Chapter 1
In my previous life, I had three husbands–but none of them loved me. Their hearts belonged to the same woman: Janet Jameson, the butler’s daughter.
Even their dying words were the same: Don’t marry me.
So in this life, I would not waste my time on anyone who does not truly want me.
“If I must marry for the sake of the family, I choose Samuel Lockwood,” I told my parents.
“Samuel? Do you mean the illegitimate son from the northern branch of the Lockwood family? Why him all of a sudden?” they asked, stunned.
Because in his previous life, Samuel Lockwood rose to become the richest man in the world. He topped the Forbes list and dominated the business world like no one else.
If this marriage was about alliances and power, then I would make it
count.
Samuel was the kind of man who offered nothing but upside.
As for love? I had stopped hoping for that.
***
Emma Dalton was reborn on the day her parents laid out profiles of the eldest sons from the three top families in Chicago, asking her to choose
one to marry.
Without hesitation, she shook her head. “I’m not picking any of them.”
Her parents, Brent and Cassandra, were shocked. “Why not?”
“Because…”
Her heart throbbed painfully. She had been married to all three of them in her last life.
In the upper circles, everyone knew the Thompson, Vegara, Vanderpool, and Dalton families were the four powerhouses of Chicago.
Emma, the only daughter among the four, had become the most sought- after bride–each of the other three families wanted to marry into the Dalton family.
In her previous life, when she was choosing her marriage partner for the first time, she chose Isaac Thompson, and she happily thought that she would be happy for the rest of her life.
However, after they got married, he was not at home for 364 out of 365 days a year, not only making her a laughing stock in the circle but also dying in a chain car accident while trying to protect Janet.
Emma had been widowed at a young age, losing her first husband and spending three years alone before being remarried to Anthony Vegara -another match arranged by her family.
However, Anthony never cared about the marriage. To him, Emma meant nothing. In their second year together, he died in a reckless racing accident–all for Janet.
Because of this, people started calling Emma a husband–killer. It was
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not until she turned 30 that she married Mateo Vanderpool.
This time, their marriage was quiet and respectful. They lived peacefully, growing old together–until Mateo fell ill. Before he died, he held her hand and whispered his final wish.
“Emma, if there’s another life, please don’t marry me. I just want to be with Janet.”
It was then Emma realized that all of them had loved Janet.
That was why, before they each died, their last words were always the same, “Don’t choose me for marriage.”
Janet was just the daughter of the Dalton family’s butler. She was neither beautiful nor talented. All she knew how to do was act fragile
and sweet.
Emma never understood how she lost to someone like that. She never knew why the men loved Janet so much that they were even willing to marry Emma just to protect Janet from being used by the family.
Emma spent her whole life watching them love Janet, and her whole life learning one simple truth.
She, Emma Dalton, was never anyone’s supporting role.
She did not want someone who did not want her,
So in this life, she did not pick any of the same men. Instead, she gave her parents a new answer.
“If I’m getting married, I only want Samuel from the Lockwood family.”
Brent and Cassandra were stunned.
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“Samuel? The illegitimate son of the Lockwoods in New York? Why would you want to marry him all of a sudden?”
Because in his previous life, Samuel Lockwood rose to become the richest man in the world. He topped the Forbes list and held massive sway in the business world.
If this marriage was for the family’s benefit, then Emma needed to get the most out of it.
Samuel was a man who came with nothing but advantages.
As for love? She had stopped hoping for that.
Even though Brent and Cassandra were strongly opposed at first, Emma racked her brain to come up with reason after reason.
“New York’s economy is booming, and the Lockwood Group is the most influential family there. Haven’t you always wanted to break into the New York market but had to back off because we didn’t have a foothold? Marrying Samuel is our chance. You’ve even said it yourselves–Samuel is ambitious, sharp, and ruthless. A man like that is bound to achieve great things.”
Emma’s analysis was solid, and they could not find any flaw in her logic.
After weighing the pros and cons, they finally decided to support her choice. They took the initiative to contact the Lockwood family and finalize the engagement.
“Emma, both families have come to an agreement. The wedding will be held in half a month.”
When she heard that, Emma finally felt a bit of relief settle in her chest.
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Time was tight, so Brent and Cassandra hurried to prepare the dowry.
Emma sat alone on the couch, her mind a swirl of thoughts and emotions all tangled up.
Just then, footsteps sounded at the door.
Isaac, Anthony, and Mateo stepped inside, their eyes immediately landing on her.
“Emma, who did you choose to marry?”
They asked in unison, their faces full of tension and seriousness. For a moment, Emma was dazed.
The four of them had grown up together. They were childhood friends who were practically inseparable.
Those three had always treated her like a princess and spoiled her endlessly.
Whatever she wanted, they gave it to her. Whenever she was upset, they comforted her, and whenever she was bullied, they stood up for her first.
Back then, she truly believed that it was because they cared deeply.
In her previous life, when they rushed in with those same questions, she had thought it was because they were excited to be chosen.
Now, she saw it clearly. They were not hoping to be picked, and that was what those expressions meant.
That realization made her heartache. Her chest felt tight as if she could not breathe.
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After a long silence, she finally composed herself, then replied in a low, raspy voice.
“In 15 days, you’ll know who I chose.”
Emma did not budge, still keeping her answer to herself. The three of them were starting to get impatient, clearly eager to press her for more.
However, before she could say anything else, her phone rang.
“Emma, Janet was badly hurt in an accident and she’s in the hospital right now. But there aren’t any available wards. Can you help us?” The tearful voice of the butler, Horace Jameson, trembled through the speaker.
Before Emma could even react, Isaac grabbed the phone from her, his tone tight with concern.
“Which hospital?”
There was a pause on the other end. Then, choking on emotion, Horace named the hospital.
Isaac hung up immediately, turned to Emma, and said, “Don’t worry about it, Emma. I’ll handle the hospital situation. It’s nothing.”
Without missing a beat, Anthony and Mateo also jumped in.
“The hospital’s owned by the Vegara family. I’ll talk to the director myself. Just stay home and rest, Emma.”
“I know some top–tier specialists. I’ll reach out to them, so you don’t need to worry.”
They all claimed they were doing it for her, but Emma knew the truth- they were all just looking for excuses to rush to Janet’s side.
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How had she missed it before? Their feelings had been right in front of her the whole time.
As she watched their backs disappear out the door, Emma gave a faint, bitter smile.
Then she turned away, walked back to her room, and quietly began packing everything related to them.
By the time she finished, night had fallen. She picked up her phone and saw Janet’s newest post on her feed.
“Another day of being doted on by the three powerful men.”
Attached was a selfie from the VIP ward.
She was sipping Mateo’s signature soup while Isaac’s watch sat neatly on the bedside table. Meanwhile, Anthony’s jacket was draped over the chair beside her.
Emma tapped “Like” on the post, then looked at the three boxes she had just packed.
Each box held the gift she had received at 18–one from Isaac’s father, one from Anthony’s mother, and one from Mateo’s grandfather. All three were heirlooms from the three families.
Whichever one she chose to keep would symbolize her family’s decision on which family to form a marriage alliance with.
Now, her marriage had already been decided and it was time to give her an answer.
Emma called a courier to her home and handed the three boxes to him.
“Please mail these out separately–15 days from today.”
