Chapter 3

“What did you say?!” Landon Crawford’s voice came through the phone, filled with shock. “Do you realize what you’re saying, sweetheart?”

“I know exactly what I’m saying, Daddy. I’ve thought it through, and I believe this is the best path for me,” Irina replied calmly.

“But you love Aaron so much! How can you just let him go? You two are supposed to get married.”

I did once. I loved him.

But now, Irina realized that she had been the only one fighting for their relationship all along, while Aaron had never truly loved her. Rather than going through with a marriage where their feelings were so painfully one-sided, it was better for her to marry a man she didn’t love—and who didn’t love her either.

At least that would be fair to both of them.

“I can, Daddy. I can let him go willingly. You know he loves Lilian.”

“Sweetheart, Aaron doesn’t realize that what he feels isn’t love. It’s just—”

“Whatever he feels, I don’t want to know anymore, Daddy,” Irina interrupted coldly. “Let me marry Elijah, and let Aaron marry Lilian. But, Daddy…”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Don’t tell anyone about this change. I want this to be the final surprise for Lilian and Aaron.”

Silence lingered on the other end of the phone for a moment before her father spoke again.

“Are you absolutely sure?”

“Yes,” Irina answered firmly.

“All right, then. If that’s what you want, I’ll take care of the paperwork for the exchange.”

“Thank you, Daddy. I love you.”

“My love for you is much greater, sweetheart. You know that.”

A faint smile touched Irina’s lips as she pressed a hand against her chest, feeling the warmth spreading through her heart. Her gaze drifted toward the endless expanse of blue ocean before her.

Aaron, if you want to marry Lilian that badly, then I’ll make it happen, Irina thought.

But if you end up regretting your choice halfway through, don’t ever think about coming back to me and begging for another chance.

All this time, Aaron had believed Lilian was flawless.

He had no idea that Lilian was actually the most manipulative woman Irina had ever known.

In her previous life, Irina had tried to protect Aaron, but the man had chosen to walk straight into the nest of a venomous snake instead.

Irina landed two days later.

Her sports car was still parked neatly at the pier. After slipping on her sunglasses, she drove straight to the boutique where she was scheduled for the final fitting of her wedding dress.

According to her memories, Aaron would also be there today to accompany Lilian. Elijah had deliberately stayed away because he had no interest in trivial matters like this—something Lilian had used in her previous life to draw Aaron’s attention.

If it had been her old self, Irina would have been upset.

Not anymore.

Her groom had changed.

“Irina! You finally made it. I thought you weren’t coming. Aaron has been so worried about you these past few days,” Lilian called out brightly when she saw Irina enter the boutique.

“Really? I haven’t seen him try to contact me even once,” Irina replied flatly. “How do you know he’s worried about me?”

“Why would I contact a woman who’s throwing a tantrum?” Aaron retorted coldly. “I’m here because I have to attend the final fitting too. Isn’t that right?”

Irina watched Aaron closely, studying his every movement to determine whether he had also returned from the future like she had.

But seeing that his attitude remained exactly the same, Irina became certain that she was the only one fate had given a second chance.

“Bride and groom, please step into the fitting rooms. Your dresses are ready,” one of the boutique attendants said politely.

Irina nodded and walked inside, with Lilian following close behind.

“You look absolutely beautiful in this dress, Miss,” the attendant complimented her after helping Irina into her wedding gown.

Irina stared at her reflection in the mirror.

The wedding dress hugged her figure beautifully, accentuating her curves in all the right places.

Suddenly, she remembered something Lilian had said in her previous life when the two of them had stood together in front of Aaron.

And she knew it was about to happen all over again.

“Irina’s dress is so beautiful. Why didn’t I choose this one yesterday?” Lilian murmured sadly as she stepped out of the fitting room.

“Did you hide this design from me?” she accused, turning toward the boutique attendants with a suspicious look before shifting her gaze to Aaron, clearly seeking his support.

“Your dress is beautiful too,” Aaron replied without taking his eyes off Lilian, completely ignoring Irina as she stood on the same platform.

In the past, Irina would have been furious and demanded his attention.

This time, however, she simply stood there calmly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“Irina, can I try it on?” Lilian asked hopefully.

In her previous life, Aaron had demanded that Irina give up the dress.

This time, Irina chose to remain silent and let Lilian try it on. It would make carrying out her plan much easier.

“This one is so much more beautiful than the other dress! What do you think, Aaron?” Lilian asked, her eyes sparkling.

Aaron nodded in agreement.

Just as he had in her previous life.

“Irina…” Lilian called sweetly.

“No,” Irina cut in coldly. “That’s my wedding dress. It’s your own fault for not choosing it in the first place.”

“Why? Are you going to ask me to give it to Lilian?” Irina asked, looking directly at Aaron before he even had a chance to speak. “If she wants the same dress, ask the designer to make her a new one. There’s no need to take something that already belongs to me.”

Irina turned and walked out of the fitting room, but Aaron quickly grabbed her arm.

His grip was so tight that it hurt.

“Lilian is being forced to marry a monster because of you! The least you could do is give her a little happiness by letting her have the dress she wants!” Aaron snarled furiously.

Irina glanced at Lilian, who was still standing on the platform with a hidden smile of triumph on her face, before turning her gaze back to Aaron.

“Don’t push me too far, Aaron… before you end up regretting it,” Irina warned coldly as she roughly shook his hand off her arm.

“Aaron, don’t be like that,” Lilian interjected in a deliberately plaintive voice. “Irina is right. It’s my fault for not choosing this dress in the first place. Forget it… Besides, marrying Elijah is already a nightmare. Wearing a beautiful dress won’t make much of a difference anyway.”

Hearing that, Aaron’s expression hardened, his resentment toward Irina growing even stronger.

But Irina simply ignored him and walked out.

“If you refuse to give that dress to Lilian, then I won’t marry you, Irina!” Aaron shouted harshly from behind her.

Irina kept walking without looking back, allowing the empty threat to simply fade into the air.