My fiancé ditched me at our engagement party because he’d fallen for the sweet, innocent new girl at his company. He took her on a reckless yacht trip trying to be romantic, which ended with him critically injured and unconscious. The new girl vanished. For the sake of our families' intertwined businesses and reputations, I nursed him back to health. But the first thing he did when he woke up? He destroyed my family, made us bankrupt, all to supposedly avenge his lost love. I died on what would have been my third wedding anniversary with Ethan Hayes. Swallowing the nausea churning in my gut, I tried to keep my face neutral as I handed him the divorce papers. The Vance and Hayes families went way back, practically dynasties in this town. My parents had treated Ethan like their own son. After we got married, my family’s company, Vance Corp, trusted him completely, gave him access to everything. He used that trust to collude with our rivals, shorted our stock, and drove us into the ground. Our company collapsed. Grandpa had a massive heart attack. Dad was pushed to desperation and jumped from his office building. Mom withered away, lost in grief. I didn’t want to fight him anymore. All I wanted was for him to sign the papers and let me go. He took the agreement but didn’t sign. "Let’s have one last meal together," he suggested. Seeing the refusal forming on my lips, he added, "I'll sign after we eat." So I sat down. The food tasted like ash in my mouth. I managed a few bites, put down my fork, and waited quietly. He took his time, raising his wine glass to me. "A toast, to thank you for taking care of me all these years." I just wanted this to be over so I could go home and check on Mom. I picked up my glass and downed it in one gulp. The bitter aftertaste lingered. "Can you sign now?" I asked, looking up at him. That’s when I saw the smile playing on his lips. "Looks like signing won't be necessary after all. You wanted freedom, didn't you? Well, you've got it. Eternal freedom." His voice, usually smooth and cultured like a cello, now held a demonic whisper. "What are you talking about?" I scrambled to my feet, but a wave of dizziness hit me. Was I drunk already? But seeing that smirk, I knew. This wasn't just the wine. He’d drugged me. "Why?" I couldn't understand. Our families had been close for decades. My parents adored him. I knew I couldn’t win against him; I just wanted to take Mom and disappear somewhere quiet, live out our lives in peace. "Why would you do this to me? To my family!" I screamed at him, my voice raw. I couldn’t think of a single thing I’d done to deserve this. He, on the other hand, had repaid every kindness with betrayal. He watched my staggering form, his expression dark and stormy. "This is what you owe me. What you owe Lily!" Lily? He must have seen the confusion on my face because he sneered. "What, forgotten already? If your family hadn't insisted on that damned engagement, I wouldn't have had to take Lily away. She wouldn't have been lost at sea, her body never even found." As he spoke, his eyes actually reddened. He glared at me, like I was some kind of monster responsible for it all. It was laughable. Utterly insane. He was blaming the Vances for that accident? I had to laugh, a broken, hollow sound. Six years. Three years tending to him while he lay in bed, recovering. Three years married after he got better. And he’d never forgotten her. It was pathetic. We’d known each other practically our whole lives, but it meant nothing compared to the few months he’d known her. Was he devoted? Or just cruel? "Vance Corporation has paid its price. Now, it's your turn, Eleanor Vance." "So, Mr. Hayes," I spat, anger bubbling up through the haze, "what ending have you planned for me?" "Don't worry," he said, a chilling calm in his voice. "Considering you took care of me for a while, I won't make it painful. Just go to sleep, and you'll be free. Consider your shares in the company my compensation." "I'll arrange a beautiful funeral. 'Mrs. Hayes, overcome with grief, succumbs to depression.' 'Mr. Hayes, heartbroken, mourns his beloved wife.' How does that headline sound?" Looking at his familiar face, I felt nothing but disgust. My vision blurred. The world tilted. Finally, everything went black. 