In my previous life, I had three husbands—but none of them loved me. Their hearts belonged to the same woman: Janet Jameson, the butler's daughter.

Even their dying words were the same: Don't marry me.

So in this life, I would not waste my time on anyone who does not truly want me.

"If I must marry for the sake of the family, I choose Samuel Lockwood," I told my parents.

"Samuel? Do you mean the illegitimate son from the northern branch of the Lockwood family? Why him all of a sudden?" they asked, stunned.

Because in his previous life, Samuel Lockwood rose to become the richest man in the world. He topped the Forbes list and dominated the business world like no one else.

If this marriage was about alliances and power, then I would make it count.

Samuel was the kind of man who offered nothing but upside.

As for love? I had stopped hoping for that.

***

Emma Dalton was reborn on the day her parents laid out profiles of the eldest sons from the three top families in Chicago, asking her to choose one to marry.

Without hesitation, she shook her head. "I'm not picking any of them."

Her parents, Brent and Cassandra, were shocked. "Why not?"

"Because..."

Her heart throbbed painfully. She had been married to all three of them in her last life.

In the upper circles, everyone knew the Thompson, Vegara, Vanderpool, and Dalton families were the four powerhouses of Chicago.

Emma, the only daughter among the four, had become the most sought-after bride—each of the other three families wanted to marry into the Dalton family.

In her previous life, when she was choosing her marriage partner for the first time, she chose Isaac Thompson, and she happily thought that she would be happy for the rest of her life.

However, after they got married, he was not at home for 364 out of 365 days a year, not only making her a laughing stock in the circle but also dying in a chain car accident while trying to protect Janet.

Emma had been widowed at a young age, losing her first husband and spending three years alone before being remarried to Anthony Vegara—another match arranged by her family.

However, Anthony never cared about the marriage. To him, Emma meant nothing. In their second year together, he died in a reckless racing accident—all for Janet.

Because of this, people started calling Emma a husband-killer. It was not until she turned 30 that she married Mateo Vanderpool.

This time, their marriage was quiet and respectful. They lived peacefully, growing old together—until Mateo fell ill. Before he died, he held her hand and whispered his final wish.

"Emma, if there's another life, please don't marry me. I just want to be with Janet."

It was then Emma realized that all of them had loved Janet.

That was why, before they each died, their last words were always the same, "Don't choose me for marriage."

Janet was just the daughter of the Dalton family's butler. She was neither beautiful nor talented. All she knew how to do was act fragile and sweet.

Emma never understood how she lost to someone like that. She never knew why the men loved Janet so much that they were even willing to marry Emma just to protect Janet from being used by the family.

Emma spent her whole life watching them love Janet, and her whole life learning one simple truth.

She, Emma Dalton, was never anyone's supporting role.

She did not want someone who did not want her.

So in this life, she did not pick any of the same men. Instead, she gave her parents a new answer.

"If I'm getting married, I only want Samuel from the Lockwood family."

Brent and Cassandra were stunned.

"Samuel? The illegitimate son of the Lockwoods in New York? Why would you want to marry him all of a sudden?"

Because in his previous life, Samuel Lockwood rose to become the richest man in the world. He topped the Forbes list and held massive sway in the business world.

If this marriage was for the family's benefit, then Emma needed to get the most out of it.

Samuel was a man who came with nothing but advantages.

As for love? She had stopped hoping for that.

Even though Brent and Cassandra were strongly opposed at first, Emma racked her brain to come up with reason after reason.

"New York's economy is booming, and the Lockwood Group is the most influential family there. Haven't you always wanted to break into the New York market but had to back off because we didn't have a foothold? Marrying Samuel is our chance. You've even said it yourselves—Samuel is ambitious, sharp, and ruthless. A man like that is bound to achieve great things."

Emma's analysis was solid, and they could not find any flaw in her logic.

After weighing the pros and cons, they finally decided to support her choice. They took the initiative to contact the Lockwood family and finalize the engagement.

"Emma, both families have come to an agreement. The wedding will be held in half a month."

When she heard that, Emma finally felt a bit of relief settle in her chest.

Time was tight, so Brent and Cassandra hurried to prepare the dowry.

Emma sat alone on the couch, her mind a swirl of thoughts and emotions all tangled up.

Just then, footsteps sounded at the door.

Isaac, Anthony, and Mateo stepped inside, their eyes immediately landing on her.

