After being reborn, I gave up on the fiancé I had loved deeply since childhood. Instead, I married his sworn enemy. In my previous life, on the day I was to marry Tyler, his "white moonlight"—the girl he never got over—threatened to jump off a building in despair. Because of this, he hated me to the bone. He locked me in our home and humiliated me in every way possible. It wasn't until I accidentally drowned, my soul adrift and helpless, that I learned the truth: it was all a manipulative game played by his "true love." Meanwhile, his rival, the stoic heir to a business empire, turned gray overnight after my death. Reborn, I decided to let them have each other and run towards my own happiness. But the man who always claimed he never loved me went mad when he saw me marry someone else, kneeling and begging me to come back. 1 Julian Sterling, the heir to the Sterling empire, is a man of action. When he heard I was willing to marry him, he was stunned for exactly three seconds before finalizing everything within half an hour. When he handed me the marriage certificate, his expression was calm, but the tips of his ears were burning red. "I'll handle the wedding preparations. Don't worry about a thing. Just wait for me to come get you." After saying this, he practically fled the scene, using work as an excuse, terrified I might change my mind. I smiled, taking the certificate home, ready to share the news with my family. But the moment I stepped through the door, a bucket of cold water splashed over me. Tyler’s friends threw cake all over my face. My carefully done makeup and hair were ruined, turning me into a drowned rat. I stood there, frozen, while the group roared with laughter. Some even pulled out their phones to record my humiliation. "Today is your engagement party with Ty! We’re just helping you celebrate!" "Everyone in our circle knows you threw away your dignity to marry Tyler. Can't take a little joke? You better get used to it; there's plenty more where that came from." I shivered in the cold wind, soaked to the bone. Tyler looked at me with a smug smirk. "Elena, don't be a buzzkill." "Just because our families pressured me into this doesn't mean I can't do anything. Being Mrs. Vance isn't going to be easy!" Even though I was reborn, seeing the man I had loved for nearly twenty years still made my heart ache involuntarily. Tyler and I grew up together. For years, I loved him desperately. Ten years of companionship, giving everything I had. And in return, all I got was his cold ridicule. If that's the case, there's no need to waste my life on someone who doesn't love me. I wiped the cream from my face and spoke calmly. "I don't plan on being Mrs. Vance." Tyler froze. His friends laughed even harder. "Ty, you're lucky! She's playing hard to get before she's even in the door. This little wife of yours is something else! You're in for a ride." "What are you scared of? Everyone knows Elena is just a dog following Tyler around. Since when does a dog have a say in its master's affairs?" Hearing this, the disdain in Tyler's eyes deepened. "Stop playing games. No matter what you do, I won't love you. You can keep my body, but you'll never have my heart." "After we marry, I'm moving Bella in. You can delude yourself into thinking you're Mrs. Vance, but remember, in that house, you're less than a maid!" "Also, I've had my lawyers draft a prenup. Even if you scheme your way into this marriage, you won't get a cent of my money!" Hearing Tyler’s words, I was stunned. In my previous life, after Bella jumped, he blamed me for her death and tortured me. But before she died, he had always treated me decently. When we were kids and my parents were busy with work, he would keep me company through the long nights, telling stories to help me sleep. When I was bullied at school, he stood up for me, taking me on motorcycle rides to cheer me up. Twenty years of friendship. Even if he never loved me romantically, he always treated me like a little sister. Looking at his abnormal attitude now, I couldn't help but wonder. Is there something I don't know about? Seeing my silence, Tyler thought I was heartbroken. He seemed to feel he had gone a bit too far and cleared his throat. "Fine. Bella has suffered more than you. You need to make concessions to balance things out for her." "As long as you behave and don't make trouble for Bella, I won't mistreat you publicly!" Just as he finished speaking, Bella started sobbing. "Tyler, are you going soft on Elena? If it weren't for her jealousy and meddling, we love each other so much, why would we be forced apart?" "Forget it. I know Miss Elena has always looked down on someone of my status. I just didn't expect you to dislike me too, Tyler. I won't be an eyesore anymore. I... I'll just go die!" Seeing Bella run off, Tyler's face filled with panic. He shoved me aside and chased after her frantically. My back slammed into the door handle, pain bringing tears to my eyes. The others, having seen enough of the show, left me there amidst the mess. I watched their retreating figures and laughed bitterly. In my past life, shortly after our wedding, the Vance family business faced a crisis. None