chapter 1

In my previous lifetime, I married my childhood sweetheart and became the much-envied Mrs. Bennett. Everyone said our love was perfect, that he cherished me above all else.

Yet, in this life, when my father asked which Bennett brother I wanted to marry, I didn't hesitate to choose his older brother, Ethan Bennett.

What I hadn't expected was Ryan Bennett losing his mind the moment he spotted the ring Ethan had given me.

“Ryan, your childhood sweetheart's here again!”

His buddies caught sight of me at Ryan's birthday party and lit up with malicious glee.

They shouted across the room, “Hey, little childhood sweetheart! You've chased Ryan for over ten years. Are you that crazy about him? I heard your laptop wallpaper is his face, and you even named lab bacteria after his initials!”

The group erupted in raucous laughter.

Ryan dragged on his cigarette, impatience darkening his features, while Olivia Carter beside him went sheet-white.

I ignored them and lowered my gaze to the text my father had just sent. He wrote, "It's settled. Get your marriage registered as soon as he's back."

I typed a single reply, "Okay."

I never thought that the so-called most unapproachable man in the Bennett family would so readily agree to this marriage alliance.

Ryan blew smoke in my face and snapped, “Seriously, Grace Harris? You made it so the whole city knows simply to force me into marriage?” He clicked his tongue. “Are you that into me?”

His handsome, smug, exasperated expression almost made me laugh. I replied nonchalantly, “Not interested. I'm trading up.”

“Ooh, playing hard to get!”

The crowd howled even louder. “Kiss! Kiss!”

Ryan barked a laugh, seized my chin, and yanked me close enough to feel the heat of his breath. His eyes glinted with disdain and certainty.

Annoyingly, he was indeed good-looking, his narrowed eyes giving off a roguish charm.

“A nerd who lives in the lab—only I'd want you.”

He exhaled smoke, then brushed his lips near my ear, sending a deliberate puff against my most sensitive spot.

In my past life, that would have made me tremble with excitement. Now, I just felt speechless.

He leaned in even closer and murmured, “I'll sign the papers with you, even sleep with you, but there will be no wedding. My vows belong to the woman I truly love.”

The glass of water I'd lifted froze mid-air as shock flooded me. This never happened last life. Did he reincarnate, too?

Before I could ask, Olivia saw Ryan gripping my chin and our proximity and burst into tears on cue.

“Ryan... I heard you two are getting married soon...”

With light makeup on her tear-streaked face, she spun and ran.

Ryan shot me a vicious glare. “Just you wait!”

He bolted after her.

I didn't stick around.

On my way out, I caught him cornering Olivia in the hallway.

He devoured her mouth, hands roaming as the delicately innocent girl melted helplessly against him.

Her legs locked around his waist, breathy pleas spilling out, “Ryan... I can't live without you...”

Her soft whimper made Ryan's gaze darken.

He curved an arm around her narrow waist, remarking, “You little temptress.”

Olivia gasped in pain and delight. “Ryan, I need you now...”

Ryan looked up and caught me watching.

In my past life, I'd have slapped her senseless.

He hurriedly shielded Olivia behind him, impatience warring with excitement. “Didn't I tell you to wait?”

When I didn't explode after a long while, he scratched his nose in embarrassment and muttered.