"Emma, who did you choose to marry?"

They asked in unison, their faces full of tension and seriousness. For a moment, Emma was dazed.

The four of them had grown up together. They were childhood friends who were practically inseparable.

Those three had always treated her like a princess and spoiled her endlessly.

Whatever she wanted, they gave it to her. Whenever she was upset, they comforted her, and whenever she was bullied, they stood up for her first.

Back then, she truly believed that it was because they cared deeply.

In her previous life, when they rushed in with those same questions, she had thought it was because they were excited to be chosen.

Now, she saw it clearly. They were not hoping to be picked, and that was what those expressions meant.

That realization made her heartache. Her chest felt tight as if she could not breathe.

After a long silence, she finally composed herself, then replied in a low, raspy voice.

"In 15 days, you'll know who I chose."

Emma did not budge, still keeping her answer to herself. The three of them were starting to get impatient, clearly eager to press her for more.

However, before she could say anything else, her phone rang.

"Emma, Janet was badly hurt in an accident and she's in the hospital right now. But there aren't any available wards. Can you help us?" The tearful voice of the butler, Horace Jameson, trembled through the speaker.

Before Emma could even react, Isaac grabbed the phone from her, his tone tight with concern.

"Which hospital?"

There was a pause on the other end. Then, choking on emotion, Horace named the hospital.

Isaac hung up immediately, turned to Emma, and said, "Don't worry about it, Emma. I'll handle the hospital situation. It's nothing."

Without missing a beat, Anthony and Mateo also jumped in.

"The hospital's owned by the Vegara family. I'll talk to the director myself. Just stay home and rest, Emma."

"I know some top-tier specialists. I'll reach out to them, so you don't need to worry."

They all claimed they were doing it for her, but Emma knew the truth—they were all just looking for excuses to rush to Janet's side.

How had she missed it before? Their feelings had been right in front of her the whole time.

As she watched their backs disappear out the door, Emma gave a faint, bitter smile.

Then she turned away, walked back to her room, and quietly began packing everything related to them.

By the time she finished, night had fallen. She picked up her phone and saw Janet's newest post on her feed.

"Another day of being doted on by the three powerful men."

Attached was a selfie from the VIP ward.

She was sipping Mateo's signature soup while Isaac's watch sat neatly on the bedside table. Meanwhile, Anthony's jacket was draped over the chair beside her.

Emma tapped "Like" on the post, then looked at the three boxes she had just packed.

Each box held the gift she had received at 18—one from Isaac's father, one from Anthony's mother, and one from Mateo's grandfather. All three were heirlooms from the three families.

Whichever one she chose to keep would symbolize her family's decision on which family to form a marriage alliance with.

Now, her marriage had already been decided and it was time to give her an answer.

Emma called a courier to her home and handed the three boxes to him.

"Please mail these out separately—15 days from today."

After mailing out the packages, Emma tossed everything she had just organized straight into the trash.

The jewelry and designer bags gifted by Isaac, Anthony, and Mateo, the old videos and photos from their time together, even the custom suits she had designed for them with care...

All of it—every memory tied to them—was now part of the past, discarded without hesitation.

In this life, Emma was not going to repeat her old mistakes.

She poured all her focus into preparing for the wedding, tuning out the world outside her own little bubble.

After a few hectic days of picking out her dress and accessories, she finally came home—only to find Isaac, Anthony, and Mateo all fussing over Janet.

One was adjusting the AC temperature, another gently fanning a bowl of soup to cool it down, and the third was draping a blanket over her, asking how she was feeling with sincere concern.

Watching Janet being doted on like royalty, Emma could not help but smile bitterly to herself.

The affection was so obvious now, how had she missed it before?

The ache in her chest tightened, leaving her feeling drained and a little hollow.

Right then, Janet noticed her standing at the door. Startled like a timid bird, Janet quickly got to her feet, her expression filled with fear and deference.

"Emma, you're back! I'll go heat up some water and get dinner started. Please give me a moment."

She started to rise, but Isaac gently held her down.

"Janet's still recovering. There are plenty of other staff around. Emma, just ask someone else to handle it."

Anthony and Mateo chimed in as well. "She's still pretty injured. Emma, just let her rest."

"If you're really short on help, we can always transfer more staff. There's no need for Janet to be doing chores in her condition."

Since the moment she walked in, Emma had said nothing—yet she was being lectured like she'd done something wrong.

