Blurb：
In a world where second chances redefine destiny, two reincarnated sisters make opposite choices. Joan Wood, once burned by Gilbert Terrason’s decade of neglect, now pursues the notorious playboy Jonathan Pearson, convinced her beauty will tame him. But her sister, armed with memories of a fiery past life, chooses Gilbert—the aloof STEM heir—and strikes a cold bargain using her knowledge of his missing adopted sister, Gillian Terrason. As startups clash and marital agreements hide deeper schemes, love proves unreliable in this game of revenge and redemption. Who will survive when history threatens to repeat itself?
Content：
My mother was asking me and my sister to choose the man we wanted to marry. My sister, surprisingly, did not choose the gloomy STEM student she spent four years pursuing. Instead, she went for the rich but infamous playboy.
Shock colored my mother’s face. I know he’s rich, Joan, but what if you get all known and unknown STDs? I thought you loved Gil. Are you sure you’re making the right choice?
That did not sway my sister’s mind. That alone told me what I had been suspecting all along. Like me, my sister was reincarnated.
In our previous lives, she happily married Gilbert Terrason, but he left her on read for ten long years. His cold treatment drove her a little gaga.
That playboy, however, stopped his philandering lifestyle for me and loved me like his life depended on it. He gave me all his riches, and we became the model couple everyone wouldn’t stop talking about.
Then, it happened during the ball. On my tenth wedding anniversary, my sister, consumed by rage, burned us into cinders.
Here we were, on our second chance in life. This time, I took Gilbert’s hand. “No takebacks, Joan. Don’t try to do a third take.”
My sister snickered. “As to you. This time, all the love in the world is coming to me.”
Ah, yes, love. Joan still did not get it. Love was the most unreliable element in any marriage.
Chapter 1 Another Choice
Our mother was still trying to talk my sister, Joan Wood, out of her choice. “Gilbert’s rich too. I know he doesn’t take any money from his family, but he’s their heir, so sooner or later”
Joan cut her off impatiently, “Enough. I spent four years on him, but he wouldn’t even give me a moment of his time. What makes you think marrying him would be a happy ending for me? Just relax, Mom. I mean, I’m hot. Jonathan’s going to be head over heels for me.”
I watched Joan’s overflowing self-confidence with amusement. In our previous lives, I was engaged to Jonathan Pearson. Our first meeting happened in a nightclub. He gave me a call and told me to bring him a box of rubbers.
When I walked into his parlor, he was accompanied by five alluring women with bodies that could redefine impossible body standards.
With a grin on his face, Jonathan tossed 100 dollars at my face. “First lesson of being my wife. You have to be smart.”
Jonathan had seen more than his fair share of beauty. Beauty was worthless for him.
Yet Joan insisted on her choice, and my mother spoiled her rotten all the time, so she went along.
The next day, I called Gilbert. “Let’s meet.”
“I don’t see the necessity in that,” he answered, his reply devoid of warmth.
There was something I had to clear up with this guy before our marriage. I said, “I have news about Gillian Terrason. If that interests you, meet me at the nightclub.”
Gillian was Gilbert’s adopted sister. He picked her himself when he was a kid, but the girl went missing four years ago.
With my knowledge I gained from my previous life, I knew Gillian was the one thing that weighed heavily on his heart. I knew he would show up.
An hour later, the parlor’s door swung open. Gilbert came in, all dressed in black. He took the seat across from me, and the look on his face screamed hostility. “Talk.”
I ignored his demands and took out an agreement. “I can leave you to do anything you want and stay out of your business. I’ll keep up appearances as a couple, but in exchange, your startup will partner up with mine for this deal.”
My mother spent all her money on Joan when I was in college. I worked hard to get the money for tuition and everything else. Right before graduation, I opened up a workshop with my friend.
Our companies were both startups, but his was a lot bigger than mine. If I could get the deal, my company could grow.
He sneered. “What makes you think you can negotiate with me? And do you really think you can tell me what to do?”
Chapter 2 First Meeting
“Okay,” I said coolly. “Guess Gillian stays a mystery, then.”
That stoked his fury. He didn’t bother hiding the expression, but the guy took the pen and signed the papers. “Now talk.”
I smiled. “She’s still alive.”
A heavy silence weighed down on us. I knew what he wanted. A continuation. However, I had set down my glass of wine and got ready to leave.
Sometimes you had to dangle the bait in front of the prey and make them work for it.
