My husband, Dylan Sterling, only married me because of a family alliance. After we tied the knot, I discovered the truth: his heart belonged to Serena Hayes, the nanny’s daughter. Our intimacy was a cold, distant affair, while he secretly hoarded thousands of Serena’s photos, using them to fulfill his darkest desires.
I clung to the hope that I could make it work, for our daughter’s sake. Until the day both my daughter and Serena’s son were kidnapped. Faced with an impossible choice, Dylan didn’t hesitate. He chose to save Serena’s son, a boy with whom he shared no blood.
I watched in agony as my daughter was pushed from the towering building, her life ending in an instant. Heartbroken, I followed, leaping from the eighteenth floor.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Reborn to a time before our wedding. This time, I chose to walk away from Dylan. This time, I decisively married his uncle!
### Chapter 1
After my rebirth, the first thing I did was to stand before my parents, my words earnest and resolute.
“Dad, Mom, for the alliance with the Sterling family, I choose to marry Julian Sterling.”
My parents stared at me, their faces a mixture of surprise and confusion at my sudden request.
“Eleanor, didn’t you love Dylan? Julian is Dylan’s uncle!”
A flicker of sorrow crossed my eyes as I remembered the past. My voice dropped to a pained whisper.
“Precisely because I know the consequences of loving him, I no longer dare to.”
“Dad, Mom, I’ve never asked anything of you. As the heiress of our family’s prestige, I understand a strategic marriage is my duty. I only have this one request; please, let me have it.”
Seeing the redness in my eyes, my parents sighed softly and helped me up. “Since you’ve made up your mind, your father and I will approach the Sterling family. The only issue is Julian Sterling is a man of immense power and influence. He might not agree to this union, so you must prepare yourself.”
My parents comforted me as they prepared lavish gifts for their visit. The black sedan slowly pulled away, and I turned back, gazing at the familiar decor of our living room, a surreal feeling washing over me.
Suddenly, my phone on the table vibrated.
“Bar, now.”
It was a text from Dylan Sterling, a curt invitation to meet, followed by a bar address. Remembering my purpose, I wanted to clarify the change in marriage plans, so I headed over.
But the moment I pushed open the VIP room door, a bucket of ice-cold water drenched me, leaving me shivering and soaked. A chill seeped into my bones, and I heard laughter erupting from all around.
“Well, well, isn’t it Eleanor Vance? Why, you’re absolutely drenched and looking pathetic!”
“Serves her right! Serves her right! Who told her to chase Dylan Sterling day in and day out? This is what you get for shamelessly fawning over someone!”
Dylan Sterling approached me, his face cold, his eyes dark with annoyance.
“Are you that desperate to marry me? The news of our supposed alliance just leaked, and you immediately sent your parents to my house to discuss the wedding, making sure everyone knew. Now the whole social circle thinks we’re getting married. Are you satisfied?”
I knew he had misunderstood. I wiped the water from my face, pushing my damp hair from my forehead. My gaze met his, calm and steady.
“The alliance between the Vance and Sterling families is set. It makes no difference which house discusses it. But you needn’t worry, because this marriage has nothing to do with you.”
Dylan Sterling paused, then let out a cold laugh. “Nothing to do with me? You’re not going to tell me that the person you’re marrying isn’t me, are you? Ridiculous. Besides me, who else in the Sterling family would even consider marrying you?”
I was about to speak when the half-open door pushed inward. Serena Hayes burst in, her eyes welling with tears as she took in the scene.
“Young Master… I… I heard you’re getting married. I came specifically to wish you happiness. I hope you and Ms. Vance have a beautiful life together, growing old and content.”
With those words, she turned and rushed out, her faint sobs echoing behind her.
“Serena!”
Dylan Sterling instantly panicked. He shoved me aside without a second thought and chased after her. I stumbled backward, hitting the coffee table, a cut forming on my forehead. Blood trickled down, looking alarmingly stark against my pale skin.
A sharp pain shot through me as I watched their retreating figures. My mind flooded with memories from my previous life.
In that life, Dylan Sterling and I grew up together, and our bond was strong. When my parents mentioned the family alliance upon my coming of age, I remembered his unwavering care for me over the years and chose him without hesitation.
But after the news broke, his attitude toward me slowly changed – from anger to coldness, eventually bordering on outright disgust. I didn’t understand why, but I still married him, hoping things would improve after the wedding.
