THE REBORN WIFE: I'm Taking the Billionaire Now

Evelyn's First POV

“So, daughters, the time has come for you to choose your husbands,” my father announced.

I gasped, my breath catching in my throat. What was happening?

I looked around. My father, my mother, and my sister, Vanessa, were sitting with me at the dining table in our family home.

I remembered this exact moment—the day they introduced the two proposals. But that had happened years ago. Was I dreaming? Was I losing my mind?

“Oh, my God, I can’t believe you can’t even keep up with the conversation, Evelyn. Why are you so slow?” Vanessa rolled her eyes, looking bored.

Before I could even process her insult, a strange, echoing voice vibrated directly inside my head.

Look at her sitting there like a complete idiot. She has no idea what’s coming. Just wait until I take everything from her.

I flinched, staring sharply at Vanessa. Her mouth was closed. She was casually looking away, yet that sharp, venomous voice was still ringing clearly in my ears.

What was that? Did she just speak? No... her lips didn't move at all.

Panic flared in my chest. Was I hallucinating? Was the shock of whatever was happening making me lose my grip on reality?

“Do you have something to say, Evelyn?” my mother asked, drawing my attention back. Her tone was rather sharp.

I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could form a word, another distinct voice echoed in my mind—deeper, colder, and utterly devoid of affection.

If Evelyn agrees without a fight, we can finally dump Daniel onto her and marry Vanessa into the Sterling family. Vanessa deserves luxury; Evelyn is just an extra burden.

My eyes widened as I looked at my father. He was staring down at his papers, his mouth shut tight, yet his internal calculations were echoing in my brain as if he were speaking through a loudspeaker.

Oh, God... My heart hammered against my ribs. I’m not hallucinating. I’m actually hearing what they are thinking.

The terrifying realization washed over me in cold waves. The hidden cruelties, the favoritism, the selfish calculations—they were all laid bare in my mind.

My father returned to speaking aloud. “As you already know, Daniel Carter has expressed an interest in marrying one of you, just as the Sterling family is looking for a wife for their son. The Sterling family is wealthy and powerful, so receiving such a proposal is a great honor for our family. And Daniel Carter, well… he seems more interested in Evelyn.”

He was clearly trying to push Daniel onto me because the man was poor.

“Don’t look at your father like that, Evelyn,” my mother chimed in aloud, while her mind chimed in right after: Evelyn is useless anyway. Daniel is poor, perfect for her. She shouldn't dare stand in Vanessa's way.

The contrast between their calm, spoken facades and the dark thoughts echoing in my head grounded the bizarre reality of my situation. And as my mind opened to the truth, the dam broke, and the memories of my horrific past life came flooding back.

Ten years into the future. I was lying on the cold marble floor, crying, too weak to move, with a pool of blood spreading around me. My hand reached feebly toward my husband.

“Daniel… why?” I whispered, my vision blurred until all I could see of him was a vague silhouette.

“Everything will be mine. Mine alone,” I heard him say.

Then my eyes closed forever.

Dead.

Murdered by my own husband.

The man I had chosen, the man I had loved, cared for, and devoted my entire life to. The man I had made rich. Only for him to beat me to death.

And now, I had miraculously returned to the past, armed with a second chance, the secret knowledge of my death, and this terrifying, invaluable gift of hearing everyone's true thoughts.

“I bet you agree to marry Daniel, Evelyn,” my father said aloud, eager to finalize Vanessa’s billionaire marriage with the Sterling family as quickly as possible.

“No!”

My voice came out several octaves higher than usual.

My mother and father stared at me as if I had slapped them.

“What did you say?”

“I said no,” I repeated, this time more firmly. “I will not marry Daniel Carter. I don't want to.”

“Have you gone mad? Are you going to pretend you aren't dating him?” my mother snapped. “Are you doing this just because the Sterlings have made an offer? How can you be so greedy and petty?”

Her mind screamed in fury: How dare this ungrateful brat try to ruin Vanessa's chance at luxury!

My parents were about to argue further when Vanessa surprised them.

“Actually, I was thinking about it. And I think Daniel could be the perfect choice for me.”

I raised an eyebrow, immediately focusing my newfound ability on my sister.

Instantly, Vanessa's frantic thoughts rushed into my head: Marry Alexander Sterling? I did that in my past life, and he was an ugly, cold monster! He caught me cheating and threw me out to die in a car accident! But Daniel... Daniel becomes a wealthy billionaire in the future! Evelyn made him rich! If I marry Daniel now, I'll steal her future and enjoy all his prestige instead of her!

I almost let out a cold laugh.

So Vanessa had experienced an unfortunate future too. But in her greed, she believed Daniel became rich on his own. She didn't know that Daniel's empire was built entirely on my sleepless nights, my finance diploma, and my strategic investments. Without me carrying him, Daniel was nothing.

“I know that. The truth is, I'm in love with him, Mother,” Vanessa lied aloud, putting on a sweet smile. “I've secretly loved him for a long time, and I know he loves me, too. Not Evelyn.”

My father straightened in his chair, hesitant. “Darling, Daniel Carter won't be able to provide you with the kind of life Alexander Sterling can.”

“He will,” Vanessa said aloud, while her mind gloated: Just look at my pathetic sister, refusing Daniel without knowing the bright, enviable future she'll have by his side. Once I marry him, I'll be the rich one!

My mother looked at Vanessa with total admiration, thinking: Thank goodness! If Vanessa wants Daniel, Evelyn can take the cold Sterling heir. At least our family still gets the connection!

My mother smiled at Vanessa before turning to me. Her smile disappeared. “I hope you agree with this, Evelyn. Right?”

Why can't she just let Vanessa have her moment? I heard my mother think, revealing her true fear.

I could hear my father's thoughts echoing the exact same sentiment: Why can't she just let Vanessa have her moment?

Then he said aloud, “You know that we support both of your decisions.”

Support my decision? What hypocrisy!

I looked at Vanessa. “Oh, so you've secretly loved Daniel all this time? How can you be so fake?”

Vanessa lifted her chin. “Daniel deserves a woman like me by his side, not someone like you!”

Oh, really, sister? If you want him that badly, I won't insist.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “Whatever. You two deserve each other,” I said with a shrug.

My father and mother sighed in relief, while Vanessa let out a delighted little laugh.

“If that's settled, then you'll become Alexander Sterling's wife,” my father announced.

I gave a short, emotionless nod. “Whatever.”

It didn't matter if I became the wife of a cold man like Alexander Sterling. This time, I knew better than to work my ass off trying to please someone who might disappoint me in the end.

“Shall we discuss the wedding arrangements, then?” my mother asked, smiling at her princess.

“That could take too long. I want to marry Daniel today,” my foolish sister declared.

“Wow, you really must be in love, darling!” my parents exclaimed with laughter.

And I remained there, my arms crossed over my chest, watching the pathetic scene unfold.

Vanessa believed Daniel would become rich on his own and give her all the prestige she desired.

But let her find out for herself what it meant to be Daniel Carter's wife.