Chapter 1

Deep into the night, the cold moon hung high in the sky.

In a derelict storage room of a psychiatric hospital, a woman, Louisa Lowe, lay curled on the floor. Her clothes were tattered, and her flesh was split open with bones showing through. The stench of blood clung to her skin as tiny black insects crawled over her wounds.

A sudden splash of ice water struck her face. She shuddered and slowly opened her eyes. Once beautiful and bright, her large eyes were now dull and clouded.

Seeing her stir, the woman who had splashed the dirty water on her viciously ground her high heel on Louisa's body. But even when excruciating pain shot through her, Louisa's gaze remained flat as if she couldn't feel it.

Unsatisfied with her lack of reaction, Estelle Lowe twisted her heel back and forth. "Sure enough, a fool is still a fool. This is so boring. Still, I should thank you. Because of you, I get to be with Jasper now. He treats me so well and even bought me this bracelet. Look, isn't it pretty?"

As Estelle spoke, she lowered her wrist to show Louisa the bracelet.

Louisa finally seemed to react at the mention of the name. Her vacant eyes fixed on the bracelet, and her expression changed instantly. Her bloody hand shot out to grab Estelle's wrist. That bracelet was hers!

"Don't you dare get it dirty! Jasper will be furious!" Estelle snapped, yanking her hand back and looking down at Louisa in disgust.

Louisa desperately struggled to speak. "Impossible!"

Blood spilled out with her word, as though the four syllables had been ripped out of her throat with immense effort.

How could Jasper Hayes have given Estelle her belongings?

Estelle studied her, then suddenly revealed a cunning, demonic smile and menacingly hissed, "You're right. He didn't give it to me because I took it from his keepsake."

The word "keepsake" seemed to detonate in Louisa's mind. Her voice grew even more hoarse, and each word dripped with blood as she snarled, "You're lying!"

"You don't trust me, do you?" Estelle maliciously grinned, savoring the look of pain on Louisa's face with immense satisfaction.

"Honestly, I should really thank you, Louisa. Without your help, how could we have taken down Jasper in such a short time? Though, I have to admit, he was absurdly devoted to you. He even left everything to you in the event of his death."

If Estelle couldn't have Jasper, she'd make sure no one else could.

In the next second, something violently grabbed her pant leg.

With the last of her strength, Louisa clutched the fabric with her two bloody hands. Her eyes were bloodshot and wild. Drenched in blood, she resembled a vengeful ghost as she screamed in a voice shredded raw with rage, "You're not allowed… to touch his belongings!"

"And who do you think you are to order me around?" Estelle jeered and cackled victoriously. "I owe it all to you. Thanks to you, I went from being an illegitimate daughter of the Lowes to the head of the family."

Louisa froze at the words "head of the family".

After kicking Louisa's hand away, Estelle glared at the blood smeared on her pants in disgust and venomously continued, "You didn't see it coming, did you? Your dear dad tried to get you out of this psychiatric hospital, so I played a little trick.

"I landed him in the hospital, and yesterday, he got so mad that he died of a heart attack. That makes me the sole head of the Lowes now!"

She threw her head back for a wild, unrestrained laugh, almost as if she'd gone mad. She didn't notice the change in Louisa's eyes, how the emptiness hardened into regret, then into surging hatred.

Looking at Estelle laughing madly before her, Louisa mustered her strength and lunged forward. After she slammed Estelle to the ground and sank her teeth into the latter's neck, blood spurted out.

She wanted Estelle dead!

"Louisa, you lunatic!" Estelle screamed in a panic. "Let me go!"

Louisa's eyes were feral like a cornered wolf's. She bit down with every ounce of her strength, swearing to avenge Jasper and her dad, Timothy Lowe.

Then, something crashed hard into her skull. Her vision blanked, and she plunged into unconsciousness.

…

"Is Louisa still refusing to eat?"

"Yes, Mr. Lowe. She's been on a hunger strike."

Voices drifted into Louisa's ears. She slowly regained consciousness, her fingers twitching as she opened her eyes, only to be met with a stark white ceiling.