02 "Ellie, what's wrong? You look so pale." The first thing I heard when I came to was Mom's worried voice. Across the room, Dad and Grandpa were talking to some guests, but their eyes kept flicking towards me. "Mom!" I threw my arms around her, clinging tight. She gently patted my back, comforting me just like she always did when I was upset. Nestled in her warm embrace, listening to her soft murmurs, I wished time could just stop right there. I was back. Somehow, unbelievably, I was back. "What's this? Ethan's a no-show, so now you're throwing your usual princess tantrum?" A sharp, mocking voice cut through the moment. "Honestly, Eleanor. You come from such a good family, why do you have to chase after Ethan Hayes like a lovesick puppy?" I turned around. Standing there was Chloe Sterling, a petite girl with a sour expression. I managed a small smile. Ignoring her usual protests, I linked my arm through hers. "You know what? You're absolutely right. I'm done with him. I'm taking your advice." Chloe and I had always been rivals, constantly sniping at each other. But in my past life, after my family went bankrupt, all the fake friends who used to flatter me vanished instantly. Chloe, my supposed nemesis, was the one who actually started checking in on me. As for why Ethan wasn't here yet… I knew exactly why. This was the year. The year Ethan had that accident – paragliding, I think it was. He was in a coma for days. When he woke up, Lily White was there by his bedside. She had bandages on, scratches on her pretty face. He was incredibly moved. Finding out Lily didn't have a job, he ignored his family's objections and hired her as his personal assistant. The very next day, they were splashed all over social media, riding a carousel at an amusement park. It even trended online. Mom heard the whispers around us and squeezed my hand reassuringly. "Ellie, don't listen to them. You and Ethan grew up together. We all know he cares about you deep down." I squeezed her hand back, seeing the worry in her eyes. "Mom, I'm fine. Really. I haven't liked Ethan that way for a long time." From the look on her face, she clearly didn't believe me. And why would she? I used to follow Ethan around like a shadow. Saying I was suddenly over him? No one would buy it. "Ellie," Mom's grip tightened, her eyes lighting up, "Look, Ethan's here!" 03 I followed her gaze. Ethan was just getting out of his car, head slightly bowed. The murmurs in the room died down the moment he appeared. We'd grown up together. It was an unspoken understanding between our families that we'd eventually merge the Vance and Hayes legacies through marriage. But Ethan didn't walk towards us. Instead, he went around to the passenger side and opened the door. He reached in and helped out a girl dressed in a flowing white dress. The whispering started again, louder this time. "The heiress versus the ingenue..." "Looks like the newcomer won this round." Ethan held Lily White’s delicate wrist and strode towards the main gathering area. Lily clung to his side like a frightened bird. When she saw me, she flinched and ducked slightly behind him. Ethan noticed her movement, followed her gaze to where I stood, and his expression soured. 04 I almost laughed out loud. I really was blind in my past life. I hadn't noticed any of this back then. The moment Ethan arrived, my stupid, love-struck brain took over, and I rushed towards him. When I saw Lily, I lost it completely, calling her a homewrecker right there in front of everyone. It wasn't my fault, not really, but my emotional outburst embarrassed the Hayes family terribly. And who got all the sympathy? Lily, the fragile flower. Thinking back, I forced my expression back to neutral. "Hi, Eleanor!" Lily peeked out from behind Ethan, offered a quick greeting, and immediately ducked back again. "Don't you dare call her that, like you're family! Who do you think you are?" Before I could even react, Chloe jumped in, fiercely protective. Ethan's brow furrowed deeply. "Eleanor Vance, is this how you treat the person who saved my life?" Seriously? I hadn't even said a word, and it was still my fault? How had I never noticed how messed up Ethan was before? "Ethan, it's okay. I don't mind," Lily murmured, pulling at his sleeve. Her voice trembled, a single tear clinging precariously to her lashes. "I grew up poor, in the countryside. It's only natural that people look down on me." Look at that performance! So pitiful, so fragile. Any idiot would fall for that, right? I almost wanted to applaud her skill. Predictably, Ethan's face darkened further. He gently wiped the tear from Lily's cheek, murmuring soft reassurances. Then he turned back to me, glaring daggers. "Eleanor, you have absolutely no class!" 