Chapter 1

"Zoe, your twenty-second birthday is just around the corner," Mrs. Wen’s voice came through the phone, brimming with unconcealable anticipation. "There are five potential fiances. Have you decided who you want to choose?"

Zoe stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, her fingertips absentmindedly tracing the window frame. Sunlight poured through the glass and onto her, yet it could not dispel the chill deep within her eyes.

"I’ve decided," she said softly.

"I knew it!" Mrs. Wen laughed. "You’ve been chasing after Jasper since you were a child. You’re definitely choosing him, right?"

"No," Zoe replied calmly. "I’m not choosing him."

The other end of the line went silent for a few seconds.

"Then..." Mrs. Wen hesitated. "Are you going to choose between Lucas, Hugo, or Jude, all of whom have feelings for you?"

"I’m not choosing them either."

Mrs. Wen gasped. "That only leaves Julian. But he’s your bitter rival! You wouldn’t possibly..."

"I’m choosing him." Zoe interrupted her mother, her voice impossibly firm. "Mom, I’m going to marry Julian."

"What?!" Mrs. Wen’s voice spiked. "Zoe, you and Julian have been at odds since you were kids. When you were five, you pushed him into the swimming pool; when you were ten, you put chili powder in his birthday cake; when you were fifteen, you threw his limited-edition sneakers into the fountain..."

As Zoe listened to her mother recount the "glorious history" between her and Julian, a smile tugged at the corners of her lips involuntarily.

"Just a year ago, you said you never wanted to see him again," Mrs. Wen continued, "and you hounded him until he went abroad. Why would you suddenly want to marry him?"

Zoe lowered her gaze, her fingertips tightening slightly.

Because only after living another life did she realize that among the five potential fiances, he was the only one who loved her, though she had been completely oblivious.

In her past life, she had stood in this exact spot, telling her mother with full-hearted joy that she would marry Jasper.

Back then, how could she have imagined that the aloof and noble Jasper, the heir to the Jasper family, would feign his own death and stage an escape to marry another woman, leaving her in agony for twenty years?

She was born into the wealthy Wen family in the Upper East Side of New York. Her mother was best friends with the wives of the Jasper, Lucas, Hugo, Jude, and Julian families. All six of them had been pregnant at the same time; the other five families had boys, leaving only the Wen family with a daughter.

On the day she was born, the five ladies were so envious that they scrambled to hold the delicate, porcelain-like baby, even arguing until their faces turned red over who would get to be her future mother-in-law.

Mrs. Wen, helpless, had eventually agreed to let her choose a husband from among the five families when she turned twenty-two.

In her past life, she had chosen Jasper without a second thought.

The man she had chased throughout her entire youth—she had been so sure she would find happiness with him.

But on the eve of their wedding, he had been involved in a plane crash and died, leaving no trace.

She had searched for his remains like a madwoman, never giving up for twenty years.

Lucas, Hugo, and Jude had stayed by her side, gentle and attentive, pouring out their love for her and hoping to pull her out of her haze.

She had been grateful for their sincere treatment, but she could never forget Jasper.

Until that rainy night—

On the streets of London, she had seen with her own eyes the "dead" Jasper pressing Susan against a wall, kissing her.

The poor student she had sponsored was now being held tightly in the arms of her fiance.

And Lucas, Hugo, and Jude were standing right beside them. As soon as they finished kissing, they immediately draped a coat over Susan and handed her fruit, their eyes filled with heartache. "You’ve been kissing for so long, your lips are swollen."

"Susan, don't worry. Just stay abroad and be happy with Jasper," they told Susan gently. "We’ll keep Zoe occupied; she will never be able to find you."

In that moment, she realized that Jasper had long loved Susan. He had even staged a fake death to elope with her.

And the other three had truly loved Susan as well. They only pretended to like her to keep her distracted, preventing her from ruining their loved one’s happiness.

