Chapter 3

"This is Mr. Scott's funeral. What are you turning it into with all this racket?" Lucas arrived with his men.

In an instant, the chatter died away.

Fletcher reigned in his temper. "We were talking about Christina's engagement. She just said she might not marry me."

Lucas' eyes searched mine, brimming with quiet anticipation. It was so unlike him, usually so cold and unreadable.

Instead, he made me think of my previous life.

Before I drew my last breath in my previous life, he had cradled my blood-soaked face and wept, his eyes full of grief and regret.

"If I had known it would end this way, I never would have let Fletcher have you."

The look in his eyes broke my heart, and I almost blurted out that I had chosen him this time. However, I remembered Don Quinn's words. "Although you've chosen Lucas, keep it to yourself," he mentioned. "There's too much unrest in the family."

My silence left Lucas disappointed. "Enough. It's her marriage, so the decision is hers to make. Get ready. It's time for the burial."

"Fletcher will always be mine! Don't think marrying him means you'll win his heart!"

Sabrina's spiteful voice startled me, and her gaze told me she believed I was still hopelessly clinging to Fletcher.

I chuckled and couldn't even be bothered to explain.

She mistook my silence for defeat. With a triumphant shake of her arm, she flaunted the bandage Fletcher had wrapped for her. "Even if you have Fletcher physically, you'll never win his heart. The only woman he cares for is me."

I nodded in agreement. "Scums attract scums. Only by staying together can you avoid ruining others."

In my previous life, Fletcher had cheated with Sabrina while I was pregnant. I caught them in bed together.

Furious, Xavier had then cast Sabrina out of the family and stripped Fletcher of all power.

With no money and no influence, Fletcher quickly became worthless to Sabrina. Yet, he blamed me for it all.

In the end, he had even helped her hire killers to murder me and my child.

This time, I wanted to see what fate had in store for them.

"Why you!" Sabrina trembled with rage, but she couldn't lash out. She stormed away in frustration instead.

…

A week after my father's funeral came my engagement banquet. I dressed in haute couture, with flawless makeup, and joy stirred in my heart.

After all, my own happiness is what I'll choose this time.

"There's no point in being all dolled up. Fletcher only has eyes for me." Sabrina's voice rang out. She glittered in a fall-season limited gown.

Anyone who didn't know better would've thought she was the star today.

"Why are you even trying?" I shot back. "No matter how good you look, you're not even the star of the banquet."

Sabrina was stung by my words, thinking that I was flaunting my victory over Fletcher. "Hmph! Don't get smug. This gown here—it's a limited edition. Fletcher compensated me with this and even said he'll give me more in the future."

I didn't bother arguing further. "How touching, but it has nothing to do with me."

Soon enough, she and Fletcher would have their surprise.

But my silence only fed her anger.

"You don't believe me, right? I'll prove it, then! I'll show you who matters more to Fletcher, his shameless fiancée or me!"

Before I understood what she meant, Sabrina dragged me into the pool nearby. "Help me, Fletcher!" she cried out.

At her cry, Fletcher rushed over and pulled Sabrina from the water first. When he moved to dive into the pool again, she clung to him, feigning terror. "Fletcher, I'm so scared. Christina saw the gown you gave me and tried to kill me."

He hesitated after hearing her words.

"That's not true, Fletcher! Save me! I'm terrified of water!" I fought to keep myself afloat, but memories of drowning resurfaced.

That summer, I had risked my life to keep Fletcher afloat, praying that he would survive even if I didn't. I then pushed him to the shore with the last of my strength before the current dragged me under.

I had never recovered from it. Since then, water was my greatest fear.

"Christina, you are wicked! Sabrina had once saved me and nearly died. Yet, you would drown her over a gown?" Fletcher snapped.

Right then, I finally understood why he had brought Sabrina home and cherished her so much. She had stolen my credit for saving him.

Fletcher's face blurred before me.

Was this how I was destined to die in this life?

Regret clawed at me. I hadn't even had the chance to tell Lucas that I had chosen him this time.

…

"Christina? Wake up, Christina!"

I opened my eyes to see Lucas' striking face, etched with panic, hovering above me.

When I stirred, his expression eased, and a smile spread across his face. "Thank God you're safe. Were you frightened?" he asked.

Lucas actually smiled, which left me a bit abashed.

Droplets fell from his hair and down my cheek, thickening the air between us.

At that moment, Fletcher cleared his throat and uttered, "Lucas, isn't it inappropriate to gaze at my woman like that?"

I immediately turned to look at him.