Adaline POV:

Janell' s brazenness, her outright smugness, was a stark contrast to the subtle manipulations I remembered from my past life. Back then, she' d been a snake in the grass, whispering poison, acting the innocent victim. Now? She was practically screaming her victories from the rooftops. It made sense, then, why Bradly and Janell' s affair was such an open secret. Everyone knew. They just chose to ignore it.

My "memories" of that past life flashed before my eyes. A life where I, the naïve fool, had married Bradly, believing his empty promises. A life where I' d poured my heart and soul into his family' s failing company, transforming it into a titan of industry.

I remembered the elders' approving nods. "Adaline brings good fortune," they' d said, their voices warm, but their eyes always on the bottom line.

Their warmth had been my solace, even when Bradly' s indifference cut me. I' d found a strange kind of contentment in their approval, in building something, in believing I had a place. A purpose.

Until the day I opened the box.

The memory was still hazy, a nightmare on the edge of waking, but the betrayal was sharp. It was the moment all my illusions shattered.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. The door creaked open.

"Adaline, darling?" My mother' s voice was hesitant. "Garrison Fletcher is coming tonight. Your uncle."

I froze. Garrison. My uncle. In this life, soon to be my husband.

My mother caught my gaze, her mouth opening as if to say more, but she just sighed, a long, weary sound, and left. She couldn' t possibly know what I knew. Not really.

The elders, for all their kindness, were pragmatic. They liked me, yes, but their affection was tied to the prosperity I brought. Otherwise, they wouldn't have so readily covered for Bradly' s secrets in my previous life.

Garrison was the only exception.

In my last life, he' d lived abroad, a reclusive billionaire, never marrying. He' d always shown me genuine concern, even chastising Bradly on occasion. He was the only one who truly saw me.

And now, he was my ticket out. My choice. A far better choice than a complete stranger, or worse, repeating the nightmare with Bradly.

The idea had been planted in my mind shortly after I woke from the coma, after the raw, vivid "memories" of my ruined future flooded my consciousness. I had subtly floated the idea, a desperate gambit. I hadn' t expected it to work. After all, Garrison was powerful, respected. He wouldn' t agree to such a casual proposal.

But it had gone far more smoothly than I could have ever imagined. My mother had told me he' d paused, a brief, thoughtful silence, then agreed. Just like that.

The next morning, I arrived at the office, the air still thick with the lingering scent of last night' s humiliation, but my mind was set. I needed to finish the proposal. It was my wedding gift to Garrison.

My magnum opus. A proposal for the acquisition of the largest electronics company in the country. If successful, it would catapult his firm into the top three, globally. It was a project I' d poured countless hours into.

Originally, it had been for Bradly. Every intricate detail, every projected growth, tailored to his family' s business. Now, it had to be refashioned for Garrison. His company. His vision.

I' d spent sleepless nights hunched over my laptop, reshaping, refining, perfecting. Finally, it was done.

I rubbed my tired eyes, the ache a familiar companion, and headed downstairs for a much-needed coffee. The office was quiet, the early morning hours a sanctuary.

When I returned, a chill seized me. My laptop. The screen was on, but the folder containing my proposal was empty. Gone.

Panic flared, cold and sharp. I grabbed my phone, my fingers flying as I accessed the office security footage.

The figure on screen was cloaked in anonymity-a mask, a baseball cap pulled low. But then, a flash. The distinctive glimmer of a pink diamond ring on her finger.

Janell.

Rage, pure and unadulterated, coursed through me, making my hands tremble. My "memories" had painted her as sly, but never this openly destructive.

I stormed toward Janell' s office, my feet pounding against the carpet. The door was ajar.

I pushed it open.

Bradly sat perched on Janell' s desk, his arms wrapped around her. Their lips were still glistening from their hurried, hungry kiss as they pulled apart, a thin strand of saliva connecting them for a fleeting moment.

I didn' t care about propriety. I didn't care about their sordid display. I lunged forward, grabbing Janell' s wrist, my grip tight.

"Who the hell gave you permission to touch my computer?!" I demanded, my voice shaking with fury.

Bradly shoved me back, his eyes blazing. "Are you insane, Adaline?!"

Janell, the master of theatrics, dissolved into sobs, hiding behind Bradly. "Oh, Adaline," she sniffled, peeking out from behind his shoulder, her eyes wide and innocent. "I' m so, so sorry. I didn' t mean to delete it. I' ll make it up to you. I' ll even get on my knees if I have to."

She began to lower herself, her knees bending dramatically.

Bradly caught her, pulling her into a protective embrace. "What is wrong with you, Adaline?" he snarled, his eyes accusing.

"What' s wrong with me?" I shrieked, the last vestiges of my self-control burning away in a fiery inferno. "That was my wedding gift! To my fiancé!"

Bradly scoffed, a cold, derisive sound. "Am I not your fiancé? I appreciate the sentiment, but why are you making such a fuss over a simple proposal?"

