Chapter 3
Alaric showed up early for dinner, and man, the vibes were Arctic–level frigid.
1/15
I tried everything to get a conversation going, but he was like a black hole – sucking the life out of every word I said. Small talk wasn’t even an option.
Finally, I got fed up and slammed my fork down.
“Look, Mr. Garcia. If you’re gonna act like this, maybe we should just call off the marriage.”
His throat bobbed and he mumbled, “Sorry.“
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he turned away like a scared kid.
He spoke up, “If you want to… just tell me first, or I-”
“Got it,” I cut him off. “I’ll drop them.
“So, was that what set you off? My exes?”
Silence again.
God, how can I end all this bullshit!
“Alaric, talk to me. You’re driving me crazy now.
“Silent treatment, random rage, breaking things – how am I supposed to handle you?”
“So they were better than me?” He snapped, eyes bloodshot, sounding like a jealous teenager.
What the hell… What’s his brain made of?
I straightened up, trying to stay calm.
Taking a deep breath, I continued, “If it bothers you, whatever. Having a dating history isn’t a fucking crime.
“It’s past. Why’re you still so hung up on it?
“Does digging this up make you happy, Mr. Garcia?
“Fine, I’ll tell you. Yes, I dated. And I loved them then.
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“You happy now?”
Alaric’s eyes went red, about to cry.
He grabbed for my sleeve as I left. I shook him off.
I said, “I thought if I kept playing along with you, we’d be fine.”
“But actually, I can’t handle you at all.”
Seeing those red eyes, I softened a bit. “You’re not happy when you’re with me, and you’re even hurting yourself… Alaric, let’s just call this off.”
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“I wasn’t waiting for an apology…”
Jesus, talking to him is nightmare!
“You’re a remarkable CEO, crushing it in boardrooms, reading people like books. But with me? You’re just…
“Makes me think you can’t stand me.”
Alaric went white, fingers digging into his palm till blood showed.
“It’s not that.”
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He choked out, “I’ve just… never been this close to you before. It’s kind of weird.”
His sudden confession hit like a bomb.
That nervous, lonely look, along with the blood marks in hist palm, didn’t seem fake.
His assistant’s words suddenly came to my mind, “His depression was killing him. You were his only lifeline.”
My curiosity piqued..
“Mr. Garcia,” I called out. “Have we met before?”
Alaric’s lips quivered as he stared out the restaurant window.
“We do.”
“When?” I pressed further.
But he clamped up, wouldn’t say another word.
Fine. He’s a total doofus!
I started cutting my steak, done trying.
Alaric went quiet too, clueless about the tension. His eyes. tracked my every move my lips, my neck, the wine sliding down my throat…
–
His Adam’s apple jumped, then froze like he caught himself.
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I shot him a look.
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He whipped his head away, face pale, blood beading where he’d bitten his lip.
Jesus Christ.
“Just look at me properly if you want to. We’re getting married, Mr. Garcia. Can you act normal for once?”
The secret photos, the people watching me, bribing my housekeeper… If I hadn’t watched him die in my past life, I’d have called the cops on his stalker ass.
But he was sick. That’s what his assistant said.
I need to be more patient with him.
I grabbed his hand, ignoring how he tensed up, and cleaned the bloody crescents his nails left in his palm with a tissue.
“These are beautiful hands. Stop hurting them.”
He just stared at my face. Finally, he asked, “So… you’ll marry
me?”
“Did you leave me a choice?” I blinked at him.
His throat bobbed. “Actually, if you don’t want to, you could…”
“What? Run away? Or rush up to you and curse, saying I’d
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rather die than marry you?”
I met his eyes. “That would be easy for me, but Alaric, what about you?”
We both knew the answer.
He’d die.
–
4/15
In my last life, I thought he was pathetic killing himself over my absence instead of facing me.
But now, I can’t bear to watch him die again.
Alaric was a genius, no doubt about it.
