I shook my head. "It's alright. I'm happy with this gown."

Although both John and Xavier were heirs to the McKellen family, neither could access the family fortune until they received Henry's official approval.

For the time being, they were expected to rely solely on their own earnings.

John had built significant wealth over the years through his business ventures. Affording several wedding gowns was hardly an issue for him.

Xavier, on the other hand, worked as a freelancer. His income was inconsistent, and as a result, he often operated within strict financial limits.

For him to purchase even a single wedding dress spoke volumes about his sincerity.

He seemed pleased with my response. "You're wise beyond your years," he said.

The corners of my mouth lifted slightly. My eyes softened as I looked at him.

He grew uneasy under my gaze and quickly looked away. Even so, he gave me his word.

"Don't worry," he said. "Even if you're marrying me out of obligation, I promise to always treat you with respect. You will never have to endure injustice."

His words melted the icy edges of my heart.

I took a step closer and reached for his hand. "I believe you. But this marriage isn't something I was forced into. I'm choosing this," I said with a smile.

Xavier stood frozen. His eyes were wide with disbelief.

At the same time, Alice and John exchanged surprised glances. They were clearly taken aback by my words.

An awkward silence settled over the room.

After a pause, Alice finally spoke up, unexpectedly choosing to touch on a delicate subject.

"With your health challenges, having children after marriage might be a struggle. I'm sure that's not easy to come to terms with."

I frowned, and frustration colored my tone. "Who told you I'm sick? Just because you're my sister doesn't give you the right to spread such nonsense."

Alice's sweet, innocent facade had clearly vanished. She was intent on exposing my supposed flaws, trying to plant doubt in Xavier's mind.

After all, Henry's promise lingered in everyone's thoughts. Whoever gave birth first would have their child recognized as heir.

Even though Xavier didn't care much for authority, Alice's intentional efforts to stir up trouble were infuriating.

Seeing the fire in my eyes, Alice whispered, "But Mom said so."

I let out a scoff. "That's impossible."

Alice immediately pouted. Tears welled in her eyes. "I was just worried about your well-being, Eleanor. I didn't mean anything else by it."

With a shrug, I replied sharply, "Since you're living with John, I'm sure you'll be pregnant sooner or later. You don't have to worry about me being a rival. Whether I can have children is nobody's business but mine. Perhaps you should focus on your own timeline instead."

With that, I took Xavier's arm and walked away.

Alice's sobs soon rang out from behind, accompanied by John's calm, soothing voice.

Even with a new lease on life, all Alice could think about was having a child. Wasn't that just pathetic?

Five days later, Alice and I held our wedding ceremonies simultaneously.

It was a grand affair. Every notable figure in the city came to witness the McKellen family's double celebration.

At the banquet, guests eagerly flocked to offer gifts and raise toasts to John and Alice. Meanwhile, Xavier and I received only a handful of congratulations and presents.

It was clear that everyone favored John. They seemed convinced that he was the rightful heir to lead the family.

Every now and then, Alice would sneak a glance my way.

With her wine glass in hand, she strode over confidently, clearly intent on showing off. "Hey, Eleanor, I'm absolutely wiped out. So many people are congratulating me. I'm honestly struggling to keep up."

A faint smile crossed my lips. "That's a good sign. I'm sure you'll sleep soundly tonight."

Sporting a coy grin, she deliberately teased, "Well, John and I will be up late regardless. After all, we've got a baby to make."

Without skipping a beat, I replied, "Here's hoping you both welcome one soon."

I was well aware of John's low sperm count. As his partner, Alice would likely struggle to conceive naturally. There was no chance she'd be pregnant anytime soon.

In my past life, I had foolishly believed natural conception was possible for me. Unfortunately, fate had dealt me a harsh slap in the face.

Still, the hope flickering in Alice's eyes made me hesitate. I decided to keep the truth to myself.

Noticing my calm, detached demeanor, her carefully guarded composure started to falter.

She leaned in close, and her breath was warm against my ear. "I'm sorry, Eleanor, but you'll never beat me in this life."

Since she wasn't hiding the fact that she'd been reborn, I saw no reason to pretend either.

My eyes narrowed as I shot back, "And what makes you so certain of that?"

A cold gleam sparked in Alice's gaze. Her tone was saturated with arrogance. "Sadly, you've bound yourself to that good‑for‑nothing man. The day I bear a child, you will be cast to the very depths of society for the rest of your life."

After a moment's pause, she added, "When John finally kicks you out of the family, the slums will be the only place left for you."

My fury erupted. I clutched her wrist, letting each word cut like a blade. "Since you remember what happened in our past life, you owe me an apology for killing my child."

Stunned, Alice shook her head, refusing to back down.

My fingers dug into her arm, betraying the turmoil churning inside.

She winced, jerking her hand away. "Damn it, Eleanor!" she snapped. "Let go of me! You're acting crazy for no reason!"

At those words, every eye in the room turned to us, eager to witness the unfolding drama.

Sensing the tension, my mother hurried over. She tried to smooth things over.

"You're sisters, for heaven's sake. How can you argue like this in front of everyone?"

I held her gaze, and a scoff escaped my lips. "Sisters? She doesn't even treat me like family."

