Chapter 1

Marcus' POV

My adoptive father, Benedict Dempsey, stood on the stage, his face beaming with delight.

"Today isn't only Elena's 22nd birthday. It's also the day she'll choose the man she wants to marry. The Dempseys and the Haysworths have been close for generations, and we've watched Marcus and Julius grow up."

He turned to his daughter, Elena Dempsey. "Go on, Elena. Tell us who you choose."

Beside him, Elena's mother, Yolanda Burke, smiled warmly. "I'm sure she'll choose Marcus. He's always been mature and dependable. He's helped Elena through more situations than I can count."

Whether it came to academics or ability, I was far ahead of Julius.

In fact, the Dempseys had already assumed Elena would choose me.

The same scene had played out on this very day in my previous life. Without the slightest hesitation, Elena chose my younger brother, Julius Haysworth.

I buried my feelings for her and decided to enroll at the university farthest from Jarrow. Once I left, I never intended to come back.

But that very night, Elena was involved in a horrific car accident that left both of her legs shattered.

At the hospital, Julius ruthlessly tore up their engagement agreement and fled before morning.

Elena clenched her fists but didn't say a word. She simply let him go.

Then, everyone turned to me.

Under the weight of their silent expectations, I agreed to marry her. I wanted to repay Benedict and Yolanda for raising me, but part of me was also clinging to the pathetic hope born from my one-sided love.

I gave up my guaranteed admission to Calton University and married Elena after she lost the use of her legs.

For ten long years, I waited on her hand and foot, helping her use the bathroom and cleaning up after her whenever she couldn't manage on her own.

Yet, the moment she learned to walk again, she brought Julius home and tried to throw me out. She even forged a psychiatric evaluation and drove me to my death by forcing me to jump from a building.

The memories faded, bringing me back to the present.

By the time I came to my senses, Elena had already wrapped her arms tightly around Julius' arm.

"Mom, Dad, I choose Julius."

Shocked whispers rippled through the room.

Yolanda froze. "Elena, did you say the wrong name? Marcus is—"

"I didn't!" Elena cut her off sharply. "I would never choose Marcus Haysworth. Not in this life or the next!"

She tightened her grip on Julius' arm, a smug smile curling on her lips.

"Dad, now that I've chosen Julius, Marcus shouldn't keep living with us. Give him some money and make him move out by the end of the day. From now on, he'll have nothing to do with the Dempsey family or the Haysworths' businesses. I never want to see his face again!"

Her words were ruthless.

Benedict's brows furrowed. "Elena! What has gotten into you? We raised Marcus, too. You can't just throw him out!"

"If we let him stay, who knows what he might do behind our backs?" Elena sneered. "I'm only trying to keep this family safe."

I raised my head and met her gaze.

Her eyes were filled with disgust and suspicion, along with a trace of hatred.

Suddenly, it all made sense.

She had been reborn, too.

In our previous life, after Elena regained the use of her legs, she bought into Julius' lies.

She became convinced that I had bribed the driver to cause the accident because I wanted her for myself, deliberately destroying her legs in the process.

She also believed I had schemed to drive Julius away so I could steal his place beside her.

That was why she hated me so deeply.

When I saw the way she looked at me, as though I were dangerous and she couldn't get far enough away, the weight that had been pressing on my chest suddenly lifted.

Until that moment, I had still been debating whether I should prevent the devastating accident that would happen tonight.

But Elena was determined to believe that everything would fall back into place as long as she stayed away from me.

So, I would give her exactly what she wanted.

"Alright," I said.

Elena visibly faltered, and her brows drew together.

I stepped forward and stood tall, my voice calm. "Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey, Elena is right. Now that she's made her choice, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to stay."

Ignoring everyone's stunned expressions, I turned and headed upstairs.

The moment I opened my bedroom door, a sense of relief washed over me.

I packed several changes of clothes, along with the few keepsakes my biological parents had left me.

As for the luxury watches and sports cars the Dempseys had bought me over the years, I didn't touch a single one.