She let out a quiet breath and narrowed her eyes slightly. "I know she's the daughter of our butler, not our maid. And I've never forced her to do anything. But since you all care about her so much, maybe you should just take her home and look after her yourselves. That way, you don't have to worry so much."

Janet's eyes widened in shock and she immediately dropped to her knees.

"Emma, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have slacked off just because I'm sick. Please don't drive me and my dad away. I'll get up right now and get to work."

Her knee hit the ground hard and they bruised instantly. Her tears streamed down her face like rain, looking like she had been deeply wronged.

The moment her tears started falling, Isaac, Anthony, and Mateo's expressions darkened.

The three of them rushed to help Janet up, shielding her behind them as they all turned to Emma, their voices tinged with frustration.

"Janet didn't do anything wrong. Why are you trying to kick her out for no reason? Do you really have to bully her like this?"

"She's still hurt and was trying to heat your water and make you dinner. Not only do you not care about her condition, but you're also forcing her to leave. Do you have no heart at all?"

"She's hurt even worse now. If anything happens to her later because of this, are you just going to pretend it's nothing? Will you only be satisfied if she completely breaks down?"

Watching them so naturally jump to defend Janet, Emma's expression turned colder by the second.

"I didn't do anything except suggest that you take her home if you're that worried. That's considered bullying now? In your eyes, am I really that unreasonable and difficult? So no matter what happens, she's the victim and I'm the one to blame?"

Her words brought silence crashing down on the room.

Seeing their frozen expressions, Emma felt a wave of helplessness wash over her.

She did not want to say anything more. Without another word, she turned and walked back to her bedroom.

Just as she had finally calmed down, there was a knock at the door.

Janet came in timidly, holding a cup of coffee. "I'm sorry, Emma. Please don't be angry at them. They only spoke like that because they were too worried about me. It's my fault you ended up fighting. If you need someone to blame, blame me."

Having lived through this once already, Emma knew exactly what Janet was trying to do. She would put on a pitiful act and stir the pot.

"Leave the coffee and get out."

Emma's voice was cold and detached. Hearing that, Janet looked even more wronged, but she did not dare push back.

Then, she pretended to fumble and spilled the entire cup of coffee.

The hot liquid splashed onto Emma, scalding her skin until it turned red and blistered.

Emma let out a hiss of pain and instinctively shoved Janet's helping hand away.

Janet took the chance to stumble backward dramatically, slamming her head against the edge of the table. A bloody gash instantly opened on her forehead.

Her sharp cries filled the entire villa.

Before Emma could even react, Isaac, Anthony, and Mateo burst through the door.

Seeing Janet unconscious on the floor with blood running down her head, the three of them instantly panicked.

Anthony shoved past Emma without hesitation. Isaac rushed forward and scooped Janet into his arms, while Mateo pressed down on the wound to stop the bleeding.

They hurried off, completely focused on protecting Janet. No one even noticed Emma had stumbled into the glass display case.

Shards flew everywhere as the glass shattered, slicing into her skin and leaving her covered in cuts.

Blood soaked through her clothes. Her face twisted in pain, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably.

Watching their figures disappear down the hall, Emma could not hold back her tears any longer.

Her heart ached so much it felt like she could not breathe. She bit down hard on her lip to keep from sobbing out loud.

Only one final thought echoed in her mind: She had to walk away from their world for good. Never again would she let herself be part of it.

After pushing through the pain and getting her wounds treated at the hospital, Emma took the prescription and headed to the pharmacy window—only to spot a few familiar figures outside the next ward.

Isaac, Anthony, and Mateo were standing outside Janet's room, their faces full of worry and heartache.

"I've said it before, Janet's too soft. If she stays there, she's just going to keep suffering. Once the marriage is finalized, I'll find a way to get her out, no matter what. I don't want her to go through this anymore."

"Now that our parents know Janet's the one we really care about, we have to make sure she's protected. So no matter who Emma chooses, that guy has to accept the marriage and go along with it. That's the only way the family won't come after Janet."

Emma stood there quietly, listening to every word, and suddenly felt her chest tighten.

So this was why they had gone along with the marriage in the previous life even when they clearly did not want to.

They thought they were protecting someone they loved even if it meant sacrificing their own happiness.

Yet, in doing so, they wrecked hers.

She looked down and laughed bitterly, tears blurring her vision.

They could relax this time as no one would have to sacrifice anything.

