Chapter 1

My husband, Julian Blackwood, was paralyzed when he was sixty. I nursed him, cleaning up his messes until he died. The moment he was gone, my stepsister showed up, clutching Julian's video will.

Their heads were practically glued together, eyes brimming with sickening affection:

"The biggest regret of my life was marrying your sister."

"She was a good wife, a loving mother, a free nanny, a baby-making machine, but never my lover."

"I love you. Your fierce brightness, your unrestrained spirit. Since I couldn't marry you in this life, let these assets be my compensation. In the next life, I promise to make you my wife!"

Stripped of my fortune, robbed of love, the rage boiled over, and my heart simply gave out.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in the prime of my youth, with countless suitors from the elite circles.

My stepsister pointed at Julian Blackwood's photo on her phone, fawning over me:

"Sister, only he is worthy of you! I heard his favorite type is the perfect wife and mother, just like you!"

I scoffed, taking a long drag and blowing the smoke right into her smug face:

"The 'perfect wife and mother' act? Can't do it. But sitting down to smoke a few with you? Totally."