After Rebirth, She Picked The Right Guy

A bullet tore through Caroline Palmer's head, and her life ended just like that.

When she opened her eyes again, she heard her mother, Amanda Palmer, speaking.

"Carrie, Vivian, both of you, come over here."

Every nerve in Caroline's body locked up.

She'd heard those exact words before.

Caroline looked up. The familiar living room came into view.

Her mother sat comfortably on the couch while two files rested on the table in front of her.

Not far from her stood Vivian Hayes, her half-sister, in a plain white dress. She looked painfully skinny, nothing like the glamorous socialite Caroline remembered.

She'd been reborn.

One year before she died.

This was the same day their mother asked her and Vivian to choose who they'd marry.

At this point in time, Vivian hadn't married Braydon Lewis. And she herself hadn't become Jacob Lloyd's wife either.

"Carrie?" Amanda looked at her with concern. "Why are you standing there like that? You've been staring into space this whole time. Hurry up and come sit down."

Keeping her emotions hidden, Caroline walked toward the couch.

The two files lay open across the coffee table.

Braydon's profile sat on the left side.

He led the Lewis family and held power in both high society and the criminal world. Born into wealth and status, he became known for making fast and brutal decisions.

The photo attached to his file showed a man with cold, sharp features. His thin lips were pressed together, while the look in his eyes carried a chilling coldness.

Beside his file was Jacob's.

He was the Lloyd family's second son. Unlike Braydon, he was known for being gentle, refined, and cultured. However, his health had been poor since childhood, and he spent most of his life in a wheelchair.

The photo showed him wearing a faint smile. His eyes looked soft enough to melt anyone's heart.

"Carrie, you should pick first," said Amanda.

Looking at those two files, Caroline felt nothing but irony.

In her previous life, her mother had also told her to choose first.

Vivian was the daughter her father had with his mistress.

For years, Vivian lived in their home like Cinderella.

Her father spoiled her out of guilt toward her and her mother, while Vivian always acted obedient no matter how she was treated. Because of that, she received every good thing first.

Even when it came to choosing a husband, she got the first choice.

Her mother had always hoped she would marry Braydon, the most powerful man in the city.

But in her previous life, she stubbornly chose Jacob instead, even though he couldn't walk.

For three years, she stayed by Jacob's side during his physical therapy. She searched everywhere for skilled doctors who could treat him.

She spent almost all the money her parents gave her. During winter, she even knelt in the snow to beg for a prescription.

As the treasured daughter of the Palmer family, she had thrown away her pride for Jacob.

Then one day, Jacob's legs recovered miraculously.

After that, everyone in Praginia envied them and called them a perfect match.

Back then, she truly thought he meant every promise he made.

Jacob held her hand and looked at her with complete sincerity. "Carrie, no matter what happens, I won't betray you."

At the time, she trusted every word.

Not long after that, the Lloyd family fell into crisis. Their funds ran dry, debts piled up, and bankruptcy was closing in on them.

Jacob looked exhausted as he said, "Carrie, Braydon is the only person who can save the Lloyd family."

For Jacob, she got on her knees before Vivian, the woman she'd once looked down on, and begged her to speak to Braydon for her.

Not long after that, Vivian and Caroline were kidnapped by Braydon's enemy.

The man pressed a gun to Caroline's temple and demanded to know which of them was Braydon's wife.

To survive, Vivian lied, saying Caroline was Braydon's wife.

Then Jacob arrived. The second Caroline saw him, relief crushed her chest.

She believed Jacob would tell them the truth. He'd make it clear who she really was.

Hope hit her hard enough to make her lose control. She called out his name.

"She isn't Mrs. Lewis," Jacob said while looking at the kidnapper. "The woman next to her is."

The person Jacob was protecting was Vivian.

Caroline watched him move toward Vivian without hesitation. Guilt filled his face as he lowered his voice and said, "I'm sorry, Carrie. You've always had everything. Vivian only has me."