My gaze fell on Janell' s laptop. The screen was still open, displaying a report she' d been working on.

I grabbed the nearest glass of water from her desk and, without a second thought, flung it across the room.

The water hit the laptop with a crackle. Smoke billowed from the keyboard, followed by a series of angry pops.

Janell shrieked, clutching Bradly' s arm. "My report! My report!"

I smirked, echoing Bradly' s earlier words. "It' s just a report, Janell. Why are you making such a fuss?"

Bradly stared at me, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. He' d been saying for days that something was different about me. Now, he knew it.

I turned to leave. He reached for my wrist, but Janell' s hand shot out, tugging at his sleeve.

"Bradly! My hand! It' s burning from the hot water!" she cried, a fresh wave of tears streaming down her face. "Go talk to Adaline. I' ll be fine."

Bradly hesitated for a second, his hand still outstretched towards me, before letting it fall.

"She did nothing wrong," he seethed, turning his fury on me. "You' re just petty, Adaline."

Adaline POV:

The destruction of my proposal, the careless, deliberate act of sabotage, finally extinguished the last ember of affection I might have secretly harbored for Bradly. It was a cold, hard finality.

I took a deep, shuddering breath, pushing down the surge of grief and anger. Tonight. Tonight was the night I would meet Garrison. My uncle. My future. And I needed to be ready.

A tremor of nerves ran through me. He was, in a way, still my uncle from my previous life, a distant, respected figure. This was all so… new. And terrifying.

I squared my shoulders. I would present myself with poise. Even if I couldn't make him fall in love with me instantly, I would at least ensure he didn't find me repulsive.

I finished my makeup, a mask of calm confidence, and left the office. Just as I reached the underground parking garage, a low moan echoed through the concrete cavern.

My head snapped up. There, in the dim light, was a black car, rocking rhythmically.

I recognized the license plate. Bradly' s.

Through the half-open window, I could see Janell. Her eyes were glazed over, her head lolling back and forth with Bradly' s thrusting movements. He was panting, his body a relentless rhythm against hers.

A wave of nausea washed over me. I felt nothing for Bradly, truly. No love, no jealousy. But the raw, animalistic display still disgusted me. It was crude. Uncouth.

Janell' s head turned. She saw me.

A slow, triumphant smirk spread across her face. Then, she seized Bradly' s head, pulling him into a deep, ravenous kiss. Her moans, thick and guttural, mingled with the wet sounds of their kiss, reverberating in the hollow space of the parking garage.

I fought the urge to vomit. My stomach roiled. I turned quickly, desperate to escape. My own car was waiting. I needed to get to the gathering. Now.

Just as I reached my car, a low groan, followed by a sigh, emanated from Bradly' s car. They were done.

They both emerged, Janell' s face still flushed.

"Adaline! Oh, my goodness, I didn' t see you there!" she chirped, her voice falsely sweet.

Bradly' s eyes, when he heard my name, showed a flicker of embarrassment. But it was fleeting.

I didn' t stop. Didn' t pause. I just got into my car and drove. As I passed them, my gaze accidentally dropped. Bradly' s belt. A scrap of lace, a delicate pair of underwear, dangled from it. Janell' s, no doubt. The disgust solidified into a hard, cold knot in my chest.

I made a quick stop at a shopping center, picking out gifts for the family elders. Something tasteful, a gesture of respect. And for Garrison, something special. A quiet acknowledgment of the path ahead.

When I arrived at the family estate, Bradly was waiting by the door. He strode toward me, a curious mixture of apology and defensiveness on his face. He opened his mouth, but then his eyes landed on the gift box in my hand. His expression shifted, from strained to a satisfied, arrogant sneer.

"So, you went shopping for me, did you?" he asked, a smug glint in his eye. "Good. You' re finally acting sensible."

He reached for the box. I quickly stepped back, blocking his path.

"These aren' t for you," I said, my voice flat.

He lit a cigarette, exhaling slowly. "You saw, didn' t you?" he said, his voice casual, almost bored. "Janell. She' s my wife, you know. My real wife. All of this… it was always meant for her."

He took another drag, then his eyes met mine, dripping with condescension. "If you' d been more obedient, maybe I would have been generous enough to spend a few nights with you after the wedding."

His gaze lingered on me, a lecherous glint in his eyes. Goosebumps rose on my arms. It was utterly repulsive.

I turned to walk away, but his hand shot out, gripping my arm.

"Garrison is coming tonight," he reminded me, his brow furrowed. "Don' t cause any trouble. After dinner, go see Janell and apologize. If you want this wedding to happen, you' ll behave."

He released me, turning on his heel before I could respond, disappearing into the house.

I watched his retreating back, a cold, humorless laugh bubbling in my throat. Soon, he would know exactly whether our wedding would happen.

I walked into the dining room. The elders were already seated, a smattering of polite conversation filling the air. Garrison, however, was nowhere to be seen.

