Chapter 1

Alaric Gilbert was dead.

Before the funeral, his wife Stella Forbes sorted through his belongings and discovered a thick photo album. The cover simply read: "My Beloved."

Opening it, Stella was shocked to find that the intimate moments captured inside weren't of her—his wife of twenty years—but of Jenna Somers, a young woman Alaric had taken in years ago.

Stella had always assumed Alaric's feelings for Jenna were purely paternal. But looking through the album, she saw Jenna laughing, sleeping, crying... each photograph radiating unmistakable romantic devotion.

Beneath a photo of Jenna in a wedding dress, Alaric had written: "Since I cannot marry the one I truly love, I might as well settle for someone else."

As the truth of her husband's hidden feelings sank in, the color drained from Stella's face. Twenty years of marriage, and she'd been nothing more than a "settlement."

The funeral began shortly afterward. People attempted to console her.

"Try to see the silver lining," one guest whispered. "He's gone now, but at least you've got the inheritance to take care of yourself..."

"Right," added another. "Even with that medication disaster his company's facing, Alaric had plenty of assets. You'll be set for life."

But before their hollow comforts could settle, a lawyer interrupted.

"Mr. Gilbert stipulated in his will that all his assets and property be transferred to Miss Jenna Somers..."

The reading of Alaric's will left everyone stunned until the doors burst open.

"He left everything to someone else? Then who's going to pay our medical settlements?"

It was the families affected by the pharmaceutical accident.

When they spotted Stella, they shouted in unison.

"That's his wife! If we can't get our money, we'll take her life instead!"

They rushed toward her, and a knife plunged into Stella's chest.

As she collapsed, her dying gaze fell upon Alaric's cold eyes in his black-and-white portrait.

She slowly closed her eyes.

If I could do it all over again, Alaric, I would never marry you.

...

When Stella opened her eyes, she found herself in rumpled bedsheets. Before she could process what had happened, a cold voice cut through the air.

"I've already called my parents. The wedding will be in five days. Happy now?"

Stella looked up to see Alaric—not as the man in his fifties who had died, but in his early thirties, devastatingly handsome and in his prime.

She realized she had been given a second chance, transported back to the eve of their wedding.

Their families had arranged their marriage since childhood, but Alaric had never wanted her. He'd delayed the wedding for years, making Stella the laughingstock of New York's social scene.

Then one night, Alaric had gotten drunk, and they'd ended up sleeping together.

Alaric had always believed she had orchestrated that night, which only deepened his resentment. But his sense of obligation forced him to finally fulfill their engagement.

Throughout their marriage, Alaric had treated her with utter coldness, while Stella loved him desperately.

When his company faced financial trouble, she gave him her entire inheritance.

When he complained about her social life, she quit her career to become a housewife.

When he wanted peace and quiet, she learned to move through their home like a ghost.

For over a decade, she had walked on eggshells, finally earning occasional smiles from him—though they were rare and fleeting.

Stella had always thought he was naturally distant. Now she knew he had given all his love to someone else.

The memories stung like salt in an open wound. Stella forced herself back to the present and looked at the man before her.

"You don't need to marry me out of obligation," she said evenly. "Let's call off the engagement."

Given this second chance, she refused to waste her life on someone who would never love her back.

Alaric responded with a cynical laugh. "Playing hard to get again, Stella? That's getting old."

Stella froze.

She remembered how, in her youth, she had loved Alaric obsessively. Several times she had threatened to break their engagement when hurt, only to be talked back into it by his parents.

He no longer believed she would actually walk away.

"This time I really mean—" Stella began, but Alaric had already turned and walked out.

Just like before, he never bothered to hear her out.

Stella sighed.

Fine. If she wanted to end the engagement, she'd tell his family directly.

But first, she had something more important to do.

She picked up her phone and made a call.

"Professor Lockwood? Can I still apply for the Nebula Initiative?"

Her professor sounded delighted on the other end.

"Absolutely! You're the researcher they specifically requested. But remember—this is classified at the highest level."

"Once you go to Stennis Space Center, you can't return for ten years. No outside contact whatsoever. Are you certain this is what you want?"