05 The composure I’d been fighting to maintain finally snapped, and I let out a laugh. Beside me, Mom and Chloe both looked worried. I waved a hand dismissively. "I'm fine." Lily White was a truly gifted actress. Much more dedicated than Ethan, who couldn't even be bothered to pretend in front of my own mother. It was pathetic how lovesick and blind I’d been in my past life, completely missing her true colors. I’d almost bought her whole innocent damsel act. Her schemes, her ambition – she hid it all so well behind that sweet facade. She fooled everyone. 06 I remember back then, weak and recovering from the shock of my family's ruin, I’d asked Ethan why he fell for Lily. "Everyone around me is nice to me because I'm the Hayes heir," he'd said. "Even your family, even you, Eleanor. Isn't that why you stuck around?" At the time, his words completely threw me off. I just stayed silent, unable to respond. To him, my silence was proof of his accusation. "That's why you'll never compare to Lily," he continued. "Her love for me is pure. Unconditional." Looking back now, that whole speech was a massive red flag signaling just how warped his thinking was. So, being the heir to the Hayes fortune was some kind of burden for him? Fine, then give it up! He enjoyed all the perks and privileges that came with his family name but didn't want any of the responsibility. What a joke. Lily takes care of him for a few months, and he remembers it forever. I took care of him for years, and he forgot in an instant. The watch he wore paragliding, the clothes – all high-end luxury brands. Was it really that hard to figure out he was wealthy? Lily obviously recognized the signs and decided to stick close to him, playing the long game. 07 "Ethan," Lily whispered, tears welling up again, "Is... is Eleanor laughing at me?" "Maybe... maybe you should just ignore me. I'm not good enough for you anyway." "Eleanor," she turned her tear-streaked face towards me, "it's all my fault. Please don't misunderstand Ethan. I just mentioned I'd never been to a fancy party like this, and he kindly brought me along." "Well, look at you, knowing exactly where you stand. That's something, I guess. Not many people have that kind of self-awareness these days." Chloe rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. "Enough!" Ethan roared, his voice cutting through the party chatter, silencing the entire hall. Lily jumped, feigning fright, her hand trembling as she clutched his suit jacket. Ethan captured her hand, holding it tightly in his own. I, meanwhile, casually picked up a glass of red wine, sipping it slowly as I enjoyed the melodrama unfolding. "Eleanor, can you forgive me?" Lily pleaded, looking at me with those big, tearful eyes. I took another sip of wine, saying nothing. After all, Chloe was the one laying into her. I just wanted to slap her. Suddenly, Ethan lunged forward and smacked the wine glass out of my hand. Red wine splashed onto the polished floor and my dress. "Eleanor Vance, don't push it!" 08 "What did I even do? Just watch the pity party?" I didn't react aggressively, just calmly dabbed at the wine staining my hand. Dealing with Ethan's tantrums for years had unexpectedly turned me into a master of emotional control. "Is this how you treat guests? Is this the kind of manners the Hayes family taught you?" He turned back to Lily, dabbing at her crocodile tears again, before whirling back to me, his voice sharp: "Apologize to Lily! Now!" I couldn't help it; I laughed again. "Guest? Since when is she a guest?" This time, I deliberately dropped the empty glass I was holding onto the floor. The shattering sound echoed in the now dead-silent room. "You brought a complete stranger into my family's home uninvited. I should have had security escort her out. Now you're causing a scene at my birthday party? Really, Ethan, where are your manners?" Last time around, Lily played the victim, Ethan was willfully blind, and I was the fool. The three of us created a trashy high-society drama that everyone gossiped about for weeks. I suddenly remembered something from my past life: I'd seen Lily acting suspiciously at the engagement party, talking furtively to someone bundled