After Rebirth, I Rejected My Family to Let the Fake Heiress Have Her Way, But My Boyfriend Panicked

In the days that followed, I threw myself into the final preparations for studying abroad.

Soon, I received an offer from a university abroad. My departure was set for next month.

The day before my departure, I had just stepped out of the library when two bodyguards in black blocked my path.

"Miss Sutton, Mr. Rhodes would like to see you."

I was forced into a car that sped off, finally stopping at the top floor of a skyscraper overlooking the entire river.

"Mr. Rhodes is busy. Please wait here."

The bodyguard led me into a glass-walled room, then turned, left, and locked the door behind him.

The room had an incredible view. An entire wall was made of massive, floor-to-ceiling glass.

And across from the glass was the city's most exclusive rooftop garden restaurant.

Just then, the restaurant was brightly lit and bustling with noise. A lavish birthday party was in full swing.

The guest of honor was Stella Ashwood.

She wore a magnificent gown, surrounded by a crowd of people at the center of it all.

And the man standing beside her, placing a birthday tiara on her head and gazing at her tenderly, was none other than Julian Rhodes.

I watched Julian Rhodes take Stella Ashwood's hand and lead the first dance.

They spun, drew close, and whispered to one another, as intimate as a perfectly matched couple.

The surrounding guests all applauded, their faces filled with warm wishes.

I suddenly wanted to laugh—laugh at my own obsession in my past life.

Had it been worth it, throwing away my entire life for a man who didn't love me?

I closed my eyes, unwilling to watch the painful scene any longer.

But the memory of the earthquake from my past life surfaced uncontrollably—Julian Rhodes's mangled, bloody face, the way his back trembled as he shielded me.

He hated me, yet he saved me.

That debt was like a vast net, trapping me, leaving me unable to move.

I don't know how long I was there, but the party seemed to be winding down.

The door behind me suddenly opened.

I turned to see Stella Ashwood standing in the doorway.

A triumphant smile played on her lips as she approached me, one step at a time.

"Clara Sutton," she said, stopping in front of me and looking down at me condescendingly.

"How does it feel? Watching the man you love throw such a lavish birthday party for me."

I understood in an instant.

The bodyguards hadn't been sent by Julian Rhodes. They were Stella Ashwood's.

She wanted me to give up on Julian Rhodes completely.

But she didn't need to. In this life, I no longer had any feelings for Julian Rhodes.

I said nothing, merely staring at her coldly.

My silence seemed to infuriate her, and the smile on her face twisted into a sneer.

"Do you think staying silent makes you look all high and mighty? Let me tell you, you will never have what doesn't belong to you!"

She leaned in close, her voice a low hiss. "Did you know? If you hadn't shown up, Julian and I would have been engaged long ago! You ruined everything for me!"

"Are you finished?" I asked coolly. "If you are, then please let me leave."

My attitude made Stella Ashwood tremble with rage.

She suddenly pulled a knife from her handbag, its blade glinting coldly in the light.

My heart clenched.

"What are you doing?"

"What am I doing?" Stella Ashwood sneered, a flash of madness in her eyes.

"I'm going to show Julian just how you've pushed me to this! I'll make him understand that as long as you're around, I'll never have a moment's peace!"

Before the words were even out of her mouth, she raised the knife and slashed it across her own wrist.

She looked at me, a smile touching her lips, then let out a piercing scream.

"I'm begging you! I'll give you anything! Why do you have to push me to my death?!"

The sound of frantic footsteps immediately came from outside the door.

Julian Rhodes was the first to burst in. His expression was dark as he swept Stella Ashwood into his arms.

Stella Ashwood leaned weakly in his arms, looking utterly pitiful as she pointed a trembling finger at me.

"Julian," she whimpered, "she said she's the real daughter of the Ashwood family... that I don't deserve anything I have now... She said I should just die..."

Julian Rhodes looked up, and his eyes, when they met mine, were burning with a towering rage.

"Clara Sutton," he said coldly. "Didn't I warn you to behave yourself?"

"Today is Stella's birthday. It was supposed to be her happiest day, and you've completely ruined it!"