That was it. Just one apology. Everything Caroline had done for him became worthless because of those few words.

Only before death finally came for her did she understand the truth she had refused to see.

The woman Jacob loved from the very beginning was Vivian.

He once promised he'd never fail her. What a joke that turned out to be. The fool had been her all along.

"Carrie?" Amanda's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "Have you decided yet?"

Caroline slowly lifted her head.

Vivian stood nearby and looked at her with a timid look. "You should choose first. I'm not in a hurry."

Those were the exact words Vivian said in her previous life too.

Back then, Caroline picked Jacob. That left Braydon for Vivian.

Later on, Caroline learned the truth-Vivian had wanted Braydon from the start.

Before the selection day even came, Vivian kept feeding her all kinds of nonsense about him.

She stepped aside on purpose and let Caroline take Jacob so she could end up with the man she truly wanted.

Caroline stared at Vivian's pretty face and gave a cold laugh.

If she hadn't gone through that extra lifetime, she probably would've fallen for Vivian's innocent act.

She pressed her hand against the file sitting on the left side. "I'm choosing him."

Silence spread across the living room.

The smile on Vivian's face almost cracked apart.

Even her mother looked caught off guard. "Carrie, are you serious?"

Just the night before, Caroline had been crying over Jacob, insisting she wanted to marry him no matter what. Yet now, she was choosing Braydon.

"I've already decided." Caroline's tone stayed flat. "I'm marrying Braydon."

Shock flickered across Vivian's face before she forced herself to smile. "Why would you suddenly pick him? Weren't you saying before that Jacob was kind and thoughtful?"

"That was before," Caroline said flatly. "Jacob's health is a mess, and I don't want to spend my life looking after someone sick all day."

"Marriage isn't some game. Don't be impulsive," Vivian said with fake concern.

"I'm not being impulsive." Caroline rose from her seat and stared straight at Vivian. "You've always been so caring, haven't you? Jacob needs someone patient enough to take care of him. Honestly, the two of you sound perfect together."

The blood drained from Vivian's face. "How could you say that?"

"What?" A cold smile touched Caroline's lips. "Don't tell me you suddenly don't want him anymore. Or were you hoping I'd take Jacob so you could have Braydon for yourself?"

The words landed too hard. Vivian's expression turned completely white.

"I wasn't thinking that at all..." Vivian's eyes reddened instantly. Her voice came out shaky and hurt. "I was only worried you'd regret this later..."

"That's enough," Amanda interjected, rubbing her temple. "Carrie's already made her choice. Vivian, you'll marry Jacob."

"But I..."

Caroline lifted a brow. "But what? Didn't you just say Jacob was such a wonderful man? You should be happy."

Vivian couldn't get another word out.

A wonderful man?

Everyone in Praginia knew Jacob was mobility-impaired.

Nobody in the Lloyd family took him seriously. He was sickly and frail.

If she married him, she'd end up widowed sooner or later.

By comparison, Braydon was the city's most powerful man.

Caroline used to care only about Jacob. Why did she suddenly choose Braydon?

Still, the decision had already been made.

Vivian pressed her lips together tightly.

It didn't matter.

Even if she couldn't marry Braydon, she knew Jacob had feelings for her.

Once she married Jacob, she'd become part of the Lloyd family. No matter how anyone looked at it, her future would definitely be better than Caroline's.

After all, Braydon's name might carry power across all of Praginia, but everyone knew how terrifying he was.

People in their social circle often talked about him behind closed doors. They said Braydon was ruthless. The kind of man who could destroy someone without changing his expression.

If he ever decided to deal with a person, that person probably wouldn't even know what killed them.

Caroline took one look at Vivian's face and immediately guessed what she was thinking.

A mocking smile tugged at her lips.

Vivian actually thought marrying Jacob would give her a better life?

What a joke.

