Chapter 2

Maybe it was because Joanna looked so pale, but the moment Theo hung up the phone, he walked over to her, clearly worried.

He took her hand, his eyes filled with love. "Why do you look so pale? Don't worry. I'm not gonna let anything or anyone ruin our wedding."

He gently tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, his voice soft as he reassured her, "Sharon's just the daughter of a neighbor I knew growing up. She means nothing. She won't change anything between us."

That was exactly what he had said in her past life.

Back then, Joanna believed him, so she relaxed and went through with the wedding.

But when Sharon died, Theo blamed her for everything.

He even said that he didn't go up to the rooftop because he was afraid she would be jealous.

Thinking of all that, Joanna swallowed her emotions and replied calmly, "Don't say things you don't mean. A person's life is on the line. You should go talk to her."

Theo looked at her, completely surprised.

Joanna had always hated Sharon. Whenever he met with Sharon privately or had a little physical contact with her, Joanna would give him the cold shoulder.

More than once, she even threatened to break up with him.

So how come she suddenly changed her mind on their wedding day?

Theo had no idea Joanna had already let go of him. He thought she was testing him on purpose.

With a helpless sigh, he said, "What are you talking about? It's our wedding day. If I leave you to go find another woman, how do you think the guests outside will see you?"

Someone knocked on the door then. It was the wedding coordinator, coming to remind them it was time to head to the ballroom.

Theo held Joanna's hand and said gently, "Come on. We don't wanna be late."

But Joanna pulled her hand away.

Theo frowned, clearly annoyed. "What are you trying to do now?"

She didn't get angry. Instead, she calmly reasoned with him. "Your and her family have been close for generations. If something really happens to Sharon, your relationship will be torn apart.

"Besides, you two grew up together, so she's practically family. If anything bad happens to her, you'll blame yourself forever, and I wouldn't feel right either.

"Our wedding is important, but her life matters more. So go."

The tension in Theo's face eased at once.

This time, he really believed her. He pulled her into a tight hug, deeply moved. "I knew I didn't choose the wrong woman. Wait for me. I'll come back and marry you."

Then, without looking back, he rushed off.

Joanna watched him leave, a single tear sliding down her cheek.

She quietly wiped it away and whispered to herself, "But I won't marry you this time."

She walked to the wedding venue alone. By now, everyone had heard that Sharon was threatening to jump.

And they all knew that Theo had left his bride behind to try and save her.

Even the Brooks' elders had gone up to the rooftop. Not one person cared about how the bride felt.

Now, as Joanna stood in the ballroom, guests looked at her with either pity or disdain.

Their voices cut through the air like knives—cold, sharp, and unrelenting.

"Looks like Mr. Brook finally came to his senses. How could an orphan girl ever be good enough for him?"

"Told you he was just toying with her. The one he'd actually marry was always going to be Ms. Cooper."

"They grew up together and are both from powerful families—now that's a perfect match."

"Poor girl. She was this close to her dream wedding, and now it's all gone."

"Well, that's what you get when you're born into the wrong family."

Joanna had long grown used to how this circle worked, how they praised the powerful and stepped on the weak.

But right now, their words still stung.

Joanna's eyes turned red with anger. Everyone thought she was just a poor orphan girl. They all assumed she picked Theo because she wanted to marry into wealth.

But none of them knew that her parents were still alive, and they were every bit as powerful as the Coopers and the Brooks.

In her past life, she refused to go abroad and insisted on staying with Theo. Even when her parents gave her an ultimatum, she didn't give in.

In the end, they cut off contact for a while.

She had planned to officially introduce Theo to them after the wedding.

But once Sharon died in her past life, Theo lost it. He took Joanna's phone, cut her off from the world, and wouldn't let her contact anyone.

Later, her parents finally found the monastery.

But Theo convinced them that she hated them and didn't want to see them, so they left, heartbroken.

Now that she had a second chance at life, Joanna only wanted to stay by her parents' side and make up for all she had lost.

She pulled out her phone and sent her mother a text.

[I've made up my mind. I'll come next month to be with you and Dad. Wait for me.]