Chapter 1 Reborn

"Mr. Stanley, I can assure you-both my daughters are extraordinary. They'd make the perfect wives for your grandsons. You'll see-once the marriages are settled, you'll realize this is the best decision you've ever made!"

A voice Gracie Sullivan knew all too well echoed in her mind-warm, eager, and shamelessly proud.

Her eyes flew open, her breath hitching sharply in her throat.

She was supposed to have died-she remembered the dizzying fall from the eighteenth floor, the rush of wind, and the crushing impact. So how on earth was she here again, inside her family's estate?

The living room spread out before her, immaculate as ever. Sunlight streamed through the high skylight, scattering golden warmth over gleaming floors. A delicate fragrance-jasmine, maybe lilies-drifted faintly in the air.

It suddenly all came flooding back to her.

Today marked the arrival of Kevin Stanley, who came with a bold proposal: to weave their families together through two marriages.

She'd chosen his younger grandson, Theo Stanley-a decision that opened the door to a darkness that would one day claim her life.

Yet now, as she awoke into the familiarity of the scene, a chilling thought struck her-had she been reborn?

If fate was offering a second chance, she'd rewrite every choice. No longer would she play the fool; every person who had hurt her would pay their price in full.

The Stanley family stood unchallenged at the summit, their empire woven through the very fabric of the city.

To marry into their family was a dream many dared to chase.

Still, the Stanleys had chosen the Sullivans because decades earlier, Gracie's grandfather, Danny Sullivan, had served alongside Kevin in the army. Danny had once saved Kevin's life, and in gratitude, Kevin had sworn a debt of honor: their lines would be joined one day by marriage.

When the grandchildren came of age, the Stanleys were honor-bound to make a formal proposal, regardless of the outcome.

By then, the Sullivan family's fortunes had dwindled, so the proposal felt like a blessing they couldn't afford to reject.

A shadow crossed Gracie's eyes. In her previous life, her younger half-sister, Ellie Sullivan, had made her choice first-snaring Brayden Stanley, heir to the family's powerful conglomerate.

Becoming Brayden's wife had meant stepping straight into a world of luxury and influence.

However, his heart already belonged elsewhere, and marrying a Sullivan daughter was nothing more than a dutiful nod to his families' wishes.

Once the vows were exchanged, he kept Ellie at arm's length. In public, they played the part of a perfect couple, but behind closed doors, their lives barely touched.

Too proud to accept being second to anyone, Ellie lashed out in secret at the woman he truly loved-scheming, striking, and pushing him step by step toward tragedy. Her cruelty eventually shattered him, both physically and spiritually. and her own end came soon after, dying in childbirth.

Gracie slowly lifted her chin, her eyes meeting Theo's with quiet resolve.

He blinked in mild surprise before curving his lips into a gentle smile. Every inch of him exuded poise and cultivated grace-the very picture of a man impossible not to admire.

Even so, a chill swept through Gracie as dread clawed at her spine; she knew too well the ruthlessness concealed behind his polished demeanor.

Fragments of her previous life came rushing back, draining the color from her face. She instinctively lowered her eyes, unwilling to meet his.

"What would you say to this, Mr. Sullivan: we let the girls choose whom they wish to marry?" Kevin let out a hearty laugh.

Alan Sullivan, Gracie's father, joined in with an easy chuckle. "Great idea."

Gracie kept her head bowed, digging her fingernails deep into her palms to keep herself focused.

Her father would never turn down a union with the Stanleys; neither she nor Ellie had any say in it.

"Dad!" Ellie's voice broke the moment's silence. "I choose Theo."

Gracie's breath caught. That wasn't how things had gone in her past life. Why had Ellie's choice changed this time?

Jane Sullivan, Ellie's mother, shot her daughter a sharp look, her voice low but cutting. "Think carefully before you speak."

Brayden stood to inherit the vast Stanley fortune, while Theo-brilliant as he was-had no taste for business. What kind of future could a marriage to him bring?

"I'll choose Theo." Ellie rose gracefully, her smile bright and confident as she met Theo's eyes.

Theo's lips curved faintly in return, though his gaze lingered on Gracie for a fleeting moment before he turned away.

A frown touched Alan's lips. He didn't approve of her choice, but he could deny her nothing, so he stayed silent.

"What about you, Gracie?" he asked.

Drawing in a steadying breath, Gracie lifted her eyes and slowly extended a finger toward Brayden.

His expression stayed glacial; he gave her a fleeting glance before shifting his gaze elsewhere.

As her hand dropped to her side, the weight of someone's amused stare brushed her skin like ice. A tremor ran through her.

She forced down the lump in her throat, her pulse quickening.

The rest of the conversation faded into a blur-words slipping past her like wind. Her thoughts spiraled inward.

Maybe this second chance at life was nothing more than a cruel illusion?

But the sting of her nails digging into her palm told her it wasn't a dream at all.

When their talk concluded, everyone drifted toward the dining room. The Stanleys made their excuses shortly after dinner.

Theo lingered for a polite farewell, his voice mellow and magnetic, his gaze holding a quiet charm.

Brayden, on the other hand, offered neither Gracie nor Ellie a glance-he simply turned and strode out.

Once Theo's attention shifted away, tension drained from Gracie's body, and she exhaled a long breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

Rising from her seat, she made her way back to her room.

As she passed the study, faint voices reached her ears-a conversation she hadn't meant to overhear.

"Have you lost your mind? Why would you pick Theo? With Brayden in the picture, Theo doesn't stand a chance of taking over the Stanley empire!" Jane snapped at Ellie, her voice edged with irritation.

Ellie and Gracie shared the same father but not the same mother-Gracie's mother had passed away a year before Alan remarried. Jane had entered the household soon after, bringing her daughter, Ellie, along with her.

It was no secret Alan had betrayed Gracie's mother, and for years afterward, Gracie existed in her own house like an unwelcome visitor.

"Mom, you don't get it!" Ellie's voice cut through from the hall, tight with frustration. "Brayden is in love with someone else. He only agreed to this arrangement because he had no other choice. No matter what I do, he won't even look at me."

Jane snapped back, her tone sharp and anxious, "But if you marry Theo, you're handing all that prestige straight to Gracie!"

Ellie let out a brittle laugh. "Please. What makes her worthy of that? Brayden's heart belongs to another woman. Gracie couldn't compete even if she wanted to. Even if she married him, her quiet nature would never capture his affection. Theo, on the other hand, was thoughtful-gentle in speech, steady in manner, and utterly devoted once he cared for someone. And truth be told, the successor of the Stanley empire was far from decided."

Lowering her gaze, Gracie pushed the door open and leaned lightly against the frame. Her eyes drifted to her wrist, smooth, flawless, without a single scar. A hideous scar had once marred that spot in her past life.

Theo was devoted? Ellie couldn't have been more wrong. In truth, that man was cold, manipulative, and disturbingly adept at twisting people's minds. Everything he had gained before had been built upon Gracie's torment.

She swore that in this life, no one would ever hurt her the same way again.