In the private room at Allure Club, smoke hung heavily in the air.

With one leg draped over the other, Jared Willis, Braydon's friend, sprawled across the couch and swirled the wine in his glass.

"Braydon, you're seriously marrying Caroline?"

Resting against the leather couch, Braydon held a cigarette loosely between his fingers.

Jared continued, "I looked into her already. She's spoiled rotten, quick-tempered, and always stirring trouble. Just recently, she fought someone over Jacob, and the whole city's talking about it. Honestly, Vivian sounds like the smarter pick. Yeah, she's illegitimate, but she listens, keeps her head down, and she's not bad to look at. No drama, no hassle. Marry someone like that and life's easy."

"Life's easy? That just means she's dull," Braydon replied in a calm yet distant tone.

"So that's it. You want someone who keeps things interesting."

Braydon crushed his cigarette out in the ashtray. "I've already decided. It's Caroline."

"Everyone knows she's hung up on Jacob. You're really going to marry her? That's embarrassing."

"I said I'd marry her, but how I do it—that's up to me."

That answer made Jared uneasy at once. "What are you even thinking? Don't pull something reckless. The Palmers are respected people, and Caroline's been raised like a princess. If you treat her like one of your street deals, that's crossing the line."

Braydon stood and walked out.

Still seated, Jared called after him loudly, "At least give me a heads-up. Braydon! You hear me?"

Word of both Palmer sisters getting married soon spread through Praginia in no time.

Three days passed before Caroline received a marriage certificate along with a wedding photo.

The image showed her seated beside Braydon. Her smile looked forced, while his expression stayed blank.

But the thing was, the wedding never happened in the first place.

Instead, the Lewis family arranged for her to take the photo alone, edited Braydon into the picture afterward, and used it as proof of a supposed wedding to apply for a marriage certificate.

From start to finish, it all wrapped up in under two hours.

With the certificate gripped tightly in her hands, Caroline kept her eyes on the poorly edited wedding photo.

Her thoughts drifted back to her previous life, when Vivian became Braydon's wife and the Lewis family hosted a grand celebration that lasted three full days, drawing every elite figure in the city.

Back then, Vivian stepped out in a custom-made gown, walking beside Braydon along a lavish aisle while everyone watched in admiration.

Now that she was the bride, all she had received was a fabricated image.

Even so, the reason behind it was clear to her.

Across Praginia, everyone believed she was hopelessly devoted to Jacob, and that rumor had already tarnished the Lewis family's name.

Because of that, Braydon chose to humiliate her in return.

As for her previous life?

Since Vivian was an illegitimate daughter, Braydon had arranged an extravagant wedding to raise her standing.

That display ensured no one would dare to mock Vivian for her origins ever again.

In the end, it all came down to preserving the Lewis family's image.

Love had nothing to do with any of it, since the marriage existed only as a calculated deal.

Caroline felt no concern over Braydon's treatment of her.

What mattered to her was simple: she wanted the authority and reach that came with the Lewis name.

Meanwhile, Vivian's situation wasn't much better.

Because Jacob's condition was so fragile, he never even appeared at the City Hall, and their marriage registration felt just as hollow.

Before long, the night arrived.

Caroline reached the entrance of the Lewis estate with her suitcase beside her.

A soft rain had begun to fall.

The gate before her, however, remained firmly closed.

There were no festive touches anywhere, and there was no wedding.

Wanting to avoid attention, the Lewis family had instructed her to come alone and settle in quietly.

Standing by the gate, the butler regarded her without emotion. "Are you Mr. Lewis' newly wedded wife?"

"Yes. I came to see him."

"Mr. Lewis has no intention of meeting you."

A slight lift of Caroline's brow followed. "He refuses to meet me? Then where do you expect me to stay?"

Holding out an umbrella, the butler explained, "Mr. Lewis wants you to head back to the Palmer residence for now. If he decides to see you, someone will be sent to bring you over."

Caroline accepted the umbrella, yet her feet stayed rooted in place.

A short laugh slipped out as she glanced at him. "So the Lewis family summoned me here, and now they're sending me away? Do you really think this is funny?"

Unfazed, the butler answered, "Mr. Lewis doesn't mean it that way."

She pushed the umbrella back toward him. "Go back and tell him—I will step inside tonight no matter what it takes."

"Mr. Lewis made it clear. If you refuse to leave, you may wait outside, but he still won't meet you."

