Blurb：
In this gripping tale of betrayal and redemption, Victoria Webb, the sole heiress to a casino empire, relives her tragic past. After dying at the hands of kidnappers, abandoned by her beloved bodyguard Harry Hunt, Victoria wakes up on the day she must choose a fiancé from nine protectors. This time, she rejects Harry—the man who dismissed her pleas in her previous life—and selects Jeffrey Reed, the one who mourned her death. But as secrets unravel, Harry’s sudden desperation and Ember Burke’s manipulative schemes threaten Victoria’s new path. Will she break free from the cycle of deceit, or will history repeat itself? Dive into a world of dangerous alliances, twisted loyalties, and a heroine fighting for justice.
Content：
As the only daughter of a casino magnate, I have grown up surrounded by danger and betrayal.
To keep me safe, my father has raised nine bodyguards from a young age. After I come of age, he asks me to choose one of them as my fiance.
Everyone expects me to pick Harry Hunt, the man I have secretly loved for years. But I do notnot after what happened in my previous life.
On the day of our engagement, I was kidnapped, and my hands were pierced with poison-tipped spikes. Tortured and desperate, I called Harry for help. His response still haunts me today.
“Victoria, stop with these games. Your location shows you’re still in the hotel suite. Trying to pull these pity stunts just to keep me to yourself? Pathetic.”
With another woman laughing in the background, I closed my eyes and gave up. As the iron cage sank beneath the waves and the sea filled my lungs, my life ended.
Then, I open my eyes and find myself back on the day my father asked me to make a choice.
This time, Harry’s name is the first I cross off the list. But why is he crying and begging me to marry him at my engagement banquet with Jeffrey Reed?
Chapter 1
When I saw the familiar list of names, I suddenly came to my senses.
The memory of drowning still clung to me when I heard Dad’s voice. “Victoria, today you’ll choose one of these nine men to be your fiance.”
That was when it hit me that I had been given a second chance at life. Looking at the list, I crossed out Harry Hunt’s name without hesitation.
Dad stared at me in shock. “Are you sure? You’ve been following Harry around since you were a child. Why strike his name off? Hold up. I’ll have them prepare a new list.”
“No, Dad,” I cut him off, shaking my head firmly. “It wasn’t a mistake. I’m not choosing Harry. I’m choosing Jeffrey.”
In my mind, I could still see Jeffrey Reed’s devastated expression after my death, his voice hoarse from screaming my name.
Seeing how determined I was, Dad said nothing more and nodded in agreement. He told me to keep it hush for now. In three days, he would make the announcement himself at my engagement party.
I left Dad’s study room and walked into the villa’s grand hall, where I came face-to-face with Harry. At his side was Ember Burke. The moment she saw me, she shrank back and hid behind him like I was a monster.
Harry pulled her close and whispered, “Don’t be afraid, Ember. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
He turned and glared at me with pure hostility. “Victoria, although Ember’s a scholarship student sponsored by your family, that doesn’t give you the right to bully her.”
I froze. This was not how things had played out before.
Ember lifted her red, swollen hand onto his arm and said carefully, “Harry, please don’t blame Ms. Webb. I was born humble, so washing her clothes by hand isn’t a big deal.”
I blinked in disbelief. I did not ask Ember to wash my clothes. That was when I realized she had been pulling the same act again, pretending to be the victim to gain sympathy.
Before I could defend myself, Harry snapped, his voice cracking like a whip. “Victoria, even if you chose me as your fiance, I would never love a woman as cruel as you!”
After saying that, he turned to Ember and gently caressed her hand, pity clouding his eyes. “Ember, you’re not lowly at all. You’re worth more than people with hearts full of malice.”
He cast me a look of cold disdain. And just like that, the sharp ache returned. In this life, just as in the last, Harry never believed me.
Chapter 2
Just then, a stranger suddenly lunged at me with a knife. I screamed and stumbled back in terror.
Harry reacted instantly. Drawing on years of muscle memory, he sprinted forward and positioned himself in front of me. He kicked the knife out of the attacker’s hand before subduing him.
Before I could catch my breath, Ember shrieked and collapsed, writhing in pain. Another stranger, wielding a knife, had slashed her leg.
Harry hesitated for a split second before abandoning me. He rushed to her side and shielded her protectively.
My heart grew colder with each passing moment as I watched the scene unfold before me.