Yet, even after our child was born, I stumbled upon thousands of Serena Hayes’s photos hidden in Dylan’s study. It was then I realized he had always loved his nanny’s daughter, but their differing social statuses had prevented him from pursuing her. Serena eventually married someone else two years after our wedding, but their marriage was always unhappy. He drowned his sorrows in drink every day, grieving for her. The day her husband died in a car accident was the happiest day of his life.
I witnessed it all, my heart a desolate wasteland. I could only force myself to ignore it, dedicating my life to raising our daughter. Until a kidnapping case embroiled both my daughter and Serena’s son. The kidnappers demanded Dylan choose one. He hesitated for mere seconds before picking the boy with whom he shared no blood.
The next second, our daughter was pushed from a high-rise building and fell to her death. Watching it unfold, I broke down completely and leaped from the building myself.
Now, with a second chance at life, I refused to torment myself again. I only wanted to cut all ties with Dylan Sterling!
In the VIP room, Dylan’s friends continued their snarky remarks.
“A forced relationship won’t bring happiness. If Dylan doesn’t want to marry someone, what good is it even if they tie the knot?”
“Then Dylan won’t come home, and those who only fawn over him will be left to endure the loneliness of neglect!”
Amidst the mocking, my phone rang. I picked it up and saw a message from my parents.
“Eleanor! Julian agreed! The wedding is in two weeks!”
My parents were usually so composed; three exclamation marks clearly showed their surprise and excitement that Julian Sterling had agreed. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
I forced myself to stand, looking at the laughing onlookers, my eyes holding a newfound resolve.
“Whether I find happiness in my marriage is none of your concern, and it has nothing to do with Dylan Sterling.”
“Please tell him: I’m getting married in two weeks, and the groom won’t be him!”
### Chapter 2
After leaving the bar, I went to the hospital to have my wound treated. Back home, I systematically packed away everything related to Dylan Sterling, sealing it all in boxes. My parents, returning home, noticed and paused.
“Eleanor, have you truly let go of Dylan? Do you no longer love him?”
Seeing my unhesitating nod, they looked relieved, a smile gracing their lips. “That’s good. Julian has been busy abroad, but today the Sterling family video-called us and finalized the arrangements. He’s calm and composed, certainly a better match for you than Dylan. His reputation precedes him, and his accomplishments are impressive, so we hadn’t dared to consider him. We expected him to refuse, but he readily agreed.”
My eyes welled up. When I first made up my mind, I knew Julian Sterling would agree. In my past life, due to the age difference and the awe he commanded, even among the influential families, I, too, kept my distance. We rarely interacted outside of family gatherings.
I only knew he was utterly devoted to his career, building a brilliant business empire from scratch, and remained unmarried. It wasn’t until he took his own life at thirty-five that, while his belongings were being sorted, a stack of love letters was found in his bedroom. Each letter was addressed “To Star.” No one in the Sterling family knew who “Star” was. Only I knew: I was born on a night of dazzling stars, and “Star” was the nickname given to me by my closest elder. I had never realized that the man who seemed so cold, distant, and unapproachable had loved me silently all along.
Now, with this second chance, I was willing to give us both an opportunity.
Lost in thought, my parents presented a gift box, their voices filled with contentment.
“Eleanor, tomorrow is your birthday. Julian couldn’t make it back, so he had his assistant retrieve this gift from his study. See if you like it?”
I opened the box to reveal a dazzling ring. It was “Star-Picker,” the most expensive diamond ring sold by Sotheby’s in nearly fifty years. I’d seen it once and had never forgotten its beauty. It warmed my heart to think Julian Sterling would send such a priceless gift. In my previous life, Dylan Sterling hadn’t given me any gifts since the alliance was announced. I had long forgotten what it felt like to receive a present from someone who cared.
The next day, my birthday banquet began promptly at seven in the evening at the city’s most luxurious hotel. Guests offered their congratulations, and with the alliance settled, a huge weight lifted from my shoulders, allowing a genuine smile to grace my lips.
Then, a sudden commotion broke out among the crowd, and everyone turned to stare at the entrance. I followed their gaze, only to see Dylan Sterling, accompanied by Serena Hayes, walking into my birthday party. But that wasn’t the most mortifying part – what truly made me want to vanish was Dylan’s group of friends, making a grand entrance, carrying a massive banner straight towards me. Emblazoned in the center of the banner were the words:
**HYPOCRITE**
For: Eleanor Vance.