My mother froze. Sensing she was about to launch into another lecture, I quickly turned and walked away.

Alice shot me a vicious glare. "You're nothing but a sore loser, Eleanor!" she shouted.

I wasn't fazed. She still had a year to go before becoming a mother. By then, everything would have shifted.

At the end of it all, I couldn't care less about losing.

…

Evening soon fell.

On our wedding night, Xavier and I sat across from each other. The silence hung thick in the air.

After a few tense minutes, he grew restless and stood up.

Just as he was about to leave, I quickly grabbed his arm.

"Don't go!" I shouted.

A crease formed between his brows. "I can tell you're not comfortable with being intimate right now. Perhaps we should just call it a night."

I stood, slipping my arms around him. "I'm ready. You're the one who isn't ready."

Xavier's eyes widened in disbelief, and his body stiffened.

I inched closer, letting my warm breath caress his cheek.

Having made up my mind to spend my life with him, I knew I had to be the one to make the first move.

"I want to have your child," I whispered.

My straightforward words stunned Xavier, and a faint blush spread across his face.

Before he could say anything, I pressed my lips to his, taking the lead.

The softness of his lips sent a thrill down my spine.

Just as I was beginning to feel discouraged by his silence, he suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace. Our kiss deepened, fueled by a rush of overwhelming passion.

Holding me firmly beneath him, Xavier wasted no time undressing me. His hands glided over my curves. He was eager to explore every part of me.

That night, our bodies sparked like dry tinder, engulfed in a blazing fire of love and desire.

…

A month later, word came that Alice was pregnant.

I froze, stunned by how quickly it had happened.

It didn't seem possible.

Meanwhile, Henry accepted it without question.

A welcoming ceremony was held for the unborn child. Everyone was invited to offer their congratulations.

At the banquet, John wore a triumphant smile. His entire demeanor radiated joy.

Guests flocked to his side, eager to flatter him. With a child on the way, his status would soon rival Henry's. It was the perfect time to gain his favor.

As I ate quietly, Alice strutted over with her chin held high.

The moment she sat down, she gently caressed her belly.

"Eleanor, I'm pregnant," she declared boldly.

I didn't spare her a glance and continued eating.

She stared at me with a mocking smirk. Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. "You've been married some time now, yet there's still no sign of a pregnancy.

"Perhaps it's time to consult a doctor and find out what's going on. Remember, the McKellens won't favor an empty cradle forever."

I shot her a cold glance and replied calmly, "There's no need for you to worry about me."

With a trace of doubt, I continued, "Are you certain you're really pregnant?"

Unless John had arranged artificial insemination in advance, I found it hard to believe he could have gotten her pregnant so quickly.

Alice smiled proudly and squared her shoulders. "Of course. Just you wait! The birth of my child will be the moment of your total defeat."

I returned a faint smile. Though Alice masked it well, I still caught a flicker of guilt in her eyes.

Something about this supposed pregnancy didn't seem right.

I got to my feet, deciding to keep her lies under wraps for now.

"Very well. Here's hoping for a smooth delivery and a healthy baby."

Noticing I was leaving, Xavier stood and walked beside me.

He stayed silent, never bringing up the subject of having a child.

Unable to hold back my curiosity, I asked, "Xavier, are you truly not interested in leading the family?"

"Not really," he answered without hesitation. "I believe in letting things take their course. What's destined will come to pass."

His words brought me comfort. At the very least, he gave me understanding and acceptance.

Throughout our marriage, he was always kind and respectful toward me.

Though we remained childless, everyone saw us as the perfect couple.

Over time, our feelings grew stronger, and we started to truly open up to one another.

Time passed quickly. Before I knew it, Alice was ready to give birth.

Despite her impending delivery, my doubts about her pregnancy refused to fade.

But before I could look into it, rumors began swirling about the child's true parentage.

Curious, I decided to drop by the hospital.

As I approached the ward, I saw my mother hurrying ahead. Her face was shadowed with worry.

John's furious voice thundered from within. "Whose child is this? Speak up!"

I followed closely as my mother stumbled into the room.

Inside, Alice was cradling the baby tightly as tears streamed down her cheeks. "You're the father! I swear it's the truth!" she shouted.

John, however, refused to believe her. His face twisted in rage as he pointed accusingly at the child.

"That's nonsense! He has six fingers, and his features don't resemble mine at all! Besides, he was born with a congenital heart defect. There's no such illness in my family!"

Alice flinched. She quickly regained her composure and raised her voice defiantly. "His features just haven't fully formed yet! I've already talked to the doctor. His extra finger and heart defect are side effects of the medicine I took during pregnancy!"

Startled, I leaned in to get a better look at the baby.

Though the child's face didn't resemble John's, that alone wasn't enough to draw any conclusions. The real cause for worry was the baby's finger deformity and heart defect.

Everyone had greeted this child's birth with hope and expectation. His disabilities, however, came as an unforeseen disappointment. With such a condition, he could never carry on the family name.

John's long-held hopes were shattered, and his anger boiled over. In an instant, he snatched the baby from Alice's arms. His face darkened like a brewing tempest.

"There's no way in hell this baby is mine!" he bellowed.