There was an empty seat beside Bradly. I ignored it, walking past him. My destination was a seat near the head of the table, usually reserved for the most respected family members. I sat.

Bradly, seeing my audacious move, stomped over, his face red with annoyance.

"Adaline!" he hissed, pulling out the chair next to mine and sitting down. "That seat is for Garrison! Get back to our assigned seats before you embarrass us further!"

I took a deep breath, trying to tamp down my irritation. I opened my mouth to explain this wasn't his wedding.

But before I could speak, a deep voice, rich and resonant, cut through the quiet.

"My apologies for being late."

Adaline POV:

Garrison Fletcher stood in the doorway, looking even more formidable than I remembered. He was older, more refined, sharper. The years had sculpted him into something truly powerful, far beyond the boy I' d known.

The entire family rose to greet him, their respect almost palpable. They' d known Garrison and his sister since childhood, since their parents died and Bradly' s grandmother took them in. Garrison' s sister had married Bradly' s father, but Garrison had forged his own path, building a tech empire overseas.

The Hayden family, once prominent, had fallen on hard times over the years. It was Garrison, with his immense wealth and business acumen, who had kept them afloat, investing heavily and safeguarding their fortune. Since Bradly' s mother, Garrison' s sister, had passed, the family' s deference to him had become absolute. They feared his displeasure, terrified he might withdraw his support, the very lifeline of their continued prosperity.

Every face in the room was plastered with a wide, welcoming smile. Garrison, however, maintained an icy demeanor, his expression unreadable. Until his eyes met mine.

A soft, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.

He walked directly to the seat beside me. Bradly, who had foolishly taken a seat next to me, felt the weight of Garrison' s gaze. He squirmed, looking like a scolded child.

I felt a blush creep up my neck. "It wasn' t me," I stammered, trying to explain that Bradly had taken the seat first.

Bradly, however, was quicker. He shot to his feet, muttering an excuse, and fled the room.

Garrison slid into the vacant seat beside me. "It' s a family dinner tonight," he said, his voice warm, a stark contrast to his earlier coolness. "Let' s just relax and enjoy ourselves."

He picked up a serving spoon and gracefully began placing food onto my plate. Then, without a word, he started to peel a shrimp for me.

I leaned in, whispering, "He sat down there himself, not me."

Garrison placed the perfectly peeled shrimp on my plate. He smiled. "I know," he murmured, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Eat first."

Within minutes, my plate was overflowing. Shrimp, peeled. Fish, deboned. He even picked out the spring onions from my dish, knowing I disliked them. Every dish, it seemed, was exactly to my taste.

It was the most pleasant meal I' d had since my rebirth.

Garrison, his eyes twinkling, picked up a napkin and gently dabbed at the corner of my mouth. "Eat slowly," he said, his voice soft.

Just as I swallowed the last bite and opened my mouth to speak, the dining room doors swung open with a dramatic flourish.

"Good evening, everyone!" Janell' s chirpy voice pierced the quiet.

The family turned, their expressions shifting from pleasant surprise to open disapproval. An elder at the far end of the table slammed his fork down.

"You, you illegitimate child!" he spat, his eyes blazing with contempt. He didn' t need to finish his sentence. His gaze was venomous.

Janell' s mother had been my father' s mistress before she married him. To the old-money families, Janell was nothing more than a bastard, a stain on their lineage. She wasn' t supposed to be here. Not at these private family gatherings.

But my father, blinded by his doting affection for Janell, had allowed her to attend, presenting her as the family' s second daughter.

Bradly, however, seemed oblivious to the collective scowl from the family. He pulled out the chair beside him, gesturing for Janell to sit.

"Bradly, are you out of your mind?!" the elder roared, his voice trembling with fury. "How dare you bring an outsider to a family dinner?!"

Janell flinched, shrinking back, her eyes quickly filling with tears. She clutched Bradly' s hand, her lower lip quivering.

Bradly, unwilling to look bad in front of his precious Janell, lifted his chin defiantly. "She' s Adaline' s sister. My sister-in-law. How is she an outsider?"

He then turned to me, his eyes silently pleading, expecting me to back him up.

Instead, he saw Garrison, his hand still holding a napkin, wiping my mouth.

Bradly' s face instantly darkened. He wanted to rage, to shout, but the sheer authority radiating from Garrison silenced him. He couldn' t. So, he turned his furious gaze on me instead.

Garrison, as if noticing nothing, simply smiled, continuing to peel shrimp. He placed another, perfect morsel on my plate.

Bradly slammed his chair against the floor as he sat down, a loud, angry thud that echoed in the room. It was a clear declaration of his rage.

But I didn' t even glance at him. I simply ignored him.

My phone, resting on the table, vibrated. I glanced down. Bradly.

I picked it up, my thumb hovering over the message.

Are you doing this on purpose?

You can do whatever you want, but why drag Garrison into this?

Are you crazy?

Don' t you dare forget who your fiancé is!

Come here now!