Being with Jacob would only drag Vivian into something far worse.

In the private room at Allure Club, smoke hung heavily in the air.

With one leg draped over the other, Jared Willis, Braydon's friend, sprawled across the couch and swirled the wine in his glass.

"Braydon, you're seriously marrying Caroline?"

Resting against the leather couch, Braydon held a cigarette loosely between his fingers.

Jared continued, "I looked into her already. She's spoiled rotten, quick-tempered, and always stirring trouble. Just recently, she fought someone over Jacob, and the whole city's talking about it. Honestly, Vivian sounds like the smarter pick. Yeah, she's illegitimate, but she listens, keeps her head down, and she's not bad to look at. No drama, no hassle. Marry someone like that and life's easy."

"Life's easy? That just means she's dull," Braydon replied in a calm yet distant tone.

"So that's it. You want someone who keeps things interesting."

Braydon crushed his cigarette out in the ashtray. "I've already decided. It's Caroline."

"Everyone knows she's hung up on Jacob. You're really going to marry her? That's embarrassing."

"I said I'd marry her, but how I do it-that's up to me."

That answer made Jared uneasy at once. "What are you even thinking? Don't pull something reckless. The Palmers are respected people, and Caroline's been raised like a princess. If you treat her like one of your street deals, that's crossing the line."

Braydon stood and walked out.

Still seated, Jared called after him loudly, "At least give me a heads-up. Braydon! You hear me?"

Word of both Palmer sisters getting married soon spread through Praginia in no time.

Three days passed before Caroline received a marriage certificate along with a wedding photo.

The image showed her seated beside Braydon. Her smile looked forced, while his expression stayed blank.

But the thing was, the wedding never happened in the first place.

Instead, the Lewis family arranged for her to take the photo alone, edited Braydon into the picture afterward, and used it as proof of a supposed wedding to apply for a marriage certificate.

From start to finish, it all wrapped up in under two hours.

With the certificate gripped tightly in her hands, Caroline kept her eyes on the poorly edited wedding photo.

Her thoughts drifted back to her previous life, when Vivian became Braydon's wife and the Lewis family hosted a grand celebration that lasted three full days, drawing every elite figure in the city.

Back then, Vivian stepped out in a custom-made gown, walking beside Braydon along a lavish aisle while everyone watched in admiration.

Now that she was the bride, all she had received was a fabricated image.

Even so, the reason behind it was clear to her.

Across Praginia, everyone believed she was hopelessly devoted to Jacob, and that rumor had already tarnished the Lewis family's name.

Because of that, Braydon chose to humiliate her in return.

As for her previous life?

Since Vivian was an illegitimate daughter, Braydon had arranged an extravagant wedding to raise her standing.

That display ensured no one would dare to mock Vivian for her origins ever again.

In the end, it all came down to preserving the Lewis family's image.

Love had nothing to do with any of it, since the marriage existed only as a calculated deal.

Caroline felt no concern over Braydon's treatment of her.

What mattered to her was simple: she wanted the authority and reach that came with the Lewis name.

Meanwhile, Vivian's situation wasn't much better.

Because Jacob's condition was so fragile, he never even appeared at the City Hall, and their marriage registration felt just as hollow.

Before long, the night arrived.

Caroline reached the entrance of the Lewis estate with her suitcase beside her.

A soft rain had begun to fall.

The gate before her, however, remained firmly closed.

There were no festive touches anywhere, and there was no wedding.

Wanting to avoid attention, the Lewis family had instructed her to come alone and settle in quietly.

Standing by the gate, the butler regarded her without emotion. "Are you Mr. Lewis' newly wedded wife?"

"Yes. I came to see him."

"Mr. Lewis has no intention of meeting you."

A slight lift of Caroline's brow followed. "He refuses to meet me? Then where do you expect me to stay?"

Holding out an umbrella, the butler explained, "Mr. Lewis wants you to head back to the Palmer residence for now. If he decides to see you, someone will be sent to bring you over."