She was momentarily stunned. What was going on?

When Timothy saw that she was awake, a flicker of distress crossed his eyes, but his words came out as an angry shout. "Ingrate! Don't think starving yourself will make me give in! I'm telling you—even if you won't marry Mr. Hayes, I'm not letting you marry that gigolo!"

Seeing the middle-aged Timothy before her filled Louisa's heart with joy. Was Timothy still alive?

Also, wasn't this her room? Could she have been reborn?

She remembered this scene all too clearly. Timothy had insisted she marry Jasper, but she had been completely obsessed with Stanley Hall and resorted to a hunger strike until she passed out.

Even after waking up to Timothy's scolding, she stubbornly refused to back down. Their relationship only spiraled from there.

In truth, Timothy had just wanted to protect her after seeing through Stanley's true colors, but he never knew how to express himself gently. Even his concern came out as harsh words of anger.

Back then, Louisa had been convinced that Timothy wanted her to marry Jasper for money. She grew cold toward him and came to resent Jasper more.

That was when a soft, gentle voice cut in, "Don't disregard your health just to rebel against your dad, Lou."

Her stepmom, Rosie Tates, stepped closer and looked at her with the gentlest gaze. "He wants what's best for you. The Hayeses are incredibly wealthy, so if you marry into their family, you'll live in luxury. The Lowes will benefit too."

Louisa's lips curved slightly.

Rosie might sound like she was trying to comfort Louisa, but in truth, she was reinforcing the idea that Timothy was marrying her off for money.

Louisa lowered her eyes to hide the chill in them. To anyone watching, she looked hesitant.

Noticing her hesitation, Estelle immediately chimed in, "That's right, Louisa! You should listen to Dad! I'll talk to Stanley for you. He's so understanding, so I'm sure he won't blame you."

Estelle was sure that just the mention of Stanley's name would shake Louisa.

In her past life, Louisa had loved Stanley obsessively as if she had been bewitched. But having lived through it all once, hearing his name now only made her nauseous.

As Louisa raised her head to look at Timothy, her expression softened. "Got it, Dad. I'll eat, but on one condition."

Timothy was briefly stunned by the word "Dad". The father and daughter had been locked in a standoff for so long that he couldn't remember the last time she had called him "Dad" in such a soft voice.

"Say it."

"I want you to make the food," Louisa said softly. Her gaze toward him was full of hopeful expectation.

Everyone froze. Rosie and Estelle even gave her confused looks.

Timothy was a great cook, but managing the company left him little time for the kitchen. He used to cook on Louisa's birthdays, but after Rosie joined the family, Louisa had never eaten a meal he made again.

Rosie was the first to snap out of it and say, "Your dad's exhausted from work, Lou. Let me cook for you and make you your favorite grilled shrimp, alright?"

Chapter 2

However, Timothy immediately agreed, "Sure. After you eat, you'll meet Mr. Hayes."

"Sure, Dad." Louisa nodded obediently.

He turned and headed straight for the kitchen. Even his fingers were trembling slightly at the thought of Louisa craving his cooking. His late wife had left him with just one child, Louisa. He'd been furious with her and disappointed in her lately, but for some reason, her earlier words made his heart ache.

Had he been so busy with work that he'd been neglecting her all these years? Was that why there was such a distance between them? It seemed he should show more concern and care for her, starting now.

Louisa rose to wash up and change, but Estelle didn't give her a moment's peace and trailed after her the whole time.

"Louisa, have you really changed your mind?" Estelle asked softly.

"I have, but you don't sound very happy about it," Louisa replied in a flat voice. There was a trace of coldness hidden beneath her calm tone.

In her past life, Estelle had always acted close and showered Louisa with praise when, in truth, the former's words were nothing but a slow, poisonous form of sabotage.

Whatever Louisa did, Estelle would insist she was right and feed her arrogance. By magnifying Louisa's flaws, Estelle would look gracious in comparison. It was a truly masterful setup.

It was only when she was at her last breath that Louisa learned the truth—Estelle hadn't just framed her; she'd also set her sights on Jasper.