Instead of stopping me, he only followed me in silence. Then, we ran into Joan.
I picked this club on purpose. Given the horrendous way I died, I figured I wanted to make Joan the clown of the show this time around.
To my surprise, she and Jonathan were clinging to each other sweetly, and she was approaching me with a smug look on her face. “Well, someone looks gloomy. Did he complain about you? Of course he did. If a hot girl like me couldn’t win him over, a girl with a deadpan face like you could never.
“Don’t come crying to me when you get your heart broken, Katherine. I’ll be busy being in love with my husband. I won’t have time for you.”
Then, I saw the hot models passing behind them, and I sneered. Guess someone learned her lesson. The old her would’ve gotten into a war with Jonathan if she saw him messing around with other women right in front of her.
“Sisterly reminder, Joan. Make sure you get checked after orgies. Crying won’t cure STDs.” Then I held Gilbert’s arm and smiled at Joan. “And we’re getting along swimmingly.”
“Impossible! He’d never fall for a girl like you!”
Without missing a beat, I answered, “Just because you failed to win him over doesn’t mean I failed.”
Gilbert pulled his arm out and left us.
Joan laughed until she nearly choked. “You nearly got me there.”
Even Jonathan shared the hilarity. “He ditched you, girl. I don’t mind sleeping with one more woman, though.”
I shot him a glare. “Sorry, but I’m a germaphobe.”
His face fell, then he grabbed a bottle of wine and swung it down on my head. I found out about his condition back in my previous life. The one thing he hated most was defiance from women. If he did not like the things that came out of my mouth, he would beat me up.
And he made sure to hit the spots where clothes could cover up. The Internet called us a model couple, but that was just a facade.
Then, I felt blood trickle down my forehead. Joan slapped me before I knew it. “Don’t mock my husband! I know you’re just jealous of me!”
She was going to slap me again, but then someone raised their leg and slammed their foot into Jonathan’s behind with full force.
Jonathan fell headfirst into the ground.
I put down the ashtray I’d grabbed moments ago. Gilbert strode back to me. Icily, he said, “And I thought you were smart, but you’re as much a fool as your sister is. And you’re a coward. You wouldn’t even fight back when someone hit you.”
I played along and reddened my eyes, then I let all the strength leave my legs and fell into his arms. He was going to push me away, but Jonathan had gotten back up. In a rage, he was swinging his bottle at Gilbert.
A bunch of bodyguards showed up out of nowhere and pinned him to the ground. Gilbert looked at him like he was a maggot. “I might not take any money from my family, but this is still their territory. Terrason territory. If you think you can touch me here, think again.”
Then, he scooped me up and held me in a princess hug.
Joan stared at us like we’d just merged and grew ten tails. The sight was driving her mad. She roared, “You’re holding her? You can’t hold her, Gilbert!”
Chapter 3 Smug
I gave Joan a smug look and rested my head against Gilbert’s chest.
Once we left the club, he let me go unceremoniously, and I fell to the ground. That hurt my butt. The pain was swimming up my spine.
“Don’t try anything like that again. Cheap tricks are just going to lower my opinion about you, and I already dislike you.”
He then moved into his car and left me in the dust.
There was a reason I did not fight back. I was gambling on something, and I won that gamble.
Every time Joan and I went to our mom’s place in our past lives, she wouldn’t stop complaining about Gilbert. She called him a lot of names, even called him evil.
I got into contact with him multiple times, but he was nothing like the man Joan said he was. He just didn’t want to waste his time on people he didn’t like.
I got my wounds bandaged at a hospital and went back to my place beside the workshop.
My mom called the next day. The first thing she greeted me with was a roar. “You attacked your sister and her fiance? How dare you! You’re nothing but trouble! You’re useless!”
I massaged my forehead. Not the first time my mother called me a waste of space. Thanks to her, I learned how to do the whole family’s laundry and cook for everyone when I was still in grade school. All I wanted was a smile, a fraction of her love.
The only thing I got was a bruised body.
“Was that enough venting, Mom? Because I’m hanging up.”
That stopped her curses. She told me, “The Pearsons are giving your sister 1.5 million as her wedding gift. What about Gilbert?”
“No idea.”
“What? You useless girl! You’re not going to let him marry you for free! Ask him right now!”
I hung up. I had to take a deep breath, then I made my way to Gilbert’s company. When I barged into his office, he, without even raising his head, asked, “You have five minutes, starting now.”
