Chapter 2

Leaving my father’s hospital room, my mind was still a jumble.

In my hand was the will my father had written in advance, and my heart bled.

Around the corner, I pressed the elevator button.

The doors opened, revealing my four childhood friends.

“Chloe, we heard! Who did you choose?”

The liveliest of them, Finn, practically bounced up to me, hooking his arm through mine, practically bursting with curiosity.

Owen, beside him, pulled him back. “It’s not like she’d pick you, why even bother?”

His confident tone made me momentarily disoriented.

Owen was usually the peacemaker, never speaking like that before. Today, he seemed like he’d swallowed a hot coal.

Finn pouted, mumbled, “You’re right,” and looked at the other two behind him.

Leo, usually so gentle and refined, now looked utterly impatient.

Kai leaned lazily against the wall, his gaze on me holding an inexplicable emotion.

Finn shrugged off Owen, then put his arm around my shoulder again.

“So, Chloe, who did you pick? If you didn’t pick me, I’m totally going to start dating!”

I couldn’t help but laugh, ruffling his hair.

“You just turned eighteen, what dating? Go focus on your studies first.”

Owen scoffed. “Chloe, just tell us. Stop playing games. Don’t let this kid waste his time daydreaming.”

I nodded, about to speak, when Leo suddenly stepped forward, bending slightly.

“Please forgive me, but I can’t marry you.”

In an instant, my heart gave a violent jolt.

In my previous life, I had taken my father’s will to Leo, telling him I wanted to marry him, and he had simply smiled and agreed.

Now, he was refusing me first.

Meeting Leo’s resolute gaze, I understood in a flash: he had also been reborn.

So this time, he wasn’t even willing to fake his death; he was rejecting me from the very start.

Even though I’d already decided to give up on him, a small, uncontrollable pain still spread through my heart.

I forced myself to speak calmly.

“How do you know I would have chosen you?”

Leo averted his gaze, scoffing.

Finn, sensing the tension, laughed nervously.

“Who doesn’t know you two were practically joined at the hip back in high school? Leo, stop pretending, you’re going to overdo it and Chloe might actually not marry you.”

His intention was to lighten the mood and break the awkward silence, but it backfired spectacularly.

Leo stood his ground, instead stating firmly:

“I’d rather leave the Sterling family than be forced into a marriage.”

Everyone froze at his words.

Owen frowned deeply.

“All four of us were raised by Mr. Sterling. His kindness is heavier than a mountain. What do you mean by this?”

Kai, who had been leaning against the wall, finally spoke, his voice dripping with disdain.

“What does he mean? Obviously, he already has someone else in mind, and that person isn’t Miss Sterling.”

Looking at Leo’s pained expression, I laughed, furious. Was being with me really so unbearable?

I was on the verge of blurting out:

I didn’t pick you.