The prestigious Foster family of San Francisco held a lavish birthday banquet for their eldest son, Julian Foster. The highlight of the evening was a piano competition, ostensibly to select a fiancée for Julian. His father, Mr. Foster, had once declared that his son's wife must be a virtuoso pianist. In my previous life, I was the one who shone brightly at that banquet. The Fosters and my family, the Quinns, officially united, and I married into the Foster dynasty. Meanwhile, the woman Julian truly loved, Sarah Miller, fell ill and died of a broken heart. After Julian became the CEO of Foster Corp, he placed Sarah's memorial tablet in the seat of honor in our home. He forced me to kneel before it for three days and three nights. "If you hadn't injured Sarah's hand before the banquet, my parents would have chosen her. You are the reason we were separated by life and death." "The position of Mrs. Foster should have been hers." His first act as CEO was a hostile takeover of Quinn Enterprises, bankrupting my family. My father died of a heart attack from the stress, and my mother followed him a year later, consumed by grief. The Quinn family fell into ruin. In this life, at the Foster birthday banquet, I injured my own wrist, withdrawing from the fierce competition among the socialites. He wants a lifetime of devotion with Sarah Miller? I'll grant them their wish. 1 "The winner of the piano competition, with the most votes, is Miss Sarah Miller of the Miller family." At the birthday banquet, Julian's aunt announced the winner's name loudly. Whispers rippled through the crowd. "I can't believe she won first place." "I heard Chloe Quinn sprained her wrist and couldn't play. Sarah Miller really got lucky." "Wasn't Chloe the Fosters' preferred choice for daughter-in-law?" "But the rule was that the winner becomes Julian's fiancée. Julian set that rule himself." Julian's face was filled with joy and delight. He tightly held Sarah's hand and walked forward. "Dad, Mom, this is the fiancée I have chosen." Julian's eyes were full of tenderness. Sarah looked shy, her face flushed red, but she never let go of Julian's hand. Everyone looked at me with pity, my wrist still wrapped in gauze, but their eyes betrayed their eagerness for drama. Mrs. Foster looked at me, hesitating to speak. After all, she had hinted that I was her choice and even spoken to my parents to ensure they wouldn't arrange other matches for me. Now, things had taken an unexpected turn. Mrs. Foster hesitated for a moment before asking Julian, "Is there any other girl you like? Your father is happy today; perhaps if you mention someone else, he might annul today's results and give it more thought." She glanced at me, hinting for him to reconsider. But Mrs. Foster was wrong. I no longer wanted to marry Julian. In my past life, Julian accused me of breaking Sarah's hand, preventing her from playing. But that was something beneath me. If he had calmly considered my character, he would have known I wouldn't do such a thing. But seeing Sarah with her head lowered and eyes red, his heart ached for her. Sarah broke free from his grasp and said, "I know Miss Quinn doesn't like me, but I just wanted a fair chance to be with you. Why couldn't she give me that? Just because her father is the CEO of Quinn Enterprises? Because the Miller family isn't as wealthy as hers?" Her single sentence planted the seed for Julian's hostile takeover of my family's company later. Only later did I learn that after hearing my performance of a long-lost piano piece—which even earned nods of approval from the principal pianist of the National Symphony—Sarah realized she couldn't win. She deliberately cut her own hand with a small knife to fake an injury and avoid losing. 2 In this life, I wouldn't give her that chance. I'd rather use the pretext of accidentally injuring my wrist at yesterday's spring luncheon to withdraw from today's competition than give them another excuse to slander me. They want to be together? In this life, I'll grant their wish. I'll stay far away from them. Hearing his mother's question, Julian declared loudly, "Mom, Sarah is the only woman I love. Since she got the most votes and won first place, according to my rules, I must marry her." "In this life, I will only love Sarah." Mrs. Foster sighed helplessly. "I have no objection to you marrying her, but a marriage alliance is no small matter. I hope you consider it carefully. Besides financial strength, the upbringing of future generations must also be considered." She looked at Sarah. Sarah had eyes only for Julian. Perhaps love gives people infinite courage. She stepped forward, her voice trembling slightly. "Mrs. Foster, after marrying Julian, I will give him a son and devote myself to raising our children and educating the next generation of Fosters. But Julian said he won't marry anyone else." "Every woman wants to be the only one for her beloved. Mrs. Foster must feel the same, right? Please agree to our marriage." As soon as she finished speaking, the expressions of the ladies in the hall varied. Especially the mothers of other potential candidates, whose faces turned dark. "Miss Miller is really something. Bossing Julian around before she's even married into the family." "Which successful man doesn't have a few women? Besides, Julian is Mrs. Foster's only son. What is she trying to do? If she can't have a son, does she intend to end the Foster line?" "It looks like Sarah Miller wants to monopolize Julian's affection." Although Julian knew it was inappropriate, he still defended her. "Mom, please agree to let me marry Sarah." Mrs. Foster closed her eyes and waved her hand wearily. "Since your mind is made up, I can't control you. In three days, I'll send someone to the Miller family to propose." As everyone filed out, I was stopped before I could leave the Foster estate. "Miss Quinn." It was Sarah. Behind her, servants carried the jewelry Julian had given her. She walked up with a smile. "I'm sorry, Miss Quinn. I didn't expect you not to play today. I thought you would win." I smiled faintly. "Congratulations, Miss Miller. Your wish has come true." Her eyes reddened. "Do you blame me? I know Mrs. Foster prefers you, but I really love Julian, and he said he wanted to marry me. For him, I had to disregard our sisterhood. Please don't blame me." "This diamond necklace was a gift from Julian. I'm giving it to you as a token of our sisterhood. I wish you find your true love soon and have a son early." I took the necklace, but before I could speak, a man's hand snatched it away. "I gave this to you. Why give it to someone else? This is a blessing for us to have a son early after marriage. Why don't you care?" Sarah looked at Julian shyly. "Julian, Miss Quinn is upset about losing. I wanted to comfort her. Don't be so petty." 