Chapter 3

The words caught in my throat.

In my previous life, I was depressed for seven years because of him. This time, I at least deserved to make him suffer for a few days.

I curved my lips before speaking.

“There’s no definite answer yet as to who I’ll marry. I’ll announce it at my birthday party three days from now.”

The four men exchanged glances.

Finn pouted.

“Chloe, you’re being so boring. Everyone knows who you want to marry, right?”

Kai leaned against the wall, a cold smirk on his face.

“Honestly, he’s already made it clear, and you’re still clinging to him?”

Leo’s back was ramrod straight, his gaze towards me filled only with displeasure.

Owen, seeing the situation escalating, sighed.

“We’ll all be there. We won’t miss your birthday.”

“Of course not. Who dares to miss it? I’ll make sure they can’t set foot in this city again!”

I said the last sentence with a smile, and everyone’s faces changed.

Leo looked at me in disbelief, shouting, “You!”

I pushed past them and entered the elevator.

Before the elevator doors closed, I caught a glimpse of a dark, brooding gaze.

It was Kai.

I curved my lips. Actually, this was good.

Killing two birds with one stone. I didn't mind making everyone I disliked squirm this lifetime.

Stepping out of the hospital, the sun was bright, cicadas chirped in the summer heat. Everything felt right.

But as I reached my parking spot, I saw the person I hated most leaning against my pink Maserati—Tiffany.

The woman stood with her neck stiff, clad in a white dress, the epitome of affected innocence.

I walked past her, coldly saying, “Move.”

Her eyes immediately reddened. “Chloe, I just wanted to ask how Uncle is doing.”

I curved my lips. “You want to see my dad? You’re not worthy.”

Tiffany was just a distant relative of my father's, the illegitimate daughter of some obscure cousin. He'd taken her in, but she always clung to me.

Back then, I was so naive, I thought I’d found a true friend. It wasn't until much later that I realized what a fool I'd been. She only ever got close to me because of Leo.

Hearing my sarcasm, tears streamed down her face.

“Chloe, are you still mad because Leo took me to the hospital the other day? He was just so worried about me, please don’t be angry with him.”

At her words, I frowned, racking my brain to remember. Indeed, something like that had happened in my previous life.

My father had been hospitalized for days. I hadn’t visited, not because I didn’t miss him, but because I had a severe cold.

That night, I suddenly developed a high fever. Struggling, I called Leo, and he promised to pick me up.

But by morning, there was no sign of him.

Fortunately, Mr. Jenkins found me and rushed me to the emergency room. The doctor said another hour and I might have suffered permanent brain damage from the fever.

While I was on an IV drip, I heard a nurse say:

“The patient in the next room is so lucky. Her boyfriend was so frantic, rushing her to the hospital in the middle of the night, all because she scraped her leg a little.”

“I know, right? And I heard he’s from the Sterling Group. What a catch!”

Just then, Leo appeared at the doorway. The two young nurses exchanged glances, whispering:

“That’s him.”

What was my reaction then? I couldn’t remember.

Probably jealousy.

But at that time, I hadn’t realized Leo had already been secretly involved with her.

Now, facing Tiffany’s provocation, I simply curved my lips. “Whether I’m mad at him or not is none of your business.”

My words implied she wasn't important enough to intercede.

Tiffany’s face changed. She suddenly grabbed my sleeve, her expression twisted.

“Leo’s heart only belongs to me!”

I impatiently shook off her hand.

But then, as if struck by a powerful force, I suddenly fell to the ground with a loud “thud.”

“What are you doing?!” A furious shout rang out behind me.