Back in the present moment, Estelle choked on her words. Of course, she couldn't admit that.

She narrowed her eyes and carefully studied Louisa, trying to tell if this was a genuine change of heart or just an act. But for some reason, Louisa seemed unfathomably deep at this moment, to the point where Estelle couldn't read her at all.

After a pause, she tried again in a gentle voice. "Are you sure you're alright with marrying Mr. Hayes, Louisa? I've heard he has a terrible temper, and he's very cold toward women. If you marry him, it'll be no different from living like a widow."

She was trying to scare Louisa off.

Louisa was tying her hair. At this point, Estelle was like a fly buzzing endlessly around her, and Louisa couldn't be bothered to respond.

Still, Estelle persisted. "I'm saying this for your own good, Louisa. I just want you to find someone who truly suits you, a man you can be happy with for the rest of your life."

How considerate. The way Estelle acted like she had Louisa's best interests at heart was almost laughable.

Louisa gave a faint, unreadable smile and snapped, "I'm about to change, Estelle. Are you sure you'll stay here?"

After talking for ages and Louisa not listening to a single word she said, Estelle was livid. Still, as she left, she kept her gentle facade. "Don't forget what I told you."

She walked out of the room with the nagging feeling that something about Louisa felt different. Was it because Timothy had pushed her too hard?

When the food was ready 15 minutes later, Louisa came downstairs, elegantly and gracefully dressed in a long white dress. Her skin was fair and delicate, and her light makeup highlighted her delicate facial features.

With her refined bearing, she looked almost unreal, like a fairy stepping into the room. Her arrival seemed to set the room on fire.

Timothy immediately spotted her and smiled. "Come eat, Lou!"

Estelle stared at Louisa, clenching her fists in anger. Louisa had always been beautiful, and now that she was all dressed up, she was simply breathtaking.

While enjoying her meal, Louisa sincerely complimented the food, "Your food's amazing, Dad."

At her praise, Timothy's expression softened before he piled more food onto her plate.

"It's just a pity… Who knows when I'll get to eat it again?" Louisa added, her eyes dimming slightly in melancholy.

"Behave yourself, and I'll cook for you every day from now on," Timothy said at once.

Just as Rosie was about to speak, Louisa turned to her and pursed her lips in slight helplessness. "But Rosie doesn't let you cook, and you're so busy with work. I guess we should just forget it."

That was Rosie's usual excuse, meant to drive a wedge between the father and daughter.

In the past, Louisa had been too thoughtful. Timothy was always consumed with work, so she never had the heart to ask more of him. Even so, Rosie had never hesitated to drag him out shopping.

Timothy slammed his hand on the table. "Who says so? From now on, I'm cooking for you every day!"

A radiant smile instantly spread across Louisa's face.

Rosie and Estelle, however, looked a few shades paler. How had Louisa changed so much that she was even fighting for attention now?

A vicious glint flashed in Rosie's eyes. She would never allow the father and daughter to grow close again.

Just then, Rosie's phone buzzed. After a quick glance at the screen, she curled her lips into a smile and turned to Louisa, hesitantly saying, "Lou, aren't you supposed to meet Mr. Hayes? Maybe you should postpone it? He's having a meal with Ms. Stein right now."

Everyone knew Lea Stein had been in love with Jasper for years. The fact that the two of them were dining together was more than enough to spark one's imagination.

Rosie was certain this would set Louisa off. Louisa had never liked Jasper to begin with, and this would only convince her that he was a flirtatious jerk.

Sure enough, Louisa immediately stood up and frowned. "Why are they together?"

"Well… Ms. Stein and the Hayeses are close, so it's not that strange for them to be together. I've seen them together many times myself."

Timothy frowned and was about to speak when Louisa turned and headed out.

"Lou! Where are you going?"

"To see my fiancé!"

…

At Southern Peak Bistro, two people sat facing each other at a table by the window. Nearby diners kept glancing over, drawn by the picture they made together.

