Chapter 1
I grew up living entirely in the shadow of my older sister, Melody.
Everyone in the families' inner circle adored her and went out of their way to protect her.
She had no idea I'd been given a second chance at life and sent back to the past.
Just as she had in my previous life, she put on a sweet smile and insisted that I choose my future husband first. To everyone watching, she looked thoughtful and generous.
This time, I said no.
Back then I was naive and bought every bit of her performance.
I married the guy she pushed onto me, Dalton Voss. Word went around he'd gotten caught in an ambush and could no longer walk.
I gave up my inheritance rights and devoted myself to caring for him.
I became his crutch, the person he relied on whenever he felt lonely. No matter how much care and warmth I poured into him, his heart stayed completely cold.
The truth came out at Melody's baby shower.
A hitman from a rival clan lifted his gun and aimed straight for her pregnant belly. The man who supposedly hadn't stood for years jumped right to his feet.
He shoved me in front of the gun. Seven shots struck my abdomen, leaving me unable to have children.
As I collapsed, he pulled Melody against his chest and took the final shot meant for her.
That was when everything clicked for me.
He was never paralyzed. His family never cast him aside.
He had faked the disability because Melody loved another man, and he didn't want to be trapped in a marriage with me.
"I'm sorry, Zara," he told me. "I lied to you. But I could not let Melody lose the baby she carries. I will pay you back in our next life."
When my eyes opened again, I was right back on the day our father told my sister and me to choose our marriage partners.
This time, I chose no one.
"You should go first, Zara. You're the delicate one. You need a powerful family to protect you," Melody said in the same sweet tone she had used in my previous life, playing the caring older sister for everyone watching.
But her eyes gave her away. They stayed fixed on Jett Mercer, heir to the Mercer family, and the longing in them was impossible to miss.
Rumors had circulated in underworld circles for years that Melody and Jett were secretly involved.
Dad would surely reserve Jett as a match for her.
In my previous life, I stepped aside to keep Melody happy and chose Dalton Voss, who was supposedly confined to a wheelchair.
I thought I was doing the right thing. Instead, I walked straight into a living hell.
I could still relive my final moments.
I remembered collapsing to the floor after the shots, barely able to move.
Dalton's medical team burst into the room. They never even glanced my way.
Every single one rushed over to Melody, who only had tiny scratches.
She huddled in Dalton's arms, trembling. "Dalton, it hurts... this is my fault. I shouldn't have shaken off the guards just to get under Zara's skin..."
The family elders couldn't stop praising her. They called her such a kind‑hearted girl for not blaming her sister even while hurt.
All the attention and sympathy went to her. I lay on the cold floor, dying and forgotten.
I had nearly bled out by the time she suddenly 'remembered' I existed and screamed for the doctors.
"Help Zara! What are you all waiting for? Move!"
Her tears glistened under the lights. That was the moment I finally saw through her act.
That's why I laughed when Dad turned and asked who I wanted to marry.
"Since Melody is being so considerate, I will not hold back. I want Jett."
"What?" Melody's pretty smile vanished. Her eyes instantly filled with tears. "Zara, you know full well what Jett and I have together..."
Dalton's head snapped up, shock widening his eyes.
Then Dad slapped me hard across the face. The crack echoed through the room.
"Look at yourself! Jett is the Mercer family heir. Do you truly believe someone like you, an illegitimate daughter, could ever marry him? You know he cares for your sister, and you pick him on purpose. Are you trying to drive Melody over the edge?"
A thin trickle of blood ran from the corner of my mouth. Even so, I couldn't stop smiling.
"Father, if you already made up your minds, why pretend I get a real vote? Are you scared people will call you unfair?"
Melody's eyelashes fluttered. Her tears rolled down perfectly on cue.
"Zara, do not talk like that. Dad loves you too. How can you accuse him so wrongly?"
In the middle of our argument, Dalton braced his hands on the wheelchair's armrests and stood up.
"Don Reyes, I have a business proposition. I know your arms business is in trouble. I'm willing to invest five million dollars to help you through the crisis. I have one condition: you agree to let me marry your eldest daughter."
I glared hard at Dalton. Disbelief burned hot inside my chest.
I never imagined the man who faked being disabled for years would choose this exact moment to stand.
He caught my furious stare. A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes before he looked away fast.
My heart skipped a beat.
He had also gotten a second life.
Even after watching me die in our previous life, he still refused to let Melody belong to another man. He was willing to use his strongest bargaining chip to get her.
The second Dad heard the money offer, all his anger vanished. Greed lit up his eyes.
His whole plan was marrying his daughters off to strengthen family alliances. He would never throw away such a golden chance.
Besides, the Voss family was far more powerful than the Mercers. Dalton's interest in Melody was a stroke of luck for Dad.
"Fine," Dad answered without hesitation. "If Dalton is head‑over‑heels for Melody, then Zara, you will marry Jett."
Jett jumped straight to his feet.
Sneering with clear disgust he spoke. "You think I would marry you, Zara? Come on, look in a mirror. You cannot hold a candle next to Melody. Stop making a fool out of yourself."
