Chapter 1

I was about to marry the man I grew up with, the one I called Uncle, even though we weren't related by blood.

That night, I was too excited to sleep, so I booked a flight home for the wedding.

But the moment I stepped through the door, I saw him, Julian Harrison, kneeling with his girlfriend, Cassie Monroe, begging Grandpa Harrison for his blessing.

The scars on Julian’s back were horrifying.

“Grandpa, this is my fault. I have to take responsibility. I’ll talk to Sera.”

Grandpa Harrison looked at me, seeking my opinion.

My face was a mask. “Fine. The wedding is off.”

Everyone froze, surprised by how quickly I agreed.

After all, everyone knew how possessive I was of my uncle figure.

The truth was, I had been reborn.

In my past life, because I’d said no.

Cassie had run out, distraught, and was tragically hit by a truck, dying instantly, along with the baby she was carrying.

After that, Julian became a shell of a man. He married me, kissed me, slept with me.

Once, when I was hemorrhaging badly during childbirth, Julian refused to sign my critical condition notice. Yet, he sat by Cassie’s grave all night.

Lying on that cold operating table, feeling my life slip away, I finally understood everything.

Julian truly didn't love me.

So this life, I was determined to let go.

“Sera, don’t feel sorry for him because he got beaten, don’t talk nonsense. The Harrison family has never had a shotgun wedding. Even if it wasn’t for you, I’d still beat him half to death!”

Seeing Grandpa Harrison raise his whip to strike again, I quickly intervened.

“Grandpa, I’m serious. I’ve realized my feelings for Julian were just gratitude and a child's dependence, not love.”

I said the words, my face blank, though they were a lie.

I knew, deep down, that my feelings for Julian were indeed love.

From the moment I’d seen him, kneeling in his sharp suit, his back still straight despite the whip marks, my heart had fluttered.

His tie was loose, two buttons of his shirt undone.

This mature charm was something I never saw in men my age.

Grandpa Harrison lowered his hand, sighing.

“Sera, if you’ve truly made up your mind, then so be it.”

I nodded obediently and helped Grandpa Harrison to his study.

Before entering, I glanced back at the two of them.

Julian was carefully checking Cassie for injuries, his gaze never once falling on me.

He had knelt like that before, been beaten by Grandpa before.

Only last time, it was for me. This time, it was for his pregnant girlfriend, begging Grandpa for his blessing.

Inside the study, Grandpa Harrison prepared his calligraphy supplies, using the brush to express his troubled mood.

I sat quietly beside him.

After a long while, Grandpa Harrison finally spoke to me.

“Do you really not like Julian anymore? You used to make him feed you every meal, even water. You’d throw a fit if he wasn’t the first person you saw when you woke up. If you change your mind, I’ll tie him up and bring him to you for the wedding next week, even if I have to do it myself.”

My family had been kind to the Harrisons, and our engagement had been set since childhood.

But a sudden car accident had left me an orphan, my family vanished.

Though Grandpa Harrison had treated me like his own granddaughter since I was little, it was really out of respect for my parents.

Losing my loved ones, could I still find someone truly devoted to me?

Even Julian, the man I once thought would be with me forever, now had a girlfriend.

I pulled at my lips, then forced a smile.

“Grandpa, you’re talking about things from three years ago. I’m not a child anymore. I know what I’m doing, and I hope you’ll trust me.”

Grandpa Harrison’s hand paused in his writing, then he chuckled a few seconds later.

“I’m getting old and confused. I forgot you’d been studying abroad for three years. It’s good to have you back.”

Back then, I had refused to leave Julian and go abroad alone, to a place without him.

Julian had finally promised that if I came back after my studies, he would marry me.

Only then did I agree.

But as soon as I arrived abroad, Julian blocked all my contact information, disappearing completely from my life.

I just assumed he’d done it so I would focus on my studies, and for three years, I hadn't cried or made a fuss, keeping my distance.

Now, though, I understood. Julian had been trying to get rid of me.

I stayed with Grandpa Harrison for several hours, practicing calligraphy and chatting about interesting things from abroad.

When I finally emerged, Julian was waiting at the door.

I ignored him, walking straight to my room.

Julian followed silently. The moment I opened my door, he blocked it, pushing his way in and pinning me against it.

“Three years, and you don’t recognize me?”

Only then did I call out, “Uncle.”

Julian looked displeased, his handsome brows furrowing.

Though calling him Uncle wasn't wrong, ever since I’d confessed my feelings, I’d always called him by his first name.

That ‘Uncle’ made him feel like I was deliberately keeping my distance.

Julian felt a surge of irritation. Just as he was about to speak, a woman’s voice suddenly came from outside the door.

“Julian, did you tell Sera about the wedding? I’m feeling some morning sickness, but I don’t know where the restroom is.”

Julian snapped back to reality, opened the door, and pulled Cassie into his arms, his eyes filled with doting affection.

“Not yet. I was just talking to Sera.”

He turned, his gaze instantly becoming distant.

“Our wedding next week, yours and mine, is being changed to me and Cassie. Cassie doesn’t have many friends here, so you can be her bridesmaid.”

Cassie smiled triumphantly, nestled in Julian’s arms.

“Sera, please. I’ll treat you to wedding candy next week.”

I agreed, my face still blank.

I was determined to have no further relationship with Julian. What did it matter if I helped him a little?

Consider it repaying his kindness for raising me.

Once I fulfilled the three requests I’d promised him, I would leave, no matter what.

To live my own life.

After Julian left with Cassie, I opened my suitcase.

The first thing I saw was the photo frame I’d carefully protected in a box.

It held the only picture of Julian and me together.

In the photo, I was smiling brightly, and Julian had made bunny ears above my head with his hand.

Julian, usually so serious and stern, had given in to my persistent begging and worn a bunny headband.

Back then, I always thought Julian and I would live like that forever.

I never imagined he would get married.

When I was fifteen, I first heard Julian was going to have an arranged marriage.