Chapter 1

1.

My sister and I were choosing our tribal marriage partners. She lunged forward, grabbing the noble High Draconian for herself. That left me with no choice but to marry the savage Werewolf.

Shortly after the wedding in my past life, the Draconian died in a freak accident. My sister was left with nothing, surviving on the scraps of others and suffering endless humiliation.

Meanwhile, the Werewolf turned out to be a brilliant businessman. Using his natural instincts for trade, he built a massive empire and became the wealthiest man in the territory.

Consumed by a murderous jealousy, my sister waited until the Great Ancestral Gala. There, she ambushed me, stabbing me to death with a dozen jagged blades.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the selection. My sister didn't hesitate this time. She reached out and grabbed the Werewolf's hand before I could even blink.

I realized instantly that she had been reborn too.

What my sister didn't know was that the Werewolf was naturally brutal. He didn't use logic to solve problems―he used his fists.

……

Inside the family manor, I stared at my sister with a blank expression.

She was trembling with excitement, her eyes shining with greed.

"Mother, the moment I saw Mordecai, I knew I was in love. Please, let me marry him！"

Our mother's face turned pale with concern.

"The Blackwood Werewolf clan is famous for being unruly and violent. Besides, he hasn't a cent to his name. You'll be miserable if you marry him！"

Even though we were both her daughters, she had always played favorites with Seraphina.

She couldn't bear to see her precious golden girl suffer even a little bit.

Seraphina grew frantic when she heard the refusal, pacing like a trapped animal.

"I'm marrying him no matter what！If you don't agree, I'll end it all right here and now！"

Mother almost fainted from the threat and quickly relented.

Looking at Seraphina's smug smile, I knew my suspicion was right. She remembered the future.

In our previous life, she had snatched Silas Draken, the heir to the prestigious Crimson Draconians.

I was forced to marry Mordecai and follow him to the barren, wild lands of the north.

Back then, I ran the household and used my own inheritance to fund his startup ventures.

Mordecai didn't disappoint me, seizing every opportunity until his coffers were overflowing with gold.

Meanwhile, the Draconian clans were plagued by constant border wars. Silas went to the front lines and never came back.

Seraphina was left a widow, and Silas's greedy relatives stripped her of every asset she had.

She lived a life of absolute misery.

She became obsessed with the idea that I had stolen the life that was meant for her.

During the festival, she lured me out and ended my life in a bloodbath.

"If I can't be happy, you don't deserve to enjoy this wealth either！！"

I could still see the madness in her bloodshot eyes. I instinctively clenched my fists.

If she wanted to sprint headfirst into her own hell this time, I was going to give her my full support.

"Since Seraphina has her heart set on Mordecai, I'm willing to step aside," I said calmly.

The excitement in Seraphina's eyes was almost overflowing. She could already see the luxury cars and designer jewelry in her future.

"You should thank your sister for being so selfless and giving you this chance. Without her, you'd be nothing！"

Mother gave me a cold, dismissive look.

She wanted me to say thank you to the person who just robbed me.

The sheer nerve of this woman was astounding.

"There's no need for thanks. It's only right for a sister to look out for her younger sibling."

Seraphina couldn't wait another second. After a few more words, she bolted toward the Werewolf territory to arrange the wedding.

Mother watched her leave with a doting smile, but the moment she looked at me, her expression soured.

"You know the family finances. I can only afford one decent wedding fund."

"Your sister is marrying into a struggling wolf pack. If I don't give her everything, she won't survive the winter."

I knew exactly what she was trying to do.

I couldn't help but let out a cold, sharp laugh.

In the last life, when Seraphina married the rich Draconian, Mother had a different excuse.

"The Draconians are aristocrats. If she doesn't bring a massive dowry, they'll look down on her and treat her like a servant."

Basically, I was never going to see a dime of that money.

But I didn't care anymore.

"Whatever you think is best, Mother."

Seeing me so compliant made her feel a rare flicker of guilt.

She slipped a silver bracelet off her wrist and handed it to me.

"This was a gift from your grandmother on my wedding day. Take it. Consider it a token of my love."

When Seraphina found out I was officially set to marry Silas Draken, she laughed until she doubled over.

"Oh, Melody, you're so lucky. Everyone knows Silas is a nobleman with the face of a god. You'll be the envy of every woman until you're pampered to death！"

"Just be careful. I hear the Draconian territories are quite dangerous. Don't let your husband die before you even get to enjoy his money."

Seraphina felt a rush of euphoria imagining me as a grieving widow.

She was too busy dreaming about the fortune she thought Mordecai would hand her.

But she had no idea. Mordecai was smart, yes, but he was a beast who worshipped violence.

In my past life, if I so much as breathed wrong, he would use his fists. There wasn't a patch of skin on my body that wasn't bruised.

He only stopped the abuse once I gave him all my secret business strategies.

I wondered if Seraphina, who knew nothing of trade, would survive his temper without those secrets.