Adrian Quirrel, the heir to the Quirrel family, had been in poor health since childhood.

Guided by the old superstition that marriage could restore his health, his family had taken in four young women, with only one to be chosen as his bride.

On the selection day, they invited a renowned astrologer to read our birth charts. As soon as he said I carried a healing energy and could bear healthy heirs, the Quirrels decided on the spot that I would be Adrian's bride.

Three months later, his health miraculously improved, and I soon found myself pregnant with twins—a boy and a girl.

The family elders were ecstatic and even promised that my son would become the Quirrels' future heir.

But on the night of the christening, Adrian locked me and the babies in the basement. I broke down and demanded an explanation.

He sneered and replied, "If it weren't for your so-called 'healing energy,' Emily would've been my wife.

"She wouldn't have jumped to her death at such a young age if she hadn't been pushed to that point. Tonight, I want you and your children to accompany her in death."

He grabbed a nearby iron rod and savagely brought it down onto our babies. I threw myself over the babies, but Adrian kicked me aside.

Blood splattered across the walls and floor, and my babies' breathing gradually weakened until it stopped.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day Adrian chose his bride.

I stood in the familiar grand hall of the Quirrel estate.

The invited astrologer sat rigidly upright as he meticulously analyzed each woman's natal chart.

I was shaking all over, as if my bones broken by that iron rod in my past life were still throbbing with pain. To my surprise, I hadn't died—I had been reborn.

The astrologer's head snapped up. His face was flushed as he pointed a trembling finger at me.

He said, "Her chart's extraordinary. The stars point to a rare healing energy, a fate not only to restore her husband's health but also to give him heirs who will carry on the family name.

"Plus, she has the power to neutralize negative energy and draw in immense good luck. She'll ensure Mr. Quirrel lives a long and successful life."

The moment he finished speaking, Adrian's mother, Lydia Hall, rushed forward and grabbed my hand.

"That's great. He's going to recover soon," Lydia said.

A wave of nausea hit me, but I forced myself not to pull my hand away.

Adrian Quirrel had been in poor health since he was born. No matter how many top hospitals they visited, his health never improved. Many doctors predicted he wouldn't live past 21, and now that day was only three months away.

In my past life, I did bring Adrian luck. His health improved, and I gave birth to twins—a boy and a girl.

As my lips parted, I wanted to refuse and escape from this nightmarish cycle, but Adrian spoke first.

"Mom, I want to marry the person I love."

He slowly walked toward Emily Gardner, who had been standing in the corner, and took her hand. She looked at him affectionately, her cheeks flushed.

I stared at Adrian in astonishment. In my past life, he hadn't spoken up then. Instead, he had passively accepted the marriage his family arranged. Had he been reborn as well?

Lydia quickly tried to persuade him.

"Adrian, this is no time for stubbornness. Your health is on the line. Claire Milton's natal chart alignment with yours is the key to your recovery."

However, Adrian remained adamant. He held Emily's hand firmly and declared, "Mom, I may have poor health, but it's nothing life-threatening. I'd rather die than marry anyone but Emily."

His voice still rasped with illness, but the resolve behind it was unmistakable.

Emily was so moved that her eyes glistened with tears. She gently leaned against his shoulder and said, "You treat me so well, Adrian. Don't worry. I've found a miracle cure that will restore your health."

He affectionately grasped her hand and vowed, "I swear you will be my one and only wife."

Lydia looked at her son's unshakable resolve. After all her attempts to persuade him failed, she reluctantly agreed with a nod.

"Fine. If this is what you want."

A wave of relief washed over me. It didn't matter whether Adrian had also been reborn. As long as I wasn't the one who had to marry him, that was the best outcome I could ask for.

I could finally leave this hellish Quirrel estate and start my life anew.

As per the initial agreement, those who weren't chosen to marry Adrian were expected to pack up and leave the estate. It wasn't really a bad deal for us. After all, these were the terms when the Quirrels took us in.

Excited, I returned to my room and began packing the few belongings I had. After years of staying in the estate, I had very few things that were truly mine, except a handful of clothes and some daily necessities.

As I wheeled my modest suitcase toward the door, I was stopped by two bodyguards dressed in black.

Adrian stood in the doorway and said coldly, "You'll stay in this room until my wedding's over."

I stared at him in disbelief. "Adrian, what do you mean? Didn't you already choose Emily?"

He slowly approached me and smiled coldly.

"Nevertheless, you're not going anywhere. For all I know, you'll find some way to ruin my wedding," he said.

My stomach dropped at his words.

"Just let me leave. I won't cause any trouble for your wedding, I swear. The last thing I ever wanted was to be your wife."

Adrian scoffed. "You've been reborn, too, haven't you? In your past life, you schemed to have Emily killed to secure your position as Mrs. Quirrel. How could I ever trust someone as vicious as you?"

He actually believed I was responsible for Emily's death.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I retorted. "I've never harmed anyone."

"Stop pretending to be innocent," Adrian snapped. He stepped forward and looked at me with utter contempt.

"She texted me before she died and said you were the reason. The fact that you always bullied her was bad enough, but then you married me and still refused to stop tormenting her."

