Chapter 1

Xander Sullivan, the golden heir of the Sullivan Group, had his legs crushed in a horrific car accident.

I went to visit him in the hospital, but I stopped at the door when I heard his friends laughing inside.

"Look on the bright side, man. You can still marry Vera Sterling. Her family is a powerhouse. They'll make sure you keep your seat as the successor," one of them said.

"I heard her father was already at the Sullivan estate this morning, begging for the engagement to be finalized. Talk about desperate. She's really selling herself cheap."

Xander's voice was full of disdain. "Vera is like a piece of gum stuck to my shoe. No matter how hard I try, I can't shake her off. It's pathetic."

I walked into the room, my face a mask of shock.

"What on earth are you talking about, Xander? The man my father is setting me up with isn't you."

In my past life, I heard about his accident and rushed to him with my entire family's wealth as my dowry. I was determined to marry him.

I spent seven years taking care of him, sacrificing everything.

But the moment he secured control of the Sullivan Group, he destroyed my father's company. He stripped me of my status and brought back his true love, Lyla Brooks.

To please her, he locked me in a damp, dark basement.

I shriveled up in that tiny, suffocating space, dying in despair amidst the cold and filth.

Now that I've been reborn, I pulled my hand away from his. "I wish you and Lyla a long and happy life together. Forever."

I turned around and married his greatest business rival instead.

I heard that on my wedding day, Xander fell out of his wheelchair, crawling across the floor and sobbing my name.

……

Seven days after my father went bankrupt, I drew my last breath alone in that basement.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the moment Xander Sullivan had just lost the use of his legs.

Inside the hospital room, Xander looked haggard. His legs were encased in thick casts as he leaned against the bed.

He was surrounded by his wealthy, arrogant friends.

I heard the doctor sigh. "Mr. Sullivan's legs... I'm afraid the damage is permanent."

Xander was the designated heir, but the Sullivan family would never hand the empire to a man who couldn't walk.

His friends quickly tried to comfort him.

"It's fine. Just marry Vera Sterling. Her family has the connections and resources to keep you on the throne."

"She's been chasing you like a dog for years. She'll be thrilled to finally get what she wants."

"I heard she rushed over the second she heard the news. She probably cried all night long."

Their eyes shifted to me, filled with mockery, contempt, and malice.

When Xander saw me, his expression darkened with impatience.

"Vera, the only reason I'm even letting you near me is because I'm temporarily grounded. Don't get too full of yourself."

"Why are you just standing there like an idiot? Can't you see I'm thirsty? Go get me some water."

I didn't move.

In my last life, I used my family's entire fortune to buy my way into his life, just to save his position.

Xander had treated the wedding like a joke, offering outdated luxury goods as a dowry to humiliate me in front of everyone.

After the wedding, he couldn't move easily and didn't want the servants to see his weakness.

So, I cleaned his body every single day. I even used my own thin frame to carry him to the bathroom.

I spent hours massaging his legs to prevent muscle atrophy, all while enduring his explosive temper.

I did that for seven years.

But the first thing he did after taking over the company was to discard me and bring back Lyla Brooks.

He looked at me with cold eyes. "I don't want Lyla to see me in this state. If you stay quiet, I'll let you stay as a maid to serve me."

I didn't fight him then. I just packed my bags to leave.

But then, I got the news that my father's company was bankrupt. Lyla's father, a supposed business partner, had stabbed him in the back and swallowed our assets.

When I went to confront Xander, I interrupted a private moment between him and Lyla.

He had his men lock me in the basement, refusing to let me out until I apologized.

I died in a space less than fifty square feet, rotting in the cold.

Seeing me remain still, Xander's brow furrowed with annoyance.

Something seemed to click in his mind, and he spoke again.

"Vera, if you want to marry me, I might consider it. But Lyla has to be my legal wife. You'll have to settle for being my mistress."

I froze. This was different from my past life.

Back then, he didn't want Lyla to see him broken, so he pushed her away.

But when Lyla got engaged to someone else a year later, Xander flew into a murderous rage.

While I was preparing his bath, he shoved my head into the water and held it there.

"It's your fault! If I hadn't married you, I wouldn't have to watch her marry someone else!"

My heart skipped a beat. Could it be? Was he reborn too?

He knew his legs would eventually get better, so he was trying to keep his true love close this time.

Seeing my silence, he snapped.

"Did you hear me? Keep the marriage talk quiet until I arrange things. I won't have Lyla feeling slighted."

"I don't like strangers touching me. Since a mistress isn't a big deal anyway, you'll move in in a few days to take care of me."

I felt a cold laugh bubbling in my chest. I must have been possessed to let him humiliate me like this before.

I put on a shocked expression. "What are you talking about, Xander? I just came to visit. I have no intention of marrying you."

His face twisted. He looked at me with pure disdain.

"You've been stalking me for years. Stop acting like you have dignity. If you keep this up, you won't even be good enough to be my mistress."

Just as I was about to speak, a high-pitched, sobbing voice came from behind me.

"Xander! Oh my god, are you okay?"