Days before Christmas, my girlfriend, Tessa Coleman, decides to take her assistant to the beach for the holiday.

I don't argue or make a scene. I even help her pack her bags.

But she sneers at me, mocking me for finally learning how to be sensible now that my legs are useless.

As soon as she leaves, I reach out to her sworn enemy.

In my last life, when I tried to stop her with my crippled legs, her assistant ended up brutally murdered at the beach.

Tessa had acted like nothing had happened, but once I recovered, she hacked off my legs and killed me mercilessly.

That was when I finally realized that she had hated me all along.

This time around, I'll make sure she loses everything.

"Christopher, Matthew is all alone here with no one to turn to. What's wrong with taking him out for the holiday? If I can't take him out, do you want me to bring him home instead? Would you like that?

"If you're fine with it, the three of us can all go back together. Let's see who's more embarrassed at the dinner table by then."

Tessa Coleman's furious voice hit me like a hammer, leaving me dazed.

I stared blankly at the woman smirking in front of me, and at the young man standing beside her, who had a pitiful look on his face.

He tugged at Tessa's sleeve and, as if being considerate, said softly, "Tessa, don't talk to Christopher like that. If he doesn't want us to go, then let's just skip it. I've spent years like this anyway. Spending another holiday alone is fine by me."

He tried to sound lighthearted, but his smile looked more painful than if he had cried.

Tessa's face fell. She grabbed his hand and comforted him gently, then glanced at me.

When I didn't react, her patience wore thin. She snapped, "Christopher, what are you scheming about now? Are you going to run to my mom again? If Matthew ends up hurt because of you, I won't let it slide.

"When are you going to fix this jealous habit of yours? I'm only taking Matthew out for Christmas. It's not like I'm calling off our wedding. What's with the jealousy?

"If you keep playing mute, I'll take it as a sign that you agree. But don't you dare make a scene later."

Her warning snapped me back to my senses.

She opened her mouth as if she had more to say, but I cut her off first. "Fine."

She froze, watching silently as I pulled out her suitcase and started packing for her. Something in her expression shifted, leaving her looking unsettled.

Back then, just hearing her mention the name Matthew Green was enough to set me off, and we'd end up in a huge fight. But now, as she was about to take him out for the holiday, I was calmly packing her bags.

Her eyes narrowed as she studied me. Then, when her gaze dropped to my crippled legs, she suddenly seemed to understand and let out a mocking laugh.

"Losing your legs finally knocked some sense into you, huh? At least you're not whining anymore."

She leaned against the doorframe, her tone dripping with scorn.

Matthew's lips curved into a faint smile, though his whole face radiated innocence.

"Christopher, don't be upset. Ms. Coleman only wants to take me along because she feels bad that I'm always alone for the holidays. If you're against it, then don't force yourself. I can go by myself.

"I mean it, Christopher. You don't need to pack anything."

He reached for the suitcase in my hand. But a second later, it crashed to the floor with a heavy thud.

My hand trembled as I held the clothes. Looking at the young man in front of me with a false expression of grievance, I knew without a doubt that I had been reborn. I had been brought back to the very day Matthew was supposed to go to the beach alone.

In my last life, on this exact day, Tessa wanted to take Matthew out on the water for the holiday. I refused, forcing her to stay. Our argument had even reached her family's ears.

So, they locked her up, and Matthew ended up crying and going to the beach alone, where he was brutally killed.

When Tessa heard that, she merely remarked, "So what if he's dead? Trash like that isn't worth my concern."

After that, she stopped resisting the arranged marriage and started paying attention to me.

I thought it was because she appreciated me. But once my legs healed, she hacked them apart again and tortured me until I died.

It was only then that I realized she had always blamed me for Matthew's death. She had hated me all along.

Thinking about the way I died last time sent a shiver through me. Since fate had given me another chance, I would set everything right.

I ignored Matthew's whining and Tessa's shouting. Instead, I calmly picked up the suitcase and began repacking.

Seeing how composed I was, Tessa suddenly shoved me in anger. "Cut the act, Christopher. You'd better quit thinking that acting like you don't care about anything means you'll get your way.