With sharp insight and a mysterious background, he caught everyone’s attention in the country.
His rivals turned over every rock trying to dig up dirt, but came up empty. All they could do was watch him ride the tech wave straight to the top.
One casual conversation from him could leave the mighty old money gasping for air.
And yet this man – at the peak of his power – ended his life over a
woman.
In that past life, he became a global joke. The “King of Simps,” they called him, while his enemies fanned the flames of mockery.
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I couldn’t let any of that happen again.
On the way home, my mind was never at rest.
5/15
Looking at Alaric’s stone–cold face beside me, I decided to talk to
his assistant some time.
I’ve got no clue how to handle this guy.
And his depression…
There must be a way.
The black Rolls finally stopped outside my house.
As luck might have it, we ran into Marvin carrying some
pastries.
Alaric’s eyes narrowed a bit. “Should I go down and say hi?”
I turned to him, saying casually, “Marvin’s just a good friend. No. need.”
Alaric leaned over, unbuckling my seatbelt. “Then, you should
go now.”
I said no need, but something bitter suddenly twisted in my gut.
I grabbed his wrist, trying to explain, “We’re just friends. Really. Don’t read into it.”
Chapter 3 “Okay…” he said.
“Promise?” I asked again.
6/15
His words were a total lie. I could see clearly that his knuckles had gone white from gripping the wheel.
I reached out and poked his shoulder. “Come on, spill it.
“Don’t bottle it up. That never ends well.”
Cornered, he swallowed hard, looking anywhere but at me.
After a while, he murmured, “I… I don’t like him.”
“Then you could avoid him.” I smiled, patting his head like a
puppy.
“He’s just a friend. You don’t have to like him.
“We’re going to be married – that’s way more important. If he bothers you… I’ll keep my distance.”
His head snapped up. “You’d do that? For me?”
“Why not?” I shrugged. “We’re the ones getting married!”
He froze, looking lost.
I leaned in close. “See? Talking helps.
“Whatever’s on your mind about me – just say it.
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“Don’t suffer alone while I’m clueless. That’s just stupid!”
So, it turned out this guy had zero clue about relationships.
He treated love like a business deal, forcing my family into this marriage. But when I got close? He was like a deer in headlights.
Romance was completely foreign to him.
Fine…
I could just teach him.
Marvin watched me climb out of Alaric’s ride, squinting with
uneasiness.
Once the car disappeared, he came at me.
“So you’re really gonna marry this guy?”
“He’s handsome, rich, and has a good reputation. Most importantly, no scandals. Why wouldn’t I?”
“But…” He choked on his words.
All flustered and pissed off, he finally spat it out. “Do you
like him?
ven
“Since when does love matter in our world?” I shrugged. “He’s a good match.”
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8/15
Marvin’s eyes went wide, nearly shouting, “You know we match
bett…”
“Marvin!”
I shut that down hard. “I’m getting married. Don’t say shit that’ll mess things up.”
Then I walked away, leaving him in the dust.
To be honest, even in this second life, I still couldn’t figure
Marvin out.
When he was being good, he was amazing – like that time he hit up every tiny town just to find me some necklace.
When he was being bad? He was trash. Still couldn’t even remember my birthday now.
In the past life, I practically begged him to marry me. But he shot me down, saying he needed more time to “live a little.”
Yet when he was on a trip, he fell in love with a sweet young girl at first sight and just married her. Didn’t even take three months.
His wife minded my presence a lot, so I did the smart thing and ghosted.
But I never thought it would become a final farewell.
Maybe Marvin might feel a bit sad when he heard about my
Chapter 3 death.
9/15
After all, when his dad and stepmom beat him over his brother’s bullshit, I stayed with him sitting on that rooftop all night, counting stars until dawn.
Through the glass walls, I watched him – all furrowed brows and sharp focus, that tailored suit making him look like he ate CEOS for breakfast.
