I was reborn, brought back to the exact minute before I was supposed to choose my fiancé. Our family had an old pact to marry off the daughters, and now it was time to make the choice. My socialite sister’s eyes were filled with a mix of shock and absolute ecstasy. The moment our elders finished speaking, she let out a sharp, triumphant laugh: "Dad, Mom, I choose the Harrington heir! I want to marry into the Harrington family!" I instantly realized she had been reborn, too. She wanted to steal my life. In our past life, she chose the cold, untouchable "Saint" of Manhattan high society, only to discover his terrifyingly obsessive and ascetic nature. Unable to endure his monastic lifestyle, she cheated on him. As punishment, he imprisoned her for the rest of her life until she died of severe depression. Meanwhile, I married the playboy prince of Wall Street. Despite his flaws, I attended high-end galas and lived a life of absolute luxury, envied by everyone. Looking at her crazed, triumphant smile, I let out a breath of relief. Compared to a cheating, scum-of-the-earth playboy who would literally sell his wife for business, a possessive but deeply loyal ascetic was exactly what I wanted! 01 "Dad, Mom, I choose the Harrington heir! I want to marry into the Harrington family!" My parents frowned. "Clara, think this through. The Harringtons are facing several massive lawsuits right now; they aren't as powerful as they used to be. Didn't you always prefer the Sterling family's heir?" My sister practically beamed. "Liam Harrington has the power to fix everything. You don't need to worry about me." Her words confirmed my suspicions. The reason Clara was practically begging to marry Liam was that she was terrified of repeating her miserable past life. In our previous life, she struck first, choosing the cold, noble "Saint" of Manhattan—Arthur Sterling. She got her wish and became Mrs. Sterling. But before she could even enjoy her endless wealth, she was shipped off to a secluded, heavily guarded mountain estate to "cleanse her soul." The rules were incredibly strict, the diet completely vegan, and the estate was devoid of any entertainment, filled only with the sound of silence and ringing chapel bells. Not to mention, the wild, passionate fantasies she had about seducing the "untouchable saint" were crushed. Arthur never even touched her. Clara, who was used to a glamorous, vibrant nightlife, couldn't stand such a dull, suffocating existence. One day, she made a phone call and sneaked two of her ex-boyfriends into the estate. While the three of them were in the middle of a wild session, the estate's staff heard the noise and caught them red-handed. Rumor had it Arthur was so disgusted he took a vow of silence for a month. On his orders, Clara was locked inside a villa at the foot of the mountain for the rest of her life, strictly forbidden from leaving. She eventually died of severe depression. Arthur never physically abused her; he simply banned her from going to clubs to find young men. But Clara watched me accompany the Harrington heir to elite parties and ultimately developed a fatal heart condition out of pure jealousy. No wonder the moment she was reborn, she chose the Harrington family she had previously looked down upon. Clara felt my gaze. She shot me a provocative glare, then dragged me into the bedroom. "Don't even think about fighting me for the Harrington heir, or I'll kill you myself!" I feigned concern. "But the Harrington family is facing a huge crisis right now. Are you really going to sacrifice yourself, sister?" Clara raised her chin, her expression full of contempt. "You don't need to worry about me. The Harrington family is going straight to the top!" She shoved me hard. "You'd better worry about yourself. I hope you enjoy living like a nun in a cloistered convent for the rest of your miserable life." Watching her strut away, a genuine smile spread across my face. Did she really think the Harrington family's resurgence was due to Liam, a man whose only talents were drinking, gambling, and sleeping around? Liam Harrington was the kind of man who would personally deliver his own wife into another man's bed just to secure a contract! I'll gladly take the obsessive, devoted "Saint" over that piece of trash! 