Chapter 4

Mom’s expression softened slightly. “Owen, you know as well as we do that the Herbert family has incredibly high standards for a marriage partner. We are doing this for the sake of the family business.”

Owen lowered his gaze, his dark eyelashes casting shadows as he intensely pondered something.

“If I manage to save the company in the future,” Owen asked quietly, “does that mean she won’t have to go through with the marriage alliance?”

My adoptive parents exchanged a tense, conflicted look.

“Well... that is…”

“I don’t mind it at all.”

I spoke up to break the heavy silence, bowing politely to them.

“Mom, Dad, thank you so much for placing your trust in me. Please don’t worry—I promise I will never fall short of your expectations.”

In my previous life, just to scrape together enough money to study abroad, I had to work three jobs simultaneously while aggressively forcing myself to study. I survived on a mere four hours of sleep every single day.

Those days were ten thousand times more brutal than anything I faced here. At the very least, I didn’t have to stress over basic food and clothing in this mansion.

Furthermore, the advanced training courses listed on that tablet were resources someone my age could never dream of accessing in my past life. Having such an abundance of wealth and opportunity handed to me was exactly what I wanted.

A look of deep admiration flashed across my adoptive parents’ eyes.

I could hear both of their minds echoing the same thought. They were secretly thinking that they hadn’t expected me to be so driven, and that they had truly stumbled upon an absolute treasure this time.

Over the next few weeks, I completely immersed myself in the high-intensity academic lifestyle.

Unsurprisingly, I passed the entrance exams with flying colors and got accepted into the same prestigious international university from my past life. What I didn’t expect, however, was running straight into Serena on campus.

Serena was wearing a faded, washed-out shirt. She looked visibly thinner and worn down. Standing beside her was a young boy a few years her junior, struggling to haul her heavy luggage.

It was Marcus, my younger brother from my previous life.

The two of them were dragging the heavy suitcases under the scorching, blazing sun, completely drenched in sweat.

Seeing the small army of elite servants surrounding me, a sharp flash of jealousy cut through Serena’s eyes.

“Dear Hill, how have you been living in that wealthy household?” Serena asked, forcing a sweet, caring smile onto her face. “Does your new family treat you well?”

Though she played the role of a doting sister on the outside, her inner thoughts actively screamed a completely different story.

Serena thought to herself, “So what if you have money? I bet that suffocating, strict family environment has already exhausted you to death. Enjoy this brief moment of showing off while you can, because I’m the one who’s going to win the global research award later!”

Marcus handed her a bottle of water he had already uncapped for her. “Here. Have some water and take a quick break.”

Taking the bottle, Serena immediately puffed up her chest with unearned pride.

“Look at how obedient and sweet my little brother is. Isn’t he just a darling?” Serena bragged, looking at me sideways. “If you’re jealous, I can always have him take you in as an adopted older sister. That way, you can finally experience what true family affection actually feels like.”

I didn’t even bother wasting my breath on her.

Behind me, the car door clicked open. Owen stepped out of the luxury vehicle, holding a beautifully wrapped enrollment gift in his hands.

“Thank you, Owen,” I said, offering him a sweet, radiant smile as I accepted the box.

Owen seemed a bit flustered and shy, immediately averting his eyes to hide his blushing face.

Serena’s eyes nearly popped out of her head the moment she locked sight on the exquisitely packaged little box.

“He actually bought you a gift?! That’s impossible!” Serena shrieked, instantly stepping forward to grab it. “There must be a venomous snake or something horrible hidden inside that box!”

Before her hands could even touch the packaging, Owen instantly threw himself in front of me, roughly shoving her away.

“Scram,” Owen muttered.

He uttered only a single word, his dark gaze radiating pure, unadulterated hostility as he glared down at Serena.

I deliberately opened the elegant little box right in front of Serena’s face.

“Wow! It’s the exact necklace I’ve been wanting for the longest time!” I gasped dramatically. “Owen, can you help me put it on?”

Owen gave a quiet nod and took the necklace back. His long, elegant fingers moved with absolute care, gently reaching around my neck to fasten the clasp for me.

Serena froze completely in place, her mind utterly rejecting the reality playing out before her eyes.

In her memories of the past life, Owen had always treated her with cold indifference and utter disdain. On one occasion, when she had complained about how disgusting his exotic pets were, Owen had snapped, aggressively grabbing her by the throat.

Serena’s mind was spiraling in pure disbelief as she thought, “How on earth could that dark, terrifying psycho Owen ever become this gentle?!”

Hearing her chaotic inner thoughts, I turned toward her with a knowing smile.

“Dear Serena, what were you saying just now? Your little brother?” I asked smoothly. “No, thank you. Having this one older brother is more than enough for me.”

“You...!”

Serena’s face twisted into an ugly, furious grimace as she glared at me with pure hatred.

However, as if suddenly remembering something crucial, she rapidly forced her features back into that harmless, innocent smile.

“Well, seeing my dear sister getting along so well with her family certainly puts my mind at ease,” Serena said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “But... hasn’t your family’s corporate conglomerate been facing some pretty severe financial troubles lately?”

“That is none of your concern, Serena,” I replied smoothly.

The butler immediately stepped forward, holding a pristine umbrella over my head to shield me from the sun. I turned around with a calm smile and walked straight onto the university campus.

Behind me, Serena’s furious, spiteful thoughts practically violently hammered into my mind.

Serena thought viciously, “Just wait until your family goes completely bankrupt and you’re forced to marry that twisted, psychopathic man! Let’s see how much you smile then!”

I simply walked forward, pretending I hadn’t heard a single thing.

She had absolutely no idea. In this life, I was never going to sit around idly and wait for doom to find me.

As long as I personally dragged the Barrington family business back from the brink of collapse, that marriage alliance would cease to be a necessity.

My destiny had only ever belonged in one pair of hands—my own.