1 This time, I defied my parents, refusing their carefully laid plans for a strategic alliance, a marriage to Eleanor Hayes. In my previous life, I had embraced that union, marrying her with an open heart, only to find her affections hopelessly tethered to Julian Thorne, the phantom of her past. He was her "one who got away," the man she truly loved. She wove a web of deceit around me for decades, and then, on my deathbed, her gentle, caring facade shattered. Her face twisted into a mask of pure fury as she unleashed her venom. “If your family hadn’t used their business dealings to force my parents into marrying me off to you, Julian and I would have been gloriously happy forever!” “Julian’s tragic death, a victim of his own spiraling depression? That’s all your fault!” “Every day I looked at you, I felt nothing but utter disgust. If it weren’t for raising Julian’s son, I would have dragged you with me long ago to atone for what you did to him!” “My child? There was no such thing! I bore Julian’s child!” So, even the boy I had raised as my own, showering him with love for years, wasn't mine! A consuming, bitter resentment, a searing hatred, clawed at my chest as my eyes finally closed. But then, in the blink of an eye, I was back. Back to the very day my parents first proposed the alliance with the Hayes family. This time, my refusal was immediate, unequivocal. “Mom, Dad, I’m not marrying Eleanor Hayes!” Both my parents looked genuinely stunned, their expressions a mix of surprise and confusion. Father, still processing, asked, “Didn’t you, from childhood, always badger us about marrying that Hayes girl? You swore she was the one!” He was right, of course. Everyone in our social circle knew I’d trailed Eleanor around since we were kids, even proclaiming I’d marry no one but her. In my past life, when our families decided on the alliance, I’d been overjoyed, agreeing without a moment’s hesitation. But I never dreamed Eleanor, who had never voiced any opposition, would come to hate me for it. She resented me for not opposing the union, for forcing her to sacrifice her happiness for her family’s business. She even blamed me for Julian Thorne’s eventual suicide from depression. Her hatred for me was so profound, yet for the sake of our families’ partnership, she dared not show a shred of it. She allowed me to raise a child that had no relation to me, only to deliver that crushing, final blow, leaving me to die consumed by hatred. Reborn, how could I possibly love such an ungrateful, venomous wretch? “Come on, Dad, who hasn’t made those kinds of childish jokes? I’m grown up now. I just don’t think she’s my type. I don’t want to marry her!” My parents exchanged a look. Mother, thoughtful, said, “The senior Hayes’ were still hoping to talk to your father and me about you becoming their son-in-law, to truly cement the bond between our families.” I blurted out, a desperate edge to my voice, “Mom, you didn’t agree, did you? Please tell me you didn’t!” Mother shook her head, a soft sigh escaping her lips. “No, I told them we’d need to ask you first.” Father chimed in, a surprising sense of relief in his tone, “Since our son feels this way, then we’ll drop it. Besides, I always had a gut feeling that Hayes girl didn’t truly care for our Ethan.” Mother nodded vigorously, a visible weight lifting from her shoulders. My parents finally decided they would decline the Hayes’ proposal in the next couple of days. It dawned on me then: my parents hadn't actually been keen on the marriage in the first place. In my previous life, I was so utterly fixated on Eleanor that I’d completely missed these subtle cues, blinded by my own infatuation. This time, by refusing the alliance, she shouldn't have anything to hold against me, right? But I hadn't anticipated that the very evening my parents declined the Hayes’ proposal, Eleanor would call me. “Ethan Vance, what game are you playing?” Her voice was sharp, accusatory. “Eleanor Hayes, what on earth are you doing now?” I retorted, my patience wearing thin. “You know perfectly well!” she snapped back. “I’m asking why you refused the alliance? I don’t have time for your little mind games. If you want to marry me, fine, but don’t make things complicated!” I was somewhat surprised by her brazenness, but a moment later, a cold understanding dawned. At this precise time in the previous life, Mr. Hayes had made a critical business error. The company’s cash flow had dried up, pushing the Hayes family to the brink of bankruptcy. Eleanor later claimed that if Mr. Hayes hadn’t coerced her into sacrificing herself for the family business, she would have abandoned everything and run away with Julian Thorne. It seemed she was, once again, "forced" to try and win me back, her grand act of sacrifice. How utterly absurd. If she truly had the resolve to abandon everything, why would she come chasing after me? I said coldly, the words cutting like ice, “I don’t like you. Why can’t I refuse the alliance? Vance Corporation is perfectly sound; it doesn’t need to be saved by a marriage alliance.” “You don’t like me?! How is that possible!” Her voice shot up, stunned disbelief turning swiftly into raw anger. “And what do you mean by that last part? Are you implying my family isn’t worthy of an alliance with yours?!” She accused me, her voice dripping with venom, “I never thought you’d be so opportunistic!” I stated calmly, my voice flat, “You misunderstand. I simply don’t wish to interfere with your destiny with Mr. Thorne.” Her voice faltered, tinged with panic. “What are you saying? Julian and I are completely innocen—” Her words cut off abruptly. I chuckled, a humorless sound. “I didn’t mention his name, did I? Anyway, I wish you both boundless happiness. Goodbye!” I