away, and in pain and despair, I took my last breath.

Eliana hated me to the marrow of her bones, flung my corpse into the wilderness, leaving it for wild beasts to tear apart, and my soul lingered, unwilling to disperse for a long time.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the car accident.

At my hospital bedside, Willow smiled gently. “Louis, you and Eliana have bickered since childhood. The two of you are the most compatible…”

I suddenly flung off the quilt, revealing a top-class fashion model beside me, her figure alluring, her eyes steeped in seduction.

“Sorry, ma’am,” I said with a faint smile, “I’ve already matched with someone one hundred percent successfully.”

——

“You! Absolutely shameless!” Willow’s face blanched with fury at the sight of the model, her hands trembling as she turned to slam the door on her way out.

Watching her retreating back, my fingers tapped lightly against the bedside.

The first thing I did after my rebirth was to have my assistant urgently arrange for a model to come over.

“Boss, don’t worry,” the model said with a playful wink, “I’ll make it look more real than real.”

The ward door was suddenly kicked open, and Eliana strode in with Jovan at her side.

Her face was stormy, her gaze sweeping over the model sprawled on my bed, her voice trembling with restrained fury.

“Louis, what did you say to my mother to make her so angry?”

“Always going against me, just to get my attention?” Her lips curled into a mocking smile. “Too bad. I’ve only ever liked men who know their place.”

I met her gaze calmly. “Who are you? Sorry, I had a car accident. I don’t remember anything now.”

“Still faking amnesia?” Eliana’s hand shot out, her fingers gripping my chin. “Louis, that trick of yours is ancient.”

I repeated the move she knew too well, throwing off the quilt in one motion. The model lazily propped herself up, her lips curving into a provocative smile meant just for Eliana.

Her pupils contracted; her palm cracked across my face. “Pathetic!”

“Eliana.” Jovan leaned in, his tone sickeningly sweet. “If Louis is already this blatant, who knows how many scandals will follow if you truly marry him.”

I slowly wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth. “Who said I’m going to marry you? You’re overthinking.”

“Playing hard to get?” Eliana’s fingers clamped around my wrist. “All these years you’ve gone against me, just to make me look at you more?”

I shook her hand off. “I will not marry you.”

“Still acting high and mighty?” She sneered, her fingertips brushing my collar with disdain.

“Even if you were lying here naked, I wouldn’t touch you. The kind of man I like… is considerate.”

Her eyes shifted to Jovan, whose ears burned red in a heartbeat.

I yawned slowly. “Are you done? I need to rest. The door’s that way.”

Eliana’s teeth ground together. “Fine. I’ll see how long you can keep up this act! The day you kneel and beg me, don’t blame me for not giving you face!”

The ward door slammed shut, the sound echoing like a gunshot.

The moment the door shut, Jovan glanced back and flashed me a smug, triumphant smile.

Once they were gone, I drew out the envelope I had prepared in advance and handed it to the model.

“Thank you for your hard work. The payment is doubled.”

She accepted the money, then leaned in slightly, a faint trace of perfume drifting toward me.

“Louis, if you ever need anything in the future, you can always call me.”

As the ward door closed behind her, I exhaled slowly.

The sunlight outside spilled in just right, and I greedily breathed in the disinfectant-scented air; this was the scent of being alive.

In my previous life, it was in this very ward that I, suffering from amnesia, signed the marriage contract and later handed the shares of the Briones Corporation into Eliana’s hands.

This time, I would never make that mistake again.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated. I pressed the answer button.

“Louis,” my mother’s voice came with a careful tone, “today, the Ramsey family from Sierra Vista came to visit. They wish to form a marriage alliance with us. Would you like to reconsider?”

My fingers tightened around the phone.

In my previous life, she had brought up the same proposal, and I had rejected it without hesitation.

“Mom knows your heart is always with that Eliana, but a forced melon is never sweet. I still hope you can find someone better.”

“Who said I like Eliana?” I let out a soft chuckle. “Mom, all these years I’ve competed with her only for the sake of company interests.”

On the other end, my mother sounded taken aback.

“I agree to the marriage alliance with the Ramsey family.” My tone remained steady. “They value discipline and uphold strict family values; they are the most suitable partner.”

“Really?” My mother’s tone instantly lightened. “The Ramsey family’s eldest daughter may have a colder nature, but she’s still far better than that Eliana! I’ll go tell your father at once!”

When the call ended, I stayed still, my gaze fixed on the ceiling, lost in thought.

The Ramsey family was undeniably the better choice, an old-money lineage with deep roots in Sierra Vista. More crucially, in my past life, the Ramsey Group had been the sole company to stand by Briones Corporation, even when the Andersons tried to strangle it.

Before my mother’s birthday, I went alone to a prestigious auction. As soon as I stepped through the doors, I caught sight of Eliana’s hand entwined with Jovan’s, the two of them leaning close, their intimacy plain for all to see.

Jovan’s eyes landed on my custom-tailored suit, and for an instant, jealousy flashed across his face.

“Interesting,” Eliana arched a brow, her gaze sharp. “So now you’re trailing people?”

