Reborn, I Refused the Man I Once Forced to Marry Chapter 01

I’ve always been fiercely competitive. For as long as I could remember, I’d spent my life trying to outdo Chloe Bennett, the sixth daughter of the Bennett family, who was just as unwilling to lose as I was.

To beat me, she married Alexander Whitmore, the man I’d secretly loved for years.

So I turned around and found a way to make her most respected brother, Adrian Bennett, the acknowledged heir to the position of Boss of the Bennett family, marry me instead. That way, no matter where we were or who was watching, she’d have no choice but to show me the respect I deserved.

It nearly drove her insane.

What I hadn’t expected was that the husband I’d schemed my way into marrying would actually accept me with tenderness.

After our wedding, I changed. I put aside my old personality, became gentle and considerate, and gave Chloe the benefit of the doubt at every turn. Adrian and I settled into what looked like a peaceful married life.

But when something happened to Chloe, the husband who’d once treated me so gently ordered a thorough investigation into me.

“People don’t change their personalities that easily. This could be another one of her schemes against Chloe. We’d better be careful.”

That was when I finally understood.

From beginning to end, he’d always believed I was selfish and malicious. He’d never truly trusted me.

Now that I’d been given another chance at life, I wanted nothing more to do with the Bennett family.

So when I heard Chloe was about to marry into the Whitmore family, I went straight to my father.

“The man you’ve picked out for me sounds like a good match, Dad. I’ll marry him.”

***

My father, Richard Hayes, exchanged a look with my stepmother, Victoria Hayes.

Neither of them seemed to believe me.

And honestly, who could blame them? Everyone knew I’d spent my entire life refusing to let Chloe get the better of me.

“But the Bennett family’s sixth daughter is marrying Alexander, the Whitmore heir…”

Victoria slowly lowered her wineglass, watching my expression carefully.

Everyone knew how hard I’d worked over the years to build my reputation in high society. More than anything, I’d wanted to marry into the Whitmore family.

Now the man I’d dreamed of marrying had been taken by Chloe.

I simply smiled and asked, “I’m the one who has to live my life. Why should I always compare myself to someone else?”

My father looked pleased. A satisfied smile spread across his face.

“At last, Evelyn is growing up.”

Victoria, however, still wasn’t convinced.

To test me, she deliberately had someone bring over Chloe’s wedding invitation.

It had been handwritten by Alexander himself. Every letter was neat and deliberate, making it obvious how much care he’d put into it.

In my previous life, I’d torn that invitation to pieces, put on the most eye-catching dress I owned, and shown up at Chloe’s wedding.

I hadn’t cared what anyone would say about me.

All I cared about was finding a way to outshine Chloe again.

That was, until I saw Alexander bend down and scoop her into his arms rather than let her struggle up the steps in her heavy wedding gown.

In that moment, I knew I’d lost. Completely.

When I got home, I shredded that dress and sent people out to find Adrian.

Adrian Bennett was Chloe’s most respected brother and the Underboss of the Bennett family.

I’d arranged for him to drink wine laced with drugs, then made sure the two of us spent the entire night alone together.

Adrian offered to compensate me in other ways.

But I threatened to take my own life, leaving him with no choice but to marry me.

As the Bennett family’s Underboss, Adrian had impeccable pedigree, upbringing, and abilities. He was the ideal husband in the eyes of countless society women.

A man with that much power and prestige, someone hardly anyone dared offend, had been dragged into such a humiliating scheme by my own hands.

When Chloe heard the news, she was practically beside herself with rage.

But on my wedding day, she still had no choice but to stand before the guests alongside Alexander, gritting her teeth as she congratulated me.

For those few days, I was so happy I could hardly sleep.