up, maybe even handing something over. Not long after that, a major Hayes project fell through spectacularly. It should have been a sure thing, but some small, insignificant company snatched it right out from under them. My gut told me the two incidents were connected. I called Ethan immediately, warned him to be careful around Lily. He blew up at me, accused me of trying to sabotage Lily just so I could force the engagement. It wasn't until the night he killed me that he finally admitted it. He said it was because of my warning call that he confronted Lily out on the yacht. She got angry and jumped overboard. So, according to his twisted logic, I was the one who killed Lily White. Seriously, what kind of messed-up reasoning is that? He managed to be both the fool and the blind man in that scenario. 09 The upper crust of this city is a small world. Most people at the party were familiar faces, regulars at these events. Even bringing a date usually involves adding them to the guest list beforehand. Now, curious and judgmental eyes were all focused on Lily. Unable to stand the whispers, Lily shrank further behind Ethan. "Eleanor, why are you deliberately making things hard for Lily? Apologize!" Ethan's inner knight-in-shining-armor complex flared up as he shielded her. His yelling was giving me a headache. I took a couple of steps back, forcing a tight smile. "You know, Ethan, you kind of remind me of a soap opera actor." He clearly didn't get the sarcastic reference, probably thinking I was complimenting his looks. "You think flattering me will work? No chance! Apologize!" "Hahahaha! A soap actor! That's perfect! Hahaha, and he thinks she means he's handsome!" Chloe doubled over laughing behind me. I couldn't help the corners of my eyes crinkling in amusement. I really must have been blind. How did I ever think this guy was smart and sophisticated? "You're mocking me!" His face flushed with anger. "Mom, are Grandpa and Mr. Hayes still in the study?" I ignored Ethan's outburst and turned to my mother. Mom nodded, looking a bit dazed. I lifted the hem of my dress and headed towards the study. Seeing me make a move towards his grandfather, Ethan hurried after me. "What now? Going to run crying to Grandpa again?" "That's all you ever do. Same old trick every time." "Hey! Wait up!" I ignored his shouting and walked straight to the study door. Sometimes, calling in the grown-ups isn't just for kids; it's necessary for dealing with adult idiots you can't reason with. My grandfather and Ethan's grandfather, old Mr. Hayes, had been best friends since childhood. After Ethan's parents died tragically, Mr. Hayes, already semi-retired, had to step back in to stabilize the family company. Worried someone might try to harm Ethan during the transition, Mr. Hayes asked my family to look out for him. My parents basically raised him alongside me. And now, Ethan was stubbornly insisting on choosing Lily. Old Mr. Hayes felt deeply indebted to my family because of this whole situation, which meant he usually indulged my requests. "Eleanor, don't you dare use your birthday to make some unreasonable demand! I'm telling you, I am not marrying you!" So, he’d heard the rumors that Mr. Hayes planned to announce our engagement tonight. I glanced back at him. He really had been sheltered his whole life, completely clueless about the strategic importance of a Vance-Hayes merger. Perfect timing. Hearing the commotion, my grandfather opened the study door. "Ellie, what brings you here? Did you hear your wish is about to come true and came to thank your Grandpa Hayes early?" Ever since I turned eighteen, my birthday wish every year had been to marry Ethan Hayes. "Grandpa," I said, taking his arm, "I don't like Ethan anymore. I don't want to marry him." At first, Grandpa probably thought I was just throwing another fit. But when he saw the dead seriousness in my eyes, his expression changed, breaking into a wide grin. "Alright then! If you don't want to marry him, you don't have to. My dear Ellie deserves much better." I knew Grandpa hadn't been happy with Ethan for a while. He only tolerated the idea because he knew how much I supposedly loved him. The engagement announcement was quietly shelved. Later, when the birthday cake arrived, I closed my eyes and made a wish. "I only wish for my family to be safe, happy, and prosperous."
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