Chapter 1

The lively party fell silent for several seconds, leaving only the priest with an awkward smile on his face.

I had only walked a few steps before someone stopped me.

Alice stood in front of me arrogantly. She forced a smile and said,

"Phoebe, you've admired Andre for so many years. Why are you hesitating now?"

"Jump in. Bring the ring back, and you'll be able to marry into our family."

I looked at her without saying anything.

In my previous life, Alice had said the exact same thing.

Back then, she had stood on the stage with a microphone in her hand, smiling as she told everyone the story of how I had pursued Andre.

The entire crowd had urged me to jump into the sea and retrieve the ring.

The seawater had been freezing cold, and I had nearly died beneath the waves.

When I finally brought the ring back, my entire body had turned pale from the cold, and my teeth had been chattering uncontrollably.

Andre had only glanced at me coldly.

Then he placed his coat around Alice's shoulders and told her the wind was strong and that she should go inside to rest.

Thinking of those memories, I only felt that my past self had been ridiculous.

This time, I would never do such a thing again.

I glanced at the place where the ring had fallen and prepared to walk around Alice.

Andre walked over, his expression dark and unreadable.

He was wearing a black striped suit.

It was the birthday gift I had given him last year.

He had said it did not look good and had never worn it.

Until Alice told him that black looked good on him.

Only then did he take out the clothes.

"Where are you going? Don't keep everyone waiting too long."

Andre's voice was calm, as if he was certain I would jump into the water.

Alice said,

"Maybe Phoebe is too afraid to go in. If she really can't do it, we can have someone else retrieve it for her. We won't blame her."

"With so many cameras watching, I understand why Phoebe doesn't want to embarrass herself by getting soaked."

Her words sounded like a reminder to Andre.

There were cameras everywhere.

If I refused, I would make him lose face.

Andre said indifferently,

"Go down. Nothing will happen."

Nothing will happen.

I sneered inwardly.

In my previous life, I remembered clearly that after I climbed out, I developed a high fever that would not go away and nearly died from an infection.

But to Andre, it was nothing more than a casual sentence.

Everyone around me was watching.

Some people began whispering, convinced that my devotion was so deep that I would definitely retrieve the ring.

"The Don's proposal is truly extraordinary."

"How romantic. She'll retrieve the ring, and then the Don will propose."

I looked around.

There were several cameras installed in every corner.

So my humiliation in my previous life had been witnessed by everyone.

"Don't keep everyone waiting."

Andre glanced at his watch.

A gust of wind blew past, and my ankles turned cold.

I was wearing only a thin dress that barely covered my knees.

I shivered.

Andre noticed.

He took off his suit jacket and walked toward me.

But after Alice gave a soft cough, Andre froze.

Then he placed the jacket over her shoulders instead.

Alice held Andre's hand and smiled sweetly.

Her eyes fell on my wrists, already pale from the cold.

I had always been afraid of the cold.

Yet in my previous life, because of Andre, I deliberately dressed up for him.

Even on snowy days, I wore thin dresses to outdoor parties.

I became sick because of the choices I made.

Nearly dying from a high fever was also my choice.

Even marrying someone who did not love me was my choice.

This time, I would no longer make the same choices.

Alice continued laughing mockingly.

"Make sure you record this properly. Miss Phoebe's touching moment of devotion needs to be captured."

I smiled faintly.

"I never planned to jump."

Everyone's expression changed.

Andre's face darkened.

I walked past him and headed toward the lounge.

Behind me, Andre's voice turned harsh.

"Where are you going?"

His gaze was icy.

"Phoebe, if you leave here today, you will regret it."

I did not look back, and I closed the door

The silence finally returned around me.

Inside the lounge, there were diving suits and life rings prepared.

In my previous life, when I jumped into the sea, no one had ever told me that these things were available in the lounge.

After I retrieved the ring from the water, Andre still showed no reaction.

Later, when I fell seriously ill after catching a cold from the freezing seawater, he only asked the servants to bring me some medicine.

At first, I was grateful.

Until I heard that Alice had caught a cold from the night breeze that same evening.

For her, Andre had summoned the most elite medical team and gathered them all at the manor.

Only then did I realize that the concern he had shown me was nothing more than a small act of charity and It was insignificant.

I had stayed in the lounge for less than ten minutes.

My body had not even warmed up yet.

Then Andre's assistant walked in.