of their so-called friends lifted a finger to help. To win back Tyler's heart, I secretly used my entire dowry to fill the financial hole. Billions in assets, yet it didn't buy a shred of his softness. In this life, without my help, I wonder if his precious Bella can turn the tide for him. 2 I took a shower and changed into clean clothes. When I came out, I saw Tyler cuddling Bella on the sofa. He was comforting her softly, his eyes filled with a gentleness I had never seen directed at me. Seeing me, his face instantly cooled. "Today's events were all your fault. Apologize to Bella immediately." "Also, clean this place up. And clear out your room for Bella. It's dark out; it's not safe for a girl to go home alone." In the half-hour I was showering, they couldn't even restrain themselves. Tyler's shirt had several lipstick stains. Bella's lipstick was smeared, her dress rumpled. I had no interest in their sordid affair and simply reminded them: "This is my house." After the engagement was settled, both families prepared a house for us. Tyler hated noise, so our gatherings were usually held at my place. I used to willingly act like their maid because I loved Tyler. Now, I would never demean myself like that again. Tyler thought I was just being jealous and throwing a tantrum like before. He dismissed it, "Hmph, if it weren't for Bella, do you think I'd want to stay here? If you still want to marry me, do as I say." "Even though you'll be my wife in name, Bella is the true mistress of the Vance household! You have no right to put on airs in front of her." Bella lowered her head and smiled, leaning provocatively into Tyler's embrace. I didn't want to argue with them, nor did I want to stay in this messy house a second longer. I grabbed my bag and prepared to leave. Seeing me leave, Tyler stood up and blocked my path. "Where are you going this late?" "Home!" Tyler's gaze lingered on my face for a few seconds. "Going home to tattle? What a princess. Don't think I'll be scared of you just because of that..." I didn't want to hear his hurtful words and pushed him aside. He looked incredulous, stunned for a moment. Suddenly, he grabbed my hand, his attitude softening slightly. "Alright, stop making a scene." "You've been spoiled and willful since you were a kid, never giving anyone peace... If you really want to go back, I'll drive you." He took my bag and reached for his car keys. Bella looked up, gazing at him with wide, teary eyes. "Tyler, are you going to leave me here alone?" "I'm scared being here by myself. What if Elena gets jealous and hires someone to hurt me again?" Tyler's hand froze in mid-air. Then, his face darkened instantly. "Elena, I really underestimated you. I didn't know you were this manipulative." "Acting all high and mighty just to get me out of here so you can hurt Bella!" He threw the bag back at me with a look of disgust. The platinum buckle slammed into my forehead, and a trickle of blood ran down. My head spun, and I almost lost my balance. As I was about to fall, Tyler caught me. A flicker of guilt and an emotion I couldn't read flashed in his eyes. However, before I could speak, Bella hugged him from behind. The buttons on her chest were undone, revealing quite a bit of skin. "Tyler, don't go..." Tyler's Adam's apple bobbed. He let go of my hand. I looked at the two of them, ready to pounce on each other, and felt a wave of nausea. I picked up my bag and left without looking back. Just as I got into the car, a message from Bella popped up impatiently. 3 A one-minute video. For 59 seconds, they were glued together. "Elena, so what if you're a rich miss? You lost to me in your last life, and you're destined to lose to me in this one too!" Looking at her message and recalling Tyler's strange behavior today, I finally realized: Bella was reborn too. I don't know what happened after I died in my previous life to make her change her "hard-to-get" strategy and become so aggressive. I couldn't be bothered to think about it. I blocked Bella immediately. In this new life, I just want to live well for myself. When I got home, I told my parents I wanted to break off the engagement with Tyler. They were shocked. Their eyes fell on the wound on my forehead. Dad's eyes turned red with pain. "The Vance family has taken so many resources from us because of you all these years, and yet they bully my precious daughter like this! Since he doesn't cherish you, we don't need to humble ourselves! Wait here, Daddy will get justice for you!" I quickly stopped my dad from storming out. My own tears fell uncontrollably. In my past life, my parents worried themselves sick over me. When they learned of my suffering in the Vance household, they spent their entire fortune trying to save me. But Tyler declared that even if both families were destroyed, he wouldn't let me go. After my parents died, he hung Bella's photo above our bed. Whenever he missed his "white moonlight," he would choke me, forcing my head up roughly. "You forced Bella to die for the title of Mrs. Vance. Now I'll make you wear that title and live in agony for the rest of your life to atone for her!" He shattered my dignity and my love for