Reborn, I Refused My First Love

Daniel Carter and I spent ten years as a couple bound only by hatred.

My father was driven to bankruptcy and suicide because of him; his mother suffered a stroke from anger I caused.

Everyone thought we despised each other completely.

But in the car accident, he gave his life to save mine.

In his final moments, he clutched my hand tightly and said:

“Emma Scott, if there’s a next life, please don’t entangle yourself with me again.”

His mother cursed me as a jinx.

Friends said I killed him—and I believed it too.

Not long after Daniel’s death, I ended my life in a bathtub.

When I opened my eyes again, my father was asking me to choose between the Carter family and the Hughes family for marriage.

This time, I decided not to pursue Daniel.

He laid out two photographs.

One was of Daniel Carter, the boy I had secretly loved since childhood.

The other was Adrian Hughes, the most powerful man in Seattle.

Without hesitation, I picked Adrian’s photo.

“Him,” I said.

My father was stunned.

“Emma, haven’t you loved Daniel since you were little? Why would you choose Adrian Hughes? Don’t you know he’s crippled?”

I traced Adrian’s features on the photo and smiled faintly.

“I know.”

Adrian was once the pride of Seattle, until an accident left him in a wheelchair. Rumors claimed his body was ruined, that he’d never have children.

But in my past life, when I tried to take my own life, it was Adrian who broke down the bathroom door, who carried me out as if possessed.

After I died, he ignored his family’s objections, dressed me in a wedding gown, and held a ceremony with my lifeless body.

Even when my lips were pale and ugly, he kissed them with devotion.

Perhaps his sincerity moved the heavens.

For I was reborn.

My father looked worried.

“Emma, are you just trying to spite Daniel? You can wait—marriage is serious. Once you choose, there’s no turning back.”

“I’m not spiting anyone. From family standing alone, the Hughes family is wealthier than ten Carters. They are far more qualified to be tied to the Scotts.”

“Otherwise, Father, you would never have placed Adrian’s photo before me.”

He nodded slowly.

“Very well. Just remember, don’t regret this.”

Regret?

The only regret would be marrying Daniel again.

In my past life, when our marriage was announced, Daniel’s true love Isabella Reed left the country that same day—and died in a plane crash.

From then on, Daniel blamed me for her death.

To avenge Isabella, he drugged me, killed our first child, destroyed my father’s company, and drove him to suicide.

For ten years, we were bound in pure hatred, tormenting each other day and night.

I thought Daniel loathed me.

Yet in the moment of life and death, his instinct was to save me.

So this time, I would grant his wish.

I would give him back to his beloved Isabella—

and cut all ties.

As I left my father’s office, I ran into Daniel.

My fingers clenched unconsciously.

He caught sight of the photo in my hand and frowned.

“Emma Scott, did you tell your father you wanted to marry me again? Can’t you stop being so annoying?”

We had grown up together. Both our fathers wanted me to marry into the Carter family. But Daniel always resisted the idea.

This time, he wouldn’t have to.

Because I was no longer marrying him.

“You said you wanted to go skiing, right? I bought us tickets overseas. In a couple of days, I’ll go with you.”

Had it not been for the tragedy of our past lives, I might have been thrilled by his rare invitation, unable to sleep from joy.