Hearing that, Caroline gave a small nod.

She already understood how stubborn Braydon could be.

He thought he could keep her out? She had no plans to play along.

Without another word, Caroline strode toward the gate, slipped off her heels, and grabbed onto the iron bars before climbing up.

The butler stared in shock, his composure cracking instantly.

The alarm system started wailing without pause, but Caroline kept climbing without sparing a glance.

Several guards rushed over, yet they stopped short the moment they recognized her.

Uncertainty held them back, and none of them dared to act.

Wasn't she supposed to be the refined daughter of the Palmer family? How did she end up scaling a gate like that?

"Madam, what are you doing?"

"I'm Braydon's wife now. I'm entering my own home. Who dares to stop me?"

Caroline's eyes swept across everyone in front of her.

Not one guard stepped forward to interfere.

Caroline picked up her heels and strode straight into the house.

The house was huge. Lights filled the living room, yet the space sat completely empty.

She paused at the center, scanned the surroundings, and then moved toward the staircase.

A voice suddenly cut through the silence just as she reached the bottom step.

"Stop right there."

The tone carried a sharp chill.

Lifting her gaze, Caroline looked up.

Braydon stood by the railing on the second floor.

A black robe hung loosely on him, his collar open, and his damp hair clung slightly to his forehead.

From above, he stared down at her with a faint frown. "Who gave you permission to come in?"

"I did." Setting her suitcase aside, Caroline faced him calmly. "Braydon, we're legally married now. Where do you expect me to sleep?"

Braydon's eyes narrowed at her words.

At that moment, the butler and several guards rushed inside.

Hurrying forward, the butler said nervously, "My apologies, Mr. Lewis! Your wife climbed over the gate to get in. We tried to stop her, but we failed."

She climbed over the gate?

Braydon's gaze dropped to Caroline's legs.

A short white dress clung to her, while her heels were stained with dirt. Mud streaked across her legs. Nothing about her appearance matched that of a refined young lady.

Braydon walked down the stairs and stopped in front of her. He lifted his hand, and the butler, along with the guards, quickly withdrew.

Standing so close to him, Caroline caught the faint scent of alcohol mixed with tobacco.

Looking down at her, Braydon let out a quiet laugh. The chill behind it sent a sharp unease through her.

"Caroline," he said in a low voice, "do you really think you're my wife now?"

Caroline refused to step back. Meeting his eyes, she answered slowly, "We're legally wedded now, so I am your wife."

A slight arch appeared in Braydon's brow.

"Alright," he said as he set his glass aside. "Then tell me this. As my wife, where should you be spending your night?"

A sudden grin appeared on Caroline's face.

Turning away, she walked to the couch and dropped onto it.

"Right here," she replied.

That answer caught Braydon off guard, and he paused.

Leaning back, Caroline tossed her dirty heels straight into a nearby trash bin. "You won't let me go to your bedroom, so I'll sleep here instead. I'm still your wife no matter where I stay. Whether it's here or anywhere else, that won't change."

For a brief moment, the living room fell into complete silence.

Braydon kept his gaze on Caroline, something unreadable passing through his eyes.

He had expected a spoiled girl, someone who had been indulged all her life and never endured even the slightest hardship. He had denied her a wedding, skipped the photos, and locked her out on the very first day of their marriage.

Even after all that, Caroline didn't break down, didn't lash out, didn't cause a scene, and didn't reach out to the Palmer family for support.

Instead, she simply dropped onto the couch and settled in as if she had every intention of staying.

That alone caught his interest.

Tilting her head up, Caroline met his gaze. "Braydon, I'm aware you don't like me. Still, we're legally bound now, so our lives are tied together. You don't want to acknowledge it? That's fine. I'll stay right here and wait. If you deny it for a day, I'll wait a day. If it takes a year, then I'll wait a year."

"Acknowledge what?"

"That I'm your wife."

A laugh slipped from Braydon as he looked at her.

"Fine," he said casually. "Then go ahead and wait."

Without another word, he turned and made his way upstairs.

Left alone in the living room, Caroline slowly let a faint smile form on her lips.

She wasn't simply waiting. She was taking a gamble.

From what she remembered of her previous life, she understood Braydon far too well.

He wouldn't bend to pressure, and pleading meant nothing to him. The only thing that ever moved him was curiosity.