Once she collected herself, she wiped away her tears and turned to leave—only for her phone alarm to go off suddenly.

The sharp ringtone startled the three men. When they opened the door and saw her standing there, they all froze in surprise.

"You're here? Are you planning to apologize to Janet?"

"How much did you hear just now?"

"What's with all those injuries? What happened to you?"

They all spoke at once, questions flying at her.

Emma answered calmly, one by one. "I got hurt because you pushed me aside to get to Janet. I came here to get treatment, not to apologize. She spilled the hot coffee on me first, and I pushed her away. Running into you here was just a coincidence."

Hearing her words, the three men fell silent, their expressions shifting into something more complicated.

After a moment, Anthony was the first to speak.

"Janet didn't mean to spill the coffee. She's still recovering, so her hands are weak. Don't be mad at her. When we walked in and saw all that blood, we thought it was serious. That's why we lost it. I'm sorry."

Isaac also took a breath and calmed down. "We weren't trying to blame you earlier. We just felt bad for Janet, so we said a few things on her behalf."

"Yeah," Mateo added, "we all grew up together. You've always been the one who mattered most to us. Have you thought about the marriage?"

As soon as he asked, the three of them stared at Emma, clearly nervous about her response.

Emma looked at them, her expression unreadable. After what she had just overheard, all she felt was a bitter irony.

"Thought it through?" She gave a cold smile. "I... "

Before she could finish, a sudden loud beeping came from the monitor in Janet's room.

Their faces changed instantly, and they all rushed back in to check. Medical staff poured into the ward right after them.

"The patient's kidneys were already compromised after the second trauma," a doctor explained urgently. "We didn't catch it in time and administered the wrong medication. It's led to acute kidney failure. Her condition is very serious now!"

Isaac's face went pale, his eyes red with panic.

"How could you mess this up? She's still so young! If you ruin her life because of negligence, can you live with that?"

Anthony grabbed the doctor by the collar and barked furiously, "You've got half an hour. I want a treatment plan that guarantees results. If anything happens to her, you'll answer for it."

Mateo was already on the phone, frantically calling every contact he had.

"Dr. Zimmerman, you're the best nephrologist in the country. Please, this is urgent. I need your help to save someone extremely important. Where are you now? I'll send my secretary to pick you up right away."

The whole ward was in chaos. Everyone was on edge, trying everything they could for Janet.

Soon, the hospital pulled together a special team and quickly outlined the only viable solution.

"She needs a kidney transplant as soon as possible," one specialist explained. "But finding the right donor will take time. And the longer we wait, the higher the risk to her life."

After hearing the diagnosis, the three men did not hesitate for a second and immediately went to get tested for a match.

The results came out quickly and Isaac was a compatible donor.

Without a word, he picked up the consent form the doctor handed over, signed it on the spot, and walked straight into the operating room.

Time ticked by slowly, and just as everyone was getting more and more anxious, a new problem cropped up.

A nurse burst out of the OR in a panic, her voice urgent.

"The hospital's blood bank is running low. The patient is hemorrhaging and needs a large amount of blood, fast!"

Anthony and Mateo, who had been waiting nearby, immediately rolled up their sleeves.

"We have the same blood type as Janet. Take our blood!"

"But her condition is critical, and the two of you alone won't be enough. You need to call more donors... "

"There's no time," Anthony interrupted. "The two of us will do. Take as much as you need. Just save her!"

The nurse had no choice but to rush them into the transfusion room.

The red light outside the OR blinked nonstop, making Emma feel dizzy.

She had seen everything—the panic, the surgery, and the blood donation. Right now, her mind was completely blank.

In her previous life, when Isaac and Anthony died for Janet, she had not been there. She only learned about it afterward, buried in grief and confusion, unable to understand why they would risk everything for Janet.

However, after everything that happened, she finally understood—they loved Janet so much that they were willing to give up everything for her.

Be it marriage or their lives, they never thought twice, always putting her first no matter the cost.

So, no, she could never compete with Janet.

Yet, it did not matter anymore because this time, Emma had already decided to let go. She would step out of their tangled love story once and for all.

Eventually, the OR light went off, and the doctor came out, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Are you the family? The surgery was a success, so she'll wake up soon. However, the kidney donor needs monitoring in the ICU, and the two who donated blood passed out from blood loss. Can you handle taking care of four people on your own?"

Emma shook her head, parted her dry lips, and spoke with a hoarse voice.