Seeing that no one was guarding me, the other attacker picked up his knife and charged forward. Just as the blade was about to pierce my chest, someone appeared out of nowhere and kicked the man to the ground.
I opened my eyes and saw it was Jeffrey.
The two assassins, realizing their plan had failed, fled in panic.
Jeffrey’s face went dark with fury as he turned to Harry and roared, “Have you forgotten your mission? If anything had happened to Ms. Webb, could you even handle the consequences?”
Harry flinched, panic flashing in his eyes. Still, he quickly brushed it off. “Nothing happened, right? Besides, Ember only got hurt because of Victoria. I couldn’t just ignore her.”
Jeffrey’s expression grew even colder. He stormed forward and punched Harry square in the face. “So you’re just going to ignore Ms. Webb’s safety? Have you forgotten why Mr. Webb took us in all those years ago?
“He treated us like his own children. And now, you’re willing to betray that debt of gratitude just because of one woman?”
Though Harry felt a twinge of guilt, he couldn’t take Jeffrey’s fists and harsh accusations any longer. The two of them broke into a fight.
I hurried to break them apart, but before I could, Ember let out another pitiful wail. “Harry, it hurts so much!”
Harry stopped fighting at once. He scooped her up into his arms and rushed off without a backward glance.
Jeffrey’s face went cold as he turned to look at me, his eyes flashing with anger.
“Why did you stop me? After everything Harry’s done, how can you still protect him?” His eyes reddened as he asked me.
“I didn’t”
“Enough,” Jeffrey cut me off sharply. “There’s no need to explain. Since you’ve already chosen him, live with the consequences.”
Panic surged through me. “I didn’t choose him!”
At my words, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but it quickly faded into a shadow of disappointment. “You’ve loved Harry since you were a child. Everyone knows it. If not him, who else would you choose?”
Jeffrey gave a bitter laugh. “Forget it. Choose whoever you want.”
After saying that, he walked away, heavy with disappointment.
An ache spread through my chest as I watched him leave.
What would he think if Jeffrey knew he was the one I had chosen? The thought left me unexpectedly hopeful.
…
The next day, Dad sent over dozens of gowns for me to pick from for the engagement banquet.
I had just settled on one when Harry appeared, supporting the limping Ember as they walked in. Her eyes lit up the moment she saw the dress. She gasped, “It’s beautiful!”
But just as quickly, Ember’s expression dimmed. “Too bad Someone like me, who’s born into poverty, could never wear something so lovely.”
Harry’s heart ached instantly. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and said tenderly, “Don’t say that, Ember. I’ll buy whatever you want for you.”
Chapter 3
I ignored Ember and Harry, but she wasn’t finished. “Isn’t the gown Ms. Webb’s holding a limited edition?
“I saw it on television once. It must be worth a fortune. If I could just wear a dress like that once in my life, I’d die happy.”
Ember lowered her head in feigned sorrow.
Upon seeing this, Harry strode over to me and said firmly, “Since Ember likes it, you should give it to her.”
A spark of anger flared in my chest. “Why should I?”
Harry spoke with self-righteous confidence. “You’re going to be engaged to me. No matter what you wear, it’s for my eyes, isn’t it?
“And besides, Ember got hurt because of you. So what if you give her one of your gowns? If that bothers you so much, I’ll pay you back.”
Hearing his words, I couldn’t help but let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Who said I’m getting engaged to you?”
For an instant, panic flickered across his face, but he quickly masked it with a cold sneer. “Victoria, everyone knows you’ve been trailing after me since you were a kid. Who else would you choose if not me? Stop wasting time and just hand the gown over to Ember.”
With that, he yanked the gown from my hands and thrust it into Ember’s hands.
Harry’s grip was too strong. Before I could brace myself, the sequins on the gown cut into my hand, leaving gashes that began bleeding instantly.
Harry didn’t even glance at me. He just led Ember back to the room to try it on.
She turned and shot me a smug little smile, and her eyes were full of provocation. It was as if she were reminding me that I was nothing but a complete failure.
I forced a twisted smile, even as my heart grew colder and colder inside.
…
On the eve of the engagement banquet, Dad gathered all nine men and announced that I would be formally engaged to one of them tomorrow night.
At that, everyone’s expressions shifted in different ways.
In the corner, Jeffrey downed glass after glass of liquor, his expression unreadable.
Harry kept glancing restlessly at Ember’s quarters.
The other seven turned to him with smiles.
