My fiancée fell for the mute man who saved her life. She wanted to break off our engagement. I, in my foolish good nature, warned her: “The Sterling family will never accept him. You should really think this through.” Feeling utterly humiliated, the mute man took poison and ended his life. Ten years later, the first thing Seraphina did after seizing full control of the corporation was to utterly dismantle the Bennett family and orchestrate my demise. “This is what you all owed Leo.” I opened my eyes again, back to my twenty-third birthday party. Mr. Sterling asked me about my greatest wish. “Since Seraphina and Leo are so deeply in love,” I said, “Please, let’s unite this couple.” I died on a bitterly cold winter night. I thought I could hold on until spring warmed up, but Seraphina couldn’t wait. No anesthetic. The surgical blade slowly, meticulously cut into my chest. Blood erupted, gushing forth like a torrent. She still wasn’t satisfied. She raised her arm, plunging the icy, sharp blade into my heart. The agonizing pain stole my breath. I struggled to gasp out: “Why?” I simply couldn’t understand. We’d grown up together since childhood; our families had always been close. For years, my father had catered to Sterling Corp, helping her climb to power. Even after she took control, we never once tried to take advantage. Yet, she manipulated the stock market, fabricated scandals, and drove my family, the Bennetts, to ruin. “Why, Seraphina?” I desperately clutched at her collar. Seraphina glared at my eyes with such venom, it was chilling. She was the killer, yet her face twisted with an accusation so sharp, it was as if I had betrayed her. “This is what you all owed Leo.” She leaned closer, her voice colder and sharper than the winter wind outside the window. Leo? The memory was too distant. It took me a moment to recall the name. And that delicate, pale face. I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. Ten years. So Seraphina had never forgotten him. And she blamed his death on me, on the entire Bennett family. “Seraphina, you’re just a— ” You utter fool! The last two words died in my throat as Seraphina pulled out the surgical blade. Crimson blood spurted out, blurring my vision. It hurt so much.
“Julian, another headache?” No bitter cold cellar. No biting wind. The room was warm, filled with the clinking of glasses and hushed chatter. Outside, neon lights shimmered, and cars streamed by. I stood on the balcony of the luxurious hotel, looking down at the sleepless city. This was my twenty-third birthday party. I,Julian Bennett, was reborn. Not only alive and well, but five years younger. This year, Bennett Industries had just completed a major multinational acquisition and successfully gone public. This year, I hadn’t yet become Seraphina Sterling’s husband. “Why wouldn’t he have a headache?” A sharp whisper came from behind me. “Seraphina has been releasing statements in major media outlets for three consecutive days, announcing her intention to dissolve the engagement with the Bennett family.” I stopped Ben, my assistant, who was about to retort. The situation was far more complicated than just breaking an engagement. This year, Seraphina had been on a corporate outreach trip in a remote area when her car went off a cliff. She was rescued by a local guy. The young man, delicate and frail, had accidentally ingested some poisonous herbs while trying to save her, rendering him mute. Seraphina, deeply moved, brought him back to her family estate. Counting today, she had publicly declared her intentions in the media for three consecutive days. She swore she would marry no one but him. She wanted him to be the future spouse of Sterling Corporation’s CEO. “Julian, don’t listen to those rumors. You and Seraphina have been together since childhood, all these years of… affection.” I gently shook my head, declining Ben’s comfort. I knew exactly what he was going to say. Three days ago, I woke up at the Bennett estate. Three days were enough for me to piece together my past and present lives. “Julian.” Ben suddenly brightened, whispering, “Seraphina’s here.”
I turned. Seraphina, dressed in a sharp suit, strode purposefully through the crowd, surrounded by admirers. The murmuring instantly died down. Seraphina and I grew up together. Our engagement had been arranged long ago by our elders to cement our business alliance. When we were kids, if anyone spoke ill of me, she was the first to defend me. If she made a mistake and got scolded at home, I was the first to plead her case. Until today, no one would have doubted that I was Seraphina’s one true love. The future son-in-law of the Sterling family. But today, at my twenty-third birthday party, she brought another man. Leo wore an expensive suit, his figure tall and slender, yet he looked like he was trapped in an ill-fitting shell. He followed Seraphina closely, seeking her protection. Seraphina stood on her tiptoes, whispering something in his ear, her eyes filled with doting affection. Leo looked at me, his expression instantly changing to one of panicked unease. He walked towards me. With a sickening thud— He dropped straight to his knees.
Even the stubbornness in his eyes was identical. In my previous life, I was so utterly duped by his pathetic, helpless act that I genuinely gave him and Seraphina advice. As the heir to the Bennett Corporation, I wasn’t desperate to marry Seraphina. Even if his appearance made me uneasy, I wouldn’t lose my composure. When Seraphina wanted to break the engagement, I didn’t argue. Instead, out of years of shared history, I offered a few sincere pointers: “Mr. Leo is new to Avelon City and has lost his voice. Even though he saved you,” “I doubt Mr. Sterling would agree to him becoming the Sterling family’s son-in-law, even if you swayed every board member. It would only bring him trouble.” “Seraphina, why not take a step back? Let him join the company as an intern first. The rest can follow your wishes later, can’t it?” Those few words, intended to clear the immediate hurdle for him, instead brought a mountain of trouble down on me.