"I have nothing to do with the four of them, but I can help contact their families. They should be here soon."

After saying that, she sent messages to the Thompson, Vegara, and Vanderpool families, as well as to Horace, briefly explaining the situation.

She turned to leave, only to catch whispers from a few nearby nurses.

"She's not related? I thought she was the wife of one of those three handsome guys!"

"How could she be? If your husband risked his life for another woman, would you be okay with that? I bet those three are all in love with that girl. Why else would they be so desperate to save her?"

Emma listened in silence, her lips curving into a faint, bitter smile.

The nurses were right—Janet had always been the one whom the three men loved.

And Emma would never be their wife again.

Dragging her bruised and aching body back home, Emma found her parents waiting in the living room.

When Brent and Cassandra saw the wounds on her body, their brows furrowed in concern. Not wanting them to worry, she quickly came up with a simple excuse.

Hearing that her injuries were not serious and would heal soon, they finally relaxed and handed her a box.

"This is the marriage token from the Lockwood family. Keep it safe. Samuel has already received the one we sent him."

"Just now, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Vegara, and Mateo's grandfather all called to ask about the marriage and even mentioned Janet. They said the three boys are just too softhearted, but you're the one they truly care about. We didn't really know how to respond, and it's hard to judge the situation. You're old enough now to make your own choices. Your father and I won't interfere."

Emma reassured them and promised she would handle it herself.

Over the next two days, she quietly gathered information on the Lockwood family and Samuel to get a better sense of who he was.

Once she had a general understanding, she went to the mall and carefully picked out gifts that matched the Lockwood family's preferences.

After a long day of shopping, she returned home with a car full of presents—only to see Isaac, Anthony, and Mateo waiting at the door.

They had also brought gifts, nearly filling the entire living room.

Noticing her confused expression, the three exchanged glances and then began to explain one after another.

"These were prepared by our families," one of them said. "They wanted us to come and apologize to you in person. You saw what happened that day—Janet was on the brink of death. She got injured again because of you, and we lost control. That's why you got hurt."

"Emma, if you're holding any anger, take it out on us. Just don't involve the elders, and don't blame Janet for everything. She was a victim too."

Emma could tell immediately that they were only here because their families made them come. Forced to apologize, and forced to speak on Janet's behalf.

She was not in the mood to argue, so she simply responded with distant politeness.

"Take your gifts away. This matter isn't worth talking about anymore. I'm tired, so I'd like to rest now."

As she spoke, she rubbed her aching eyes and reached into her bag to pull out her phone.

Without noticing, the box containing the Lockwood family's marriage token slipped out and landed right at Isaac's feet. He bent down to pick it up.

"What's this?"

Anthony and Mateo glanced over, and the second they saw the box, their expressions changed.

"A marriage token?" Anthony asked, eyes narrowing. "Emma, you've already chosen who you want to marry? Who is it?"

Emma looked up when she heard the commotion. The moment she saw they were about to open the box, she quickly snatched it back.

Her sudden reaction made the three of them freeze, their eyes locked on her.

"Who did you choose? Anthony, Mateo, or... "

Isaac did not finish his sentence, but Emma knew what he meant.

He was afraid she had picked him.

She forced a faint smile and met their eyes steadily.

"So what if I've decided? So what if I haven't? There's no need to be so nervous. Either way, it has nothing to do with you."

Anthony suddenly grabbed her wrist, panic in his voice.

"What do you mean it has nothing to do with us? If there's going to be a marriage arrangement, it can only be between you and one of us! There's no one else in our generation that qualifies!"

Mateo stepped closer too, his gaze sharp and unwavering.

"We know you had a hard time choosing before, so we never pushed you. But now that you've decided, just tell us the truth. We're tired of this too."

"So even the thought of marrying someone you don't love feels like a kind of torment, doesn't it?"

Emma inhaled slowly, then opened the box. Inside was a shimmering and eye-catching diamond necklace. She then held it up for them to see.

"This is my answer. Are you satisfied?"

It was not the diamond bracelet from the Vegara family, the 20-carat ring from the Thompson family, or the heirloom pendant from the Vanderpool.

Only then did the three notice the bags of gifts in the trunk behind her and finally piece it together.

"This isn't one of our family tokens," Anthony said slowly. "You bought this yourself on your shopping trip? No matter what it costs, we'll pay it back in full as an apology."