Stella had graduated top of her class in aerospace engineering at MIT. Her graduate research had focused on technology the country desperately needed.

As soon as she graduated, NASA had offered her a position. It had been her lifelong dream.

But in her previous life, when Alaric finally set a wedding date, she had abandoned that dream after much soul-searching, devoting herself entirely to being Mrs. Gilbert.

This time, she would live for herself.

"I’m certain," she said without hesitation. "I'm in."

Her professor was thrilled. "Fantastic! But the project launches soon. We leave in five days, so say your goodbyes quickly!"

Chapter 2

But Stella had no family to say goodbye to.

Her parents had died when she was fifteen, leaving her as the sole heir to the Forbes name.

She called Alaric's parents to express her intention to break off the engagement.

After hanging up, she headed to an auction house.

Stella's mother, Elena Parker, had been a renowned ceramic artist. Since her death, Stella had been collecting her mother's works as keepsakes. One piece called "Amore" – created while her mother was pregnant with her – had eluded Stella for years.

By some stroke of luck, just before her departure to Stennis Space Center, "Amore" had come up for sale.

Arriving at the auction house, Stella was surprised to see both Alaric and Jenna already there.

Seeing her, Alaric spoke coldly: "Done with your drama yet?"

Stella was confused. "Excuse me?"

Alaric's expression hardened with impatience.

"You called my parents about breaking off the engagement. Isn't this just because you're unhappy with the rushed wedding plans? I've already increased the budget tenfold. Happy now?"

Stella realized they still didn't believe she genuinely wanted to end things.

"You've got it all wrong. I really—"

Before she could finish, Alaric cut her off again.

"Enough, Stella."

Looking at his icy expression, Stella suddenly lost the will to explain.

Whatever.

In four days, when the bride didn't show up for the wedding, they'd understand she wasn't bluffing.

The auction began shortly after.

Alaric turned to Jenna with unmistakable tenderness: "Your birthday's next week. See anything you like? Just point and it's yours."

Jenna fidgeted nervously with the hem of her shirt, shaking her head slightly.

"Uncle Al, you've done enough by raising me. Everything here is way too expensive. I don't deserve—"

"Stop that," Alaric frowned. "You deserve the best this world has to offer, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Jenna's father, Enzo Somers, had been Alaric's employee who died saving his life twelve years ago. Alaric had adopted Jenna afterward, having her call him "Uncle Al."

Back then, Jenna was only ten, and Alaric twenty-one.

Now, twelve years later, that little girl had blossomed into a beautiful young woman.

Watching how Alaric gazed at Jenna with such adoration, Stella suddenly realized just how blind she had been in her previous life not to notice his feelings.

The auctioneer's voice rang out: "Next up is the renowned ceramic piece, 'Amore'!"

A pristine white porcelain sculpture was brought onto the stage – a mother elephant embracing her baby.

Jenna's eyes lit up with interest.

Alaric immediately noticed. "You like this one?"

Jenna blushed. "Yeah... it reminds me of my mom..."

At the same moment, Stella had already raised her bidding paddle.

"Ten million," she announced.

She'd immediately offered double the market price, determined to secure her mother's legacy.

To her surprise, Alaric raised his paddle as well.

"Fifteen million."

Stella whipped her head around to stare at him.

Alaric's expression remained cold. "Jenna likes it."

Anger flashed in Stella's eyes. "That's my mother's work!"

Alaric froze, finally noticing the artist's name.

His paddle began to lower involuntarily, but then Jenna spoke, her voice catching.

"It's okay, Uncle Al. I don't deserve something so beautiful anyway..."

Seeing tears gather in the young woman's eyes, Alaric felt his heart clench. Without hesitation, he called over a staff member.

"I'll top any bid by one million!"

"This sculpture – I'm taking it home no matter what!"

Chapter 3

"Guaranteed overbid," Alaric declared. "Whatever anyone else bids, I'll add another million on top."

It was an unconditional commitment – he would secure "Amore" at any cost.

The color drained from Stella's face.