wished them an eternal entanglement, a life hopelessly chained together, so they’d never bother me again. But the Hayes family didn’t give up. After that, they bothered my parents relentlessly, every few days, trying to persuade them to agree to the alliance. I was beyond annoyed, beyond frustrated. To escape their incessant badgering, I traveled abroad for a month, hoping for peace. The day I returned home, the Hayes family, all three of them, showed up at our doorstep. Over that month, Hayes Corp.’s situation had only worsened. Mr. Hayes had already accumulated massive debts trying to save the company. Without new investment, it was a dead end. From then on, there would be no chance of recovery, only an inescapable abyss of lifelong debt. The three of them entered, their expressions varied, a telling tableau of their desperation. Mr. Hayes looked haggard, his shoulders slumped. Mrs. Hayes was overtly anxious, wringing her hands. Eleanor, however, wore a frigid expression, her eyes blazing with humiliated fury. I looked at Eleanor. She was still the same as she had been at this time in my previous life. Back then, she was always melancholy, shrouded in a dark cloud, often drinking herself into a stupor. Seeing her like that, I’d assumed she was unhappy about the alliance. Though it pained me, I told her I could convince my parents to call it off. But she had consoled me, saying she was willing to marry me, just unhappy that her father would drag our family down for his failing company. I was deeply moved. To make her happy, I convinced my parents to use most of our liquid assets to save Hayes Corp. This caused Vance Corp. to miss out on crucial growth opportunities, allowing the Hayes family to eventually gain an unfair advantage over us. Thinking about it now, her deep sorrow back then, the reason she drank so much, was likely because she couldn't be with Julian. Mr. Hayes, seeing Eleanor's stubborn silence, smacked her sharply on the back. "Are you mute?! Say something!" Eleanor still kept her lips pressed tight, a defiant line. She glanced at me, then her gaze flickered away, unable to hold eye contact. Seeing she wouldn't budge, Mr. Hayes forced a smile, a pathetic, strained grimace. "Oh, this silly girl heard Ethan was coming home today, and she just had to rush over herself. "She and Ethan had some misunderstanding a while back, and she's been regretting it, but she's too embarrassed to say anything. So she insisted we come along and make fools of ourselves." Mr. Hayes chuckled, a hollow sound, but I knew his game: he was merely using his senior status to make it awkward for me to refuse outright. As long as I didn’t explicitly refuse today, they’d have room to maneuver, and would certainly press their advantage later, like a snake following a stick. Mrs. Hayes also forced a smile, equally strained. "Eleanor told us. Julian Thorne is just a casual friend of hers. She saw he was having a hard time and merely looked out for him a bit more. It's just that Eleanor and Ethan were both hot-headed that day, exchanging sharp words, which led to this misunderstanding." The implication was clear, accusatory: I hadn't been calm enough, I shouldn't have argued with their precious, innocent daughter. With that, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes subtly nudged Eleanor, giving her pointed looks, urging her to play her part. Eleanor hesitated for a long moment, then, as if pulling teeth, she reluctantly began, "Ethan, you truly misun—" I cut her off, my voice sharp. "I understand. You and Julian Thorne are just casual friends, correct?" Mr. Hayes eagerly jumped in, relief flooding his face. "Yes, yes! Exactly!" He visibly relaxed, smiling. "It's good that the misunderstanding is cleared up. It would be such a waste for two young people to miss out on a wonderful union over something like this." I feigned shock, my expression a theatrical marvel. "Mr. Hayes, are you misunderstanding? Eleanor and I are also just casual friends! Besides, I'm still young, and I'm not in a rush to get married." The Hayes family’s faces instantly cycled through a kaleidoscope of emotions—from shock to disbelief, then to utter despair and finally, raw fury. A truly spectacular sight. Eventually, my parents politely ushered the family of three out, not even inviting them to stay for dinner. After they left, Mother still seemed a little uneasy. "Ethan, were you truly sincere about what you just said? You really don't want to marry Eleanor?" I nodded vigorously, emphatically. "Never more sincere, Mom. I genuinely don't like Eleanor Hayes at all. You can be one hundred and twenty percent sure! Put all your worries aside!" I found it both amusing and a little frustrating, but I knew my past actions and words had fueled their worry. Thankfully, the Hayes family was on the verge of bankruptcy. Once their empire crumbled, my parents, seeing my unwavering indifference, would surely be completely reassured and drop the matter for good! A few days later, a friend from my circle returned home from overseas. A group of us arranged a gathering to welcome him back, a casual get-together at a trendy downtown spot. During dinner, a friend gasped, looking at his phone, his eyes wide. "Well, that's certainly... bold." He then sent the video to the rest of us, sharing it in our group chat. In the video, a man was embracing a woman, pressed against a lamppost on a busy street, passionately kissing her, utterly oblivious to the world. A car with its headlights on drove past, illuminating the scene, and in that instant, I clearly saw the faces of the man and woman. It was Eleanor Hayes and Julian Thorne. I smiled, a cold, knowing curve of my lips, tapping to save the video. This was