Guests pressed closer, whispering and murmuring, eager for the drama. My face turned stark white. I clenched my fists tightly, my eyes fixed on the troublemakers. My voice was dangerously cold.
“What is the meaning of this?”
A few of Dylan’s friends sneered back, deliberately shouting their words across the room.
“So the wedding preparations have begun, huh? No one’s better at playing hard to get than Ms. Vance. I’d say ‘hypocrite’ describes her perfectly!”
“I told you yesterday she was just saying things in a fit of pique! Everyone knows she’s been chasing Dylan for years, even willing to give up her dignity! Now suddenly she claims she doesn’t like him, doesn’t want to marry him? That’s just a temporary tactic. In the Sterling family, only Dylan is a suitable match. Who else could Ms. Vance possibly choose?”
A burst of laughter filled the hall. Dylan Sterling looked at me, his face grim. “Eleanor Vance, stop with these fake theatrics. Don’t think you can still attract me. When we get married, you’ll have the title of Mrs. Sterling, nothing else. I won’t give you anything more.”
I’d heard those exact words from him in my past life. And he hadn’t lied. In seven years of marriage, beyond the title, I truly had nothing. The murmurs around me grew louder. I took a deep breath, my voice rising.
“Dylan Sterling! I don’t need your title! Listen carefully: my fiancé isn’t you, nor is he from your generation. He’s your…”
The name was caught in my throat, interrupted by a sudden incident. Serena Hayes suddenly clutched her nose and mouth, her face erupting in a dense rash. Her eyes red-rimmed, she collapsed into Dylan Sterling’s arms. “Young Master, I’m so itchy! Why are there so many hyacinths here? I’m allergic to hyacinths!”
Hyacinths were my favorite flowers, so the entire hall was decorated with them. Hearing Serena’s increasingly ragged breathing, Dylan Sterling’s face grew anxious. He kept calling her name, then scooped her up in his arms.
He left me with two parting statements. One for me: “Eleanor Vance, after we’re married, you’re forbidden from planting or displaying hyacinths anywhere!” The other for his friends: “After I leave, trash this banquet hall!”
“You got it, Dylan! Mission accomplished!”
Before his words even faded, his friends descended like thugs, grabbing tables and chairs and smashing everything. Birthday cake was smeared across the floor, shards of glasses and dishes flew through the air, and flowers were trampled into mud by dodging guests.
“Stop! How dare you trash my birthday party? Stop!”
“You’re marrying Dylan soon! Everything revolves around your husband, so what Dylan says, goes, hahahaha!”
My throat grew hoarse from shouting, but I couldn’t stop the rampage. Instead, it only drew endless mockery. Finally, all the guests left, and my birthday ended in utter wreckage.
### Chapter 3
In the days that followed, I locked myself in my bedroom, tears blurring my vision, almost completely cutting off contact with the outside world. My parents, having learned of Dylan Sterling’s outrageous behavior, felt even more certain that not marrying me to him was the right decision. They even threatened to go confront the Sterling family, but I, finally emerging after days of seclusion, stopped them. The wedding was imminent; I wanted no more complications.
After calming my parents, I left with a design sketch. During my seclusion, I hadn’t been fretting over Dylan Sterling; he was already irrelevant to me. I had been in my room, meticulously designing a wedding ring for Julian Sterling. I knew the “Star-Picker” ring was priceless, so I secretly wanted to repay his unspoken affection with a heartfelt gift of my own.
I handed the design to the butler, instructing him to find a master jeweler to hand-craft it. But when the agreed-upon deadline passed, the wedding ring still hadn’t arrived. When I inquired, I learned that Dylan Sterling had come a few days prior to pick out jewelry, spotted my ring design, and after a brief inquiry, simply took it. He’d only left a message: “It’s for me anyway, no need to have Eleanor Vance come pick it up.” The staff, aware of the upcoming Sterling-Vance alliance, hadn’t stopped him. My heart sank.
I rushed to the Sterling residence to confront Dylan Sterling and retrieve the ring. But the moment I entered, I saw Serena Hayes sitting amidst a pile of packages, cooing sweetly.
“Young Master, you secretly emptied my Amazon cart again, didn’t you? You’re so good to me, how can I ever repay you?”