Caroline accepted the umbrella, yet her feet stayed rooted in place.

A short laugh slipped out as she glanced at him. "So the Lewis family summoned me here, and now they're sending me away? Do you really think this is funny?"

Unfazed, the butler answered, "Mr. Lewis doesn't mean it that way."

She pushed the umbrella back toward him. "Go back and tell him-I will step inside tonight no matter what it takes."

"Mr. Lewis made it clear. If you refuse to leave, you may wait outside, but he still won't meet you."

Hearing that, Caroline gave a small nod.

She already understood how stubborn Braydon could be.

He thought he could keep her out? She had no plans to play along.

Without another word, Caroline strode toward the gate, slipped off her heels, and grabbed onto the iron bars before climbing up.

The butler stared in shock, his composure cracking instantly.

The alarm system started wailing without pause, but Caroline kept climbing without sparing a glance.

Several guards rushed over, yet they stopped short the moment they recognized her.

Uncertainty held them back, and none of them dared to act.

Wasn't she supposed to be the refined daughter of the Palmer family? How did she end up scaling a gate like that?

"Madam, what are you doing?"

"I'm Braydon's wife now. I'm entering my own home. Who dares to stop me?"

Caroline's eyes swept across everyone in front of her.

Not one guard stepped forward to interfere.

Caroline picked up her heels and strode straight into the house.

The house was huge. Lights filled the living room, yet the space sat completely empty.

She paused at the center, scanned the surroundings, and then moved toward the staircase.

A voice suddenly cut through the silence just as she reached the bottom step.

"Stop right there."

The tone carried a sharp chill.

Lifting her gaze, Caroline looked up.

Braydon stood by the railing on the second floor.

A black robe hung loosely on him, his collar open, and his damp hair clung slightly to his forehead.

From above, he stared down at her with a faint frown. "Who gave you permission to come in?"

"I did." Setting her suitcase aside, Caroline faced him calmly. "Braydon, we're legally married now. Where do you expect me to sleep?"

Braydon's eyes narrowed at her words.

At that moment, the butler and several guards rushed inside.

Hurrying forward, the butler said nervously, "My apologies, Mr. Lewis! Your wife climbed over the gate to get in. We tried to stop her, but we failed."

She climbed over the gate?

Braydon's gaze dropped to Caroline's legs.

A short white dress clung to her, while her heels were stained with dirt. Mud streaked across her legs. Nothing about her appearance matched that of a refined young lady.

Braydon walked down the stairs and stopped in front of her. He lifted his hand, and the butler, along with the guards, quickly withdrew.

Standing so close to him, Caroline caught the faint scent of alcohol mixed with tobacco.

Looking down at her, Braydon let out a quiet laugh. The chill behind it sent a sharp unease through her.

"Caroline," he said in a low voice, "do you really think you're my wife now?"

Caroline refused to step back. Meeting his eyes, she answered slowly, "We're legally wedded now, so I am your wife."

A slight arch appeared in Braydon's brow.

"Alright," he said as he set his glass aside. "Then tell me this. As my wife, where should you be spending your night?"

A sudden grin appeared on Caroline's face.

Turning away, she walked to the couch and dropped onto it.

"Right here," she replied.

That answer caught Braydon off guard, and he paused.

Leaning back, Caroline tossed her dirty heels straight into a nearby trash bin. "You won't let me go to your bedroom, so I'll sleep here instead. I'm still your wife no matter where I stay. Whether it's here or anywhere else, that won't change."

For a brief moment, the living room fell into complete silence.

Braydon kept his gaze on Caroline, something unreadable passing through his eyes.

He had expected a spoiled girl, someone who had been indulged all her life and never endured even the slightest hardship. He had denied her a wedding, skipped the photos, and locked her out on the very first day of their marriage.