After uncovering the truth, she fled in a panic, only to be involved in a car accident. Those four men stood on the other side of the road, watching coldly as she died.

Finally, there was Julian—

The bitter rival she had hated since childhood, the man she had once hurled insults at—he was the one who collected her remains and had reddened eyes before her tombstone.

"Zoe?" Mrs. Wen’s voice pulled her back to reality. "Are you still listening?"

Zoe took a deep breath, her fingertips trembling slightly. "Mom, I’ve made up my mind. At my twenty-second birthday party, I will announce that I’ve chosen Julian to be my fiance."

"Please notify him to return to the country as soon as possible." She paused, her voice quiet but resolute. "It would be best if... if you and Dad go in person. Otherwise, he probably won't believe it."

Mrs. Wen didn't understand her reasoning, but she doted on her daughter. She could only sigh. "Alright, since you insist, we’ll fly to Switzerland tomorrow!"

After hanging up, Zoe felt a sudden sense of relief and turned to head upstairs.

She opened the hidden compartment in her walk-in closet, where four exquisite gift boxes were neatly arranged: the diamond necklace Jasper had given her, the limited-edition watch from Lucas, the auction-grade painting from Hugo, and the custom perfume from Jude.

Every single item was worth a fortune, and every single one carried the lies of her past life.

She picked up the gifts and walked out without looking back.

As she reached the garden, a familiar voice drifted over—

"Jasper..." Susan’s eyes were red, her voice choked with sobs. "It’s almost the eldest lady’s twenty-second birthday. She loves you so much, she’ll definitely choose you. You’ll be a married man soon, and I can’t be with you anymore. The eldest lady sponsored my education; I’ve already betrayed her by enjoying your affection behind her back. I feel so guilty..."

She lowered her head, her voice trailing off. "You are the high-and-mighty heir of the Jasper family, and I’m just a poor student who relies on the Wen family’s sponsorship... Let’s just forget about our romance these past few months..."

Zoe paused.

Not far away, the four men were surrounding Susan.

Jasper’s face was grim as he grabbed Susan’s wrist. "Without my permission, who said you could leave? Even if she chooses me, I only love you."

"Don't worry, I’ve already arranged everything. If she chooses me, the day before the wedding, I’ll arrange a plane crash and give up everything to take you away."

"Susan, don't worry." Lucas handed over a handkerchief gently. "After you elope, the three of us will keep Zoe busy. We won't let her find you."

Hugo added with a faint smile, "That’s right. Just be at ease and fly away with Jasper."

"Susan, with us here, you don't have to fear anything," Jude said dotingly.

"But..." Susan bit her lip, tears threatening to fall. "If the eldest lady finds out, she will be heartbroken."

The four men spoke in unison: "We only care about you. Zoe’s life and death have nothing to do with us!"

Zoe stood behind the tree, her heart gripped by an invisible hand.

That’s right, her life and death had nothing to do with them.

In her past life, that was exactly what they had done.

With a blank expression, she walked forward with the gift boxes, her heels clicking crisply on the pebbles.

"Miss?!" Susan’s face changed instantly, and she hurried over. "You, why are you here..."

Zoe didn't even look at her. "Taking out the trash."

"Let me help you!" Susan reached out to take them. "The Wen family sponsored my college education; I’ve said I would repay you even if it means being a beast of burden!"

"No need."

"Miss, don't be so formal..."

In their struggle, Susan suddenly tripped.

"Ah!"

Screaming, she grabbed Zoe’s arm, and they both tumbled into the pool nearby.

The freezing water instantly submerged her.

Zoe couldn't swim; she struggled desperately, breaking the surface. "Help..."

On the shore, the four men jumped in simultaneously.

But not for her.

She watched, helpless, as they scrambled toward Susan, while she herself sank bit by bit.

As the water filled her nose, she saw through the haze: Jasper pulled Susan to the shore, Lucas took off his coat to wrap her up, Hugo performed CPR on her chest, and Jude dialed for an ambulance...