"Even if we do get married someday, I'll never give Matthew up. He'll have a room of his own in our house. If you can't accept that, then this wedding will never happen."

I'd heard words like that more times than I could count. Before, I would've argued with her, maybe even used my crippled legs to win her pity. After all, these legs were ruined saving her.

But now, I couldn't be happier to call off the wedding. "Fine. Then let's not get married."

The silence that followed was deafening.

I glanced at Tessa's stunned expression. She said coldly, "Good. I don't want to marry you either."

Tessa and I had grown up together, and our families had arranged our engagement 20 years ago.

Everything should've gone smoothly, but two years ago, her assistant, Matthew, suddenly showed up in her life.

The first time I met him was in her office. I'd stopped by to drop off some pastries and walked in just as she was scolding him.

Fresh out of school, he looked frightened and aggrieved.

People nearby tried to calm Tessa down, but she wasn't having it.

In the end, I stepped in to smooth things over.

She waved him off when she saw me. That day, she told me, "Someone like him won't even make it through probation before he's gone."

But instead of leaving, he somehow managed to capture the attention of this famously ruthless CEO, so much so that she couldn't stop doting on him. She even went so far as to end our child's life, all for him.

She searched my eyes for jealousy, but when she found only resolve, a flicker of panic crossed her face. She reached out, trying to touch my face.

And that was when Matthew spoke up. "Ms. Coleman, Christopher, please don't fight over me. I'll leave. I'll go far away and never bother you again."

He then ran off.

Tessa turned back to me with the same disgust I'd grown used to over the past two years. "Christopher, do you have to ruin my Christmas? If you still plan on marrying me, don't upset Matthew.

"Otherwise, I swear, I'll never marry you. Let's see how you explain that to your family."

Her face was gloomy, and her eyes were cold. With that, she stormed off to chase after Matthew.

However, she seemed to forget that while the marriage pact between the Coleman family and the Lowe family was hard to break, the Coleman family had more than one daughter.

The buzz of my phone snapped me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Matthew.

"Christopher, so what if you've got the Lowe family behind you? Tessa will always side with me.

"I guess you'll be spending Christmas alone in your wheelchair. You're just a cripple. Do you think you can compete with me?"

Every word in his message dripped with mockery.

I'd gotten plenty of messages like that these past two years. I'd even forwarded screenshots to Tessa. But she only brushed it off, saying that he was just childish. She told me that I should let it go and give him some slack.

She thought that she had me tied to her for life. That I'd never be able to leave, so she could do whatever she pleased.

I took a deep breath and unblocked a number.

Christmas was meant to be the day the Lowe and Coleman families celebrated our engagement.

That was when I'd be giving Tessa a gift she'd never forget.

The moment Tessa left, I went straight to the hospital.

She had promised me that she'd be there for me that day for the operation, but she'd forgotten about it completely.

Right before the anesthesia took hold, I received a text message from her.

It read, "Chris, what I said earlier was entirely out of anger. Don't worry. I'll definitely marry you. I'll be back on Christmas Day. Wait for me.

"As for Matthew, just pretend he doesn't exist. I've already talked to him, and he promised he won't interfere with our life anymore."

I looked at her messages, then coldly turned my phone off.

For the past two years, she had fought against this engagement again and again, all for Matthew.

I had been ready to go abroad and set her free. But on the day of my departure, she ran to the airport, crying, begging me to stay.

That day, we lost control, and out of that recklessness, she became pregnant.

But later, just so Matthew wouldn't feel pressured when being with her, she quietly ended the pregnancy.

When I confronted her, she brushed it off like it was nothing, saying that the timing wasn't right and that she still hadn't had her fun.

It wasn't until my last moments alive that I learned the truth. The only reason Tessa chased me down at the airport was because the Coleman family had threatened her with Matthew.

The marriage between the Lowe and Coleman families was never going to change for anyone or anything. So even if she loved Matthew, she still had to marry me.

When I woke up, I was already in the ward. By then, she and Matthew had already gone to the beach.

Matthew sent me plenty of smug messages, which included pictures of him with her.

