The Brown family was not thrilled with the message, but they clenched their jaws and agreed.

That night, the wedding presents arrived at our doorstep, and Holly paraded her designer watch from one end of the village to the other.

By the flickering light of a kerosene lamp, my parents counted out 12,000 dollars in cash, handling it so much that it began to show signs of wear.

However, they only gave me an old piece of fabric, yellowed with age.

I spent the entire night with the sewing machine the Browns had given us, rushing to make a shirt and a dress.

Holly mocked me and said, "Are you making that for yourself? You're already someone else's problem. If you ruin this sewing machine, what's Mom going to use to sew my new clothes?"

After cutting the final thread, I went back to my room in silence, only to find Holly's blank papers spread out before her.

I laughed softly to myself.

'Holly, you can't even imagine the struggles it takes to get an education in the city.'

Because our village was poor and remote, there were no good teachers at all.

My parents urged me to come home and work the fields, but I was determined to carve my own path, doggedly questioning the village's educated youths.

When they all left for the city, leaving no one to guide me, I trudged for miles to the nearest town in my tattered shoes, just to borrow study materials.

While tending to the cattle in the mountains, I would steal moments under a tree, nibbling on bread and washing it down with cold water as I read my books.

It was nothing but work and study, and that was how I managed to get into a prestigious city university.

My parents liked to brag, conveniently leaving out the part about my struggles, claiming that our family was just lucky and that I got into university by merely glancing at the textbooks.

Holly took their words to heart, convinced she was a genius who could ace the university entrance just by cramming at the last minute.

She clutched my workbook like it was a magic key to success, unaware that without putting in the hard work, she could never escape a poor family that devoured hope.

Before I knew it, the day had arrived for me to marry Anthony.

Anthony's parents had arranged a little get-together at a city restaurant—a place my parents had never set foot in before.

Holly eyed their nervous shuffling with a sneer. "This place? It's a far cry from the Golden Goose Restaurant in Nebula City."

She was right. It was nothing like the high-rolling days of her previous life, flush with bribe money.

The wedding was a quiet affair, but every tradition was honored.

My mother-in-law, gripping my hand, whispered, "Yasmine, we wanted to do it up big for your wedding, but money's tight and we scraped together what we could. I hope you understand."

I assured her with a smile that it was all good, but Holly was visibly irked.

"If the official just gave the nod, folks would be falling over themselves to foot the bill. Who are you kidding with this poor act?"

Before my mother-in-law could snap back, a ruckus erupted from outside our room.

"Anthony, get your act together! The bride's family is here, and you're backing out now? What about your dad's reputation?"

Was Anthony getting cold feet?

With an embarrassed grin, my mother-in-law excused herself to check on the commotion.

I did not remember much about Anthony, but I knew he was a stand-up guy.

Back in his previous life when Anthony was posted to the frontier, Holly turned up her nose at the rough life and would not join him. He took it without complaint.

Later, Holly got into trouble by using Anthony's dad, Marvin Brown's name to make money. Out of gratitude and because they were once husband and wife, Anthony gave her a severance payment once their divorce was finalized.

Anthony was not one to forget a good turn, ditching his bride last minute just was not in his playbook.

I watched the private room's door swing as his buddies dashed out, each trying to talk some sense into him.

His face peeked through the gap in the door, his features more chiseled than the boy I remembered, with eyebrows sharp as blades and eyes that sparkled like stars.

"I refuse to marry this curse no matter what anyone says. I'll repay my debts, but make her my wife? That's not happening today!"

Curse?

The word cut through me, leaving a trail of icy numbness in its wake.

Holly's laughter rang out, unrestrained and mocking.

"Yasmine, who would've thought your infamous curse label would reach your dear husband's ears so fast?"

She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper. "A curse and a loser. You two are a match made in heaven."

My fists balled up tight, knuckles popping with the strain.

Anthony stumbled in, shoved by his buddies, his face a mask of reluctance.

Holly, spotting him, crossed her arms and stood tall, her statuesque figure drawing eyes even in a crowded room.

