Chapter 1
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During the forty Christmases of my arranged marriage with Christopher Edwards, we were the model couple that everyone in Washington envied. However, when I was on the brink of death from a heart attack, he locked me in a room and forced me to sign divorce papers and a corneal transplant consent form. Christopher coldly told me, “Natalie Morris, you’ve enjoyed wealth and privilege your entire life, sailing through everything smoothly, except for one thing–you’ve wronged your sister Eleanor Morris. Because of you, Eleanor never married and cried herself blind. Since you’re dying anyway, give her both your corneas and your position as Mrs. Edwards.”
My beloved son Dylan Edwards coldly chimed in, “Mom, everyone says a mother’s love is selfless. Aunt Eleanor is the most talented person in Washington. I admire how she’s been able to protect the Morris family through her own abilities, and I’d be willing to accept her as my mother. If you truly care about me, please agree to this.”
After that, I died of sheer rage. After my death, my corneas were harvested, but my body was thrown into a cold morgue with no one to claim it. Christopher and Dylan excitedly brought Eleanor back to the Edwards estate to celebrate her new life.
When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day Christopher came to my house to propose. Watching him steal glances at Eleanor, my heart was filled with nothing but hatred. In this life, I would personally unite this “loving couple”
with
my
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own hands.
*****
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Looking at box after box of engagement gifts sent by the Edwards family, my mother Athena Morris was quite satisfied. She said the same words as in my previous life: “Christopher, Natalie is the daughter I’ve cherished and protected since childhood. If you marry her, you must treat her well for life, and moreover…”
But before Athena could finish, Christopher interrupted her: “Mrs. Athena, I’m here today to marry your adopted daughter Eleanor.”
Athena was stunned, and everyone else in the villa was shocked too. After a moment, Athena said angrily, “Christopher, you and Natalie grew up together. Everyone in Washington knows about your relationship. How dare you back out now? What do you take her for?”
Christopher withdrew his infatuated gaze from Eleanor and said firmly, “Mrs. Athena, the only person I love is Eleanor. Natalie is wonderful and would make a good wife and mother, but without love to sustain it, our marriage would be nothing but a lifetime of mediocrity. That’s not the life I want.”
Hearing his words, I was stunned. Instantly, I realized that Christopher had been reborn just like me. Perhaps because our marriage in the previous life felt too bland and regrettable to
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him, he wanted to make amends in this life.
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Seeing Athena’s displeasure, Christopher paused, then suggested, “However, Mrs. Athena, your point is valid. Since Natalie’s reputation has been damaged because of me, I can provide for her. After we marry, she can move in and live with
us.”
Athena frowned, “Let me think about this some more. You should leave for now.”
Thinking Athena had agreed, Christopher left contentedly with Eleanor. Watching their intimate silhouettes, I felt a slight pang in my heart. I suppressed the emotion and looked at Athena with confusion: “Mom, why didn’t you refuse outright?”
Athena sighed and took my hand with concern, “Natalie, I know your childhood dream was to marry Christopher. I was worried that if I spoke too absolutely, you’d be upset.”
I was touched and said, “How could I be? I’m the most beloved daughter of the Morris family. Since Christopher doesn’t think I’m good enough, there’s no need for me to insist on being with him.”
Seeing that I wasn’t particularly heartbroken, Athena seemed relieved: “In that case, I’ll go tell Christopher right now to make things clear.”
I stopped Athena in time: “I should handle these matters
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myself.”
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I left the living room, but the servants said Christopher had already gone. Remembering events from my previous life, I decided to have a proper talk with Eleanor.
But I never expected that as soon as I reached her bedroom door, I’d hear her talking on the phone with a friend. Her friend said, “Eleanor, you’re incredible. Even now, that old woman Athena still doesn’t know you’re her husband’s biological daughter, does she? Not only did you become her daughter, but you also stole Natalie’s engagement. From now on, all the Morris family fortune will be yours.”
Eleanor let out a cold laugh. “Once I become part of the Edwards family, I’ll make sure that old woman Athena and Natalie end up on the streets, and when they die, they won’t even have a grave. This is what they owe my mother.”
I felt a chill run through my entire body, too shocked to recover for a long time. Their brazen conversation pierced my heart like a knife. Until this moment, I had always believed Eleanor was an orphan that my late father Miles Morris had taken in. I never imagined she was actually Miles’s illegitimate daughter.
Then I remembered how in my previous life, less than a year after the wedding, Athena had suddenly fallen seriously ill and died despite all efforts to save her. Hatred instantly consumed my heart. I went downstairs, planning to tell Athena everything immediately.
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But the next second, Christopher, who should have left, suddenly appeared and grabbed my wrist. Glancing at Eleanor’s room behind me, he frowned and asked, “Natalie, what are you planning to do to Eleanor?”
After a pause, without waiting for my response, Christopher continued, “Eleanor is kind and gentle. If you’re taking out your anger on her because of my breaking off our engagement, I won’t let you get away with it. Also, at Mr. White’s birthday party in three days, Eleanor will earn the admiration and respect of everyone in Washington. This will benefit both the Morris and Edwards families. As her sister, shouldn’t you be blessing her?”
The words “gentle” and “kind” stabbed at my heart. I suddenly changed my mind. I couldn’t let Athena and I suffer this injustice for nothing. Since Christopher trusted Eleanor so much, I would personally tear off his beloved’s mask right in front of him.
After Christopher left, I contacted a lawyer: “Please investigate the orphanage Eleanor was at before her adoption and the medications my mother has been using recently, and arrange a paternity test for me.”
Besides that, I needed to prepare thoroughly for this birthday party. I was determined to make this pair of bastards pay the price.
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Forty years of contracted marriage, but .