The man, Jasper, wore a tailored suit, its flawless cut outlining his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Even seated, his long legs were impossible to ignore. His facial features were striking, and his presence was cool and noble.

A woman in a black strapless dress with a bold, alluring figure sat across from him. As she leaned forward, the sight of her cleavage became more obvious.

She sweetly pouted. "How could that woman from the Lowe family ever be worthy of you, Jasper? There's a dinner party this weekend. Shall I be your date?"

As she spoke, her restless hand reached out toward his pale, elegant fingers placed on the table.

"Don't!"

A soft, fair hand shot out and grabbed Jasper's.

Lea Stein looked up to see a strikingly beautiful woman dressed in a white dress. It made her look pure and elegant, yet her eyes were so beautiful that they carried a hint of seduction. She was so dazzling that it was impossible to look away.

Only then did Lea realize the woman was holding Jasper's hand.

Everyone knew that Jasper was a clean freak and intolerant of any woman getting close to him. A cold smile flashed in Lea's eyes.

"Who are you? What gives you the right to decide for him?"

Jasper was already looking at Louisa and asking in a low, cool voice, "Why are you here?"

A flicker of panic flashed in his deep, ocean-dark eyes.

Louisa caught it, and something throbbed in her chest.

In her past life, witnessing this scene had made her furious. After listening to his cold tone, she'd assumed he was mad at her for showing up, so she had angrily smashed everything in the restaurant and sworn she'd rather die than marry him.

In truth, he had just been afraid that she'd misunderstand and get mad. This meeting was a misunderstanding, too, since he had never invited Lea.

Louisa smiled sweetly and brightly. She placed his hand right over her heart and announced in a loud, non-hesitating voice, "Because… I'm the one he loves!"

Chapter 3

Even a man as cold and restrained as Jasper paused at Louisa's words. His gaze grew complicated after he noted from her expression that she was serious.

Lea, on the other hand, laughed in disbelief. "Where did this lunatic come from? Security! Throw her out!"

"So, you don't believe me, huh?" Louisa lowered her head and leaned toward Jasper's handsome face.

Lea's eyes widened in shock as she observed how Jasper did not push Louisa away at all!

From Lea's angle, the two of them looked like they were kissing, but in reality, Jasper's finger was placed lightly between their fingers.

Louisa frowned, but when she raised her head and saw Lea practically smoking with rage, she decided it was fine. Anyway, her mission was accomplished.

She smiled faintly at Lea. "Why aren't you leaving yet? Shall we go all the way and give you a live show?"

Lea glanced at the expressionless Jasper before she furiously grabbed her bag and unwillingly stood up. Just looking at Louisa's beautiful face stirred Lea's urge to claw it apart.

She knew Jasper had a fiancée named Louisa, but there was no way Louisa could be this beautiful. This had to be some nobody who was trying to rely on her looks to latch onto a wealthy family, but the Hayeses weren't that easy to marry into, as one would think.

The thought soothed Lea slightly. As she passed Louisa, she hissed through gritted teeth, "Do you really think Jasper likes you and that he'll marry you? I suggest you watch the news. He's about to marry Louisa Lowe, and you'll always just be a shameless little mistress."

With that, she smugly left.

"Jasper, she said I'll only ever be your mistress."

Louisa turned to Jasper and blinked at him with exaggerated grievance like an abandoned kitten.

Jasper's dark eyes were fixed on her face with a deep, unfathomable gaze. "So what if you are? Didn't you say that you're the only one I love?"

His words, drawn out on purpose, held a low, sensual tone that brushed against her nerves and sent a shiver through her. Just his voice alone was intoxicating.

Jasper was such a flawless man, yet Louisa had been so blind to hurt him in her last life! From now on, she would treat him right!

Her eyes sparkled as she smiled obediently and settled beside him. "You're right, Jasper."

Then, she sighed in a sudden, down manner. "I left in such a hurry. I hadn't even eaten my fill yet."

Jasper slid the menu toward her with long fingers. "Order whatever you want."

"Great!"

While she scanned the menu, she could feel his measured, searching gaze on her. She knew that after all the extreme things she'd done, this sudden change was bound to raise his doubts, but she'd slowly prove to him that he was the only man she loved!

