Chapter 1: Reborn in the Private Jet

Sam's POV 

The cabin of the private jet hummed gently with a rhythmic vibration that was accompanied by the sounds of cheerful but slightly tipsy chatter from the wedding party in the front lounge. 

The polished and reassuring voice of Mrs. Xavier, the high-end wedding consultant kept ringing in my ears. 

After I had gently lifted the edge of my embroidered silk veil, I shook as I saw the white leather interior and the champagne flutes. 

Finally, I confirmed it. I was indeed in a luxurious private jet that was flying to a private island where my wedding reception would be held.

I subtly raised my hands and observed them. My skin was covered with manicured yet flawless. My nails were perfectly shaped and my slender fingers long and firm.

These were the hands I once had before I lost myself and finally lost my life.

I had been reborn.

My initial panic had subsided. At this moment, I had completely calmed down and accepted the fact.

Thinking about it, now that I was reborn, would I have to go through the withered and desperate life that I lived before, again? 

I couldn't stop myself from shivering. My nails dug into my palms subconsciously and I felt an icy chill!

As I didn't want to relive the bleak desperate and unbearable life of isolation that I lived before, I clenched my fists tightly to hold back the urge of pulling back the curtain that separating me from the main cabin.

Beyond that thin curtain, I knew there was a devastatingly handsome man dressed in a bespoke black tuxedo with a white gardenia pinned to his lapel. He would be busy shaking hands with his business associates at the moment.

That was my husband, Ethan Sterling, the CEO and eldest legitimate son of the Sterling Group, the biggest name in tech investment in the whole country. 

We had never truly met in this life but we were married for four miserable years in my past life.

As I thought about my husband, my heart grew colder and an indescribable feeling of sorrow spread from the bottom of my heart until it gripped my whole body tightly that I could hardly breathe.

I had once walked into the Sterling family mansion with naive dreams and longing but I was welcomed by a series of devastating social and emotional blows that forced me to the brink of despair.

My parents had passed away when I was young. The family business which was a small, respectable Midwestern engineering firm was declining. Marrying into the Sterling family, the most powerful and the richest family in the country was terrifying despite the longing.

I was truly afraid. I was scared of being looked down upon by my formidable mother-in-law and Ethan's polished business partners. Not to talk about my sophisticated sister-in-law. 

I was afraid of being ridiculed by the household staff for my simple, non-designer wardrobe and lack of experience in their advanced world.

*******

Everything about life in the Sterling family terrified me!

The only hope born out of my anxiety was my husband. If he respected and protected me, perhaps my life would be better. To me, he was the life-saving raft, my only reliance!

However, reality was cruel!

He had a lifelong friend and business partner, Gwen Farley. They grew up together. 

In less than two months after my marriage, Gwen took over the role that I thought was mine. She became the undisputed co-hostess of Sterling family functions. 

All my worries and fears came true. My mother-in-law didn't like me and my husband was distant. The household staff pitied me and people spread rumors to mock me as the "small-town trophy wife" even in my presence.

Gradually, I became invisible in the massive family estate as I was forgotten in the remote wing. My heart slowly withered away and my self-worth died and got buried.

That was when I knew that life of total neglect and isolation was more painful than public torture. It was enough to drive any normal person mad. I didn't want it but no one gave ne a chance, not a single person.

I smiled mockingly at the corners of my mouth. I had been so desperate before that I didn't want think about it too deeply. 

Now, as I replayed my past, I was shocked to realize that Gwen pretended to offer me "mentorship" and "friendship" just to cause problems between me and my mother-in-law and husband again and again. She did all that under the guise of wanting to help me fit in the family.

The sweet smiles, the kind laughter and the friendly advice…

How could it all be fake? 

Yet, it was. 

Fake!

She reached out to me and I was so surprised but grateful to her. I accepted her without the slightest doubt just to reap a miserable, gloomy life like a living dead!

"The bride will step off the jet now—"

Mrs. Xavier's sharp and professional voice interrupted my thoughts. The sound of the jet's door opening and the distant cheering of the ground crew grew louder.

It sounded like a perfect day, a billion-dollar wedding!

I was back! I was walking into the Sterling family again to become their daughter-in-law!

My head felt a little dizzy and I felt my heart pounding fast and hard. It was as if it was going to jump out of my throat! 

I took a deep breath and suppressed my racing heart. I extended my slender hand to hold Mrs. Xavier’s. I let her support me as I stepped off the plane and took one end of the white silk ribbon handed to me for the first ceremonial photo.