Chapter 2

What did Lenora mean by "keeping tragic history from repeating itself"? Could she have been reborn, too?

I was still mulling over her words when a few soft coughs sounded behind me. "Andre."

When I turned around, I noticed it was Jerome Hatfield. He was dressed in a thin sweater, and his complexion was so pale that he looked fragile and worn.

Lenora rushed to his side and looked him up and down with concern. "Are you sick? Why didn't you stay home and rest?"

"I came with Andre," Jerome explained. "Dad said he's getting married to you, and there's so much to handle. He was worried Andre might not be able to handle everything himself."

Lenora took his hand tightly and shot me a sharp glare. "You've gone too far, Andre. He's not feeling well, yet you still dragged him along. I'll never marry you if you can't learn to be considerate."

I laughed in pure disbelief. She was making it seem like I wanted to marry her in the first place.

…

On the day of the birthday party, Lenora and Jerome arrived late.

Jerome's face was flushed, and Lenora's neck was covered in unmistakable kiss marks. The guests cast sympathetic glances my way.

In the past, I would have exploded, stormed over, and demanded answers. After all, one was the woman I had loved for years, and the other was my brother. Yet, neither of them had cared how I felt.

Now, I only glanced at them briefly, then calmly went on chatting with people around me as if nothing had happened.

When I looked their way, Lenora protectively pulled Jerome behind her and guarded him.

She must have expected anger, questions, and even violence from me, but I remained still and did nothing.

She forced an awkward smile and scoffed. "Andre, are you just pretending to be magnanimous because you're afraid I won't marry you?

"Well, I guess that's for the best. After all, there's no way I'd settle for just one man after I become the city's wealthiest person.

"Since you're being so understanding, I'll give you a gift."

She reached into her bag and produced a box. But just as she was about to hand it to me, Jerome snatched it away.

"Isn't this the prized Patek Philippe watch? I heard it's impossible to buy even with money. I'm so jealous—Andre is really lucky."

Lenora immediately took it back. "Jerome, do you like it? Then it's yours."

Jerome waved it off, though his eyes never left the watch. "That wouldn't be right. Today is Andre's birthday, and you're his fiancee. No matter how you look at it, giving it to me seems inappropriate."

The envy in his gaze was impossible to miss.

Lenora's heart softened further, and she insistently shoved the watch into his arms. "Just keep it. As for Andre, I could give him anything at all, and he'd treat it like a treasure."

That line drew quiet laughter from the crowd.

Old, buried memories stirred awake, and a wave of humiliation washed over me.

In the past, I treasured anything Lenora gave me like a priceless heirloom.

Once, she became obsessed with fishing and would tag along with others on their trips. When she ran into me on her way back, she casually handed me the fish she had caught.

I couldn't bear to eat it, so I built a pond in the backyard and raised it there. I checked on it several times a day, terrified it might die if I wasn't careful enough.

The old gardener peered at the fish through his reading glasses and studied it for a long time. "This isn't even a rare species. Why does Andre like it so much?"

The housekeeper quietly chuckled. "It was a gift from Ms. Bray, so of course, he treasures it."