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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.
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