When the food arrived, she glanced at him nervously. "What if your fiancée shows up while we're eating? Isn't it kind of wrong for us to sneak a meal behind her back?"

She was clearly enjoying her little impromptu acting.

Jasper shot her a look, and she could sense he was speechless.

To her surprise, he glanced at the expensive Patek Philippe on his wrist and solemnly replied in a deep, mellow voice, "In that case, hurry up. My fiancée's lunch break ends in two hours. She'll come to me then."

Louisa froze, then burst into laughter. How had she never realized how funny he was?

She solemnly nodded as if she were taking his words seriously and began cutting her steak. Halfway through the meal, a smear of sauce stained the corner of her lips. He gently wiped it away with his rough thumb.

Louisa's cheeks flushed slightly. She looked up at him, whose gaze was fixed on her with a deep intensity.

Embarrassed, she quickly lowered her head again, and her ears burned. Just now, she was pretty sure she'd seen something in his eyes…

…

After the meal, Jasper sent Louisa home. Before she got out of the car, he looked at her with a dark, unreadable gaze. "I'll pick you up tonight."

His tone was cool, emotionless, and habitually commanding.

Louisa naturally nodded and spread her arms wide. "Sure. Can I… have a hug?"

Having been refused at noon, she knew Jasper wouldn't trust her again so easily. She had to take every step slowly.

"Don't try to play games with me, Louisa," he warned coldly and threateningly in her ear. Even so, he pulled her into his arms.

"I'm not playing games. I just want you," she sweetly replied before planting a light kiss on his cheek. Then, she turned and skipped back into the Lowe residence.

Jasper's eyes remained fixed on her. As night settled, his gaze slowly darkened before he lifted his long, pale fingers and brushed them over his cheek. Even if this were nothing more than just a dream, he wished it would last a little longer.

…

In the Lowe residence, Estelle and Rosie were talking downstairs.

When Louisa entered, Estelle immediately walked over. One look at Louisa's slightly weary expression, and she was certain that Louisa must have fought with Jasper.

"Louisa, did you and Mr. Hayes have a fight?"

When Louisa glanced at her but said nothing, that was as good as a silent admission to Estelle.

She gave Louisa a look of concern and continued, "You mustn't fight with Mr. Hayes. After all, you're about to get married."

Louisa used to loathe Jasper to the core. In the past, she would have bristled at those words and immediately snapped back. But now, she nodded. "You're right. We're getting married soon, so I shouldn't fight with him."

Estelle froze. Was she really the same Louisa she knew? Had Louisa actually been swayed by her words?

She quickly continued in a soft, sticky voice, "Though I don't want you to marry a man you don't love, Mr. Hayes can help the Lowes. It's just that Stanley…"

She sighed and murmured, "If he finds out, he'll be heartbroken."

She looked genuinely trapped between worry and helplessness, but deep down, she was certain that mentioning Stanley would remind Louisa not to choose Jasper.

Louisa watched Estelle act and was secretly amused. In her past life, she must have been really blind to miss Estelle's cloying tone every time she said Stanley's name.

"You're right," she calmly replied. "At this point, I've let Stanley down. Maybe we were never meant to be."

With that, she lowered her head and went upstairs.

Estelle could barely react in time. After Louisa disappeared around the stairs, Estelle walked over to Rosie in disbelief. "Mom, don't you think Louisa's acting really strange today?"

Rosie thought about it before saying, "Maybe your dad pushed her too hard. Here… This afternoon, you…"

She leaned in and whispered in Estelle's ear. The latter giggled after listening to her words and muttered, "You're brilliant, Mom."

…

The afternoon passed in the blink of an eye.

After dinner, a maid came in and announced, "Someone's asking for you, Ms. Louisa."

Louisa immediately thought of Jasper, though she hadn't expected him to come this early. She stood up at once and headed outside. Though it'd only been an afternoon, she was starting to miss him terribly.