Emma just stared at the dazzling diamond in her palm without saying a word.

Isaac assumed she liked the necklace, so he picked it up and gently helped her put it on.

Anthony chimed in with a thumbs up, complimenting how well it matched her skin tone and saying it looked beautiful.

Mateo even whipped out his phone and snapped a few pictures, saying he wanted to save the moment.

After her rebirth, this was the first time Emma saw them genuinely smiling like that.

Their happiness came from believing she had not chosen anyone yet as they were still holding on to hope.

For a second, she felt the whole thing was oddly funny.

She was about to say something when Janet suddenly showed up and cut her off.

Her eyes sparkled when she spotted the mountain of gifts in the living room.

"Wow, what's all this? Are these for you, Emma?"

The moment Janet appeared, the three guys turned their full attention to her—eyes fixed, smiles growing.

Emma noticed and said casually, "They're for me, but I don't really like them. If you want them, go ahead."

Then she turned and walked straight back to her room, not bothering with any of them.

Janet looked shocked and pointed at herself.

"Me? You're joking, right? How could I possibly accept gifts that were meant for you?"

The three men caught the hesitation in her voice and instantly felt bad for her. They immediately nudged her toward the pile of presents.

"If Emma says they're yours, then they are. Look at these brand-new designer dresses, handbags, and jewelry. They are fresh off the shelves. You'll look amazing in them."

"You're totally worthy of these things, Janet. Don't sell yourself short because you deserve the best."

"Come on, start unwrapping. We'll help you figure out what suits you."

The sound of them fussing over Janet faded as the bedroom door clicked shut, leaving the room in silence.

The cold weight of the necklace on her neck made Emma uncomfortable.

However, she figured maybe, if she wore it long enough, she would eventually get used to it.

After waking up, Emma felt a little lightheaded, like she had a fever.

Somehow, Isaac, Anthony, and Mateo caught wind of it and rushed over right away.

She had been sick for three days. They visited daily and practically camped out at her house, but they barely spent any time with her.

Most of the time, they were downstairs with Janet—teaching her chess, playing piano duets, trimming flowers in the garden, taking photos for her, sketching her...

Emma saw it all but did not say anything.

Every now and then, they would come upstairs to check on her, only to notice things missing from her room.

"Emma, where's that doll I gave you years ago?"

"You used to love that jeweled crown I got you and you always put it front and center. Why is it gone now?"

"And what about the photo we took when we turned 18? Where did that go?"

Emma just gave them a few vague excuses, brushing off their questions.

Though puzzled, they did not press further.

By the time her birthday arrived, she was almost fully recovered.

Right before the party, Brent and Cassandra came to pick her up, offering a few words of advice.

"Most of the key people in the circle will be at your party today. The Thompson, Vegara, and Vanderpool families will definitely show up. Your dad and I talked it over, and we think this is the perfect occasion to announce your engagement. What do you think?"

Emma was just about to nod when the sound of shattering glass made her freeze.

She turned and saw Janet standing behind them, face pale as a sheet.

"Emma, are you getting married?" Janet asked softly.

Emma gave a slight nod, not bothering to explain—everyone would find out soon enough anyway.

The birthday banquet kicked off right on time at 7 p.m. and the hall was packed and buzzing with excitement.

The moment Isaac, Anthony, and Mateo walked in, dressed to the nines in suits, they instantly became the center of attention.

"I'm so jealous of Ms. Dalton. Three ridiculously good-looking childhood sweethearts? She even gets to pick one to marry. What kind of luck is that?"

"Jealousy won't get you far. It's a childhood betrothal, so no matter who she picks, it'll be a perfect match!"

"She's old enough now, right? Do you think she'll announce the engagement tonight? I'm dying to know who it'll be!"

Emma heard the whispers around her but stayed composed, her expression unreadable.

The three men, however, looked visibly rattled. They quickly surrounded her.

"Emma, you're announcing your marriage tonight? Why didn't you give us a heads-up?"

"That's my personal business. It doesn't concern you. Why would I tell you?"

Her voice was calm, but there was a cold edge to it.

"You're really going to say it has nothing to do with us?" Isaac pressed. "Don't tell me you're marrying someone else. Come on, cut the suspense. Just tell us who it is already!"

Right then, Brent and Cassandra stepped onto the stage. They smiled and gave a nod to the crowd before picking up the mic.

