Chapter 4

I burst into laughter, almost bending over from the force of it. "Is that so? Well, prepare to have your dreams of becoming a rich in-law crushed!"

I walked briskly to Vesper and embraced her tightly. "It's been ages! You're a bit behind schedule, but don't think I've forgotten. You owe me for all the suffering I just went through!"

Vesper held my face tenderly, her eyes filled with concern. "I'm terribly sorry, sweetheart. I came straight here as soon as you contacted me. Don't fret, I'll ensure that justice prevails."

The first thing I did upon awakening in this second chance at life was to get in touch with Vesper.

In my previous existence, after I had passed away, my wandering spirit discovered that Elion's soon-to-be bride was none other than Vesper Gasper.

She had been studying overseas, and we had lost contact. Elion, using my wealth, had transformed himself into a 'wealthy heir,' completely winning her over.

I'd been so focused on reaching out to Vesper that I hadn't even considered calling my parents.

Elion, trying to maintain his composure, attempted to explain himself to Vesper. "Vesper, I was just joking around with her. There's no chance I'd marry her. She's just a clingy parasite, always hanging around me."

Vesper revealed the screenshots of their messages with a knowing grin. "Oh really? Then how do you explain these messages where you're calling her 'baby'? Were those just meaningless words?"

She didn't stop there; she also displayed the photos. "And these pictures, where you're embracing Vernia and making promises? I suppose these are fake as well?"

Elion's face drained of color as he tried to wriggle out of the situation. "Those are edited! Vernia is obsessed with me because I'm attractive and wealthy. She's just trying to come between us out of envy."

He thought his sweet lies might create discord between Vesper and me, unaware that I had once saved her life during our high school years.

If I hadn't rescued Vesper from the river back then, she would have been nothing more than a forgotten tragedy.

I reached over and took the phone from Lincoln, scrolling through the videos saved on it. One in particular caught my attention: Elion, carrying another girl in his arms, bragging, "These wealthy girls are all so gullible. If I can't secure Vernia, I'll go for Vesper instead. I'll have her worshipping me just like Vernia does."

Elion's face turned ashen as he stared at Lincoln in shock. "You're really going to betray me like this?"

Earlier, when Elion and his cronies had been ransacking my house, I had discreetly slipped Lincoln some money. It turned out Lincoln had a wealth of incriminating evidence against Elion.

Given his family's influence, Elion could do nothing but seethe quietly, not daring to retaliate. His gaze finally settled on me.

I could clearly see Elion's intentions; he was trying to vent his frustration by intimidating me, convinced I was still the vulnerable, easily manipulated girl from before.

But before he could get any closer, Vesper's security personnel swiftly restrained him.

I stepped forward, feeling a surge of power as I delivered a forceful kick to his midsection. The sound reverberated in the room before I struck his face repeatedly until it was swollen beyond recognition.

"You've consumed my food, drunk my beverages, and attempted to control me! You're nothing but a frog yearning for swan flesh. Did you truly believe you could become the swan?"

Elion's hand flew to his face, his voice weak as he begged, "Please, stop! I'm supposed to register my marriage with Vesper tomorrow!"

Vesper's laughter was icy, sending chills through the air as she issued a simple command, "Remove your hands from your face."

Trembling with fear, Elion reluctantly complied, his eyes wide and pleading.

Vesper then summoned all her strength and struck him hard across the face.

"You're marrying me tomorrow? Infidelity is bad enough, but driving Vernia to the edge of suicide? You're utterly despicable."

"Luckily for me, Vernia revealed everything. I've already informed my parents, and there's no way I'm marrying a scoundrel like you!"

Elion shot me a poisonous glare, his voice dripping with spite. "Vernia, you're just jealous because I'm marrying someone superior to you. You're here to ruin everything, but I won't allow you to succeed."