But when she saw who was standing at the door, she narrowed her eyes. It was a man in white casual wear with fairly decent looks and a gentle, polished air—Stanley. When he saw Louisa, he immediately strode over and grabbed her hand.

Chapter 4

Louisa immediately drew her hand back, leaving Stanley's attempt at holding it unsuccessful.

A flicker of something unusual crossed his eyes before he quickly put on a wounded expression. "Lou, are you really going to marry that man?"

Louisa shot him a cool glance.

In her past life, she'd been drawn to his clean, gentle air and good looks. But now, she could only think about how blind she'd been for not seeing through his hypocrisy.

If this were in the past, Stanley's sad look would have prompted her to explain herself, but now, she answered with a single word, "Yes."

Stanley's gaze shifted. A trace of displeasure surfaced, only to be quickly hidden underneath a show of devotion. "You're joking, right? Didn't you say you'd love me for the rest of your life?"

Loved him for the rest of his life? What he really wanted was for her to forever stay obediently by his side like a humble maid.

Now that she had been reborn, Louisa knew what his true colors were and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

"Please, Lou. I know you're not the shallow type to run after money. You won't leave me, will you?" Stanley added before suddenly reaching out to pull her into his arms.

Louisa was just about to shove him away when, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of an approaching Rolls-Royce with its sleek and luxurious extended body. It pulled to a stop nearby.

In the car, the driver felt the temperature plummet.

Looking at the two embracing figures ahead, he was utterly speechless. Just how blinded could Louisa be to dump such a rare, precious fiancé for a gigolo?

When the car door slowly opened, the tall, commanding Jasper stepped out into the night like the descent of a fallen angel. Even the air seemed to freeze.

His cold, chilly eyes locked on the pair ahead. In that instant, he understood why she'd been acting so compliant today when she'd always shown such strong resistance toward their marriage.

Louisa violently shoved Stanley away and silently cursed him for trying to ruin her.

With that, she turned and ran toward Jasper. "Jasper! Why are you so late?"

She spread her arms for a hug, but his well-defined, handsome facial features betrayed no emotion as his cold eyes remained fixed on her. The temperature seemed to drop another few degrees.

When Stanley turned around, he got a clear look at Jasper, whose powerful, overwhelming presence swept over and instantly made him feel insignificant. So, this was Jasper Hayes, the rumored Grim Reaper. Louisa would never end up with such a man.

Stanley immediately walked over and faced Jasper.

"I've heard of you, Mr. Hayes. The Hayes family stands far above the rest, so I'm sure you're not the kind of man who forces women against their will. Women must flock to you, so why must you force Lou into this marriage?"

He spoke with such righteous indignation as if he were accusing Jasper of robbing an innocent young lady of her right to decide. But when Jasper's icy gaze swept over him, he immediately felt a chill run down his spine.

Jasper's eyes shifted back to Louisa. "Force her?"

Stanley braced himself to reply, "Mr. Hayes, I'm sure you know that you can't force chemistry."

Jasper's lips curved into a blood-cold smile, and his eyes sharpened with an icy, bloody killing intent. "We'll know that after we've tried, but more importantly, I won't allow anyone to lay eyes on what's mine!"

Louisa noticed the increasingly cold look in Jasper's eyes and his ruthless, murderous air, but she could not even say a word before she was violently shoved into the car. Immediately, she found herself shrouded in an icy, oppressive atmosphere.

She hadn't forgotten how Jasper was known to the outside world—a ruthless, cold-blooded, merciless man who never went easy on anyone, not even women.

A shadow loomed over her as he bent close.

It would be a lie to say that she wasn't intimidated. Her fingers trembled slightly before she suddenly looped her arms around his neck and murmured, "There's nothing going on between Stanley and me. He forced it!"

"Oh, really?"

In the darkness, Jasper's rough fingertips traced the lines of her face. His icy touch somehow ignited a scalding heat.

"I'll only ever be your silly little fool, honey," Louisa murmured, brushing her soft, silky hair against his chest like a kitten seeking comfort. The sweetness in her voice softened even the hardest parts of his heart.