him, bit by bit. In the end, death was my only escape. Thinking of my parents' heart-wrenching cries after my death, my heart still ached in this new life. Suppressing the immense sorrow, I pulled out the marriage certificate with Julian. "Mom, Dad, I've been unfilial. I'll handle the Vance family myself. I won't let you worry about me ever again." They were shocked at first, then overjoyed as they started preparing for the wedding. Partly because they were afraid I'd change my mind, and partly because Julian was simply exceptional. A prestigious family like the Sterlings was far superior to both the Yan and Vance families. Proud as Tyler was, he couldn't stand the fact that Julian was superior to him in every way, nor could he accept that the Vance family relied on the Sterlings to survive. He had always seen Julian as his mortal enemy. Back in my own home, I slept soundly for the first time in a long while. I woke up early the next morning, planning to pack my things and sell the apartment. But after trying the passcode several times, the door wouldn't open. Sensing something was wrong, I used the backup key to open it. The apartment was a mess. Used condoms were scattered in the living room. Faint moans were coming from my bedroom. Walking closer, I saw Bella wearing my pajamas, entangled with Tyler. "Sister Elena..." Seeing me, Bella pushed Tyler away, feigning fear. Tyler was flustered for a second, but after composing himself, he immediately shielded Bella behind him. Ignoring the hickeys covering Bella's body, I looked around. Even though I was mentally prepared, I was still shocked by the sight. My personal belongings were piled up in a chaotic heap. My haute couture gowns were shredded, my Hermès bags covered in graffiti. Even the "lovers' lock" my grandmother had prayed for on her deathbed for Tyler and me was crushed underfoot. "Tyler said you upset me yesterday, so you needed to be taught a lesson." "How about this: kneel and apologize to me, and I'll ask him not to cancel your wedding!" I couldn't hear anything she was saying. I carefully picked up the broken lock. My mind flashed back to my grandmother on her deathbed, holding mine and Tyler's hands, refusing to close her eyes until the very end. "I saw the wedding design drafts in the safe. They're not bad. Bella's birthday is coming up, so refine the plans and throw her a birthday party first." "As for our wedding... we'll talk about it when you learn to behave." In the past, a single word from Tyler would have made me trample my own dignity to please him. But after experiencing everything in my previous life, I would never wrong myself for him again. I tucked the broken lock into my pocket. Then I picked up the scattered wedding design drafts one by one. "No need. With or without you, my wedding will go on as planned." The person I loved was trash. But my love wasn't. I had been preparing these designs since I was eighteen, pouring all my love and effort into them. I wouldn't allow anyone to defile them. Tyler looked displeased and tried to snatch the drafts from my hand. But when he saw my tear-streaked face, he froze. 4 These tears were different from my usual tantrums. They were the weeping of a heart that had completely given up, ashes after the fire. Tyler didn't dare meet my gaze. Guiltily looking away, he pulled out a card and placed it in my hand. "Stop crying. It's just a few clothes; go buy new ones." "Bella didn't mean it. You don't lack these things anyway, can't you just let her be?" Hearing this, Bella happily kissed Tyler on the cheek. I threw the card back in his face and turned to leave. Tyler was surprised to see my expression return to calm. "Elena, you're not angry or jealous?" I didn't answer. I messaged Julian to come pick up the wedding designs. Just after the message went out, Bella suddenly screamed. "Tyler! Why is our video all over the internet... Elena, why did you do this? Are you only happy if you drive me to death?" She cried and threatened to jump off the balcony. Tyler hurriedly stopped her. Seeing the viral video online, his face went pale. "Great, Elena. You are even more vicious than I imagined!" "You really will do anything to marry me. This time, I won't let you off!" He raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face. The sharp pain brought a ringing to my ears. Before I could react, he grabbed my neck and dragged me toward the bed. "You like recording videos and posting them online, right? Fine! I'll satisfy you. Let you be the star for once!" Tyler tore at my clothes violently. Bella, taking the cue, turned on her phone camera. The fear of two lifetimes crashed into my mind. As my jacket was ripped off, I trembled, screaming in near collapse. "Tyler Vance! I didn't do anything! You can't do this to me!" Tyler was just like in his past life. He didn't believe a word I said, ignoring my pain and pleas. He only used violence to vent his dissatisfaction. Fear and anger made me lose my reason. I bit my lip and fumbled for the scissors on the nightstand. Just as I was preparing to take Tyler down with me, the door was kicked open with a bang.
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