02 Though slightly reluctant, my parents agreed to Clara's choice. Then, they turned their eyes to me: "Eleanor, since your sister wants the Harringtons, you will marry into the Sterling family." They didn't give me a chance to object, casually sealing my fate. Clara gloated. While applying heavy, club-ready makeup, she mocked me: "Eleanor, just accept your fate. Careful not to spend your whole life chained to a prayer mat!" I leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Sister, I hope you don't end up chained to a bed, constantly servicing different men!" She thought trading marriages meant trading destinies. She had no idea that a person's destiny is determined by their own choices, not by which man they marry. Clara froze, then raised her hand to slap me. I dodged backward with a smile, replacing it with a perfectly polite expression. "Mom, it's getting late. Didn't you say you called Arthur? He should be here to pick me up soon. I'm going to change." After finalizing the engagements, my parents notified the Sterlings and the Harringtons, subtly suggesting we spend some time together to cultivate feelings. The Sterling estate was only a thirty-minute drive away. Arthur had agreed to take me out. As for Liam, he was probably blackout drunk in some VIP club right now. He didn't even answer the phone. Clara's face changed slightly. She glared at me so hard she practically burned a hole through my skull. When I came out in a fresh dress, Arthur had arrived. He sat next to my parents, discussing the details of the engagement ceremony with an entirely expressionless face. He had a sharp jawline and striking features, better looking than most Hollywood actors, and an aura as deep and calm as a still lake. No wonder Clara fell in love with him at first sight in our previous life. The moment Clara saw Arthur, she was completely captivated. Her eyes practically glued themselves to his body: "Arthur..." Arthur seamlessly shifted to a seat further away from her, avoiding her as if she were something filthy. The bright crystal chandelier illuminated his face but failed to light up those pitch-black, fathomless eyes. Clara shuddered. Just as she tried to salvage the situation, I interrupted: "Sister, what are you trying to say to my fiancé?" Hearing the word "fiancé," both Clara and Arthur looked up at me. Clara's expression was murderous; she looked ready to swallow me alive. But Arthur just watched me quietly, a flicker of an unreadable emotion crossing his dark eyes. I walked forward and naturally hooked my arm through his. "Mr. Sterling, I'm ready. Let's go." Arthur's gaze drifted down to where my hand rested on his arm. He gave a faint, soft "Mm." 03 I didn't let go of his arm until we reached his car. I looked at him sincerely. "Mr. Sterling, thank you." My parents only saw me as a corporate asset to be sold off. I had had enough of this suffocating household a long time ago. If Arthur hadn't come to pick me up, I never would have escaped their grip today. "Why thank me? Aren't we engaged to be married?" Arthur watched me quietly. His gaze made me a little flustered, but it also made my heart skip a beat. "...Right." "What's mine is yours. There's no need to be polite. You haven't had dinner yet, have you? Let me take you to a restaurant." I patted my slightly empty stomach and nodded. I originally thought Arthur would take me to some strict vegan or ascetic retreat, but to my surprise, he drove me to a high-end Italian restaurant. It happened to be my absolute favorite place. "Mr. Sterling, are you sure we're in the right place?" I couldn't help but press my palms together apologetically. Wasn't bringing him here a violation of his ascetic lifestyle? Arthur shook his head. "It's fine. My faith requires me to discipline myself, not others. I have already eaten at home. Order whatever you'd like." I didn't hold back. Once seated, I ordered a salad and a massive plate of Bolognese pasta. Arthur asked, "Is that all you're eating?" I nodded. "This is plenty." I wasn't a picky eater. In truth, after enduring the days in my past life where Liam tied me up like a dog, just having a warm meal was a blessing. Arthur held my gaze, lost in thought. Only when I was full and put down my fork did he speak calmly: "After we are married, I expect absolute loyalty in our marriage. If you fulfill your obligations as a wife, I will give you everything you could ever want." "...Obligations?" My brain short-circuited. Without thinking, I blurted out, "Wait, aren't you celibate? Like a monk?" Arthur corrected me: "I am a devout ascetic, not a monk." I muttered to myself, "Then why does everyone call you the 'Untouchable Saint'? I thought..." I don't know if it was an illusion, but I saw him smile slightly. My heart suddenly started pounding wildly. Without knowing what came over me, I reached out and touched his brow. The moment my fingers brushed his warm skin, I realized what I had done and hastily pulled my hand back. But I was a step too late. Arthur froze, instinctively grabbing my hand. He held it tightly, refusing to let go. 04 "Ah, I'm so sorry!" I was mortified, wishing I could slap myself. Eleanor, Eleanor, how could you be seduced by a handsome face and do something so inappropriate? Fortunately, Arthur