Tessa was on her tiptoes, wiping his sweat, her expression gentle. She had once looked at me the same way. Now, it only made me sick.

"Christopher, Ms. Coleman said that you like the ocean, too. If I'd known, I would've brought you along.

"Oh, and she planned a firework show just for me. I'll send you a video when it starts.

"Old man, if I were you, I'd have bowed out long ago. Clinging to her like this is just pathetic."

Before, I wouldn't have responded. But this time, I did. I texted back, "If you love Tessa so much, then you'd better hold on to her tight."

I wanted to see if he'd still stay by her side when she lost everything.

After sending the message, I was feeling so drained that I just wanted to set my phone down and catch a nap. Just as I was about to drift off, my phone rang.

The moment I picked up, Tessa's furious voice came crashing through. "Christopher, what is wrong with you now? I already said that we'd get married. Why do you keep taking things out on Matthew?

"I finally managed to take him out to enjoy the holiday, but you're ruining it. Apologize to him, or don't blame me for making you regret it on Christmas."

I frowned, irritated by her nagging.

She was still going on when I hung up and blocked her number.

I was discharged on Christmas Eve. Back home, I cleared out every trace of her. I packed up all her clothes, toothbrush, and even her books, and threw them out.

This was my house, and her things didn't belong here.

Afterward, I returned to the Lowe residence for dinner. As I watched the TV, I scrolled through my phone out of boredom.

Suddenly, a firework show shot to the top of the trending list. Seeing the initials TC and MG, I knew instantly that it was the firework show that Tessa had planned for Matthew.

Not long after, he sent me a video.

"Hey, cripple. Tessa said that this fireworks show was only for me. So what if you grew up with her? So what if you got hurt for her? She still doesn't love you.

"Honestly, I don't even mind if you two get married. Because either way, she loves me."

That was when a notification popped up.

Looking at the message, I smirked.

"Let tonight be the last wild ride for these two lovebirds."

On Christmas Day, the Coleman family had reserved a top private room to finalize the marriage agreement.

But as the bride-to-be, Tessa was nowhere to be seen.

Brandon Coleman's expression was cold as he snapped, "What's wrong with her? Acting out during the holiday is one thing, but on a day this important, she's late? She has been spoiled rotten. When she gets here, I'll make sure she pays for this."

Lilian Sullivan looked anxious. When Brandon barked at her, she only lowered her head in silence.

Around the table, everyone's faces were tight with displeasure.

But I knew that Tessa was right downstairs, waiting for me to apologize to Matthew. Her tardiness was just another way of teaching me a lesson.

I was waiting for someone else, too. I reassured both families, ignoring the constant buzzing of my phone. Half an hour later, the calls finally stopped. And then, the private room door was thrown open.

Tessa stormed in furiously. "Christopher, are you blind? I told you to apologize to Matthew. This is your last chance. If you don't, there won't be an engagement today."

The room went dead silent.

Brandon slammed a hand against the table and shot to his feet. "You ungrateful brat! Being late is one thing, but threatening Christopher? Apologize to him right now!"

Dad's face was equally grim as he let out a cold snort. "Brandon, Tessa seems pretty ignorant. She shows no regard for the Lowe family at all."

Brandon looked furious, pressing her to apologize.

However, she stubbornly refused.

Then, Matthew came running in pitifully. "Ms. Coleman, don't get angry with him because of me. I'm used to being treated like this. I've lived my whole life like this."

Tessa's face darkened even more. She leaned close to my ear, whispering a threat. "Christopher, if you don't apologize, this marriage arrangement is over. Let's see if your family still accepts you then.

"When that happens, I'll make sure the media knows that the only son from the Lowe family forced his fiancee to get an abortion. Do you think the Lowe family will survive that?"

I jerked my head up, staring at her in disbelief.

She arched a brow, coaxing me. "Chris, it's just one apology. Say it, and this will all be over. I'll even agree to set the wedding date today. You know what the right choice is, don't you?"

Dad, though furious, hadn't once said that we should break the engagement.

That only made her more brazen and confident that I'd cave.

But a moment later, the door swung open again, and a striking figure stepped inside.