After Switching Husbands, I Took Back What Was Mine

"Prisoner 077, your time is up. Step out and start your life again," a guard said, his voice flat and empty.

A faint curve formed on Eliana Marshall's lips. She had heard those same words once in her previous life.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze toward the sky she hadn't seen in years. Sunlight spilled over her, warming her skin and seeping into her very core.

She took a deep breath, letting it fill her lungs. Everything felt different. The air, her body, even the fact that she was still alive.

She had returned to the moment three years ago, the day her nightmare began. From the moment she first entered that prison, everything had been leading back here.

"What are you standing there for? Get in the car! This place makes my skin crawl. If it weren't for Iris, who would've even bothered to pick you up?" The voice of her mother, Phyllis Marshall, cut through her thoughts, sharp and filled with irritation. The screech of brakes echoed as the car came to a stop, sending dust into the air.

It stung Eliana's eyes, but she didn't look away. For the first time in three years, she smiled. It was a quiet expression, one that didn't reach her eyes.

Nothing had changed. Three years ago, her parents' adopted daughter, Iris Marshall, had taken a life while driving drunk. To protect Iris, her own parents had forced her to take the blame and sent her to prison without hesitation.

Now, three years later, they still treated her the same way. But she wasn't the same person anymore. She wasn't that woman who longed for their approval and allowed them to step all over her.

From this moment forward, every second she lived would be used for one purpose. She would make the entire Marshall family pay.

Without saying anything, Eliana pulled the car door open. The back seat caught her attention right away. A disposable cover had been laid over it, clashing with the car's expensive interior.

"Open the windows now. I can't stand the smell," Phyllis said from the front seat, covering her nose as she directed her order at the driver.

Eliana remained silent. As soon as she sat down, she leaned back and closed her eyes, cutting herself off from everything around her. Phyllis' harsh words no longer had any effect on her.

A hint of annoyance crossed Phyllis' face when she received no reaction, but she forced it down. There would be time to deal with Eliana later.

The car had only just come to a stop in front of the Marshall family villa when Iris rushed forward and pulled the rear door open, her face damp with tears.

"Eliana, you're finally home," she remarked, her voice filled with practiced remorse. "I'm so sorry. This is all because of me. Don't worry, we'll make things right. I promise."

Eliana avoided her outstretched hand and stepped out of the car, her eyes fixed ahead. "Make things right? Are you planning to send me back to prison so I can serve more time for you?"

In her previous life, that same excuse had been used to control her. They had forced her into a marriage in Iris' place, pushing her toward a man who destroyed her. Once they had taken everything they could from her, they had abandoned her without hesitation.

Now that she had been given another chance, did they really think she would fall for it again?

She turned back slowly, her gaze sweeping over every member of the Marshall family.

Every word she spoke landed hard, like a slap they couldn't ignore. Both Phyllis and Eliana's father, John Marshall, stiffened, their expressions shifting at once.

Standing beside them, Iris was stunned. When her eyes met Eliana's, a chill ran through her. This wasn't the same person she remembered. The woman who used to give in so easily was gone, replaced by someone distant and unsettling.

For a brief second, fear showed in her eyes. Then it disappeared, replaced by something calculated. Tears followed right after. "Eliana, I know this is all because of me. Ever since you went to prison, John and Phyllis haven't stopped suffering. I even thought about turning myself in, I really did. But if we were both gone, they'd have no one. How can you say something like that to them? Do you really want to hurt them even more?"

As soon as she spoke, the sympathy in Phyllis' and John's eyes deepened.

"Iris, you're always thinking of others," Phyllis muttered, her voice soft. "Not like her. Just because she's our biological daughter, she thinks she can act however she wants."

At her words, relief spread across Iris' face, though she hid it well as she continued, "Eliana, if it makes you feel better, go ahead. Hit me, yell at me... I'll accept it. I just don't want you blaming John and Phyllis anymore."

Her expression looked fragile and sincere, as if she meant every word.

Under normal circumstances, John and Phyllis would have already stepped in to comfort her, turning their anger toward Eliana like they always did.

That had always been how things went.

But this time, Eliana didn't play along.

"Then I'll do it," she responded.

Before anyone could even respond, Eliana moved. She slipped past John and Phyllis in one swift motion, stepped forward, and seized a fistful of Iris' hair. With a sharp pull, she forced her down onto her knees. The next second, her hand came down hard, again and again, striking without hesitation.

When Eliana finally stopped, a faint sting lingered in her palm. She flexed her fingers before looking down at Iris, who had collapsed on the ground, too stunned to react.

"You wanted to make it up to me, didn't you? I couldn't just ignore such a heartfelt apology."