“I enjoy it; you don’t need to repay me. And I’ve told you several times, don’t call me ‘Young Master’ anymore.”
Serena Hayes then shyly, coyly, called him “Dylan.” Watching them exchange loving glances, I didn’t blink. I simply strode into the room. Hearing my footsteps, Dylan Sterling turned, a frown creasing his brow.
“What are you doing here?”
“Give me back the wedding ring you took.”
Seeing my outstretched hand, Dylan Sterling raised an eyebrow.
“It’s gone.”
My gaze hardened, my voice dropping a few degrees. “What do you mean, ‘gone’?”
Dylan Sterling was still scrambling for an excuse when Serena Hayes, still seated on the floor, spoke up timidly.
“Ms. Vance, I saw online that wedding rings are easiest for opening packages, so I used it to open hundreds of deliveries. The ring is all scratched up now. Do you still want it?”
With that, she opened her palm, revealing the ring, now marred and scratched.
Dylan Sterling had taken *my* wedding ring and given it to Serena Hayes to open packages?! A surge of anger flared within me, rapidly spreading through my limbs. I could no longer control my emotions. My eyes red, I glared at the two nonchalant figures before me. “Dylan Sterling, by what right did you take my property? Serena Hayes, how dare you desecrate it like this? Don’t you know the meaning of the word ‘respect’?”
Seeing me so distraught over a mere ring ruined Dylan Sterling’s good mood. His voice was laced with impatience.
“This wedding ring was meant for me anyway. What are you even arguing about? Oh, right, I’ve decided we’ll just sign the papers, no wedding. So your ring design is useless. Don’t bother wasting your time.”
His dismissive attitude made my fists clench. I stated it again, my voice firm.
“Dylan Sterling, this wedding ring was not for you!”
“If not for me, then who? Eleanor Vance, that’s enough. You’re overacting!”
Dylan Sterling retorted, then casually tossed the ring aside, grabbing Serena Hayes’s hand as he headed for the door. “Don’t waste time with her. Serena, didn’t you say you wanted to learn to drive a few days ago? Come on, I’ll teach you.”
Watching their retreating backs, countless waves of fury and indignation crashed over me. I wanted to chase after them, but I was powerless. I could only crouch on the ground, searching for the ring. It took me a good thirty minutes to find it in a flowerbed.
Carefully placing it in my pocket, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. I turned and left. It was too late to remake it; I could only find someone to restore it, hoping it could be brought back to its original state.
But just as I walked out of the villa, I heard a strange noise. Looking up, I saw a car hurtling straight towards me. My eyes widened in terror. With a heavy *thud*, I was thrown ten feet away, collapsing in a pool of my own blood.
Serena Hayes, feigning fright, got out of the car, crying. “Oh no, oh no! I just started learning to drive, and I accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake! Now I’ve caused trouble! Ms. Vance is bleeding so much, Dylan, will something bad happen?”
Seeing the large patch of blood staining the stone steps, Dylan Sterling frowned. He pulled Serena Hayes into his arms, comforting her softly.
“It’s fine. She always pretends to be pitiful. She’s just putting on an act now. Ignore her. She’ll wake up when she can’t keep up the charade. Serena, don’t be scared, don’t cry.”
Hearing those words through a haze, I felt a bone-deep chill. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Dylan Sterling, I had thought that even if you didn’t love me, after all our years as childhood friends, you would at least have a tiny bit of affection for me. Yet, to appease Serena, you were willing to completely disregard my life. Why, in my previous life, did I ever fall in love with you?
I struggled to call for help, but just as my fingers brushed my phone, my strength completely abandoned me. An endless darkness rushed in, swallowing me whole.
When I opened my eyes again, it was the next day. Soon after I woke, the doctor entered with my medical chart, speaking in a grave tone. “Why wasn’t she brought in immediately after the accident? You waited until she lost so much blood before bringing her to the hospital? This is reckless!”
Recalling the scene before I lost consciousness, my lips moved, but I could only offer a bitter smile, unsure how to answer. Should I tell him my childhood friend was too busy comforting another woman to care if I lived or died? The doctor didn’t press further, continuing, “Where’s your husband? Have him sign the admission papers.”
The anesthesia hadn’t worn off, and I blurted out instinctively.
“He’s abroad.”
The words had barely left my lips when the door to my hospital room pushed open. Dylan Sterling stood there, staring intently at me. “Who’s abroad?!”
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