On the third day after I broke off my engagement, my ex-fiancé committed suicide in our would-be marital home, leaving all his assets to me. As I sorted through his belongings, I saw walls covered in photos of me and bloodstains on the floor. His assistant told me: “The boss had loved you for many years. His depression was severe – only seeing you or thinking of you could make him feel a little better…” Each revelation was more shocking and suffocating than the last, yet strangely heartbreaking. So when I got a second chance at life, I smiled and refused my childhood friend’s plan for me to break the engagement. “I’m not leaving,” I said. I wanted to see just how foolish this man who loved me so desperately could be. Adrian died on the third day after I broke off our engagement. My father and brother had just left his estate after regretfully informing him about my decision when they received news that Adrian had slit his wrists. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The will he had prepared long ago left all his assets to me. When I received my brother’s call in North America, my expression gradually froze. In my eyes, Adrian was just a stranger who had suddenly appeared demanding marriage. I didn’t know him at all. But every new piece of information seemed to suggest that he had loved me deeply for many years.
I rushed back to the country at the lawyer’s request, stiffly accepting Adrian’s urn. His background was a mystery and he had no relatives. His assistant looked sorrowfully at the square box and quietly told me: “The boss had loved you for many years. His depression was severe – only seeing you or thinking of you could make him feel a little better. I thought once you two got married, he wouldn’t be so pessimistic anymore, but I never expected…” His voice trailed off. There was no blame, but my heart inexplicably clenched. The assistant handed me a key: “This is the estate the boss prepared for you. It’s also the marital home he decorated himself.” The place where he had killed himself.
The estate was huge, with a riding arena built on the sprawling green lawn. The decor was in my favorite royal blue, with every piece of furniture and decoration matching my tastes. One room was filled wall-to-wall with photos of me. Looking closely, I realized they spanned from my sophomore year of college up until now. I had been under this man’s lens almost every moment. On the floor were faint bloodstains from where he had slit his wrists, giving off a slight metallic smell. Each revelation was more shocking and suffocating than the last, yet strangely heartbreaking. I couldn’t help feeling angry too. If he liked me, why didn’t he just say so? Bursting into my home like a bandit, demanding marriage right off the bat – how could I possibly feel at ease marrying him? Now with this tragic outcome, was he trying to make me feel guilty and regretful, to never forget him for the rest of my life? Dream on – I ended up donating all the assets, including that mansion. The cleaning lady tore down the photos on the wall, carelessly tossing them on the floor to cover the bloodstains… Adrian’s brief yet legendary life had vanished without a trace from this world.
It took me three days to accept the fact that I had been reborn. Three days ago, Adrian had just come to my home, forcefully demanding an arranged marriage in a manner bordering on coercion. My childhood friend Nathan heard about it and unhesitatingly told me to run, to hide out in North America for a few days. In my past life, that’s exactly what I did. But this life, remembering those walls of photos and the horrifying bloodstains on the floor, I calmly shook my head. “I don’t want to leave anymore,” I said. “I want to go ask him directly why he wants to marry me.”
Adrian’s business empire was vast. When I went to find him, he was still in a meeting. His assistant personally came down to receive me, asking me to wait briefly in his office. “The boss will be down very soon.” I gave a soft “Mm” in response. Adrian did come quickly. Before I could even finish a cup of tea, he walked in hurriedly, fastening his loose cufflinks as he went. Seeing me, he stopped in his tracks and calmly called out, “Miss Gu.” His expression was cold and distant, as if looking at a stranger. I was rendered speechless by his coldness. After some thought, I softly asked: “Mr. Shen, my father said you want to marry me. Why?” “I want to, so I will. No reason needed.” Me: “…” How was I supposed to respond to that? I slowly stood up and picked up my purse. “Then I’ll be going now.” Adrian’s expression shifted slightly, a rare look of bewilderment crossing his face. “You’re leaving already?” I stared at him expressionlessly, watching as his face gradually turned pale and his whole demeanor became tinged with resignation. Yet he still moved aside to let me leave. If I wasn’t certain this man liked me, I would really think he was just toying with me… I sighed and took the initiative to grab his sleeve. “How about we have a meal together?”
Adrian’s interactions with me had even his assistant on edge. As I was leaving, the assistant kept apologizing to me: “The boss isn’t good at talking to girls. Please don’t be angry with him, Miss Gu.” “I’m not angry,” I said with a smile. “I actually quite like him… his looks are very much my type.” The office door wasn’t fully closed. Through the small gap, I clearly saw Adrian touch his own face, his expression dazed. I smiled slightly and told the assistant: “I’ve asked your boss out to dinner tonight. Remember to remind him not to stand me up.” The assistant hurriedly nodded, as if afraid I would change my mind any second. I walked out of the company building in my high heels. As soon as I stepped outside, I received a call from Nathan. Looking at the contact saved as “Brother Nathan”, I calmly hung up and stared blankly at the clouds in the sky. Nathan was very good to me and truly had my best interests at heart. But childhood friends, good friends – they all eventually fade away on the long road of life. Just like in my past life. He had a wife and children, learned to keep his distance from me. So even when I was later trapped in the mountains with an expedition team and called him, I was viciously mocked by his wife, called an old maid who couldn’t get married. Nathan was right beside his wife when she berated me, silent and unresponsive. I ended up dying there, not knowing how he would react to the news.
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