Chapter 2

I couldn't stop myself from looking at Curtis after hearing what Max said.

Curtis wore a cold expression and looked more impatient than ever. A light breeze swept across his messy bangs, revealing his sharp eyes hidden beneath.

When he realized I was looking at him, a flash of hesitation appeared in his eyes.

A split second later, however, he suddenly blocked my path and bowed his head slightly at me.

"Hazel, I'm already in love with someone else. Can you please not pick me?"

I shuddered when I heard him say that. He hadn't said such a thing in my past life. Could it be possible that he had also travelled back in time with me?

Seeing that I wasn't responding to him, Curtis bowed his head even lower.

"I'm willing to repay the kindness that Commander Falken has shown me over the years by volunteering as a guard at the base perimeter instead."

So, Curtis wasn't even going to give me a chance to marry him in this life.

"Are you telling me that you'd rather risk your life at the borders than marry me?"

Curtis didn't answer me, but it was obvious that his silence was a form of agreement to my statement.

All of a sudden, I felt as though my heart was being squeezed out of my chest. I could barely even breathe. At the height of my pain, however, I suddenly broke out in laughter.

Back then, Dad had already informed the four of them when he adopted them that they would be made candidates for my future husband, and they had all agreed to it.

But now, it was obvious that Curtis was trying to humiliate me in public. He wasn't going to uphold his side of the agreement since he had already gotten what he needed from Dad.

It didn't matter whether it was in my past life or in my current life—Curtis was still as selfish as ever.

I chuckled coldly when I thought of that.

"Dad's already making the arrangements for the wedding. I'll be getting married next month. As for the person whom I've chosen as my husband… You'll find out on the day of the wedding."

The more Curtis was eager to get out of the wedding, the more I refused to tell him of my decision.

Even if he wasn't the person I chose in the end, I still wanted him to be on his toes until the very last second.

With that, I turned to leave. Suddenly, a frail figure appeared and fell to her knees before me.

"Ms. Falken, please let me be with Curt."

I hadn't even managed to get a single word out when Curtis hurriedly pulled Brenda Carlton to her feet and into his arms.

"Hazel Falken! Can't you stop being so overbearing and bullying Bree all the time?"

I was so mad that I could barely stand upright.

This was always the case. I wouldn't even have had the time to say or do a thing before Curtis chided me and pinned the blame on me, whatever it was.

Brenda's eyes were full of glee when she saw that she had succeeded in her mission. She tugged on Curtis' arm and said quietly, "Don't get mad at Ms. Falken, Curt. She's just too in love with you."

I didn't know what she was saying to Curtis. However, my attention was immediately drawn to the silver ring she was wearing on her finger.

That ring belonged to me.

I grabbed Brenda's hand at once and asked, "Where did you get this ring from?"

Brenda's eyes narrowed when I interrupted her. She quickly withdrew her hand and hid it behind her back.

Curtis frowned at once.

"Are you done making a fuss, Hazel Falken? Why must you always snatch away things you like that belong to other people?

"Bree has always had that ring since she was young. I'd only managed to find her because of that ring!"

But that ring once belonged to Mom, and she had left it for me. I had even playfully inscribed my initials inside that ring when I was a kid. I just lost the ring after that. So, how did it now belong to Brenda?

Curtis didn't think much about it.

"And let me make this clear. Bree was the one who saved my life in the past, and she had been wearing this ring then. She's my life savior."

Curtis then shot me a disdainful look. "Unlike some people, who only know how to sleep all day at the base and behave like a leech!"

A leech?

Was he calling me a leech?

Coincidentally for him, I was the one wearing that ring when I saved a little boy's life. And I had gravely injured my leg because of him, which made me unable to run fast anymore.

And now, the person whom I had saved was calling me a leech.

I was just about to defend myself when Brenda suddenly tugged on Curtis' sleeve.