chapter 1

Dad picked out two fiancés—one for me, one for my stepsister.

One was the glamorous heir to the elite, always basking in the spotlight.

The other was a child he had raised under his own roof, grooming him to be the perfect successor—in both business and marriage.

But right before the wedding, the glamorous heir got into a freak accident and fell into a coma.

My stepsister, meant to marry him, refused and killed herself by jumping off a building.

Liam Graham, whose heart belonged only to her, turned all his resentment on me and my father.

After Dad died, poisoned by him, I ended my own life too.

When I opened my eyes again, it was the day Dad made my stepsister and me draw lots to decide who we would marry.

Staring at Dad's worried face, I made up my mind.

This time, I'd flip the script.

1.

"Dad, I've decided. I"ll marry into the Weston family."

At my words, the teacup in his hand quivered.

He shot up from the couch.

"Isla Yale, are you sure? You don't want to draw lots with Chloe Yale?"

I shook my head. "No need."

Dad's brow relaxed instantly. "Isla, I'm sorry you have to go through this… Tell me what you want. Anything I can do, I will do it for you."

"Dad, you promised. No take-backs."

"Of course. No take-backs!" he said solemnly.

I blurted, "Ten million!"

His expression clouded over. After a brief pause, he murmured, "Well... Isla, you know the company isn't doing as well as it used to. And... once you marry into the Weston family, you'll drown in wealth. Why do you need so much now?"

"Dad, you just promised. If you're backing out, then let Chloe marry into the Weston family instead." I turned to leave.

Dad rushed to stop me. "Isla, don't go! Fine, ten million! That's it. I'll have someone wire it to you right now."

Back then, Owen Weston—the Weston family's heir—was basking in boundless prestige.

Dad was eager to finalize the match.

He thought having one daughter marry the man he'd raised himself, and the other marry the Weston family's heir, would make him the ultimate winner.

But unexpectedly, two months ago, Owen, who was addicted to racing, was involved in an accident and fell into a coma.

With the wedding date approaching, Chloe flat-out refused to marry him.

Dad had been frantic, running around like a headless chicken.

After thinking long and hard, he came up with what he thought was a "fair" solution: have me and Chloe draw lots to decide.

Just as I was about to leave, Dad called after me, puzzled.

"Isla, I don't understand. Didn't you always like Liam? Why would you give him up to Chloe for just ten million? I chose him for you!"

I froze, my eyes stinging. "Dad, people change. I don't like him anymore."

Dad nodded as if he finally understood.

But I wasn't telling the truth.

It wasn't that I stopped liking Liam. The problem was that Liam had only ever cared about my stepsister, Chloe.

And the reason I wanted that money was to buy back my mother's keepsakes.

Mom died of illness when I was just six.

Barely a month later, Dad returned home with Chloe—a child born out of wedlock.

She was only seven months younger than me.

She took my pretty dresses, my toys, even my birthday presents.

I hated her with everything I had.

Liam was the orphaned son of one of Dad's best friends.

He came to live with us when he was seven.

Dad treated him as his own son—raising him to one day inherit the company and to be the husband he had chosen for me. He paid for his university, master's, and even a PhD abroad.

I was about to head upstairs when Liam and Chloe appeared, hand in hand.

Liam shot me a glance, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So… you're marrying the Weston family's comatose boy?"

"What's it to you?" I shot back with a mocking smile.

His gaze pierced me—cold, dark, and laced with quiet menace.

"You must have your reasons, huh? Or maybe Mr. Yale is forcing you? You're not planning to pull the same tricks as last time—pretending you don't care while scheming behind Chloe's back, are you?"

My heart skipped a beat.

I remembered the way he'd poisoned Dad in my last life, and a chill ran down my spine.

"Liam." I met his icy black eyes, my voice calm and steady. "Relax. No one's forcing me to marry Owen. I'm doing this because I choose to."