When Jasper's cold, pale fingers reached toward her, she tensed a little.

Did he still not trust her?

He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and murmured in a deep, magnetic voice, "Remember what you just said, Louisa. I don't want to see you two together again."

Louisa nodded obediently.

"Oh, my clothes are still at home."

"Leave them. I have clothes at my place."

After Jasper instructed the driver to start the car, Louisa agreed without a second thought.

In her past life, she had flat-out refused to leave with Jasper and driven Timothy half-dead with fury. She had even threatened to starve herself, so regardless of how furious Timothy was, he had no choice but to let her have her way.

Ironically, it was Jasper who had stepped in to help when the Lowes fell into crisis.

…

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Kingston Gardens, Jasper's private estate.

A grand villa of royal scale and architecture stood at its center, fronted by a majestic, overwhelming fountain.

After the luxury car stopped at the villa's entrance, Louisa followed Jasper inside. In her past life, she had refused to spare his home a single glance and slept in the maids' quarters. Eventually, he stopped coming home altogether and chose to stay in the office.

Now, taking in the clean, understated elegance of the interior, she grew curious about what her bedroom looked like.

Jasper glanced down at her. He knew she had never wanted to marry him, and though he had no idea why she had shown such strange behavior today, he assumed she still wouldn't want to live with him.

"Where's my room?"

She suddenly looked up and met his eyes. Hers were large and clear, sparkling with what seemed like expectancy.

He studied her for two seconds before taking her hand and leading her upstairs to the innermost room.

Louisa gently pushed the door. When the pink decor came into view, she instinctively covered her mouth and stared in shock at the princess-like room before her. There was a plush pink carpet, a matching desk with a computer all set up, a wardrobe, and a hanging basket.

The most striking part of the room was the pink princess bed, with drapes cascading down and dotted with tiny, shimmering lights. It was a scene straight out of a fairytale.

Her gaze grew warm. In her past life, she'd been such a fool as to rather sleep with the maids than take even one look at her room. He must have put so much thought into preparing it for her.

Jasper's eyes remained fixed on her as his grip tightened slightly.

"If you don't like it, we'll change to a different room," he said casually, though his voice held a trace of barely noticeable tension.

Chapter 5

Louisa turned and gave Jasper the sweetest smile. "Who said I don't? I love it!"

Seeing the brilliant smile on her face, the icy edge in Jasper's eyes melted, though his voice remained as cool as ever. "Check out the closet."

Louisa did as she was told and opened the closet, only to be greeted by a dazzling array of elegant, luxurious clothes.

"Thank you so much, Jasper, but isn't this too much? It'll be a waste because I can never wear all of them."

"It's not a waste. Wear whatever you like," he solemnly replied as his dark gaze fell on her.

"Thank you, honey." She hugged him, smiling brightly.

Looking at her, he suddenly said, "Jasper Hayes."

"What?"

"My name," he explained in his usual cold, distant voice.

Louisa blinked. Was he telling her not to call him "honey" yet?

"We're getting married anyway," she said matter-of-factly. "I'm just exercising my rights a little early."

Jasper's gaze darkened a little at her words.

Marriage… Deep down, he couldn't help but wonder if she truly wanted to marry him at all.

"Get some rest," he said, ruffling her hair.

"Got it." She nestled against his chest, breathing in his clean pine scent, which she loved so much. Now that she was living her second life, she wished she could cling to him every second.

A few minutes later, his fingers lightly brushed under her chin. "If you don't let go, I'm going to have to sleep here with you."

He had expected her to pull away immediately, but she gave an almost instinctive response, shocking him to his core. "Sure!"

When his gaze darkened, she belatedly realized she might have gone too far. Though she longed to be with him, she couldn't rush things yet.

"Are you trying to take advantage of me before we're even married?" he murmured, lifting her chin. His low, husky voice was dangerously seductive.

Louisa's cheeks flushed. "That's not what I meant! Anyway, I'm taking a shower!"

With that, she turned and padded off to grab her clothes.

By the time she reappeared from the bathroom, Jasper was gone. She lay on the soft princess bed, her nose stinging slightly at the thought of how much effort he had put into everything for her.