Slap! Slap! Slap! In my previous life, the moment I saw Leo kneel, I rushed forward to help him up. This time, I merely watched, cold-eyed, as he mercilessly slapped himself several times. One after another, sharp and resounding. Ben tugged at my sleeve. With so many guests present, many had already pulled out their phones, ready to capture the scene. Ben wanted to intervene. I gently placed my hand on his. What’s the rush? “Leo!” Seraphina’s expression was already darkening. In just a few seconds, Leo’s cheeks were swollen and red. Coupled with his repressed tears, he looked utterly pathetic. He glanced back at Seraphina, then at me, and continued his self-punishment. I calmly took a sip of my drink. Suddenly, I really wanted to know, just how far could his act go?
Yes. Leo was acting. His muteness was an act, his pitiful and frail image was an act, and even his “suicide by poison” in my previous life was an act. Outside a secluded private club’s VIP room, I had personally overheard his hushed voice. He was sobbing, pleading with a doctor: “Doctor, I’m just a poor, helpless soul. If I don’t stage a calculated theatrical display of suffering, how could I ever get through the Sterling family’s door?” “Please, give me a drug that will temporarily induce a coma-like state!” “Doctor, I truly love Seraphina. Given my background, becoming her lover is already punching above my weight.” “But Seraphina has already promised to marry me. I need to orchestrate a bit more drama to ensure she always feels indebted to me.” “Please, help me!” “If I can just fake my death once, Seraphina will remember she owes me forever!” What a brilliant scheme. He fooled Seraphina. He fooled me. He fooled all the powerful elite and celebrities in Avelon City. I once asked Seraphina why she was so captivated by Leo. “I was born the Sterling family heir; everyone always tried to please me, to flatter me.” “They respected me, admired me, but only because of my status as the Sterling family’s heir.” “Even you, Julian, if I weren’t the Sterling heir, would you still love me?” Her words had stumped me then. If she hadn’t been the Sterling family heir, there wouldn’t have been an engagement between us, we wouldn’t have grown up together, so how could there be love or not love? “Only Leo, when he didn’t even know my identity, was willing to sacrifice his life for me.” “How could I not be moved by such pure love?” I was almost convinced by her. As an heir to a prominent family, I had always been thoughtful and strategic. I had to consider my parents, my family. I truly wouldn’t easily sacrifice my life for one person. We both overlooked another possibility. Even if Seraphina was unconscious from the car accident, her custom-tailored suit and Patek Philippe watch alone would have screamed her affluent status. Whether she was a rich girl, a business elite, or a corporate heir. Leo had made up his mind from the very beginning. He was going to climb that high branch of high society.
“Enough!” Seraphina suddenly barked, her voice sharp. Silence instantly fell over the room. Leo trembled, then carefully looked up, his eyes wide with a pitiful gaze directed at me. His meaning was crystal clear. He had sabotaged my engagement, made me the city’s laughingstock, and he felt immensely guilty. If I didn’t speak up, he would absolutely not stop. Fine. Let’s see. I casually raised an eyebrow, sipping my champagne. Leo gritted his teeth, about to bow down and slap himself again. Seraphina suddenly strode forward. Smash! She slapped the champagne glass out of my hand. “Julian, you’re going too far!”
“Julian, do you have no decency left?!” Seraphina stared at me, her eyes blazing with fury. She turned, helping Leo up, tenderly caressing his swollen cheek: “Julian, apologize.” “Apologize to him right now, in front of everyone, and we’ll consider this matter closed. I won’t hold it against you.” I almost burst out laughing. I was too naive back then. After discovering Leo’s scheme, I immediately sent Seraphina a message, detailing everything I had seen and heard. I warned her to keep a close eye on Leo. The next day, Leo was “dead by poison.” But it wasn’t a fake death. He was truly dead. The media was abuzz, claiming he had committed suicide due to the overwhelming public pressure. Seraphina replied with a voice message: “Thanks to Julian’s reminder, anyone who wrongs me will be severely punished.” After that, the matter was closed. For years, I believed that after he confronted her, she forced him to take real poison. After all, she was always someone who was clear about her grievances and always sought revenge. It wasn’t until my dying moments that I learned the truth. The “anyone who wrongs me” she referred to, was me. Julian, do you understand?” “Leo did nothing wrong. It was my decision to marry him.” “It was I, Seraphina, who wanted to break off our engagement with you.” I looked at Seraphina, a mocking curl forming on my lips. I must have been blind. To have always thought she was a clear-headed business elite. “Ben, are the heads of the four most powerful families all on the top floor?” I turned to my assistant. Ben nodded dumbly. I straightened my suit and walked towards the elevator. Seraphina followed closely: “What are you doing?” “Mr. Sterling and the others are here privately today; they haven’t announced their presence.” Of course, I knew that. A birthday party for a rising business star like me wouldn’t be enough to gather the heads of the four most powerful families.
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