"On behalf of the Dalton family, thank you all for joining us tonight to celebrate our daughter's birthday. Besides the birthday celebration, we also have some exciting news to share. It is about Emma's engagement."

The room instantly erupted. Applause and cheers echoed through the hall.

The most excited guests? The elders from the Thompson, Vegara, and Vanderpool families. They all stood up at once, beaming and waving over Mateo, Anthony, and Isaac.

Seeing that, the three men felt their hearts pounding and their expressions soured.

However, since they were still at a formal event, they had no choice but to fake smiles and head back to their families.

Brent and Cassandra gave Emma a subtle glance. She got the message and gracefully walked toward them, lifting the hem of her dress.

Just as she reached the stage, a sudden crackle of static burst from the speakers behind her.

Everyone, including Emma, turned their heads. And there it was—Janet's tear-streaked face, projected onto the big screen, crying so hard her voice had gone hoarse.

"Isaac, Anthony, Mateo, I know I'm just a butler's daughter. I don't have the beauty or background Emma has. So I accepted that a long time ago and stopped reaching for things that were never mine to begin with. But then you walked into my life and told me you liked me. That's when I started to hope. I'll never forget how you left Emma at the campsite and drove back overnight just to comfort me after I had a nightmare. I'll never forget how you used a "business trip" as an excuse to take me to the North Pole to see the aurora for my birthday. And I'll never forget how you donated a kidney and gave me blood until you passed out—just to save me.

"By the time you're watching this video, I'll already be standing on the rooftop of Dalton Group. I know one of you is marrying Emma, but the thought of you becoming her husband, cutting all ties with me, and never speaking to me again hurts too much.

"I know you don't want to marry her, and I know your families forced you into this. I also know that you only agreed to marry Emma because you were worried I'd be targeted otherwise. But I don't want you giving up your future for me and I don't want to be the reason you stay trapped in something that'll make you miserable. So I've made my decision. If I'm gone, you'll be free to love whoever you choose."

When the five-minute video suddenly cut off, the hall fell into a suffocating silence.

Everyone stared at Isaac, Anthony, and Mateo in shock—everyone except Emma.

The first time she saw the video, her mind had gone completely blank.

And suddenly, Janet's strange behavior before leaving the house made sense.

Emma's eyes quietly swept over the three stunned men and the elders whose expressions were dark with fury. She let out a silent sigh.

Of all the people present, the ones who had the hardest time processing this were those elders who watched her grow up.

After all, her parents were aware that the one she chose to marry was not one of those three childhood friends who had disappointed her so deeply—so beyond the initial shock, they actually felt a sense of relief.

Yet, those elders who were kept in the dark and had been eagerly hoping for a marriage between them would likely never mention it again after learning what they did for Janet.

And just like she predicted, the moment the elders snapped out of their daze, they immediately called the bodyguards. Isaac, Anthony, and Mateo, who had tried to run out after Janet, were held back on the spot.

The elders were absolutely furious, and they were slamming the table and yelling with rage.

"Today's Emma's birthday. If you're not staying to celebrate with her, where are you going? Off to find the butler's daughter? Let me tell you, so long as we're around, you'll never have anything to do with her again!"

However, the moment the three men heard Janet might be attempting suicide, they completely lost it.

Their minds were consumed with nothing but her safety, and they wanted nothing more than to be by her side right away.

They could not care less about the people whispering around them, the furious elders, or the human wall of bodyguards trying to stop them.

"Is a life not more important than a birthday? If you won't let us go and something happens to Janet, then none of us will ever marry Emma. Ever!"

With that, they shrugged off their jackets, grabbed bottles of wine, and smashed them at the feet of the bodyguards.

Immediately, chaos erupted in the banquet hall. Screams echoed all around.

As the three men forced their way out and left without even glancing back, Emma stood on stage and let out a faint, bitter smile.

Even in this lifetime, they still chose to give up everything for Janet.

Lowering her head, she placed a hand over her chest, feeling her heart race wildly. It felt as if it might burst out of her chest at any second.

However, aside from that dull ache and an overwhelming emptiness, there was no pain left.

The crowd, now stunned into silence, turned their gazes to her.

"All three of her childhood sweethearts are in love with the butler's daughter? God, poor Emma. What a slap in the face."

"On her birthday too! The groom just ran off, and the whole party's wrecked. Is she going to have a breakdown?"

Despite all the murmurs, Emma remained composed.