I killed time in the lounge, trying to get info from his assistant.
But he was like a vault – dodging questions, playing dumb when I brought up Alaric’s condition.
“Hey, wouldn’t honesty help him more?” I insisted.
“But, he doesn’t want you knowing,” the assistant hesitated. “He… wants to stay perfect in your eyes.”
“He really wants you to depend on him…”
“What are you talking about?” Alaric walked in, loosening his tie, looking drained.
“I’m saying you’re hot as hell. I’d wondered if you got somet secret surgery.”
Sprawling on the couch, I grinned. “But your assistant says it’s all natural. Damn, Mr. Garcia, I can’t even compete that.”
Alaric seemed stunned.
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10/15
His assistant slipped out, closing the door. The room went dead quiel – I could hear Alaric’s suit rustle as he moved.
“You… like how I look?” His voice was rough.
“That surprise you?” I cocked an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you don’t know you’re gorgeous…”
His ears went pink. He turned away, avoiding my eyes.
“You know, calling you ‘Mr. Garcia‘ feels way too stuffy now.”
I stepped closer, ruffled his hair. He must have used some hair gel; it felt a bit stiff, like cardboard.
I leaned in close to his ear.
“How about I call you honey instead?”
To my surprise, Alaric shoved me away.
He seemed to snap.
I couldn’t figure out why he was mad, just like I couldn’t figure out why he was into me.
He sat at his desk, back turned, voice dripping venom. “Get out.”
I pouted, “But I want to have lunch with you.”
“Not happening,” Alaric shut me down hard. “I’ve got another
Chapter 3 plan.”
What’s wrong with him now?
11/15
I studied him for a sec, softening my voice. “Fine. Just… don’t skip meals, okay?”
Then I grabbed my bag and backed into the hall, counting heartbeats to thirty.
His assistant stood by my side, looking quite worried.
Then we heard it – smashing glass, Alaric’s agonized groans. He’d completely lost it.
I turned to the assistant, locked eyes with him while he tried to look anywhere else.
“Ready to spill the truth yet?”
While he was still squirming, I pushed that door wide open.
Alaric was a mess.
Huddled in the corner among broken glass, knees pulled to hist chest. Blood dripped from his fingers – from the glass or his own nails, I couldn’t tell.
I crunched across the glass toward him. My heels made the shards sing.
He curled tighter, shoulders shaking, wouldn’t look at me.
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“Hey,” I touched his shoulder. “What happened?”
12/15
He was too tall to hug properly. I crouched beside him, carefully picking glass from his palm.
He finally looked up, voice raw. “Disgusting, right?”
“What, your hands?”
I stared at those artist’s fingers, long and elegant.
Is he blind?
“They’re beautiful.” I kissed his fingertips. “Absolutely beautiful.”
His eyes stayed dark. “Did you tell them that too?”
“What?”
“The sweet talk, the caring, calling them ‘honey‘… Did all your exes get the special treatment?”
My silence said everything.
So that’s what broke him. Not trauma from the ‘honey‘ thing – just pure jealousy.
This powerful man, destroyed by love.
I gently brushed his damp hair. “You idiot.”
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I dated a lot. Hot and loaded – I had guys lining up. Sure, I caught feelings sometimes.
13/15
“You know, dating and marriage are totally different ballgame in our world.”
“My dad laid it out straight – play around all I want, but marriage? That better be strategic.”
I helped him up, got him on the couch, let the cleaner clean up his mess, got him water – playing nurse.
Alaric suddenly grabbed my hand. “You don’t need to do this.”
“Fine.” I sat down, mind racing.
Seems like he had dug up every ex I’ve got.
I’d been wild, and a bit too crazy before…
If that bugs him, I couldn’t do anything.
“Don’t contact them anymore.”
His words cut through my thoughts.
I turned, saw his face, and scratched his wrist.
“That an order?”
He tensed up, breathing shallow, like he’d finally sober