Only then did she let go, stepping back with a faint, unreadable smile.

John and Phyllis stood frozen for a second before rushing forward in panic.

"Iris!" they shouted.

"Eliana, what's wrong with you?" Phyllis yelled, her voice sharp with fury. "How could you treat Iris like that? She was the one who gave you the chance to marry into the Shaw family. Do you even realize what that means? That's the richest family in the city! You spent three years in prison, and you still haven't learned anything. Maybe you should've stayed there longer."

Eliana went still.

The richest family? The Shaw family?

That didn't line up with what she remembered. In her previous life, they had forced her to take Iris' place and marry her fiancé, Jeremy Ward. That arrangement had allowed Iris to walk away and chase the heir of the Shaw family.

So why had it changed this time?

A thought crossed her mind. Had Iris... come back too?

A sudden noise broke out from the living room.

Without thinking, Eliana moved toward it.

The moment she stepped inside, her eyes met a man's-Jeremy. There was something dark in the way he looked at her.

Everything had already been set in motion, just as she had feared. Both the Ward family and the Shaw family had sent representatives the day she walked out of prison, exactly like before.

A chill crept up her spine. For a second, panic took hold, and she nearly turned to run. Her hands tightened into fists as they trembled.

She forced herself to stay still, repeating over and over that she wasn't Jeremy's wife anymore. She wasn't the woman trapped in that gilded cage, not someone who had lost control of her own life. That reminder was the only thing that kept her grounded.

This time, though, things didn't unfold the way she remembered. Jeremy didn't come to her. Instead, his attention shifted past her, landing on Iris.

Noticing the marks on Iris' face, he moved forward immediately, concern written all over him. He held her steady and frowned. "What happened to you?"

John's face darkened, but with members of the Shaw family present, he held back his temper. "It's nothing serious. Just a small argument between the sisters. We've always been a bit too lenient with Eliana. She was upset and took it out on Iris. I apologize for that. Mr. Ward, please look after Iris. We've already accepted the gifts. Iris will marry into your family properly, with all the respect she deserves."

A faint, mocking smile appeared on Eliana's lips. What a devoted father John was. In front of the Shaw family's people, he twisted every word to make her look difficult and out of control, as if he feared she might actually end up living well under their name.

Jeremy gave a small nod, but his eyes never left her. There was something unsettling in the way he looked at her, cold and lingering.

A tightness settled in Eliana's chest. For a brief moment, memories flooded back so vividly it felt real. She could almost see him again, that same look in his eyes, the way he would approach her with a calm voice that hid everything beneath it. "Ellie, you've been careless again. Why haven't you made progress in the research today? Were you wasting time?"

What he had done to her back then went far beyond anything she had faced in prison.

Good. Let it all come back.

In her previous life, they had forced her into that marriage, pushing her into Jeremy's world while Iris walked away untouched.

To everyone else, he appeared flawless. She became the admired Mrs. Ward, living in luxury, surrounded by everything others envied. When he rose to the top, he even built a grand residence for her.

But behind closed doors, nothing was as it seemed. The man people praised was nothing more than a monster. He took everything from her, including her research work, and never showed restraint. Day after day, he broke her down, leaving her hanging by a thread, only to pretend to be remorseful afterward. She lived in a cycle she couldn't escape, pulled between moments that felt like heaven and others that dragged her into darkness, until there was nothing left of her.

At the same time, Iris had stepped into a different fate. After marrying into the Shaw family, she learned the truth too late. Her husband had been bound to a wheelchair since he got injured in an accident long ago. He kept his distance, cold and indifferent, never showing her the attention she expected. Their marriage remained empty, and within half a year, everything collapsed. He was killed, and the power he once held vanished overnight. With it, the Shaw family fell apart.

Iris was cast aside without hesitation. Branded as a bad omen, she became someone people avoided. No one dared to associate with her, much less marry her. In the end, she died alone on the streets, long before Eliana met her own fate.

So this time, Iris must have believed that changing her husband would change her fate. If she wanted Jeremy, that monster, so badly, then she could have him.

As for Eliana, she was determined to take back everything that had been stolen from her in this life.

With that thought in mind, her eyes moved across the room, only to stop abruptly. On the other side, a man sat in a wheelchair.

Even without standing, his presence filled the space. There was a quiet strength about him that no one could ignore.

It was him. Evan Shaw. The heir of the Shaw family. The man who had been Iris' husband in her previous life.

His features were sharp, his expression unreadable. When John finished speaking, Evan didn't react much. He simply glanced toward the butler at his side. Understanding the signal, the butler stepped forward. "Mr. Shaw has come today to formally request Miss Eliana Marshall's hand in marriage. These are the wedding gifts."