didn't seem to mind my forwardness. His lips moved slightly. "It's nothing." When he dropped me off at home, we both silently agreed to pretend the hand-holding never happened. Before stepping out of the car, I joked, "Mr. Sterling, I hear your faith believes heavily in 'destiny.' In your eyes, are we destined for each other?" I didn't expect him to answer. To my surprise, he nodded and said candidly, "Yes. Since a past life." It was my turn to fall silent. How could I have had any connection to him in a past life? My miserable previous life was still vivid in my mind. A person can never forget what truly matters, just as they can never forget true hatred. I didn't take his words seriously and didn't argue. I just smiled faintly. "Then I'll be sure to cherish this destiny." I turned and walked toward the front door. When I casually glanced back, the headlights were still casting a pale glow into the night. Arthur hadn't left yet. My heart fluttered. Just as I was about to turn back to him, Clara blocked me at the doorway. Clara's face was twisted in rage, her lips smeared with a garish, blood-red lipstick. "Eleanor, you shameless bitch!" She lunged, trying to grab my hair. "Trying to seduce Arthur? I'll kill you!" Seeing her act like a maniac, I almost died laughing. I sidestepped her sneak attack, letting her crash face-first onto the hardwood floor. I covered my mouth, stepping back a few paces: "Sister, it's not even Thanksgiving, why are you bowing so low to me? The Sterling family might be powerful, but you don't need to try that hard to suck up to me, do you?" Every word pierced her right in the ego. The reason Clara chose the Harrington family was that she was blinded by their superficial wealth. Deep down, she still viewed Arthur as her property, dreaming of having her cake and eating it too. Even if I were a complete stranger instead of Arthur's fiancée in this life, I would never stand by and watch a toxic parasite like Clara ruin a good man. I laughed enough and added: "Are you feeling lonely waiting at home? You should check out the clubs and bars downtown. I bet the precious 'prince' you're so obsessed with is partying in a VIP booth right now." Clara didn't know Liam's true nature. She thought I was just trying to insult her fiancé. Her face filled with hatred: "Shut up! You're not even worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as me! I hope you can still smile when you're locked in a monastery eating plain oatmeal! By the time I'm the glamorous Mrs. Harrington draped in diamonds, even if you kneel on the ground and beg me, I won't show you any mercy!" She angrily picked herself up from the floor, turned, and stomped back to her bedroom. I leaned lazily against the staircase, opening my phone to check the evening financial news. Tsk, tsk, tsk. The Harrington Group's stock had dropped another ten percent. I hope they can hold out until the day Clara marries into the family. 05 The next day, when Liam sobered up and finally learned who his fiancée was, he rushed over to our house to apologize. He spewed absolute nonsense with a straight face: "Mr. and Mrs. Vance, I had a business dinner last night and accidentally drank too much. But don't worry, our family's business is getting back on track. Once Clara marries me, our current crisis will definitely be resolved." I silently rolled my eyes. Of course the debt crisis would be resolved. Besides using her ten-million-dollar dowry to put out the immediate fires, Liam would force his future wife to sleep with clients to satisfy the twisted desires of the upper crust. For the monsters in high society, finding beautiful young girls to torment wasn't hard. What was hard was finding playthings from prestigious, wealthy families. Perhaps only then could they experience the true thrill of conquest. In our past life, Liam seized every opportunity, treating me as a bargaining chip and subjecting me to horrific abuse, ultimately securing the investments he needed to flip his company's fortune. The high-end galas Clara had envied so much were nothing but the gateways that repeatedly pushed me into hell. Clara was completely oblivious to the tragic fate awaiting her. She was incredibly smug, biting my ear to whisper: "Eleanor, just you wait! You're destined to live like a widow anyway. Once you're discarded, I'll absolutely find a few men to play with you until you're broken. Let's see if Arthur still wants you when you're a ruined mess!" I curled my lips into a mocking smile and raised my arm. Slap! The sharp sound cut off Clara's endless cursing, as well as the conversation between Liam and my parents in the living room. The slap completely stunned Clara. She burst into tears: "Dad, Mom, and Liam! Look at her! Eleanor is bullying me!" My