Chapter 1
In my last life, my older sister Vanessa rushed to marry Adrian Blackwood.
Adrian was the eldest son of the Blackwood family, one of the most powerful crime families in New York. He was also one of the youngest investment stars on Wall Street.
Most of the Blackwoods' legal money ran through Blackwood Group, and everyone believed Adrian would eventually take control of both the family and its business empire.
After the wedding, Vanessa quickly realized that married life with Adrian was nothing close to what she had expected.
While other newlyweds went on honeymoons, she stayed home reading financial reports. While other wives attended parties, she sat beside Adrian in boardrooms, learning how to judge investments and review acquisitions.
Adrian never tried to cheer her up with expensive gifts or grand surprises. He would put another file in front of her and say, "Read the report and tell me what you think."
If she got the answer wrong, he made her do it again.
Whenever Vanessa complained that she was exhausted, Adrian always gave her the same answer.
"These are your assets too. You need to know where the money comes from and how you could lose it."
Vanessa hated that life.
She often called me after midnight to complain. She said she did not feel married to one of the most powerful men in New York. She said being Adrian's wife felt no different from taking a permanent job under him and never finishing training.
My life was completely different.
I married Ryan Blackwood.
Ryan was Adrian's younger half brother and the son Victor Blackwood openly favored. He was young, handsome, charming, and very good at romance.
If I mentioned that I liked a necklace, it would be waiting on my nightstand the next morning. For one of our anniversaries, he rented an entire private island.
A reporter once asked him which person he found hardest to refuse.
Ryan wrapped an arm around my waist in front of the cameras and smiled. "My wife, of course."
Years later, Ryan became CEO of Blackwood Group.
Adrian stepped away from the family company.
Vanessa eventually divorced him.
She thought that was already the worst ending she could have gotten.
Then my marriage ended too.
Ryan and I divorced, and the man who later asked me to marry him was Adrian.
Vanessa completely lost control when she found out.
The night before my engagement, she set my house on fire.
By the time I reached the hallway, flames had already spread through the house. I could hear Vanessa screaming through the smoke.
"Claire, why does everything I throw away end up becoming yours?"
The fire reached me before I could escape.
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing inside the main sitting room of the Sterling estate.
My father, Henry Sterling, sat on the center sofa. Across from him was a lawyer representing the Blackwood family.
Victor Blackwood had not come in person. Victor was Adrian and Ryan's father, as well as the current head of the Blackwood family.
The lawyer placed two marriage agreements on the table.
"One agreement is for Adrian Blackwood, and the other is for Ryan Blackwood. Mr. Blackwood has approved the marriage alliance between our families."
My father turned to Vanessa and me. "You two can decide which arrangement you want."
"Dad, I already know who I want."
Vanessa cut him off before he could finish.
I turned toward her.
She had already crossed the room and grabbed Ryan's marriage agreement.
"I'm marrying Ryan."
The room went quiet.
My father stared at her. "Vanessa, you've always wanted Adrian."
His surprise made sense.
From the moment the Blackwoods first proposed the marriage alliance, Vanessa had only wanted Adrian. She had said many times that Ryan might be Victor's favorite son, but he cared too much about parties and having fun.
According to her, Adrian was the eldest son, the smartest one in the family, and the only Blackwood man worthy of her.
In our last life, the moment my father put the two agreements on the table, Vanessa had taken Adrian's without hesitation.
This time, she held Ryan's agreement tightly in her hands.
"I changed my mind. Ryan is young, he knows how to enjoy life, and Victor has always favored him. I want Ryan."
My father still looked confused.
Before he could ask another question, Vanessa picked up the pen and signed her name at the bottom of Ryan's agreement.
Only after the last stroke of her signature did her shoulders finally relax.
Then she pushed the other agreement across the table toward me.
"Claire can have Adrian."
She walked past me, then stopped beside my chair.
I saw the satisfaction in her eyes. I knew that look.
At that moment, I understood everything.
Vanessa had been reborn too.
She leaned closer and lowered her voice. "This time, you get the cold workaholic. I hope you enjoy spending your nights with financial reports while your husband is too busy to give you a kiss."
Then she walked away with a smile.
My father looked at me. "Claire, if you don't want this marriage, we can still speak to the Blackwoods."
I noticed Vanessa's shoulders tense. She was listening.
I shook my head. "There's no need. I'll marry Adrian."
Then I reached for the pen and signed my name at the bottom of the agreement.
Claire Sterling.
Vanessa glanced back at me, and the smile on her face grew even brighter.
She had already convinced herself that she had won. This time, she believed the better life would finally belong to her.