He lifted his hand slightly.

At once, six men dressed in black moved forward and opened the boxes they carried.

The sight inside made everyone in the room fall silent in shock.

Properties and wealth filled the boxes one after another-the property deed to a mansion worth hundreds of millions, car keys for luxury cars at the highest level, rare jewelry collected from across the world, a thirty-million-dollar check, the deeds to six commercial properties, and even a loose 20-carat purple diamond.

Everything laid out before them went far beyond what anyone would call generous.

Next to that display, what Jeremy had brought looked insignificant, almost laughable.

Color rose to his face as the tension set in, and the smile he forced no longer looked natural.

Standing beside him, Iris pressed her lips together, unable to hide the jealousy flickering in her eyes.

Even Eliana felt a brief moment of surprise. In her previous life, Evan hadn't even come in person. He had only sent his butler, and the gifts back then had been far less impressive. This time, everything had changed.

Still, none of that shook her resolve. The Marshall and Ward families would pay, no matter what.

Her gaze settled on Evan as she studied him carefully. Since he had shown up himself, it made things easier for her. His reputation worked in her favor. He was known for keeping his distance from women and for his cold nature, which suited her plans.

In her past life, she had only uncovered the truth later. His condition had been an act. He had used it to expose someone within his own family.

That truth only came out after Iris was gone. Evan had been close to turning everything around, but at the last moment, he had changed course and gone somewhere he shouldn't have. That single decision had exposed him and led to his death.

Eliana still didn't know why he had changed his plan. But this time, things were different. If he was willing to work with her, she could help him avoid that fate. In return, she would secure something far more valuable for herself. If not, she would make sure she had a way out before everything collapsed again.

As she looked between both sides, a faint, mocking smile appeared on her lips. "So this was all decided already. Then why even pretend to ask me?"

John hesitated, his expression tightening for a brief moment. "We've done everything we could to arrange this marriage for you with the Shaw family. As long as you have someone like them supporting you in the future, that's enough for us."

A cold, mocking curve touched Eliana's lips. Supporting her?

Before she could respond, Iris quickly slipped her arm through Jeremy's and turned toward Eliana, her concern carefully put on display. "He's right, Eliana. We're only thinking about what's best for you. But you don't look well. Is it because you've been in prison for too long? Maybe you're not used to being home anymore."

Behind that soft tone, something else flickered. Satisfaction.

It didn't matter to Iris how grand Evan's arrival looked. In her eyes, he was still a man with no future. She had already experienced that life once. Even with everything she had brought into that family, she had never truly belonged. This time, she believed Eliana would fall even harder.

Eliana's smile deepened slightly. Her eyes shifted toward Iris, cold and sharp. "So what you're saying is that the Shaw family, the most powerful in the city, is willing to marry someone who's been to prison... and that's something to look down on?"

With just one sentence, she twisted Iris' words, turning them into something far more dangerous-an implication that Iris was insulting the Shaw family.

The atmosphere changed immediately.

Since the Shaw family had come here with the wedding gifts, surely Evan already knew her past.

As expected, he reacted. Evan raised his gaze slightly and looked straight at Iris. His face remained calm, but the weight behind that glance made it hard to breathe.

A cold tension spread through the room, leaving everyone uneasy.

John shot Iris a sharp look before quickly stepping forward, eager to fix the situation. Evan's condition didn't make him any less dangerous, and offending him wasn't an option.

"Mr. Shaw, please don't take it to heart," John said, forcing a polite smile. "Iris tends to speak without thinking. She's only concerned about Eliana. I hope you can overlook any offense."

His eyes flicked toward Iris, silently warning her to stay in line.

Iris clenched her teeth, irritation flashing across her face, but she swallowed it down. She knew she had gone too far.

Letting out a stiff laugh, she tried to recover. "John, Eliana is about to marry into the most powerful family in the city. Whether she misunderstands me or not doesn't matter. As long as she doesn't disappoint you after everything you've done for her, that's enough."

On the surface, her words sounded supportive. But beneath that tone, she had struck right at John's weakest point.

Just as she expected, his expression darkened immediately.

Eliana recognized that look all too well. It was the same one he used whenever she refused to obey. What followed had always been the same, pressure, control, and carefully calculated manipulation. But things were different now. She wasn't that woman anymore. Ever since she had been brought back into the Marshall family at fourteen, they had taken advantage of her without pause. Now, she had no intention of letting that continue.

A faint scoff echoed in her thoughts as her expression turned colder.

"I'll agree to marry into the Shaw family," she replied, her tone calm. "But I have one condition."