“Don’t flatter yourself, it’s only a coincidence.” I turned to walk away, but she seized my wrist.

“There’s a limit to playing hard to get.” Her voice was a cold whisper. “Do you think this will make me notice you?”

I brushed her hand aside. “Eliana, you give yourself far too much credit.”

As the auction began, Jovan bid against me on every item I favored.

Eliana, however, was even more brazen; she tripled the price in a single breath.

“Five million!” Her eyes locked on mine in challenge. “Louis, still want to bid?”

Gasps rippled through the room.

That antique vase was worth barely two million.

I lowered my paddle with quiet finality and stood, ready to leave.

A message flashed onto my phone.

[If you want to be the Anderson family’s son-in-law, you’d better learn to bow your head. In your current state, you’re not even worthy of being my lover.]

I stared at the screen for two seconds before blocking the number for good.

I hadn’t expected that three days later, I would cross paths with Eliana again at the mall.

Jovan’s eyes lit up the moment he saw the leather shoes in my hands.

Eliana caught on instantly. “Jovan, want them? I’ll buy them for you.”

The store clerk stepped forward, her tone apologetic. “Miss, I’m very sorry. This pair was reserved by Mr. Briones three months ago; it’s the only pair of this limited edition in the entire city…”

“I said.” Eliana’s voice suddenly rose, her eyes slicing toward the clerk, “I want these shoes right now.”

I slammed the black card onto the counter. “First come, first served, Eliana doesn’t even understand the most basic rule?”

Eliana’s hand shot out, yanking my wrist, her nails almost digging into my skin. “Louis, must you go against me on everything?”

Her voice dropped, sharp and cold. “The more you act like this, the more ridiculous you look. If you want to marry me, just say it. Why bother with these games?”

I pulled my hand free with force. “You think far too highly of yourself.”

Turning to the shop assistant, I said evenly, “Please wrap it up for me now.”

The shop assistant took my card with visible unease, while Eliana’s face darkened into something dangerous.

Seeing her expression, Jovan quickly clung to her arm. “Eliana, forget it. I don’t want it anymore…”

“No.” Eliana snatched the shoe box straight from the assistant’s hands. “In Roseville, there’s nothing I can’t get.”

With that, she dragged Jovan away without a single glance back.

The next morning, an ornate gift box appeared on my office desk.

As soon as I untied the ribbon, a foul metallic scent hit me. Inside was a pair of black leather shoes, stained with something ominous, with strands of hair tangled around the heel.

My phone vibrated, Jovan’s name flashed on the screen.

“Louis, I thought it over and realized I shouldn’t keep what’s yours. Sending your shoes back. I wore them while dancing with Eliana last night, but… I may have gotten them dirty.”

Swallowing back my revulsion, I hurled the shoes into the trash without a second glance.

Then another message arrived, this time from my mother. [Louis, the Ramsey family’s dowry list is unbelievable!]

I opened it and was stunned; the marital endowments alone could purchase three Briones Corporations.

The Ramsey family had always been cloaked in mystery and known for their restraint, yet for me, they had cast aside that reserve, displaying a sincerity that could not be mistaken. Even the rare treasures they offered were enough to leave anyone speechless.

At the annual Sierra Vista business banquet, I was enjoying light conversation with a few friends when the doors to the hall slammed open.

Jovan sauntered in, draped in a garish sequin suit and diamond cufflinks that screamed excess.

The whispers started almost instantly.

“Goodness, why is he dressed like that? It’s so tacky…”

“I heard he used to be nothing more than a servant in the Anderson family. Somehow, he climbed his way up to be Eliana’s assistant.”

“Men like him? Ambition and greed, through and through.”

Jovan’s face betrayed nothing as he strode directly toward me.

“Louis,” he thundered, making sure everyone heard, “why aren’t you wearing those limited-edition shoes?”

I took a measured sip of wine, my voice calm and almost lazy. “They were touched by something filthy, so I threw them away.”

For a split second, his composure slipped before he gave a cold, sharp laugh. “Louis, mark my words, you’ll never be a match for me.”

Before his words had even faded, Jovan suddenly toppled backward with a heavy crash, sending the champagne tower collapsing in a glittering cascade. Glass shattered in every direction.

“Ah!” His scream cut through the air, instantly drawing every gaze in the room.

Before I could move, Eliana was already at his side, her hand shoved me hard, and I staggered backward, my palm pressing down on jagged shards. Blood welled instantly, warm and slick.

“Louis!” Eliana’s arm supported the trembling Jovan. “What are you doing?”

Leaning against her, Jovan’s voice quivered. “It’s all my fault… I shouldn’t have appeared before Louis and offended his eyes.”

“He… he said I’m lowborn…”

“Apologize.” Eliana’s tone was cold, the command in her voice brooking no refusal.

I clenched my bleeding hand. “Why should I?”

In an instant, she snatched the diamond pendant from my neck, the only keepsake my grandmother had left me.

“No!” I lunged forward, desperate to grab it.

The pendant struck the floor, splintering into pieces before my eyes.