"Alaric," she said, her voice trembling. "Do you really have to do this? I've never asked you for anything, but please, I'm begging you – let me have my mother's work?"

Her mother had spoken about this sculpture countless times. It was the piece Stella had wanted most to recover.

Alaric's expression remained impassive. "Sorry, but Jenna rarely shows interest in anything."

Stella's bidding paddle lowered in defeat.

Though her parents had left her a substantial inheritance, her available cash couldn't compete with Alaric's wealth.

Elena Parker's "Amore" was ultimately delivered to Jenna.

"Thank you so much, Uncle Al! I love it!"

Jenna accepted it joyfully, but then her grip suddenly loosened.

CRASH!

The ceramic masterpiece hit the floor, shattering into pieces.

...

Her mother's favorite creation was destroyed after all.

Stella collected the fragments with tears in her eyes and took them home, carefully attempting to reassemble them.

She had barely started when her housekeeper approached.

"Miss Forbes, Miss Somers is here. She's kneeling outside the gate, saying she won't get up until you personally forgive her."

"She says... unless you come out and tell her she's forgiven, she'll stay there."

Stella didn't even look up.

"I'm not seeing her."

A little while later, the skies opened up in a torrential downpour.

Alaric stormed into Stella's mansion, his face dark with anger.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Stella?"

The usually composed man was now burning with rage.

"Jenna's been kneeling out there for an hour in the rain! Is it really so hard to walk outside and say one damn word of forgiveness?"

Stella's hands, still piecing together fragments, finally paused.

"She chose to kneel there," she replied coldly. "She destroyed my mother's work. Why should I comfort her and pretend everything's fine?"

"You—!"

Alaric was furious, but before he could continue, his assistant rushed in.

"Mr. Gilbert! Miss Somers has collapsed!"

"What?"

Alaric's expression transformed instantly into panic.

He glanced at Stella, still calmly piecing together the fragments. In a burst of rage, he swept his hand across the table, sending the partially reassembled sculpture crashing to the floor.

"You heartless bitch!"

With those words, he rushed outside and carried the rain-soaked Jenna in his arms.

Stella stared at the ceramic pieces – now shattered beyond repair – as tears she'd been holding back finally spilled over.

She was heartless?

For years, she had followed him like a shadow, desperate for even a glance, and what had she received in return?

A cruel death in her past life.

Cold indifference in this one.

Who was truly heartless here?

Stella wiped away her tears and picked up the irreparable fragments one by one.

Alaric Gilbert.

I won't love you anymore.

Not even a little. Never again.

...

Having resolved to sever all ties, Stella packed up everything Alaric had ever given her and shipped it back to the Gilbert estate.

"Gifts" was a generous term – each item had been purchased by his assistant under pressure from his parents.

Only one item remained – a jade pendant, a Gilbert family heirloom too precious to mail. Stella decided to return it in person.

But arriving outside Jenna's hospital room, she overheard the young woman speaking.

"Uncle Al, you shouldn't be so good to me. I'm afraid I'll get used to it, and then after you're married, I won't know how to adjust..."

Through the glass panel in the door, Stella watched as Alaric's face filled with tender concern. He instinctively raised his hand, seemingly unable to resist the urge to embrace Jenna.

But he restrained himself.

His hand ultimately landed on top of the girl's head, his gaze filled with controlled longing.

"Don't say such silly things. Even after I'm married, I'll always take care of you."

Jenna's eyes brightened, only to dim again as Alaric continued.

"I've told you, you can think of me as your real uncle. I'll look after you for life."

Disappointment flickered across Jenna's face as she lowered her head.

"Just an uncle?" she murmured. "But after you're married, you'll soon have your own children. What will I be then?"

"There won't be any."

This time, Alaric responded without a moment's hesitation.

"Stella and I won't have children."

Jenna looked up in surprise. "Why not?"

Alaric gazed down at her, his expression filled with emotions too complex to decipher.

"I've already arranged for long-term contraceptives. After we're married, I'll make sure Stella takes them daily. We won't have children."

"Jenna, I will always be your uncle, and everything I own will eventually be yours."

"So please, don't worry, okay?"