Chapter 1

Killian Sterling had been a sickly boy since the day he was born.

To save him, the Sterling family took in four girls as potential spiritual brides.

On the day of the final selection, a renowned mystic was invited to read our charts.

He claimed that my astrological alignment was rare, possessing the power to bring immense prosperity and fertility.

The Sterlings immediately arranged my marriage to Killian.

Within three months, the once-frail Killian made a miraculous recovery.

I also fell pregnant with twins―a boy and a girl.

The Sterling elders were ecstatic, promising that my son would inherit the family empire once he was born.

But on the night of the babies' one-month celebration, Killian locked me and the children in the basement.

I broke down, screaming at him, demanding to know why he was doing this.

He only gave me a cold, mocking smirk.

"If it weren't for your so-called luck, Melody would have been the one standing by my side!"

"She wouldn't have jumped to her death because of depression!"

"Today, you and these brats are going to join her!"

He grabbed a heavy iron rod and swung it violently at our one-month-old son.

I threw myself over the baby to protect him, but Killian kicked me away with a brutal force.

Blood splattered across the cold walls and the floor.

My baby's breath faded into nothingness.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Killian had to choose his bride.

1.

I stood in the familiar, opulent Sterling manor.

the invited mystic sat upright, carefully examining each girl's birth details one by one.

My entire body was trembling.

The phantom pain of my bones being shattered by that iron rod still pulsed through me.

I hadn't died; I had actually come back.

The mystic suddenly looked up, his face glowing with excitement.

He pointed a shaking finger at me.

"This girl's alignment is perfection! She is a natural beacon of prosperity and fertility!"

"She will undoubtedly ward off all evil and ensure Master Killian lives a long, peaceful life!"

The moment he finished, Mrs. Sterling rushed forward and grabbed my hand.

"Wonderful! This is a miracle! Killian is saved."

I fought the urge to yank my hand away as bile rose in my throat.

Killian's illness was something he was born with, and no hospital could cure it.

Many experts had predicted he wouldn't live past twenty-one.

He was only three months away from that deadline.

In my past life, I really did "bless" him, curing his body and giving him twins.

I opened my mouth, desperate to reject this and escape the nightmare.

But Killian spoke first.

"It's the twenty-first century, Mom. I want to marry someone I actually love."

He walked slowly toward Melody Lane, who was standing in the corner, and took her hand.

Melody looked at him with eyes full of artificial sweetness, her cheeks flushed like peach blossoms.

I looked at Killian in utter shock.

In my previous life, he hadn't said a word at this moment; he had just accepted the family's choice.

Had he also been reborn?

Mrs. Sterling tried to reason with him. "Killian, don't be reckless! Your health comes first!"

"Rowan's fate is the only thing that can help your condition!"

Killian remained firm, gripping Melody's hand even tighter.

"Mom, I'm just a little weak. It's no big deal. If I can't have Melody, I'd rather die."

His voice was still raspy from his illness, but his tone left no room for doubt.

Melody's eyes welled up with tears of joy as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"You're so good to me, Killian. Don't worry, I've found some ancient remedies that will definitely make you healthy."

He looked at her with deep affection and promised, "Melody, you are the only wife I'll ever have."

Seeing her son's stubbornness, Mrs. Sterling eventually sighed and nodded.

"Fine, if that is what you want."

I let out a long, silent breath of relief.

Whether Killian was reborn or not didn't matter.

As long as I didn't have to marry him, it was the best possible outcome.

I could leave this hellish family and start my own life.