The daughter of the richest man in Los Angeles's elite had pursued me for five years and I never spared her a glance. Because I was just one of the "husband blind boxes" she planned to collect.
As long as you got drawn the night before the wedding, you'd become the husband of the richest heiress. I knew I'd definitely be chosen.
I had already died once. In my previous life, I was the one she picked and became the groom under everyone's spotlight.
On our wedding day, she drank too much and missed a call from her adopted younger brother, who ended up dying of a heart attack.
The next day, she dragged me to the morgue, pinned me down and made me bow a thousand times with my hair clutched in her hand.
She shouted, "Why did you rig the draw? You knew I loved Declan! If I drew a blank, I could've married him! He cried and touched your suit before he died. The one I should've married was him! You were just bait to make Declan jealous. You think you deserve that position?"
I was forced to watch her confess her desire for her adopted brother in the morgue. She had my fingers crushed because I wore the wedding ring meant for her brother.
I was stripped and dumped into the river because I once wore a suit that belonged to him. Later, she had me nailed into a coffin, I was buried alive.
When I opened my eyes again, my body was intact, but the pain lasted five full years. I had to change the ending.
This time, I switched the blind box order, ensured she would definitely draw a blank. From now on, their love and hate would no longer concern me.
——
"Miss Shelby has drawn … a blank!" said the host.
All ninety-nine men present knew that Vanessa drawing a blank meant they had lost the chance to become the richest heiress's husband.
"What the hell!" someone shredded their number in frustration.
"Rigged for sure! The blind box is just a sham!" someone tried to shout, only to be muffled.
"You wanna die? We all know we're just there to make up the numbers. Haven't you seen how Vanessa looks at Declan? She's practically glued to him! If it wasn't a blank, anyone drawn would be doomed!" Someone gritted their teeth.
"But Declan is her brother…" another voice said.
"So what? Different father, different mother, they can still marry. We're all just extras. Honestly, the only one who had a shot at being picked without dying was Box No. 1, Allen."
I calmly tore off the piece of paper with the number one written on it, but the physiological tremors of my muscles still made me feel the pain.
Vanessa's pupils trembled with excitement as she stood up and hugged Declan, "Declan, I got you this time. You're not running away."
Declan blushed and tried to push her away, but she held on tighter. He said, "But … I only see you as my sister."
"It's okay. You'll get used to it. This is destiny." Vanessa cupped his face, her eyes coldly sweeping toward me.
My hair stood on end. I straightened up instinctively. Could Vanessa have been reborn too?
But even if she was, I owed her nothing. This time, I let her have her wish. I was finally free!
Jane Hannigan, Vanessa’s stepmother, seated at the head, she coughed lightly, a flicker of panic in her eyes.
She said, "Vanessa, I didn't expect you to actually draw a blank out of ninety-nine options. Seems like you and Declan are really fated. But this is still unexpected, I need to talk to your father."
Vanessa couldn't even hide her smirk and said, "Sure," she said while throw me a taunted glance. "As for the rest of these men, let them stay at the Shelby Mansion a while longer. They can leave after attending my wedding with Declan, consider it compensation."
Vanessa thought I'd be disappointed or tearful.
But I wasn't. I simply clapped and smiled like everyone else.