As long as she managed to catch his interest, even slightly, he would start paying attention to her.

Once that happened, she would have the opportunity to change everything.

Upstairs, Braydon pushed the bedroom door open.

Jared lay stretched out on the bed, absorbed in his phone. The moment he noticed Braydon, he sprang up. "Well? Did that woman stir things up?"

Without responding, Braydon walked over and sat on the couch beside the bed, then poured himself a glass of whiskey.

Leaning closer with curiosity, Jared asked, "Did she cry? Did she call her family to complain?"

"No."

"What's she doing?"

Braydon raised his glass and took a slow sip. "She's downstairs, sitting on the couch."

"That's it?"

"Yeah."

"She's just sitting there doing nothing?"

A subtle curve formed at Braydon's lips. "She's waiting for me to acknowledge that she's my wife."

Morning came soon after.

Caroline had stayed on that couch the entire night.

The living room was spacious, and the couch felt comfortable, but it still fell short of an actual bed.

As she woke, a slight stiffness settled into her neck.

She pushed herself upright, massaged the soreness, and then noticed a glass of warm milk along with a sandwich placed neatly on the table.

For a brief moment, she paused.

Standing nearby, the butler stepped forward once he saw she was awake, and his tone carried more respect than before. "Madam, Mr. Lewis arranged breakfast for you."

Caroline's brow lifted slightly. "He did?"

"Yes."

Reaching out, Caroline picked up the milk and took a sip. The warmth felt just right.

A faint smile touched her lips, yet she said nothing.

Upstairs, Braydon stood by the study window, watching the staff move about as they cleaned the garden below.

The door opened as Jared walked in, then moved beside him and looked down. "So she really stayed? I figured she was just putting on a show last night."

Braydon didn't respond.

Jared kept rambling. "She's got patience. Most women would've broken down and run back home after being made to sleep on a couch on the first night after marriage."

Turning away from the window, Braydon walked over and took a seat at his desk. "That's not patience."

"Then what do you call it?"

"She's clever."

"Clever? How does that even count as clever?"

Instead of answering, Braydon stayed silent and flipped through the papers in his hand.

The file he was reading held Caroline's personal details.

Caroline was a smart woman. She knew tears wouldn't change anything and complaints would only fall flat, so she chose a different approach altogether.

After finishing her breakfast, Caroline picked up her suitcase and made her way upstairs without hesitation.

The butler moved as if to block her path, yet he held back and followed behind her instead. "Madam, Mr. Lewis' study is located on east side of the second floor. Please be careful not to head the wrong way..."

"Where's my room?"

The butler hesitated before pointing to a door at the end of the hallway. "That is Mr. Lewis' bedroom. The room beside it is meant for guests."

Caroline stepped forward and pushed open the guest room door.

The space looked complete with furnishings, though it carried the untouched feel of a room no one had ever used.

She placed her suitcase on the floor, opened it, and began taking out her clothes, arranging them neatly in the wardrobe as if she belonged there.

Lingering at the doorway, the butler seemed hesitant, as though words were stuck on his tongue.

Without even glancing back, Caroline said, "If you've got something to say, then say it."

"Madam, Mr. Lewis has quite a temper. If there's anything you need, it might be better to come to me first."

Turning around, Caroline met his eyes. "Then let me ask you something. Will he acknowledge that I'm his wife?"

The question left him speechless.

"If he won't, then what's the point of going through you?"

The butler stood there, unable to respond.

Returning to her task, Caroline continued hanging her clothes, her voice light and unconcerned. "Don't worry. I'm not here to stir trouble. I'll live my life as usual. When I'm hungry, I'll eat. When I'm tired, I'll sleep. He can act like I don't exist, and I'll do the same."

By midday, Caroline went downstairs for lunch.

The dining hall stretched wide, and though she sat there alone, the table was filled with an elaborate spread.

Once she finished eating, she returned to her room and took a nap.

Later that afternoon, she wandered into the garden and spent some time talking with the gardener, learning about the different varieties of roses.

When dinner time came, Braydon was nowhere to be seen.

Caroline didn't question it. She ate quietly and went back to her room afterward.

The second day passed the same way, and nothing changed on the third.

By the fourth day, Jared finally snapped.

"Seriously, this is driving me insane!" he burst out. "I've been staying here for four days and there's zero excitement! All I see is that woman strolling around the garden like it's her daily routine!"