dad comforted Clara, then yelled at me: "Eleanor, what are you doing?! Apologize to your sister right now!" My parents had always heavily favored Clara. In my past life, when they saw I was driven to a dead end, not only did they refuse to bring me home, they even mocked me: "A married daughter is spilled water! You have to do whatever Liam tells you to do! If you want to stay clean, then go die! Wouldn't death clean you up perfectly?" Yet, when Clara was caught cheating, my parents frantically ran to the Sterling family to beg for mercy. Although it didn't work, the glaring contrast in their treatment was chilling. Living this second life, I saw many things clearly. For example, right now—the ones who deserved to die weren't me, but these heartless, hypocritical parasites. I squeezed out a few tears: "Dad, do you know what sister just said to me? She actually told me she was going to have men sleep with me... Listen to her, is that something a human being says?!" Simultaneously, I watched Liam's expression carefully. Sure enough, a dark cloud settled over Liam's brow, and the look he shot Clara was far from friendly. He never expected his flawless, secret plan to be exposed so easily. Clara vehemently denied it, doing everything she could to throw dirty water back on me: "She's lying! I never said that!" I anticipated her denial. I opened the voice recorder app on my phone and hit play. Just as the recording played the line "find a few men to play with you until you're broken," the butler rushed into the room in a panic: "Sir! Madam! It's terrible! Mr. Sterling suddenly arrived, and I couldn't stop him. He's already forced his way in!" 06 Arthur's figure was bathed in the morning light, as if enveloped in a sacred, inviolable halo. But his eyes were utterly freezing. Especially after hearing the final sentence of the recording, his cold gaze sliced through everyone in the room. My parents, sweating profusely, hurried forward to greet him. "Arthur! You should have let us know you were coming so we could have Eleanor wait for you outside." Arthur sidestepped their overly eager touches and cut straight to the chase: "Skip the pleasantries. All I want to know is what Clara just said. Have her repeat it." If Liam was embarrassed and angry a moment ago, he was now caught in a mix of terror and panic. He put on a harmless facade and said awkwardly: "Mr. Sterling, this is all a misunderstanding. We can talk this out..." Arthur's response was a single, merciless word: "Scram." The room instantly fell silent. Everyone knew Arthur was stoic, devoid of worldly desires, and calm as still water. No one had ever heard him tell someone to "scram." But his power was absolute. He wasn't someone you could afford to cross, let alone hide from. Except for me, every single face in the room was pale. Truth be told, I hadn't fully grasped the situation either. I had only met Arthur twice. How did things escalate to him becoming violently furious for my sake? Before I could think further, Arthur walked right up to me and pulled me into his arms. "Eleanor, don't be afraid. It's okay now." The faint, elegant scent of his incense filled my nose, pulling my thoughts back to a time long, long ago. An image flashed in my mind, then vanished like flowing water. I tried to break free from his embrace, but Arthur unexpectedly pressed me back down. I had no choice but to speak, muffled against his chest: "I'm fine. I'm really fine." No matter what Liam or Clara said or did, I would never be easily manipulated by them again. How could someone who crawled back from hell be shaken by the words of scum? I smiled at Clara: "Sister, I pulled out the evidence. Don't you think you owe me an apology?" Clara refused to lower her arrogant head, blindly hiding behind Liam. My dad, having lost face, didn't want to scold his precious eldest daughter, nor did he dare offend his two wealthy sons-in-law. So, he took all his anger out on me: "Eleanor, is this over or not?! Stop causing a scene and go upstairs to your room right now!" See? Same as always. I had given up hope on him long ago. I just found it amusing. I replied calmly: "It's not over, but I'm not playing with you anymore either. Don't you all love Clara? Go ahead and put on your little show of a loving family." Ignoring my parents' shocked shouts, I took large strides out of the mansion. 07 Except for Arthur, who chased after me, no one else came out. I bet Clara was absolutely thrilled right now. No one would fight her for Liam, and she believed the billions of dollars of Vance family assets would be entirely hers. On the surface, a perfect, happy life seemed to be waving at her. But I knew the Vance family was far from the glamorous facade it presented. