Chapter 002

Claire wasn't afraid of her. She just stood there, coldly watching.

From the moment she severed ties, Claire would never tolerate their abuse again.

If Rachel dared come at her, Claire would beat her until she was crawling on the ground looking for her teeth.

But Claire didn't get the chance.

The second before Rachel lunged, two bodyguards from the wedding procession stepped in front of Claire, shielding her.

Rachel got even angrier and opened her mouth to curse again.

Claire stared at her coldly. "Rachel, you'd better shut that filthy mouth of yours. Say one more word about my husband, and I'll tear it apart."

With that, Claire turned and walked toward the wedding car.

Keller, the Yost family butler who'd come to escort the bride, watched the scene unfold with growing admiration. His eyes practically gleamed.

Everyone else who heard the rumors about Ethan either feared him or despised him.

Claire was the first woman who'd defended him so fiercely.

Keller respectfully opened the car door and gestured. "Mrs. Yost, please."

……

By now, the scene of Claire defending Ethan had already reached his ears.

Begonia Villa, second-floor study.

Max had watched the video his subordinates sent over and over again. He turned to Ethan excitedly. "Mr. Yost, look at this. The way Mrs. Yost stood up for you was absolutely incredible."

Even the usually stoic Leo couldn't help glancing at the video. It was impressive.

Ethan ignored them. He sat in his office chair, flipping through a file.

Claire's personal profile.

Claire, adopted daughter of the Sullivan family. Eighteen years old. Obedient and filial, never disobedient to her family, always compliant with the Sullivan family's every demand.

Would someone like that turn against Rachel and make an enemy of her for the sake of a crippled stranger she'd never met?

Unlikely. She had to have an ulterior motive.

Ethan closed the file and turned toward the window, watching the wedding procession pull into Begonia Villa. A cold smile curved his lips.

……

Claire sat on the sofa in the first-floor living room, waiting quietly.

Knowing she'd see Ethan any moment now, she couldn't control her excitement.

Excited and nervous.

Keller tried to reassure her. "Mrs. Yost, don't worry. Mr. Yost is a good man."

"I know."

At the mention of Ethan, Claire couldn't help but smile.

In her past life, she'd also believed Ethan was cruel and twisted. The Sullivan family had brainwashed her into thinking he was a bad person. She'd felt nothing for him.

Especially since Ethan was cold by nature—they barely spoke.

But even under those circumstances, when the Sullivan family bullied her, he still stood up to protect her.

Claire had been blind. She couldn't see his goodness. She threw herself at the Sullivan family, chasing their ridiculous notion of family love, and hurt him multiple times because of it.

The worst time was when he tried to arrange for her to go abroad. She refused, fought with him, told him to stop meddling in her and her family's affairs.

Only when she died did Claire learn that his illness had reached its limit. He wanted to avenge his parents before he died.

That trip would likely be a one-way journey. Ethan wanted to secure her future before he left.

She didn't listen. She thought he was trying to drive a wedge between her and her family, so she went straight back to the Sullivan family.

That became their last meeting.

She'd already failed him so completely. But at his most critical moment, when he learned the Sullivan family had imprisoned her, he still sent everyone around him to rescue her.

Thinking about all of this from her past life made her chest tighten until she couldn't breathe. Her eyes reddened.

Suddenly, the elevator doors opened in the living room, followed by the sound of wheelchair wheels rolling across the floor.

"Mr. Yost!"

The servants called out in unison.

Claire hurriedly pulled herself together and looked up to see Ethan emerging from the elevator.

He sat in a wheelchair with a thin blanket draped over his legs, concealing his lower body.

He wore a light brown knit sweater that clung to his lean, slender frame.

Ethan's face was strikingly handsome but pale—an unhealthy pallor.

Even so, it couldn't mask the innate nobility and commanding presence he carried.

Claire met those deep, cold eyes. Memories from her past life surged through her. Her nose stung sharply, and tears spilled down her cheeks, unstoppable.

The servants froze at the sight.

Had Mrs. Yost been scared to tears by Mr. Yost?

Keller frowned. ''Is this the same person who fearlessly defended Mr. Yost half an hour ago?''

Leo shot Max a sarcastic look. ''This is the woman you said was incredible?''

Max was speechless. ''I misjudged her. Turns out she was just putting on an act.''

They were discussing quietly.

Ethan looked at Claire's tear-streaked face, his expression cold and inscrutable.

After a moment of silence, he spoke coolly. "Send Ms. Sullivan home."

He was about to leave.

But before he could turn around, Claire suddenly rushed in front of him, wrapped her arms around his legs, and shook her head. "I'm not leaving."

Ethan felt a faint tremor in his legs. He frowned at her. "I'm not about to force a woman. Let go."

"No!"

Claire's tone was soft but stubborn. As she spoke, she looked at him with determination, her tear-filled eyes shining brightly.

In this life, she would never leave him again.

Ethan couldn't read her. Wasn't she afraid of him? Then why did her eyes look so bright and resolute?

Just as he was about to speak, Claire suddenly stood, braced her hands on his wheelchair armrests, tilted her head up, and kissed him.

The kiss stunned Ethan completely.

He felt her soft, sweet lips. Shock rippled through him, disbelief flooding his mind.

This woman was kissing him?

On their first meeting?

The servants around them stood frozen in shock.

Max stared, mouth agape, excitedly slapping Leo's arm. "She's forcing a kiss on Mr. Yost?"

Leo remained ice-cold. ''She's asking to die.''

This was Mr. Yost's first kiss. This woman must have a death wish.

But the kiss didn't last long.

In her past life, Ethan had never forced Claire. They'd never been intimate.

So even reborn, Claire had no experience.

She pulled away from his lips, wrapped her arms around his neck, and murmured softly, "Ethan, I missed you so much."

Ethan said nothing.

Saying she missed him on their first meeting?

Either Claire had something wrong with her, or she had an agenda.

He raised his hand, pressed his palm against her forehead, and pushed her back slightly. "Get off."

Everyone around them stared wide-eyed. That's it?

Claire had forced a kiss on him, and he wasn't going to punish her severely?

Claire smiled brightly. "So you agree to let me stay."

Ethan looked at her quietly for several seconds.

In those few seconds, the room fell completely silent.

Claire didn't dare breathe, holding her breath as she watched Ethan.

Ethan withdrew his gaze and said coolly, "Stay if you want. Just don't get this close to me."

Then he prepared to go upstairs.

Leo and Max followed.

As Max pushed the wheelchair into the elevator, he couldn't help asking, "Mr. Yost, this woman seems off. Who knows what she's planning. And you're keeping her around?"

Ethan replied coolly, "Let's see what tricks she's trying to pull."

Max thought to himself, 'You must really have time to kill.'

……

Claire was assigned to a guest room right next to Ethan's master bedroom.

She showered and lay in bed, looking at the familiar surroundings.

She'd lived in this very room in her past life.

The difference was that in her past life, she'd been full of resistance. In this life, she only felt peace.

She could deal with the Sullivan family slowly. Right now, the most important thing was Ethan's legs.

In her past life, she'd never cared about him. The poison in his system grew worse and worse until it spread to every organ in his body. Even her medical skills couldn't save him.

Fortunately, in this life, there was still time.

She was confident she could make him stand again.

Lost in thought, she drifted toward sleep.

Suddenly, she heard hurried footsteps outside, accompanied by Max's anxious voice. "Why is Mr. Yost having another episode? That's the seventh time this month. Why are the attacks getting more frequent? Mr. Yost isn't going to be okay, is he?"