Chapter 1

Dad, who'd always pampered me, went pale and rushed over to feel my forehead.

"Ariel! What are you even saying? He might've been the Roosevelts' eldest and the heir to the richest family in Jastrelle, but he's gone. Don't even think about something that morbid!"

But all the other candidates were Jastrelle's infamous trust-fund brats, guys who lived to gorge and loaf. There was nothing they wouldn't stoop to. I would rather die than marry any of them.

The only man I ever admired, Felix Ledger, sat in the waiting area by the window, making eyes at his adoptive sister, Winnie Ledger. They were practically glued together, looking sweet enough to rot teeth.

"Felix, that bitch won't stop clinging to you. What if she actually picks you?" Winnie asked.

Tears streaked both her cheeks, leaving her small and fragile.

He snorted. "She thinks she has a claim on me just because she saved us when our family collapsed. She's vicious. If she's shameless enough to force me into marrying her, I'll make sure her married life is anything but easy!"

When I remembered how Felix had buried me alive in my last life, shovel after shovel, my resolve hardened.

The Roosevelts' eldest, Raphael Roosevelt, had been aloof and sharp-tongued since we were kids, and we'd never gotten along. But he would never speak again, and a quiet, peaceful life for me didn't sound like a bad trade.

I started to spin the lie. "I'm serious, Dad. Raphael and I practically grew up as childhood sweethearts. I loved him long before this. He died out of nowhere, and I can't accept it.

"I want to marry him now. I'll live as his widow if I must. If you refuse, I'll go after him anyway!"

Dad frowned and pulled me down from the windowsill into his arms. "If you love him that much, I'll speak to the Roosevelts. But how could I bear to marry the apple of my eye to a dead man when you're in your prime?"

I gave him a bleak smile. "We're in a financial bind. Marrying him would serve both ends and ease the pressure on you."

He let out a long sigh and finally nodded. "The accounts are tight, but I'd rather see the family fall on hard times than let you suffer. Still, if you insist, I'll take care of it.

"Since you have no interest in the others, I'll send them away. As for Felix, since you didn't choose him, I'll cut off the support for him and Winnie."

As soon as Dad left to call the Roosevelts, the crowd figured the groom had been decided.

Felix slid an arm around Winnie's waist and came over, icy as ever. "I saw you rig the draw yesterday. If you're set on picking me, I'll hold my nose and marry you for the kindness Mr. Magnussen's shown me.

"But I made Winnie a promise. If I have to marry someone else, my bride will show up in a bridesmaid's dress, and Winnie will wear the wedding gown.

"She cares about looking her best, and she's not getting outshone on a day like this. You're not going to say no to something that simple, are you?"

I gave a helpless smile.

Before the Ledgers adopted Winnie, Felix only had eyes for me. He was a straight-A bookworm, earnest to a fault, and he blushed every time he saw me.

When Raphael and other spoiled heirs tried to mess with me, Felix was the one who stepped in. Raphael mocked him for years as "Felix the simp", but Felix couldn't care less.

Then Winnie showed up, sugar-sweet on the surface and always whispering in his ear. Little by little, I turned into the calculating villain in his head, someone he learned to hate.

With her in his ear long enough, he had even convinced himself I'd orchestrated the Ledgers' collapse just to take advantage of it and force him into marrying me.

I wasn't about to tangle with them. I'd just turned to go when Winnie suddenly dropped to her knees.

"Ariel, Felix just can't let me go. Please don't blame me. I'm begging you, don't bully me like before..."

Felix's eyes went cold. He lifted her with careful gentleness. "Don't be scared. She won't touch you while I'm here."

Then he seized my collar, yanking hard. "Apologize to Winnie—now! Otherwise, I won't agree to this marriage."

I looked down at my phone.

Dad texted, "The Roosevelts agreed."

I smirked and slapped Winnie across the face. "If you want to be bullied so badly, consider it done today!"