A hand came up to Braydon's temple as he massaged it lightly.

Even he hadn't anticipated Caroline would keep this up for so long.

Not once in those past days had she tried to seek him out.

"Have the butler bring her to the study," he said.

If things dragged on any further, he figured Jared might settle in for the long haul.

At that same time, Caroline was outside chatting with the elderly gardener when the butler approached in a hurry. "Madam, Mr. Lewis would like to see you in his study."

Caroline lifted her gaze. "Right now?"

"Yes."

"Alright."

Brushing off her dress, Caroline followed him back inside.

They arrived at the study upstairs, and the butler knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in." Braydon's voice sounded from within.

Opening the door, the butler stepped aside to let Caroline pass.

The study stretched wide, with a large desk positioned in front of tall windows that reached from floor to ceiling.

Seated behind it, Braydon held a pen while reviewing documents.

Caroline paused at the entrance instead of stepping forward.

Without lifting his head, Braydon said, "Come here."

Caroline walked over and stopped across from him.

Setting the pen aside, Braydon finally raised his head and looked at her.

A soft blue dress framed her figure, and her long hair fell naturally over her shoulders. With no makeup on, she looked simple yet striking.

Compared to the last time he saw her, she seemed a little thinner.

Braydon asked, "Are you settling in well?"

Caroline nodded. "Everything's been fine."

"No tears?"

"None."

"No complaints either?"

"Not at all."

With his eyes fixed on her, Braydon studied her quietly. "Do you have any idea what people are saying about you right now?"

Caroline gave a slight shake of her head. "I don't."

"They're saying that you were rejected by me on the first night we got married, spent the night on the couch and still chose to stay, making a complete fool of yourself."

After hearing all that, Caroline only let out a faint smile. "I see."

"That's it? That's all you've got to say?"

"What else should I say?" Caroline replied, meeting his gaze. "If I cared about those rumors, I wouldn't have married you in the first place."

For a brief moment, Braydon simply stared at her before a low laugh escaped him.

He rose from his seat, walked around the desk, and stopped right in front of her.

As he stood over her, his height made his presence feel overwhelming.

In that moment, she couldn't help but think his reputation wasn't exaggerated at all. He ruled Praginia with unmatched influence and moved effortlessly between both sides of the law, a man everyone feared.

He asked in a low voice, "Caroline, what is it that you actually want?"

Caroline met his eyes. "I want you to acknowledge me as your wife."

"Why?" Braydon asked.

"Because I am your wife," Caroline replied.

A faint look crossed Braydon's eyes. "That's not the answer I wanted."

Caroline went quiet.

She understood exactly what he meant.

People knew how obsessed she used to be with Jacob. They talked about the things she had done for him like gossip over dinner tables.

Now she suddenly turned around and married Braydon instead. Of course he'd find it strange.

However, she couldn't tell him the real reason.

There was no way she could tell him she'd already lived through one lifetime before this one. She also couldn't admit she had seen how well Vivian lived after marrying him, or how disgusting Jacob truly was beneath his mask.

After staying silent for a while, Caroline finally looked at him and answered, "I prefer powerful men."

For the first time since entering the room, Braydon actually looked surprised.

Caroline continued, "Jacob can't even walk. How could someone like him protect me or support the Palmer family? But you're different. Nobody in Praginia dares to challenge you. If I'm standing beside you, I won't have to be afraid of anyone."

Every word came out direct and honest.

Braydon stared at her for a moment before chuckling. "So that's why you married me. You wanted my power."

"That's right."

"Not because you like me?"

A small smile appeared on Caroline's lips. "We barely know each other, Braydon. It'd be strange if I claimed I married you because of love."

"Fine," Braydon said, his voice turning playful. "You've got three minutes to convince me this marriage should stay. If you fail, I'll send you back to the Palmer family tomorrow and end all of this."

Caroline's fingers tightened slightly. Ever since her father died, the Palmer family had been losing ground little by little.

That was the whole reason her family pushed so hard for this marriage alliance in the first place.

If Braydon cast her aside now, the Palmer family would collapse completely.

Caroline was keenly aware of all this.

In her past life, Amanda worked endlessly to build ties with both the Lewis family and the Lloyd family through marriage. She wanted both Caroline and Vivian to become support for the Palmer family.

Unfortunately, Caroline was blinded by love back then. Her attention stayed fixed on Jacob alone. She never cared about the family's situation.

This time, she planned to change both the Palmer family's fate and her own.

Looking straight at Braydon, Caroline finally spoke. "The land in the south of the city."

The smile in Braydon's eyes disappeared little by little.

"You're planning to take that land for yourself." Caroline gave him a small smile. "I understand finance, economics, and real estate development. My family background makes the cut. I'm good-looking, and I won't stick my nose into your affairs with other women. To put it simply, I am a low-maintenance, understanding, tactful partner. Trust me, I am your ideal choice for a wife."

Braydon stayed silent. His expression darkened slightly, but he still didn't interrupt her.

"Since you haven't refused, I'll take that as agreement." Caroline slowly stood from her chair. "I hope we'll have a happy life together as a married couple."

After leaving those words behind, Caroline didn't stay another second. She turned around and walked out of the room.

Just then, Jared slipped out of the next room in slow, careful steps. "She couldn't have actually known that, could she? How could she possibly know you're trying to acquire the land in the south?"

The acquisition had never been made public.

That piece of land had already been reserved for casino development.

How could a woman known only for shopping and parties learn something that secret?

"Does her background mention anything about finance, economics, or real estate?"

Without waiting for permission, Jared picked up the documents scattered across Braydon's desk and skimmed through the pages.

"What the hell? She had perfect grades the entire time she was in college? And she already secured admission for graduate school? If she was this smart, why'd she quit studying?" Jared's eyes widened in disbelief.

Not long after leaving the study, Caroline contacted the bank.

Now that she was Braydon's wife, the president personally answered her call.

"Mrs. Lewis, what can I assist you with?"

"I'd like to borrow sixty million dollars," Caroline said plainly.

The amount stunned the president into silence for a moment.

Caroline came from the Palmer family. On top of that, she was now Braydon's wife.

Someone with her background shouldn't have needed a loan for only sixty million dollars.

"Mrs. Lewis," the president said carefully, "the interest rate for this amount won't be low. Should we speak with Mr. Lewis first?"

Caroline answered calmly, "He's overloaded with work lately, and he forgot to transfer my allowance. I only need the money because I want to buy him a gift at the auction. Please don't bring this up to him. I'll repay everything within three months, so there won't be any issue."

The explanation cleared up the confusion almost immediately.

Everyone in their social circle knew Caroline had always spent money freely, even before marrying into the Lewis family. To ordinary people, sixty million dollars would've sounded impossible. For Caroline, however, it was only money meant for a gift.

The president saw no reason to hesitate over the loan.

After all, he was helping Braydon's wife while earning interest at the same time. The deal was practically foolproof.

"You don't need to worry, Mrs. Lewis. I'll keep this matter private."

Caroline asked, "What about the credit check?"

"You're Mrs. Lewis now. There's no need for that process. We'll complete the contract online, and I'll transfer the money immediately after."

"Thank you," Caroline replied.

Then she ended the call.

The southern land was valuable, sure. But nobody paid attention to a piece of land in the east of the city. Right now, the place counted as undeveloped land, so buying it wouldn't require much money.

That was one of the reasons she had married Braydon. She wanted the title of "Mrs. Lewis" because it allowed her to bypass the bank's asset verification. And in the future, that identity would continue opening doors for her.

Later that afternoon, Caroline received a call from Vivian.

Her voice sounded hesitant. "Caroline, are you free right now? I want to see you."

At the time, Caroline was resting in the garden beneath the sun. "What is it?"

"I'd rather tell you face-to-face."

"Alright. Come over."

After hanging up, Caroline already understood what was happening.

Vivian started regretting her decision.

About half an hour later, Vivian arrived.

A light pink dress covered her figure, while her pale face and swollen eyes made it obvious she'd been crying.

The sight nearly made Caroline laugh inwardly.

Only a few days had passed, yet Vivian was already beginning to break.

Walking over slowly, Vivian pressed her lips together before speaking. "Caroline, I..."

"Sit down first." Caroline motioned toward the chair beside her.

Without another word, Vivian lowered herself into the seat with her head down.

Caroline didn't rush her to continue speaking. She remained stretched across the recliner beneath the sunlight, looking completely at ease in the role of a wealthy wife.

Eventually, Vivian couldn't hold back anymore. "Caroline," she said quietly, "I want a divorce."