“Two questions. First, a wedding gift. I prefer money. How much are you giving me? And second, what about the wedding?”
That got Gilbert’s attention. He raised his head, and an icy smile curled his lips. “Same answer for both questions. I am giving you nothing.”
No gifts or weddings. A reptile’s blood was probably hotter than this man’s. So I shrugged. “Fine.”
I got up and was about to leave, but he stopped me, “You don’t seem to be mad.”
I shook my head like his answer didn’t bother me. “I shouldn’t have asked for those if I was going into a marriage without love.”
“So, what are you trying to get from me?”
I answered honestly, “Status. I want them to call me your wife. And I want the benefits and partnerships your family’s name can bring me.”
“Very well. I can give you anything you want, long as it’s not something useless like love.”
For the next few days, I spent all my efforts on the partnership with his company. He sent a project manager called Ronald Zimmerman to work with me.
One night, when I was working overtime with Ronald to talk about the project, my mom and Joan came to my company.
Joan marched in with mockery. “Ah, getting another man just because you can’t get Gilbert’s love?” She clicked her tongue. “What a whore.”
I knew why they were here, so I ignored her and talked to my mom. “We’re not going to hold a wedding. And forget about the gifts. There will be none.”
My mom raised her voice. “What? So I raised you all for nothing? I can’t believe this! Why can’t you be like your sister?”
Yelling wasn’t enough to calm her anger. She slapped me as well. “You’re nothing but useless! You wasted my money!”
Joan followed her mother’s example and slapped me as well. She made sure to leave more than one mark on my face.
Chapter 4 Avenged
“You’re an embarrassment to Mom! This is for her!” Joan said.
A wave of injustice fell over me, and my tears wouldn’t stop coming.
Right then, an icy, biting voice said, “Stop right now!”
Gilbert came into my company still wearing black, and he stood as a wall between me and the women.
My mom put on a simpering expression. “Ah, you’re here, Gilbert.”
Joan gnashed her teeth. She hissed, “You’re going to defend that bitch? No way.”
Gilbert arched an eyebrow. “Of course I’m going to defend her.”
I covered my cheek, and a smile curved my lips. Once again, my gamble was fruitful. I noticed Ronald texting someone while my mother was scolding me, and I knew it was for Gilbert.
My mother chuckled awkwardly. “I mean, the Pearsons gave me 1.5 million, but you’re giving me nothing, so”
Gilbert retorted, “You make your daughters sound like merchandise instead of living humans.”
My mother had no answer for that, so she grabbed Joan and scurried off.
After they were out of sight, Gilbert asked, “Want payback? I can do it for you.”
That was a good offer, so I nodded. After that, we put the episode behind us and got back to the project.
To my surprise, he joined every single meeting about the project. Sometimes, we could even have a discussion.
I liked this way of getting along with him.
Soon, it was Joan and Jonathan’s wedding. Gilbert attended the ceremony with me. The first part of the wedding went well enough, but the problem started during the ring exchange.
Jonathan took the ring off one of the bridesmaids and presented it to Joan. Joan’s fury burned her head, and she slapped the bridesmaid across the face.
Jonathan held the woman in his embrace protectively. “What’s wrong with you? She just wanted to try it out! What the hell are you doing?”
Joan’s eyes went red. “I can handle your hobbies, but this is our wedding! Our wedding, and you let some other woman wear my wedding ring? I’m your wife, not her!”
He slammed his foot into Joan’s belly and sent her toppling to the ground. “Don’t push your luck. If you don’t like how I do things, don’t marry me.”
He was going to hit her again, but my mother jumped in and stopped him. “Hey, you can’t hit my daughter!”
I snorted. “If you’re going to cut the wedding short, you’re giving the gift back, Mom.”
My mother’s face froze up. She clenched her teeth and slapped Joan instead. “Unbelievable! You’re ruining your big day! Apologize to your husband right now!”
Gilbert held my hand, and we both ascended the stage. “You’d hit your own daughter over 1.5 million. Well, then I offer double, but I want you to never touch Katherine again. Deal?”
My mother’s eyes lit up, and she nodded profusely. Happy with the answer, Gilbert descended the stage, holding my hand. “Ah, of course, the money is only for Katherine. You’re not touching any of it.”
That hit Joan hard. She had a mental breakdown and roared like something that was between human and animal.
Gilbert and I left the hall.
“That’s the revenge done. Now, tell me about Gillian.”
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