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been in such a rush to marry off their daughters for business alliances. Before long, the Vance family would declare bankruptcy due to insurmountable debt. In my previous life, my parents ruthlessly dumped the debt on me, taking the assets they had already secretly transferred overseas to live the high life. Clara didn't know the truth about the bankruptcy. She thought I inherited the family business and resented me for it. Since she envied it so much, I'd gladly give her a push and hand the rotting mess of the Vance family over to her. Arthur followed me at a leisurely pace, as if worried I might do something drastic. I simply sat on a bench by the road and smiled. "Don't worry, I'm perfectly fine." Arthur sat next to me, turning his head to look at me. He didn't say a word, but just sitting there quietly was more than enough. I closed my eyes, memories of my past life flashing through my mind. Even if I did nothing, Clara would end up with a tragically miserable fate. But my enemies weren't just her. Whether it was Liam or my parents, they were all executioners who pushed me into the abyss. Blood must be paid with blood. I proposed a deal: "Mr. Sterling, could you do me a favor? Once it's done, the Sterling family's assets will increase by at least two hundred million." Surprisingly, Arthur didn't agree immediately. Instead, he asked about my living arrangements. "What about you?" I pointed to myself. "Me? I have nowhere to go. Could you take me in for a while?" It was just a joke, but he seemed to take it seriously. His knuckles tightened as he gripped my hand. His voice was hoarse: "Alright. But you can never leave me." Me: "?" 08 Fortunately, despite Arthur's intimidating words, he didn't do anything inappropriate. While living at the Sterling estate, I gathered plenty of evidence of the Vance family embezzling corporate funds and lining their own pockets. These would become critical links on my path to revenge. Three months later, on October 2nd, Liam and Clara held a lavish wedding. Clara wore a pristine white wedding gown, a massive diamond ring on her ring finger, and an utterly triumphant smile as she soaked up the guests' flattery and congratulations. "Thank you for the blessing, Miss Lee. My Liam just loves spoiling me. I told him not to buy such an extravagant ring, but he actually had someone bring back a pink diamond from South Africa just for me. I heard it's worth two hundred million." "Mrs. Zhao, you're here too? You noticed? Yes, I am pregnant. Thank you for your kind words—it's definitely the eldest grandson and heir to the Harrington family." "Oh, don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunities. After all, I'm my parents' and Liam's only precious treasure now." Clara smiled brilliantly. Until she saw me attend. Her smile froze instantly: "Eleanor, why are you here? Who let you in?" She waved her hand, planning to have security throw me out. The corners of my lips curled up slightly: "Clara, I'm not attending today as your sister, but as Mrs. Sterling. If you kick me out, are you turning down the Sterling family's investment?" Even at its peak, the Harrington family was no match for the Sterlings, let alone in their current declining state. I smiled sweetly: "Sister, I hear you're pregnant. You shouldn't wear that artificially dyed pink diamond. Chemical dyes are harmful to your health. Be careful not to cause a miscarriage." "Eleanor! Do you think I'd believe your nonsense?! Let me tell you, you will never enjoy wealth and glory like I do in this lifetime!" Clara stomped her foot in pure hatred and turned to greet other guests. I raised an eyebrow. She broke that easily. I hope she doesn't die of anger later. An hour later, the ceremony officially began. My parents acted like loving, benevolent figures, as if they were genuinely comforted to see their daughter find her ultimate happiness. After the bride and groom exchanged rings, my parents announced they were gifting all their shares in the Vance family to Clara. The agreement was signed on the spot, effective immediately. The guests applauded my parents' generosity, and Liam looked absolutely ecstatic. Clara shot me a triumphant glare and said in a sickly sweet voice: "Daddy, Mommy, you spoil me too much! There's still my sis... Oh, I forgot. My sister was kicked out of the family for being unfilial. How pitiful." Whispers broke out among the audience. The news of me cutting ties with the Vance family wasn't a secret in our circle, but it hadn't been confirmed. Many assumed there was still room for reconciliation. No one expected Clara to state it so blatantly at her wedding. For a moment, many looks directed at me were filled with pity or mockery.
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