Even after all that, Caroline didn't break down, didn't lash out, didn't cause a scene, and didn't reach out to the Palmer family for support.

Instead, she simply dropped onto the couch and settled in as if she had every intention of staying.

That alone caught his interest.

Tilting her head up, Caroline met his gaze. "Braydon, I'm aware you don't like me. Still, we're legally bound now, so our lives are tied together. You don't want to acknowledge it? That's fine. I'll stay right here and wait. If you deny it for a day, I'll wait a day. If it takes a year, then I'll wait a year."

"Acknowledge what?"

"That I'm your wife."

A laugh slipped from Braydon as he looked at her.

"Fine," he said casually. "Then go ahead and wait."

Without another word, he turned and made his way upstairs.

Left alone in the living room, Caroline slowly let a faint smile form on her lips.

She wasn't simply waiting. She was taking a gamble.

From what she remembered of her previous life, she understood Braydon far too well.

He wouldn't bend to pressure, and pleading meant nothing to him. The only thing that ever moved him was curiosity.

As long as she managed to catch his interest, even slightly, he would start paying attention to her.

Once that happened, she would have the opportunity to change everything.

Upstairs, Braydon pushed the bedroom door open.

Jared lay stretched out on the bed, absorbed in his phone. The moment he noticed Braydon, he sprang up. "Well? Did that woman stir things up?"

Without responding, Braydon walked over and sat on the couch beside the bed, then poured himself a glass of whiskey.

Leaning closer with curiosity, Jared asked, "Did she cry? Did she call her family to complain?"

"No."

"What's she doing?"

Braydon raised his glass and took a slow sip. "She's downstairs, sitting on the couch."

"That's it?"

"Yeah."

"She's just sitting there doing nothing?"

A subtle curve formed at Braydon's lips. "She's waiting for me to acknowledge that she's my wife."

Morning came soon after.

Caroline had stayed on that couch the entire night.

The living room was spacious, and the couch felt comfortable, but it still fell short of an actual bed.

As she woke, a slight stiffness settled into her neck.

She pushed herself upright, massaged the soreness, and then noticed a glass of warm milk along with a sandwich placed neatly on the table.

For a brief moment, she paused.

Standing nearby, the butler stepped forward once he saw she was awake, and his tone carried more respect than before. "Madam, Mr. Lewis arranged breakfast for you."

Caroline's brow lifted slightly. "He did?"

"Yes."

Reaching out, Caroline picked up the milk and took a sip. The warmth felt just right.

A faint smile touched her lips, yet she said nothing.

Upstairs, Braydon stood by the study window, watching the staff move about as they cleaned the garden below.

The door opened as Jared walked in, then moved beside him and looked down. "So she really stayed? I figured she was just putting on a show last night."

Braydon didn't respond.

Jared kept rambling. "She's got patience. Most women would've broken down and run back home after being made to sleep on a couch on the first night after marriage."

Turning away from the window, Braydon walked over and took a seat at his desk. "That's not patience."

"Then what do you call it?"

"She's clever."

"Clever? How does that even count as clever?"

Instead of answering, Braydon stayed silent and flipped through the papers in his hand.

The file he was reading held Caroline's personal details.

Caroline was a smart woman. She knew tears wouldn't change anything and complaints would only fall flat, so she chose a different approach altogether.

After finishing her breakfast, Caroline picked up her suitcase and made her way upstairs without hesitation.

The butler moved as if to block her path, yet he held back and followed behind her instead. "Madam, Mr. Lewis' study is located on east side of the second floor. Please be careful not to head the wrong way..."

"Where's my room?"

The butler hesitated before pointing to a door at the end of the hallway. "That is Mr. Lewis' bedroom. The room beside it is meant for guests."

Caroline stepped forward and pushed open the guest room door.

The space looked complete with furnishings, though it carried the untouched feel of a room no one had ever used.

She placed her suitcase on the floor, opened it, and began taking out her clothes, arranging them neatly in the wardrobe as if she belonged there.