My chest tightened with rage. The accusation was utterly absurd.

Emily and I had grown up in the same rundown orphanage. Since she was older and bigger than me, she spent every day tormenting me with a group of followers. How could I possibly be the one bullying her?

In my past life, I only learned the truth about Emily's death from the Quirrel family housekeepers who handled her body. The cause of her death was a drug overdose at an underground party.

Lydia still felt some attachment to Emily, whom she had taken in. To protect the Quirrel family's reputation, she claimed that Emily had committed suicide due to depression.

I couldn't believe Adrian was unaware of the truth. Just because of a few lies from Emily, he treated me and the children with such cruelty.

I let out a bitter laugh.

"So whatever she said must be true?" I shot back. "I had no reason to hurt her, and I have no interest in you now. Just let me leave."

Adrian didn't believe me.

"Of course, you had a reason. You pretended to be meek and pitiful just to win my family's favor and marry me, right?

"Emily told me you found someone to swap your birth chart with hers so you would get the reading that said you carried a healing energy."

Emily lied through her teeth, yet Adrian believed her without verifying it.

"That's ridiculous," I said flatly. "I don't believe in any of that nonsense, let alone know how to alter it."

His face darkened instantly.

"Shut up! I won't let you slander her. She was perfect. You're the one who would stoop to anything to climb higher. I'll never believe a word you say.

"You'd better behave and stay put. Before the wedding, don't even think about stepping out of this room."

With that, he turned and left.

The two bodyguards immediately stepped forward and blocked the doorway like a solid wall.

I watched Adrian's retreating figure, with a cold dread settling deep in my chest. He was completely blinded by Emily. His hatred for me ran so deep that he trusted her word over his own eyes and judgment.

I was trapped in this room, just like in my past life when I was locked in the basement.

"What game are you playing now?" Adrian asked, swinging the door open. He stood silhouetted in the doorway, the hall light glaring behind him.

My hunger strike these past few days had finally forced him to come. As I pushed myself up weakly, a sharp pain twisted in my stomach, and I broke out in a cold sweat.

"Let me out. I don't want to stay here."

Adrian said with a frown, "I've already warned you not to cause trouble on my wedding day. Your hunger strike is pointless."

A self-deprecating smile tugged at my lips. "You think too highly of me, Adrian. I value my life far more than you ever do."

He seemed taken aback by my response, then paused for a second before snorting dismissively.

"After I marry Emily, I might even grant you the status of a mistress. Stay put and don't cause any trouble. But you're not allowed to appear in front of Emily or say anything that might upset her."

Was he actually trying to humiliate me with an offer like that? What had I been thinking, falling for a scumbag like him?

Every word out of his mouth now turned my stomach. I couldn't even remember the boy who used to sneak me candy or stand up for me when I was bullied. The man before me now was as disgusting as a sewer rat.

I didn't have the strength to argue now. All I wanted was to leave and not waste my time bickering with Adrian.

"I don't want any 'title' from you. But if you insist on keeping me here, at least provide me with proper food. Stop trying to disgust me with spoiled leftovers."

Adrian's frown deepened.

"That's impossible. Emily herself gave specific instructions to the maids about your meals. She specifically told me she was concerned you wouldn't eat properly, so she prepared three dishes and a soup for every one of your meals."

What a shameless liar.

I took a deep breath and gestured at the food container on the floor.

"Tell your man to open it, and see for yourself," I said weakly, with a touch of sarcasm. "Take a good look at your so-called 'three dishes and a soup' you keep talking about."

Adrian's eyes were full of impatience and disgust.

"What are you playing at? Do you think this will get my attention? Claire, is this the best you can do—resorting to such petty tricks?"

But he still walked over and signaled to one of the bodyguards with a glance.

The bodyguard immediately stepped forward and opened the food container with obvious disgust. An immediate, overpowering stench of rot filled the room.

Even Adrian seemed taken aback by the sight. For a brief moment, uncertainty flickered in his eyes.

Just then, a clear, sweet voice rang out from the hallway. "Adrian, I personally made Claire's favorite dishes."

Emily stepped into the room, carrying a brand-new thermal lunchbox.

"I heard she hasn't been eating, and it breaks my heart," Emily said.

As she spoke, she opened the container, releasing the inviting aroma of freshly prepared food.

The moment he saw what she had brought, all doubt vanished from Adrian's face. His expression hardened once more into pure contempt for me.

"Trying to frame Emily again? Look at the food she brought for you, then look at this disgusting mess you created. What else can you possibly say?"

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she choked out, "I knew Claire would complain about the food. But if she's left it out for days, of course, it would spoil."

"Don't cry. Forget about Claire. Let her starve for all I care."

Adrian spoke softly to comfort Emily, but he glared daggers at me.

A cold numbness settled deep within me. He refused to believe a word I said, even with the evidence right before him. I couldn't just sit here and wait for death. I needed to find a way out.

"I want to see Mrs. Quirrel," I said, my voice weak but firm.

Adrian asked with a sneer, "What now? Are you planning to tattle on us again?"