Chapter 1

"Chloe, Seraphina, your marriages are settled."

"Seraphina will marry General Marshall. Chloe will marry Ethan Vance."

The moment I opened my eyes, I knew I'd been reborn. It was the day before our weddings.

In my past life, we'd both ended up in tragedy. Seraphina was gentle and timid. She married General Alexander Marshall, a cold military man who was always stationed overseas. His adopted sister Sophia bullied her constantly, wearing her down day by day until my sweet sister withered away into depression and died alone in that cold, loveless house.

I married Ethan Vance, a conservative business tycoon. My fiery temper clashed with his family's suffocating rules. We fought constantly, bitterly, until we divorced in a messy public scandal that humiliated both families.

Two sisters. Two tragic endings.

This time, I was going to change everything.

"I want to swap fiancés with Seraphina," I said without hesitating.

"Absolutely not!" Seraphina's face went pale. "General Marshall is always stationed overseas. You'd barely see him. You'd be alone most of the time. Your personality would never handle that!"

But I'd already thought it through. "First, my security company needs military contracts. The Marshall family's connections are exactly what I need. A political marriage is perfect. We both get what we want, no strings attached. Second, Ethan is mild-mannered. He wants a quiet, stable life. He's a much better match for you."

Seraphina's eyes welled up. She grabbed my hands, her grip trembling. "Chloe, don't sacrifice yourself for me. I'm your older sister. I should be protecting you."

"This isn't a sacrifice. It's the perfect solution." I patted her hand. "Trust me."

My father studied me for a long moment, then sighed heavily. He knew better than anyone that once I'd made up my mind, nothing could change it.

"Fine. But you're going to have to handle the Marshalls yourself."

The next day, I boarded a private jet to Washington.

When I landed, a black SUV with military plates was waiting on the tarmac.

The Marshall estate was impressive. Red brick, white columns, manicured lawns, uniformed guards standing at attention by the gate like statues.

The butler, a retired sergeant major with leathery skin, led me into the living room.

Alexander and Sophia were already there.

Sophia was immaculately made up, dressed to the nines. She pinched her nose dramatically the moment I walked in.

"What's that smell? Did you fall into a sewer?"

Her eyes glittered with malice. She was clearly expecting me to cower.

If Seraphina had been in my place, she'd have been flustered, probably apologizing for breathing wrong.

I didn't even glance at Sophia. I looked straight at the man in uniform with the cold, sharp eyes and the five stars on his collar.

"I'm Chloe Romano. Your fiancée."

"If you respect me as your future wife, you won't let an outsider humiliate me like this."

Alexander raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised I'd called him out.

Sophia's face twisted. "I'm Alexander's sister, not an outsider! I was just joking. Can't you take a joke?"

In my past life, my sister had been destroyed by those exact words. Just joking. Every insult, every cruelty, every act of malice brushed off as a joke. Seraphina had been too gentle to fight back.

I cut Sophia off impatiently. "This is between my husband and me. You don't get a say."

I held Alexander's gaze, waiting. If he was going to let Sophia get away with this, I'd have to reconsider this marriage.

His sharp eyes studied me. When I didn't back down, the corner of his mouth twitched, almost like he was fighting a smile.

"I'll have Sophia apologize."

Sophia's face went slack. "But Alexander—"

"Apologize," he said again, his voice brooking no argument.

She opened her mouth to refuse, but one look at his cold expression made her swallow her words.

"I'm... sorry," she muttered through gritted teeth, then ran off crying.

I handed Alexander the marriage contract. "Here are the terms. If everything looks good, I'd like to go to my room and rest."

He flipped through a few pages, then looked up at me with those unreadable eyes.

He nodded toward the butler. "Take Mrs. Marshall to the master bedroom."

Mrs. Marshall.

Hearing those words from his lips made my heart skip, just for a second.

I pulled myself together quickly. After the disaster of my first marriage, this time around was strictly business. No feelings. No attachments. Just a clean, mutually beneficial arrangement.

Three days later, we had the engagement party on the estate lawn.

The guest list was impressive. Defense Department officials, major military contractors, all the important people who could make or break careers with a single phone call.

I walked in on Alexander's arm, and every eye in the room turned to us.

"The bride is stunning."

"They're a political match, sure, but they actually look like they belong together."

"Did you see the way she walked in? Most women would be trembling next to him."

Sophia looked like she was chewing glass. Then she spoke up, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Brother, you and Chloe are just a political match. You won't abandon me now that you're married, will you?"

She turned on the waterworks, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Chloe hates me. Once she becomes the lady of the house, I'm afraid I won't even be allowed through the front door anymore."

Whispers rippled through the crowd. Everyone was looking at me like I was some kind of wicked stepmother.

I glanced at Alexander. He said nothing, his face unreadable.

In my past life, I'd have thrown my drink in his face and walked out.

Instead, I took a deep breath and smiled.

"Sophia's right about one thing. The General and I don't have a romantic foundation. This is a political marriage."

I raised my glass, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I want his connections. He wants someone who can hold her own. We laid our cards on the table like adults. That's how things should be done."

The crowd went silent. Even Sophia was stunned.

"As for Sophia," I said, turning to her with a smile that didn't reach my eyes, "everything you've eaten and worn your whole life came out of the Marshall family accounts. The General raised you. You were never mistreated, never neglected, never wanted for anything. And now that he's married, you're crying that he's abandoned you?"

"In the adult world, nobody owes you anything. Next time you want to cry, do it in your own room. Don't embarrass the Marshall family at our wedding by making a scene like a spoiled child."

Dead silence.

Sophia's tears hung on her face. She didn't know whether to stay or leave. She shot a desperate, pleading look at Alexander.

Finally, he spoke.

"Sophia. You're an adult now. Learn to follow the family's rules."

Sophia froze on the spot, her face going pale.

I raised my glass, feeling a surge of satisfaction.

Then Alexander leaned down and murmured in my ear, so low only I could hear.

"Happy now, Mrs. Marshall?"

His breath brushed against my ear, and a shiver ran down my spine.

We'd agreed it was just business. But something was shifting between us, something I didn't have a name for yet.