Chapter 2

“Congratulations to Cora for winning with a speed of 0.09 seconds and becoming Jasper's chosen one.”

The host's fervent announcement brought a smile to Jasper's face on stage.

Today should have been our engagement celebration, yet to be with Cora, he staged a "fastest fingers first" event.

Ninety-nine women each with a tablet; the fastest would join the Jasper Family as a wealthy wife.

This move clearly disregarded our previous engagement.

In my past life, I desperately stopped this spectacle with the agreement between my late parents and the Jasper Family, forcing him to honor the engagement.

But it ended in tragedy for me.

Now, with a new lease on life, amidst the mocking gazes, I stepped forward, took Cora's hand, and placed it in Jasper's.

“Congratulations.”

With that, I turned and left the stage.

Jasper seemed taken aback by how smoothly things went and only after a long pause did he remember to pick up the microphone, announcing, “Thank you all for witnessing the moment I chose my destined one.”

Hearing his words, I merely curled my lips in irony.

The term “destined” was truly galling when applied to them.

The tablet's program had been preset; no matter how fast the other candidates were, they were doomed to lose.

I sat below the stage, witnessing their entire ceremony.

Throughout, Jasper's gaze frequently glanced my way, unsure if I truly agreed to the annulment so easily.

I certainly wouldn't let it go. Having been reborn, I intended to make them pay dearly for their wrongs.

As the ceremony concluded and Jasper and Cora exited, I stepped forward to block Mr. Jasper's path.

“Uncle, isn't your family being too oppressive?”

Guests were leaving, but my voice was loud enough for those in the front rows to pause.

“Ah, this Lark Family girl is truly pitiful. Lost her parents early, and now a nanny's daughter has stolen her fiancé.”

“With no one left in the Lark Family, is she still a lady?”

“The Jasper Family is bullying Maeve because she's all alone.”

“Even lost her job at the hospital because of them... poor girl!”

...

With murmurs behind me, I stood straight.

“Uncle, though my parents are gone, the marriage agreement with the Jasper Family is signed.”

“It was only because of that agreement that my mother handed over the pharmaceutical company to you, and now you're breaking it...”

Before I could finish, a sharp voice interrupted.

“You little brat, how two-faced can you be?”

“In front of guests, you pretended to congratulate Cora and Jasper, now you're playing dirty behind their backs.”

I looked at the familiar face holding a newborn, sneering.

It was Nora, my former nanny and Cora's mother.

A year ago, she had a son with a small businessman in the capital, not marrying him but living as a wealthy woman, no longer needing to serve others.

Now that Cora had latched onto the Jasper Family, she was in her prime.

Those who once looked down on her had to call her Mrs. Nora.

Now, holding a child, she had no filter.

“Look at yourself, cursed by fate, killing your parents and even Jasper's grandmother because of you.”

“You still want to marry Jasper? Aren't you afraid of cursing him to death?”

I scoffed at her, as if I'd snatch her golden goose, and said, “Who says fulfilling the marriage agreement means marrying Jasper? Doesn't the Jasper Family have another son?”