Don’t Choose Me

Half his body was cloaked in the hallway's shadows, his expression unreadable, but the sweat on his palm betrayed his inner panic.

After a long, conflicted silence, as if he'd made a monumental decision, Jasper finally spoke. "Do you know why the Henson heir has to get married on their 25th birthday?"

Hearing this, Caleb strode over from behind us and stood between us, his eyes filled with both worry and fear.

"Jasper, we agreed, we can't—" Caleb shot me a look of lingering dread, then swallowed the rest of his words.

My mind clouded with even more suspicion. Could their killing me and refusing the marriage all be related to this mysterious wedding?

But the family had always been secretive about it, only saying it was related to the continuation and glory of the entire family. They believed that only by completing the ceremony and continuing the bloodline could one gain the family's true recognition, which was why this ironclad rule was established. However, there were exceptions. If someone was truly determined not to comply, there were no substantial punishments. Although they couldn't inherit the core businesses, they could still live a life of luxury on the family trust fund. A distant aunt of mine remains unmarried to this day, living an enviably carefree life in Europe.

There was no way Jasper and Caleb didn't know these things. Why were they asking me this?

Seeing the conflict and pain in their eyes, I let out a heavy sigh. "Jasper, Caleb, we've lived together for so many years. Is there anything we can't face together? Are you... going to kill me again?"

This was my third life. I didn't care about dying one more time; I just wanted an answer.

At my words, both men's breath hitched, their eyes filling with anguish.

The silence stretched, heavy and cold. My hope dwindled with each passing second.

In the past, whenever I was this upset, Jasper would gently stroke my hair, soothing me with his deep voice and solving all my problems. Caleb would make funny faces, trying every trick in the book to cheer me up. The countless moments we had spent together had made me see them as my lifelong partners. I couldn't reconcile the men standing before me with the murderers from my past lives.

I believed they had their reasons, that they had no other choice. I just wanted an answer.

Under my persistent gaze, Jasper's expression seemed to soften. He turned to Caleb, silently seeking his consent.

Just as they were about to speak, my mother suddenly appeared, cutting them off.