However, Anthony's gaze cut through the crowd, fixed solely on me.

I caught sight of his striking features and paused, taken aback.

His stern look was even more captivating up close than any celebrity splashed across a movie poster.

It made sense why Holly always bragged about Anthony's good looks.

Noticing the boutonniere pinned to my chest, Anthony realized the bride had been switched.

His brows knitted together as he blurted, "Why is it you? Wasn't I marrying Holly?"

Holly, already irked by being overshadowed, snapped back without missing a beat, "Marry you, a lowly grunt? As if you're worth my time."

She ran her fingers through her sleek black braids, tilted her chin up defiantly, and turned away.

Anthony's face fell as he grasped the gravity of his mistake.

I spoke with a steady voice. "You promised to marry the girl who once saved your life. That girl is me."

Anthony's eyes widened in shock, his breathing became heavy, and he stared at me with intense seriousness.

It was as if he had been anticipating that moment for ages.

"I know."

A shiver ran through me as a daring thought crossed my mind.

"Sorry. Let's get this wedding back on track. I want to marry you!"

The crowd was thrown for a loop by Anthony's behavior, but his mother quickly defused the tension with a laugh.

"He's just light-headed with happiness about his new bride! Silly boy!"

Anthony's usual defiance melted away, and a blush crept up from his neck to his cheeks.

Holly rolled her eyes, huffed, and took her seat again.

The wedding proceeded without a hitch, but as it was winding down, Holly complained about the poor study conditions in the countryside and demanded that Anthony find her a city tutor.

Anthony looked like he wanted nothing to do with it and kept quiet.

However, his mom agreed on the spot. "If Yasmine's sister needs something, we're on it!"

She arranged for Holly to stay at a guesthouse to study for her exams.

As my parents left, they reminded me about my role.

"Don't forget where you came from now that you're married. Bring some of Anthony's family's nice things for your sister, don't let her overwork herself.

"Make sure you cook three meals a day and deliver them, and come wash her clothes. Your sister's exams are a big deal. Looking after her is what you should be focusing on!"

Holly lounged on the bed, snacking on nuts from the wedding, smug as she could be.

"Listen up! Don't get all high and mighty just because you married a big shot. No matter where you go, you're still fated to be my servant!"

Mom and Dad nodded in agreement with my sister's harsh words, echoing the sentiment that one should never forget where they came from.

I bit back my anger, keeping silent.

For two long weeks, I had been shuttling non-stop between the guesthouse and my in-laws'.

Anthony, seeing how worn out I was, had our cook take over the errands.

However, Holly, right in front of the cook, shattered a plate and scoffed, "Tell Yasmine to drop the act. If I hadn't let her snag Anthony, she'd still be chasing cows on some hillside!"

When Anthony heard about it, he was ready to defend my honor and send her packing back to the village.

However, Holly just sneered and jeered at him.

"Anthony, don't get too cocky. Watch out, or you might end up stuck on some godforsaken borderland, never to return. For all you know, you could die out there and not even get a proper burial."

In my previous life, I had heard tales about Anthony in the city.

Ashwood, on the frontier, was where he had met his tragic end. His body never recovered.

Anthony stared at Holly, seething with fury, shaking with the effort to hold back his words.

I had to pull him away, and for the first time, he exploded at me.

"Why are you taking her side instead of mine?!"

I was speechless, and there was a strange tension hanging in the air between us.

It was not the right time yet. I had to wait.

On the final day of the college entrance exams, I was a bundle of nerves, even more so than Holly.

If my memory served me right, that was also the day Anthony's transfer orders would come through.

Holly strutted into the exam hall, leaving me with her parting shot.

"Yasmine, you won't be able to strut around after today!"

Our parents sent her off with eyes brimming with hope, as if the family's luck was about to turn for the better in just a few hours.

My hands were clammy with nerves.

I spun around to find Anthony across the street, shouting my name. He was waving a manila envelope, the emblem on it catching my eye in a flash.

A sudden shock hit me.