Nicholas Barre would rather spend every night reading in front of the portrait of his childhood sweetheart than touch me with a single finger.
He hated me for forcing him to marry me and he hated me even more for causing the tragic death of his childhood sweetheart.
Five years into our marriage, I grew so angry that I resorted to every possible means to seduce him, only to be met with his daily looks of hatred.
I thought we would torment each other until we were old.
Until the Al Capone Gang burst into the old mansion with guns and surrounded me, Nicholas stood in front of me, sacrificing his life so I could survive.
“Olivia Valle, if there is another life, I hope we don’t torment each other anymore. It’s too exhausting.”
“After I die, bury me with Paula. If I can’t protect her in life, I’ll at least be there for her in death.”
The flames shot up into the sky. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day I had insisted on breaking off the engagement and marrying Nicholas.
I took the phone and withdrew the words “break off the engagement” that were on the tip of my lips.
“Alright, I’ll marry the wheelchair-bound gang leader next door.”
——
The moment the call ended, the office door was forcefully pushed open.
Nicholas, who had always been emotionless, showed a rare sense of urgency.
“You… You can’t break off the engagement!”
“Although Stephen Martinez became disabled in the family feud, the Valle and Martinez families are long-time allies.”
“Failing the marriage alliance will strain the relationship between the two families, making it harder for you to take over the group in the future.”
In my previous life, Nicholas had done the same thing, begging me to marry into the family with every possible argument, claiming to think of me and the company, but never once asking if I was willing.
Seeing my expressionless face, Nicholas’s face grew angry.
“Although Stephen is cold and cunning, once you become his wife, I will protect you.”
“As the heir, how can you harm the company for personal gain?”
“Please stop being so childish!”
The disgust, irritation and revulsion in the man’s eyes began to overlap with those of the person who had forced me into marriage in my previous life.
It turned out he had also been reborn.
“Forget it.”
“I need to take the afternoon off. Sign here.”
Nicholas pulled the day off request from his chest pocket, pressed it onto the table with a single finger and pushed it toward me.
His expression was determined. He was convinced that I would agree without hesitation and find someone to escort him to his destination.
“Reason for taking the day off?”
The urgency in the man’s eyes froze instantly, replaced by disbelief. In the previous life, no matter what demands he made, I would nod in agreement.
Even to accommodate Nicholas’s mourning for Paula Denn, I had specially converted a room in the old house into a memorial hall.
I had once believed that my repeated indulgence and concessions could be fueled by love.
However, I never realized that the moment Paula died, Nicholas and I had already lost any possibility of a future together.
“It’s personal matters.”
Nicholas’s throat tightened and he looked at me with a hint of scrutiny.
It was as if I were a clingy girlfriend who couldn’t have him, resorting to different methods to pursue him and prying into his privacy.
I signed the approval form and handed it to Nicholas.
“From now on, please request any future leave a day in advance.”
“Also, knock before entering my office.”
Since Nicholas had already given all his love to Paula, he no longer needed to be an exception for me.
Looking at my business-like attitude, Nicholas hesitated slightly before taking the request form.
His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, but he didn’t say anything. He turned and gently closed the door.
Just then, Stephen sent me some messages:
[Compared to a dog that can’t protect its master, who has a disability like mine, what is the best solution for Miss Valle?]
[Wishing us a pleasant collaboration, my fiancée.]
I lowered my eyes and turned off the screen without replying.
I had already chewed on the bitterness of taking something by force a million times in my previous life.