She gently patted her still-stunned parents, took the mic, and spoke with poise, "Something unexpected just happened, and I'm sorry for the disruption. On behalf of my parents, I'd like to apologize. Also, I have an announcement—my wedding will be held the day after tomorrow. My fiancé is Samuel from the Lockwood family of New York, and we'd be honored to have you all attend."

In just a few short sentences, the whole room fell into a silence so deep that you could hear a pin drop.

Emma didn't care what their reaction was, she helped her parents leave the hotel.

On the way, the carriage was extremely quiet, and the sound of breathing was clearly audible.

As they were about to get off, Brent and Cassandra sighed heavily and looked at their daughter with affection.

"Emma, did you know that they found out about their liking for Janet, so they insisted on canceling the marriage and marrying into the Lockwood family?"

"Yes, forced melons are not sweet. Although Samuel and I do not have such deep feelings, he is wholeheartedly focused on his career and definitely will not stray. We may not necessarily grow old together in love, but we can still treat each other with respect. For me, that is enough."

When they heard her speak so confidently, Brent and Cassandra were both surprised.

"Do you really believe in Samuel like that?"

Emma nodded gently and comforted them softly.

"Yes, because I have investigated him."

The real reason, she did not tell her parents, buried in her heart.

In his past life, Samuel never married, nor was he ever rumored to be involved with anyone. Until his death, he remained a well-known and formidable figure in the business world.

So she believed that the step she took would definitely not go wrong.

After the farcical birthday banquet ended, Emma went back home and began to focus on packing up her things.

The wedding was held in New York. The day before the wedding, the Lockwood family sent several private planes to deliver the betrothal gifts and pick up the bride.

After finishing counting the luggage and dowry, Emma was about to go to the airport when she received a message.

It was an address sent by Isaac, asking her to come over now. They wanted to have a chat with him.

She checked the time and saw that there were still four or five hours before takeoff, so she agreed.

When she arrived at the private room and pushed open the door, three gloomy gazes fell on her.

They didn't speak, and Emma remained silent as well.

Ten minutes later, Isaac finally took a sip of wine and spoke in a deep voice.

"Emma, yesterday we caused a scene at the birthday banquet, we are sorry for that, but it was a matter of life and death, we couldn't just stand by and watch Janet die, we had to inconvenience you."

"You are not the first to treat me unfairly. I don't need your apology, and you don't need to apologize."

Emma's cold attitude made the three of them even more uncomfortable, and both Anthony and Mateo's tones became more urgent.

"The incident has already happened. It's no use getting angry and saying these things again. Now, the elders of several families are angry, but Janet is innocent and should not be implicated. You have always been good at pleasing the elders since you were young. As long as you act cute and coax them a little, they will definitely calm down."

"As long as you go and coax a few elders, asking them not to target Janet, no matter who you choose among us, that person will take good care of you, love you for a lifetime, okay?"

Originally, this time I found her, it was still to protect Janet.

Emma felt exhausted, "No need, after you left yesterday, I had already announced publicly..."

Before she could finish speaking, Isaac interrupted her.

"What was announced? Who did you choose?"

Her gaze flickered between them, but in the end, she didn't say directly. She only said, "The marriage tokens sent by the three major families back then, I have already handed them to the courier. They will be delivered to you tomorrow."

After listening to her words, all three of them thought she had returned two of them, and they wanted to continue asking who she had ultimately chosen, when the hospital called.

"Mr. Thompson, Mr. Vegara, Mr. Vanderpool, and Ms. Jameson have woken up and are now insisting on going to the rooftop!"

Upon hearing the news, the three people's faces changed suddenly, and they grabbed their coats and were about to leave.

Watching their backs, Emma called out to them for the first and last time.

"Before you leave, can you all say, 'Congratulations on your wedding' to me together?"

For some reason, when they heard this sentence, Isaac, Anthony, and Mateo suddenly felt a strong sense of unease.

The three of them all hesitated to ask her why she wanted them to say that sentence.

They were about to say it, they looked at each other and said in unison, "Congratulations on your wedding."

As soon as the conversation ended, the hospital's phone rang again.

They did not linger any longer and left straight away.

Emma did not try to stop them anymore. She watched their car drive away and then she went back home.

He deleted their contact information, then picked up his luggage and boarded the helicopter arranged by the Lockwood family.

In this lifetime, she didn't choose any of the three.

Instead, she chose to embark on her own brand new life...