a good piece of evidence. Perhaps it would come in handy later. That night, after I showered and was about to turn off the lights and get into bed, my phone buzzed. It was a call from Eleanor. Her words were slurred over the phone, thick with alcohol, as if she were heavily intoxicated. “Ethan Vance,” she mumbled, her voice thick, “Julian and I have talked. I’m getting married, and I won’t be seeing him anymore.” I yawned, feigning disinterest. “Congratulations.” She sounded desperate, a frantic edge to her voice. “Ethan Vance, you know what I mean! I’m marrying you!” I said casually, my voice flat, “Eleanor Hayes, I believe I’ve already made myself clear. You and I are just casual friends. I only see you as a casual friend. Who you separate from, or who you marry, has nothing to do with me.” Eleanor sounded exasperated, her voice rising in frustration. “Ethan Vance, I’ve lowered myself enough! Take the easy way out before you push it too far. Be careful, or I might really not marry you, and then you’ll have nowhere to cry!” “Oh, oh, oh,” I drawled, bored. “Are you done? Great. Now please take your noble ‘easy way out’ with you. I don’t want it, thanks. I’m very tired. Goodbye!” With that, I hung up, ending the charade. A few days later was Mr. and Mrs. Hayes’ thirtieth wedding anniversary celebration, a lavish affair. In my past life, Mr. Hayes had announced our families' alliance on this very day. This time, of course, the Vance and Hayes families would not be uniting. However, judging by that phone call, Eleanor hadn’t given up. The Hayes family might try something at the party, a last-ditch effort. But thankfully, with the video my friend sent me earlier, I was well prepared. On the evening of the banquet, the Hayes family of three waited anxiously at the grand entrance. They looked overjoyed to see us arrive, their smiles strained. Honestly, if we could, our family would rather not have come. But the Hayes family and ours had at least been on good terms before. Now that they weren't completely bankrupt yet, if we cut ties the moment they fell on hard times, people would inevitably call us heartless. Father, always one for propriety, had also prepared a generous gift, coming to offer his congratulations, a final formality. As soon as we walked in, Mr. Hayes beamed, his face overly jovial. “Mr. Vance, you’re too kind! Your presence is gift enough, why bring presents!” Mrs. Hayes nudged Eleanor, then smiled at me, a calculated sweetness. “Ethan, Eleanor here says she has something private to tell you.” This time, Eleanor wasn't sneering or annoyed like last time. Instead, she looked at me with a soft, gentle expression, perfectly playing the part. Then Mrs. Hayes turned to my parents. “With us elders here, these young ones might feel awkward discussing personal matters. Let’s go chat somewhere else for a bit.” My parents looked at me, a silent question in their eyes. I gave them a reassuring look, a subtle signal that they shouldn't worry, I had everything under control. Once my parents and Mr. and Mrs. Hayes had left, Eleanor leaned in, her voice a low, intimate whisper. "Ethan, I've missed you so much. "I don't know why you suddenly became so cold to me, and that huge misunderstanding... the truth is, you're the one I've always loved..." A jolt of pure revulsion went through me. I hastily took two steps back, putting distance between us. "Stop. Who you like or don't like, I'm simply not interested. "I don't know what I did or said wrong to make you misunderstand that I would marry you. "But let me say it again, right now, unequivocally: I only feel like a casual friend towards you. If you continue to pester me, if you try to make a scene, then I'll simply have to find a way to ensure you never appear before me again." Her right hand clenched tightly at her side, her knuckles white, clearly straining to control the rage simmering beneath her facade. After a long, tense silence, she suddenly laughed, a brittle, humorless sound. "Playing hard to get doesn't suit you, Ethan Vance. It makes you look childish. "My offer still stands: take the easy way out. Don't push me. Otherwise, you should know, I don't need you. I have other options." I deliberately made a retching sound, a loud, disgusted gag, then, ignoring her horrified, crimson face, turned and walked away. Midway through the banquet, Mr. Hayes took the stage to give a speech, his voice booming. After expressing a few effusive sentiments about his enduring love for Mrs. Hayes, he abruptly changed course, his voice swelling with false pride. "Ladies and gentlemen, I actually have some truly joyous news to announce today!" "My beautiful daughter, Eleanor Hayes, is soon to tie the knot with the distinguished Mr. Ethan Vance!" At his brazen declaration, all eyes in the opulent ballroom swiveled to our family, a collective gasp rippling through the crowd. My parents’ faces immediately darkened, their expressions turning stony. After Eleanor’s phone call that day, the Hayes family hadn’t bothered us again. My parents had assumed the Hayes had finally given up, which was why they had come to the celebration today out of respect for our families’ past relationship. They never expected Mr. Hayes to pull such a blatant, desperate stunt. Eleanor, too, began walking toward me, her smile fixed, a triumphant glint in her eyes, holding out a gleaming ring. "Ethan, we've known each other since childhood, growing up together. All these years, I've never imagined marrying any man but you. "I told you long ago I'd marry you, and now I'm here to fulfill that promise, to make us truly one. "Marry me, Ethan."
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "392754", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel