When I got home, my mom looked worried and asked if I was really going to marry another.

"Wendy, are you really going to marry Joseph? You've always loved Elliot, and now, you're having his baby. Don't make a choice you'll regret just because you're upset."

Mom did not know about all the tough times I went through before or how Joseph had come back from overseas in the middle of the night, crying and begging the doctors to save me after I lost my baby and was really sick.

It was only then that I realized that Joseph, talented as he was, had not gone abroad because he could not become the Lewis family's Don. He chose to settle abroad out of love for me, heartbroken at the thought of me marrying someone else.

Regret swallowed me whole.

Thinking back, I looked at Mom, more sure than ever, and nodded.

"Mom, this is the best decision I've ever made, and I won't regret it."

Mom just sighed when she saw how sure I was.

"Okay. It's funny. Joseph said yes right away when he heard you wanted to marry him. Too bad he's got a lot to do before he comes back home, so he might miss your birthday party tomorrow."

"That's okay." I gave a small smile, happy with how things were turning out.

…

At my birthday party the next day, Elliot was one of the first to show up, and Sheila was with him. They walked in side by side, and I could see some red marks on Sheila's neck that made me wonder.

Before, I would have loudly questioned them about it. However, this time, I just turned away quietly and looked at the present I had just received. It was from Joseph, who had sent it through a friend before he flew off somewhere.

Elliot seemed surprised that I did not make a fuss. He left Sheila behind and grabbed the card from my present. When he saw the name on the card, he looked worried and on guard.

"My big brother? Why did he send you a present? Isn't he out of the country?"

"Didn't your dad tell you? Your big brother's coming home."

Elliot looked shocked for a second, then he gave an awful smile and laughed with his friends.

"Looks like Joseph knows what's up. He knows I'm gonna be the Don soon, so he's sending gifts to get on my good side. Maybe he's hurrying back to congratulate me!"

Elliot thought he was going to be the next Don of the Lewis family because he remembered things from before.

What he did not realize was that in our previous life, he got to be the Don because I, the one who was supposed to take over, had picked him. In this life, things might not go his way.

"Who said I was going to marry you?" I faced him, keeping my cool.

Everything went quiet for a moment, and then everyone burst out laughing. Elliot laughed the loudest of all his friends.

"Everyone knows you're head over heels for me. You'd do anything to be my wife, even pulling every trick in the book to have my baby. Who else would you marry if not me? Joseph?"

He sneered, his laugh filled with scorn, "Joseph's lost his power in the family. He'd never marry you, especially if you're carrying my child. Cut out the silly jokes, Wendy!"

He leaned in close, his eyes scanning me in my sleek, fancy dress. "I'll admit, your new trick has caught my interest. Fine, let's find time to relive that night we had a bit too much fun."

He reached to pull me close, but then Sheila screamed from behind us. Elliot spun around to see Sheila clutching her face, which was covered in red blotches.

"Elliot! I'm so itchy. There are hyacinths everywhere, and I'm allergic to them!" Tears filled her eyes as she fell into Elliot's arms.

I loved hyacinths, so they were all over the party. As Sheila gasped for air, Elliot shot me a furious look. He accused, "You knew about her allergy, didn't you? That's why you put hyacinths everywhere!"

"Once we're married, you're never to bring those cursed flowers around again! Come on, Sheila needs a hospital!"

He lifted Sheila and, together with his friends, charged to the door. In their haste, they knocked over flowers, decorations, balloons, and tables, leaving the place a total mess.

Byron rushed over and had his team fix everything up. Thanks to him, the birthday party could go on.

He apologized to me, and I could tell he felt bad, but I was actually glad Elliot and his friends had left. I did not want Elliot there when my child was getting his name from grandpa. That child has nothing to do with him, after all.

My parents were relieved when they heard about Elliot's outburst at my birthday party.

They were happy I had picked Joseph instead. They were so mad that they wanted to confront the Lewis family and give Elliot a piece of their mind, but I stopped them. I had bigger fish to fry.

Joseph had given me a super fancy diamond ring. To show him how much I appreciated it, I decided to make his wedding ring myself. I planned to give it to him at a big dinner welcoming him back home. That was also when Byron would tell everyone we were getting married.

A week later, I took the ring I made to the Lewis family's place. As I was chatting with the guests before dinner, I realized the ring was gone from my pocket. The security footage showed Sheila picking up the ring from the floor.

I was so mad that I was shaking. I barged into Elliot's room, only to see him and Sheila getting cozy on the couch. She had a bunch of presents around her and was playing with my jewelry box.

Elliot looked at me like he was annoyed and said, "Wendy, if your family hadn't fired Sheila after the birthday mess, she wouldn't be here. I gave her these presents to apologize on her behalf."

I did not care about what he was saying. I was too angry and shouted, "Give me back my ring!"

Elliot paused, looking guilty. Sheila, sitting next to him, started to speak up with a fearful look on her face.

"Wendy, Elliot gave me so many gifts, and they were all wrapped up so fancily that I just couldn't get them open. I read somewhere that I could use a ring to help open the presents, so I tried it with the one right here."

While she talked, she showed her hand, and there it was, the diamond ring. However, it now had a big scratch on it.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know the ring would get scratched up so easily. I didn't mean to do it. Can you forgive me?"

I was shaking with anger and grabbed Sheila's wrist hard. "That's my ring, and you used it to open presents!"

Elliot stepped in and pulled Sheila close to him. "Wendy! What's gotten into you?"

"That ring was special, made just for my future husband!" I could not hold back my anger and yelled.

Elliot just gave a small laugh. "I'm your future husband, aren't I? I get it, you care a lot, and I'm thankful. Is that good enough? Don't be mad. You're having my baby, and it's just a ring. We can pick out a new one before the wedding."

I let out an icy laugh, looked at the pile of presents in front of Sheila, scooped them up, and tossed them out the window. They tumbled down to the second floor and splashed into the garden pond.

"You!" Sheila shot me an angry look, then quickly looked sad and pulled on Elliot's shirt. "Elliot! My presents!"

I just sneered, "They're just presents. You can get more."

Elliot kept staring at me, like he noticed something odd.

When I turned to leave, he grabbed my wrist.

Right then, the butler came in to say dinner was ready. Joseph would also be home at any minute. I laughed without a care, shook off Elliot's hand, and walked to the dining room without looking back.

Elliot let go of Sheila's arm and tried to catch up with me.

As we walked into the dining room, the Lewis family's elders were already seated. Elliot found an empty chair, sat down, and waved me over to sit next to him.

However, I ignored him and headed straight for another empty chair across the room. It had a name plaque that said 'Joseph' on it.

I could not help but smile. Byron had set aside that special seat just for his heir. I sat down right next to it without hesitating.

Elliot, looking annoyed, blinked rapidly and said in an impatient voice, "Wendy, what are you doing? Come back here. Do you really want to sit with my older brother? You're going to be my wife. The elders might get the wrong idea!"

"The only one who's confused here is you." I gave him a small smile, about to tell him I was marrying Joseph, when a deep voice interrupted from the doorway.

"Sorry, I'm late."