The woman standing before me was Juniper’s greatest arch-enemy, Cleo Summers, the capital’s rising business queen.

I, too, had heard countless rumors about the fierce competition between the two women. The accident that left Juniper in a coma had happened during a business negotiation with Cleo, and Cleo hadn’t escaped unscathed either, having broken her legs.

After marrying into the Green family in my previous life, I had crossed paths with Cleo several times. At the time, Mrs. Green had been pressuring Juniper to have a child. Unfortunately, Sean overheard the conversation and threw a huge tantrum at Juniper.

To vent Sean’s anger, Juniper actually sent me to “take care” of Cleo, who was confined to a wheelchair. It was meant to humiliate Cleo while also making me suffer under her.

At first, Cleo clearly disliked me. However, despite her cold exterior, she never truly hurt me. Slowly, she stopped rejecting me, and eventually we were able to talk normally. Oddly enough, those days became the most relaxed period of my previous life.

“William Hale, long time no see.” Cleo was the first to break the silence.

I froze, overwhelmed with shock. This was our first meeting in this life, so how did she recognize me? And what did she mean by “long time no see”? Had she been reborn as well?

As if hearing my thoughts, she answered calmly, “I’ve been reborn. I heard Juniper woke up, and while looking into it, I also found out that she went to your family to propose to your brother and that you were thrown out afterward.

“At first, I wasn’t sure whether you were reborn too, but the way you looked at me earlier, that’s not a look someone gives a stranger. So tell me, William. Have you been reborn as well?”

She sure had sharp senses. No wonder she had fought Juniper for so many years and driven Juniper insane with hatred.

Honestly, Juniper herself wasn’t all that extraordinary. She was only arrogant because the Green family had money and influence. Cleo, on the other hand, had fought her way up from nothing. Everything she had came from surviving brutal business battles and power games.

“Yes, I’ve also been reborn. What is this? Four of us have been given a second chance in life, and we all know each other. Is this God’s revenge plan?” I laughed as I said.

Cleo laughed too, her cool voice surprisingly pleasant. “Do you want revenge?”

I paused.

Did I? I had thought about it before, but deep down, I was afraid. Ever since I was a child, all I had ever been taught was obedience; no one had ever taught me how to fight back. The most rebellious thing I had ever done was probably what I did today—running away from those people.

“In our last lives, we were both losers. Now that we’ve been given another chance, don’t you want to live differently?”

Her eyes locked onto mine. The intensity in her eyes made her words strangely convincing.

Almost unconsciously, I asked, “Then what should I do?”

“Form an alliance with me. But first, you’ll need a new identity.”

“What identity?”

“Be my fiancé.”

The moment I heard the word “fiancé,” I instinctively thought she was messing with me. A look of shock crossed my face.

Before I could refuse, she pulled out her phone and typed out her contact number.

“You don’t have to answer me right away. Take your time and think about it. This is my private number. If you’ve changed your mind or run into any trouble you can’t handle, call me anytime.”

I memorized the number.

Just then, her attending physician arrived to take her for another round of examinations, leaving me alone in the hospital room. My thoughts were a complete mess as I walked out into the hallway, and that was when I ran into Sean.

The second he saw me, he raised an eyebrow smugly.

“What are you doing here, William? Oh, right. I almost forgot. Mom and Dad kicked you out. Are you working as a carer now?”

I said nothing, but the head nurse standing behind him immediately rushed to flatter him. “Yes, Mr. Sean. William was newly hired today.”

I turned to leave, but Sean suddenly grabbed my wrist. Then, he raised his left hand and deliberately showed off the diamond ring on his ring finger.

“Look, William. Juniper personally bought this for me at a Sotheby’s auction. It’s called ‘Heart of Eternity.’ She said my heartbeat is her forever.”

I stared at him expressionlessly. I couldn’t bother to respond. However, Sean’s expression darkened. He leaned closer and spoke in a low voice that only the two of us could hear.

“William, stop acting like you’re better than me. You’re nothing more than a blood donor for me now—a walking blood bag. Do you really think you can escape?”

Before I could answer, Sean caught sight of Juniper walking toward us from the end of the hallway. In an instant, his expression changed. With a sharp smack, he slapped himself across the face before he staggered backward, clutching his chest as if he could barely breathe.

“William… I know you hate me… but how could you hit me? You even called me an adulterer… I… my chest hurts so much. I can’t breathe…”

Juniper rushed over immediately and caught Sean before he collapsed. Without asking a single question, she turned toward me with furious eyes.

“William, do you have a death wish?”

I opened my mouth to explain, only to realize there was no point. To Juniper, Sean’s words were the absolute truth. She would never listen to me or believe me.

She immediately turned toward the head nurse and ordered, “Prepare the phlebotomy equipment immediately. Mr. Sean is in critical condition. His brother, William, will provide a blood transfusion backup right now.”

Seeing the rage on Juniper’s face, the head nurse didn’t dare hesitate for even a second.

“Yes, Ms. Juniper! I’ll get to it immediately! What are you standing around for, William? Come and prep for the blood draw now!”

In the face of overwhelming power, I couldn’t defend myself. I was nothing more than livestock waiting to be slaughtered. Once again, the despair from my previous life swallowed me whole…

No! I couldn’t go through that nightmare again.

Instinctively, I took a step back and tried to run, but Juniper grabbed my wrist before I could escape. Her grip was terrifyingly strong.

“William, I’ve warned you to behave yourself. Just be a good little blood bag and stop pulling these disgusting stunts.”

Two large bodyguards immediately seized my arms from both sides and started dragging me away. I struggled desperately. As a man, I couldn’t accept this kind of humiliation. And in that moment of desperation, Cleo’s aloof face suddenly flashed through my mind.

As we passed the emergency stairwell, I slammed my elbow into the guard on my right. He groaned in pain and loosened his grip. While the other guard got distracted for just a second, I drove my fist straight into his face. The moment I broke free, I sprinted into the stairwell.

Behind me, Juniper’s furious voice rang out. “Tell the men downstairs to stop him!”

That meant escaping through the hospital entrance was impossible. So, the second I got to the second floor, I dashed down the hallway. That entire wing was filled with patient wards. Inside were only hospital beds and bedside cabinets, with nowhere to hide.

Meanwhile, the sounds of people chasing me were getting closer and closer. With no other choice, I slipped into a half-open janitor’s closet and locked the door behind me. Then, I pulled out my phone and called Cleo. She answered almost instantly.

“Hello?”

“Miss Cleo…” I lowered my voice and pressed my ear against the door, listening to what was going on outside.

“I’ll do it. I’ll marry you. Please save me…”

There was a burst of noise on the other end of the line, but immediately after, Sophia answered, “Send me your location. Hide somewhere safe. I’m coming right now.”

I finally let out a breath of relief and realized the hallway outside had suddenly gone quiet. I took a few steps backward, planning to find something to use as cover. Yet, in the very next second, the door was kicked open with a bag, and Juniper’s furious, twisted face appeared in front of me.

“I see you’ve gotten bold enough to run now, huh?”