“Congratulations, Harry. Looks like you’ll be the Webb family’s heir.”
“Remember, you must protect Victoria well. Don’t betray Mr. Webb’s trust.”
At their words, Dad gave me a knowing glance and smiled faintly without correcting them. The silence alone led everyone to assume that Harry was the one I had chosen.
That night, Harry barged into my room. His face was dark with rage as he yanked me from the bed and dragged me to the floor. His hand clamped around my throat, squeezing tighter with every word.
“Victoria, why won’t you stop clinging to me?”
His voice trembled with fury. “Because of you, Ember’s gone! She left nothing but a letter before running away. If anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive you.”
His grip tightened until I was gasping for air.
“Have you lost your mind, Harry? What does her running away have to do with me?”
Harry’s eyes burned red. “If you hadn’t forced this engagement on me, Ember wouldn’t have been in so much pain. She wrote that she can’t go on living. If she does something reckless, it’ll be on you!”
I wrenched his hand off my throat and spat coldly. “I didn’t even choose you. You can be with whoever you want. But if you don’t get out of my room right now, I’ll tell my father.”
That warning jolted him back to his senses. Harry let go and stormed out of my room.
The next morning, he returned with Ember at his side.
Harry looked worn and sleepless, while she appeared disheveled and pitiful, as though she had endured a night of torment.
Chapter 4
Harry stopped in front of me, his eyes dark and menacing as he said, “Victoria, even if I’m forced to marry you, I’ll never love you. And if you dare flaunt in front of Ember that you’ve ‘won’ me, I’ll make sure the wedding never happens!”
With that, he stormed off with Ember at his side without even glancing back.
I watched their retreating figures, a cold laugh rising in my chest. For the first time, I couldn’t fathom why I had ever fallen for someone like Harry in my past life.
…
The engagement banquet was about to begin. I had just finished my makeup when Ember came looking for me.
Her face twisted with resentment as she spat out, asking, “Victoria, why? Why should you get everything? It’s not fair!
“Why were you born into privilege, while I had to grow up as the poor woman everyone looked down on? Even Harry, the man I love, has to give in to your father’s power and get engaged to you instead!”
Hearing that, I let out a cold laugh and shot her a look full of disdain. “Ember, hasn’t my family treated you well all these years?
“My father paid for your schooling when your family couldn’t afford it. After your parents died, he brought you into our home and raised you as his own.
“And what did you do? Instead of gratitude, you’ve sown discord at every turn. As for Harry, if he truly loved you, he would give up everything to be with you, and not cling to my family’s wealth and influence.”
My words hit Ember like a blow. She staggered back a few steps, shaking her head. “No That’s not true. Harry said once the Webb family is his, he’ll divorce you and marry me!”
I sneered. “Do you really think my father, who’s dominated the business world for decades, is that naive? You think he hasn’t already paved the way for my future?”
Ember’s expression shifted abruptly, her eyes flashing with malice as she hissed, “If that’s the way you want it, don’t blame me for what happens next then!”
Before I could react, she pulled a knife from her pocket, slashed her own arm, and let out a piercing scream.
Several bodyguards rushed in to find Ember glaring at me with feigned weakness. “Ms. Webb, why would you do this to me?”
Harry’s face turned livid. He stormed forward and slapped me across the face, hard.
The very next second, the bodyguards had him pinned to the ground. “Harry, are you out of your mind? If Mr. Webb saw this, you’d be finished!”
Ember was rushed to the hospital, while Harry eventually calmed down under the bodyguards’ stern warning.
The banquet began soon after. The hall was packed with relatives and family friends. Dad took me by the arm and led me onto the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming.
“Tonight, I invite you all to witness a joyous occasionmy daughter’s engagement. This evening, she will be formally betrothed to one of the young men here. And that young man is”
“Wait!” Everyone in the room froze as Harry interrupted Dad mid-sentence.
All eyes turned toward him. Dad’s face darkened with fury, but Harry stood his ground. “Mr. Webb, I don’t love Victoria. Even if it means offending you tonight, I won’t get engaged to her.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
“What’s going on?”
“Did Ms. Webb just get rejected in public?”
…
Dad let out a cold laugh, his words cutting through the air and chilling the room. “My daughter was never meant to be engaged to you, Harry. The one she’s promised to is Jeffrey!”
At that, the room fell silent. No one had expected that the fiance I chose was Jeffrey.
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