3 Julian looked at me with disdain. "Upset? Chloe, it's my mom who likes you, not me. I hope you understand. My mom probably values your father's support. But once I get the approval of all shareholders, I will be the next successor of Foster Corp. Everyone will have to listen to me then, right?" "I won't rely on a woman's connections to develop my career. And I never said I wanted to marry you." "We used to get along because I thought you were generous and interesting to talk to. But I didn't expect you to be so ambitious, wanting to become Mrs. Foster." Watching them sing their duet, I lost patience. I took a step back. "Mr. Foster, I came to the birthday banquet because of your mother's invitation. As for relying on women for your career or marrying you, save those delusions. Don't make Miss Miller overthink." "If she starts thinking you're implying her family isn't helpful, how will she find her place in the Foster family?" With that, I turned and left. Sarah was naturally suspicious and petty. The Miller family had long declined; among San Francisco's elite, they barely ranked. Compared to my family's background, hers was not worth mentioning. Three days later, the Foster family proposed to the Millers. Once the engagement was set, Sarah immediately held a banquet, inviting all the socialites of San Francisco. For Julian's sake, who dared not go? At the banquet, Sarah was draped in jewelry, wearing all the pieces Julian and Mrs. Foster had sent. Even before becoming Mrs. Foster, she was already putting on the airs of the mistress of the house. I remembered in my past life, she was favored by Julian for her simple elegance and dislike of luxury jewelry. He claimed to prefer her fresh, unworldly charm. I wondered if the Julian of this life would still praise her for being untainted by the world seeing her like this. In front of everyone, Sarah held my hand tightly. "Miss Quinn, when I get married, could you be my bridesmaid? With a good sister by my side on my wedding day, I won't be so scared." Her face showed pleading, but her eyes held a triumphant smile. In her mind, she was already the winner, trying to embarrass me publicly. "You are Mrs. Foster. Who would refuse your choice of bridesmaid? No one in San Francisco would dare not give me, Julian Foster, face. Chloe, don't you agree?" The speaker was Julian, walking in. He came to support Sarah's banquet, showing how much he doted on her. Everyone looked at me, waiting for my response. If I agreed, I would be submitting to the status of Mrs. Foster. If I refused, I would be disrespecting Julian. Julian was confident, and Sarah was triumphant. But they forgot that my father is the CEO of Quinn Enterprises. In San Francisco, aside from respected elders, I don't need to bow to anyone. I pulled my hand from Sarah's grasp. "I'm sorry, I probably can't attend your wedding. My dad sent someone to pick me up. The flight booked is on the exact day of your wedding." Sarah looked at me, eyes filled with tears. "Are you angry with me, Miss Quinn? Otherwise, how could it be so coincidental that Chairman Quinn sent someone for you?" 4 My companion answered for me. "The person Chairman Quinn sent arrived last night. He said a marriage has been arranged for Chloe. She's been in San Francisco for six months; it's time to go home and prepare for her wedding." Upon hearing this, Julian's face changed drastically. "You're going back to LA? Didn't your dad send you to San Francisco to find a husband from a prominent family?" "I know you're upset I chose Sarah. If I agree to marry her, I can still be with you, okay?" Sarah's face changed. Before she could speak, I smiled and said, "Mr. Foster, what kind of joke is that? Didn't you tell Mrs. Foster the other day you wanted a lifetime of devotion with Miss Miller?" "Besides, a daughter of the Quinn family would never be a mistress." Julian gritted his teeth. "Chloe, must you be Mrs. Foster? Do you care that much about a title?" I looked at him bafflingly. "Julian, I never said I wanted to be your wife. I've just been in San Francisco long enough. My family misses me, and I have no relatives here. Going home is only natural. Is there a rule against going home?" Julian's face grew darker. "What if I don't agree? What if I don't let you leave?" "Mr. Foster might be disappointed. Miss Quinn and I are already engaged. Is CEO Foster trying to steal my wife?" I turned around. It was Christopher Wells, who grew up with me. Dressed in a formal suit, looking a bit travel-worn, he seemed to have rushed to San Francisco. He walked in, stood beside me, and silently protected me. Julian stared at him. "Christopher Wells, what are you doing here instead of staying in LA?" Christopher smiled. "I'm here to negotiate a deal for Uncle Quinn and to bring Chloe back to LA." Then he looked at me, seeing no one else. "Chloe, these banquets are boring. I heard there's a fireworks show in San Francisco tonight. Want me to take you?" I smiled, stood up, and bid farewell to Julian and Sarah. "I'll take my leave now. I'm afraid I'll be gone by the time you two get married. Wishing you a happy marriage in advance." With that, I walked to Christopher and followed him out of the Miller residence. Julian chased after us. "Chloe, is being with me worse than being Christopher's fiancée?" "When I become the heir to Foster Corp, I promise I'll let you have a child for me, okay?" Christopher walked to the sports car outside, opened the door, and helped me in. I sat inside with a smile, closed the door, and he drove away, leaving Julian and his words behind in the dust. Julian's wedding was a major event for the Foster family. On the morning of his wedding, my car was packed and ready to go. Unexpectedly, our car encountered the wedding procession on the street. I had specifically chosen a route they wouldn't take, but Julian had chosen this road. Dressed as a groom, he blocked my car. "Chloe, are you really leaving?"
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