Lingering at the doorway, the butler seemed hesitant, as though words were stuck on his tongue.

Without even glancing back, Caroline said, "If you've got something to say, then say it."

"Madam, Mr. Lewis has quite a temper. If there's anything you need, it might be better to come to me first."

Turning around, Caroline met his eyes. "Then let me ask you something. Will he acknowledge that I'm his wife?"

The question left him speechless.

"If he won't, then what's the point of going through you?"

The butler stood there, unable to respond.

Returning to her task, Caroline continued hanging her clothes, her voice light and unconcerned. "Don't worry. I'm not here to stir trouble. I'll live my life as usual. When I'm hungry, I'll eat. When I'm tired, I'll sleep. He can act like I don't exist, and I'll do the same."

By midday, Caroline went downstairs for lunch.

The dining hall stretched wide, and though she sat there alone, the table was filled with an elaborate spread.

Once she finished eating, she returned to her room and took a nap.

Later that afternoon, she wandered into the garden and spent some time talking with the gardener, learning about the different varieties of roses.

When dinner time came, Braydon was nowhere to be seen.

Caroline didn't question it. She ate quietly and went back to her room afterward.

The second day passed the same way, and nothing changed on the third.

By the fourth day, Jared finally snapped.

"Seriously, this is driving me insane!" he burst out. "I've been staying here for four days and there's zero excitement! All I see is that woman strolling around the garden like it's her daily routine!"

A hand came up to Braydon's temple as he massaged it lightly.

Even he hadn't anticipated Caroline would keep this up for so long.

Not once in those past days had she tried to seek him out.

"Have the butler bring her to the study," he said.

If things dragged on any further, he figured Jared might settle in for the long haul.

At that same time, Caroline was outside chatting with the elderly gardener when the butler approached in a hurry. "Madam, Mr. Lewis would like to see you in his study."

Caroline lifted her gaze. "Right now?"

"Yes."

"Alright."

Brushing off her dress, Caroline followed him back inside.

They arrived at the study upstairs, and the butler knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in." Braydon's voice sounded from within.

Opening the door, the butler stepped aside to let Caroline pass.

The study stretched wide, with a large desk positioned in front of tall windows that reached from floor to ceiling.

Seated behind it, Braydon held a pen while reviewing documents.

Caroline paused at the entrance instead of stepping forward.

Without lifting his head, Braydon said, "Come here."

Caroline walked over and stopped across from him.

Setting the pen aside, Braydon finally raised his head and looked at her.

A soft blue dress framed her figure, and her long hair fell naturally over her shoulders. With no makeup on, she looked simple yet striking.

Compared to the last time he saw her, she seemed a little thinner.

Braydon asked, "Are you settling in well?"

Caroline nodded. "Everything's been fine."

"No tears?"

"None."

"No complaints either?"

"Not at all."

With his eyes fixed on her, Braydon studied her quietly. "Do you have any idea what people are saying about you right now?"

Caroline gave a slight shake of her head. "I don't."

"They're saying that you were rejected by me on the first night we got married, spent the night on the couch and still chose to stay, making a complete fool of yourself."

After hearing all that, Caroline only let out a faint smile. "I see."

"That's it? That's all you've got to say?"

"What else should I say?" Caroline replied, meeting his gaze. "If I cared about those rumors, I wouldn't have married you in the first place."

For a brief moment, Braydon simply stared at her before a low laugh escaped him.

He rose from his seat, walked around the desk, and stopped right in front of her.

As he stood over her, his height made his presence feel overwhelming.

In that moment, she couldn't help but think his reputation wasn't exaggerated at all. He ruled Praginia with unmatched influence and moved effortlessly between both sides of the law, a man everyone feared.

He asked in a low voice, "Caroline, what is it that you actually want?"

Caroline met his eyes. "I want you to acknowledge me as your wife."