Chapter 3

The countless questions running through my mind felt like they were about to make my head explode.

I stood there helplessly, watching Cathy finish loading her luggage and prepare to leave in Brian's car.

Seeing her about to leave, I hurried forward and grabbed her arm.

"Wait, Cat! You can't marry him! Do you think he's a billionaire? He's lying to you! He's not a good man at all—he's just a gambler! If you marry him, your whole life will be ruined!"

I didn't fully understand what was happening right now, but in my previous life, she had genuinely taken good care of my parents on my behalf. Helping her now and stopping her from jumping into this lion's den could be considered me repaying the favor.

Perhaps Brian realized he couldn't trick me anymore, so he convinced the debt collectors to give him a few extra days, and then set his sights on Cathy instead.

After all, Cathy had saved up a decent amount of money running her studio over the years. At the very least, it would be enough to help him through his immediate crisis.

"What do you mean by that, Bridget Dewan?" Brian snapped. "After how devoted and sincere I was to you before, you turn around and slander me like this? What gives you the right to say that I'm a gambler? Just because I gave you the wrong bag?"

"Since things have come to this, I might as well tell you the truth now. I gave you the wrong purse on purpose.

"I'm the head of the Eggert family, the richest family around. That purse was just a test. The Eggerts can't allow a vain, materialistic woman to marry into the family.

"Unfortunately, you failed the test. But Bridget, I really did like you, so I abandoned my principles and kept coming back to you again and again, lowering myself and begging for your forgiveness.

"However, I unexpectedly came to know Cat. Slowly, I realized I had misjudged you. A woman like Cat is my true love.

"So stop making excuses to cling to me. You don't stand a chance anymore."

With that, Brian grabbed my arm and flung me aside.

But I just let out a cold scoff.

"The richest family around? You've got some nerve. Your debts are about to come to light soon, aren't they? Did you really think that just because the real head of the Eggert family keeps a low profile, you could use his identity to scam people?

"But what you didn't count on is that he's already agreed to an interview with our station. I'll be interviewing him tomorrow. Let's see how I expose you then."

Sure enough, a flash of panic crossed Brian's face just as I finished speaking.

I smiled smugly. Ever since coming back this time, I'd been fighting for this interview slot—precisely for this moment.

…

Soon, the day of the interview arrived.

I arrived at the studio early. The person in charge at the station had just said that some photos from the interview would be released that same day. Once they were out, everything would be set in stone. I'd like to see how Brian would be able to keep scamming people with that identity then.

But what I never expected was that when my interview guest finally arrived, that person turned out to be none other than Brian.

"Bree, long time no see. Let me reintroduce myself. I'm the head of the Eggert family, Wesley Eggert."

I froze completely in place.

Of course, I'd heard the billionaire's name before. But in my previous life, right up until I died, Brian had never changed his name. Even on our marriage certificate, his name had been Brian Eggert.

So how could he possibly be the billionaire, the richest man around?

But the station always conducted very strict background checks before arranging interviews. Besides, I'd also heard that the Eggerts never accepted interviews. The only reason they'd accepted this time was that one of our station's executives had some distant family ties with them. And that executive had met Wesley Eggert in person before.

Under those circumstances, there was no way Brian could impersonate him.

So what exactly was going on? The more I thought about it, the more confused I became.

I forced myself to pull it together and muddled through the interview in a daze.

Probably noticing my poor state, Brian deliberately mocked me after we were done. "You don't seem to be in the best condition today, Ms. Dewan. What's wrong? Having trouble sleeping now that we're no longer together?"

"Who are you exactly?" I asked, eyeing him warily.

The memories of my previous life—constantly on the run, always under the threat of death—were still vivid.

I remembered one time when we had to flee on short notice. We had no money at all and had to resort to digging through trash cans just to find something to eat.

If he really was the richest man around, why would we have lived like that back then? But if he weren't, then what on earth was happening right now?

Seeing how guarded I looked, Brian just smiled and answered my question patiently.

"Who else could I be? Didn't I already introduce myself? I'm Wesley Brian Eggert. Brian is my middle name, and that's what most people call me."

I stared into his eyes, unable to speak for a long time.

We'd been together for three years. The face—the person—in front of me was clearly the same one, and yet everything suddenly felt so unfamiliar.

Before I could say anything else, Cathy suddenly burst into the studio.

"Honey, is your interview not done yet? I've been waiting forever outside."

It had only been a day since we last saw each other, yet she and Brian already seemed incredibly close. She affectionately looped her arm through his, leaned into him, and pouted playfully.

I raised my hand to stop her, but after hesitating for a long moment, I slowly let it drop.

Everything now seemed to be unfolding exactly as that inner voice had described.

I didn't even understand the situation myself, so what reason could I give to stop them from being together?

All I could do was fall back on my professionalism and smile as I said goodbye to my interviewee.

But suddenly, my gaze landed on Cathy's hand.

A lightbulb went off in my head—I had a feeling I knew what was going on!