That thought reaffirmed her resolve to work hard and repay him in kind, though she hadn't completed her studies.

In Louisa's past life, after learning about the marriage arrangement, she threw tantrums and refused the marriage. When her grades slipped from near the top to dead last, she eventually dropped out altogether.

More importantly, Timothy had promised that he'd let her join the company once she graduated from college.

Lying in bed, she fell into deep thought. The semester started a month ago, so she had to talk to Jasper before returning to college.

She had excellent grades in high school and had gotten into an elite college. If not for her declining grades, she'd still be one of the top students in the college…

…

The next morning, Louisa went downstairs after washing up and getting dressed. The first thing she saw was Jasper sitting on the couch, casually crossing his long legs. He was wearing glasses, reading the financial morning paper.

The vast living room was unnervingly quiet.

"Good morning."

Louisa's tiny head popped up beside him as she chirped a morning greeting.

Behind the lenses, his cold, dark eyes slowly shifted to her face. She wore a cream-colored dress that made her skin look luminous. Her bright smile seemed to melt away the chill of winter in an instant.

Jasper's voice remained deep and rich as he grunted an acknowledgment.

"What are you reading?" She leaned closer, her head completely blocking his view as her scent lingered around him.

"Can you even understand?"

She wisely shook her head, so he set the morning paper aside and sent her off. "Then go eat breakfast."

She pouted. "It's like eating is the only thing I know how to do."

"Oh? Shall I feed you something else?" His deep voice took on a teasing, lazy allure.

Louisa's face flushed as she instantly understood. She hadn't realized a man who looked so aloof and restrained could be so casually indecent.

She turned away at once and announced, "I think I'll just eat. What if you can't handle it?"

"Don't you trust me? Even seven times wouldn't be a problem." He lifted his brows wickedly.

Flustered, she laughed. "No. I'm just worried I'll wear you out."

His arm wrapped around her waist. "Other men might be worn out, but I'll never get exhausted."

"How dare you!" Her face burned. She genuinely hadn't expected a man who looked so cold and ascetic to be so different in private.

When he chuckled softly, his deep, smooth voice made her heart flutter so much that she was momentarily flustered.

Just then, a cough came from behind them.

Louisa's expression froze. Turning around, she realized Timothy had arrived at some point.

"When did you get here, Dad?"

Deep down, she was practically praying that Timothy had not heard their entire conversation just now. That would be so awkward.

As the thought crossed her mind, she couldn't resist pinching Jasper's wrist. He let out a low grunt, then rose from the couch and politely greeted Timothy, "Good morning, Timothy."

Noticing how close they seemed, Timothy couldn't help but smile. Perhaps Louisa had come around now.

He had rushed over first thing in the morning and even skipped breakfast, purely out of concern that the two of them might have fallen out.

Stroking his chin, he said warmly, "Don't worry, you two. I just came to check on you. Seeing you get along so well puts my mind at ease."

Louisa couldn't help feeling moved. She walked over and looped her arm through his, then softly said, "We've always gotten along, Dad. Oh, have you eaten?"

"What about you?" he asked.

"We were just about to. Join us," Jasper offered.

It was a typical Caelorian breakfast with a simple spread of toast, milk, and fruit. Louisa remembered that Jasper had lived abroad for most of his life and was far more accustomed to Nardian food.

She sneaked a glance at him, tightening her grip on her spoon at the thought of her next words.

That was when Timothy's gaze landed on her. "Actually, there's something else I wanted to talk to you about today."

"What is it, Dad?" she curiously asked.

He looked at her and solemnly said, "Resume your studies, Louisa."

Louisa froze at his words, clearly not expecting Timothy's thoughts to align perfectly with her own. But when Jasper noticed her expression, his gaze darkened.

He remembered she had once been an excellent student, but her grades had plummeted ever since she learned about their impending marriage. Eventually, she stopped going to college altogether. Everything she did was an act of defiance aimed at the marriage.

As he subconsciously tightened his fingers into a fist, he heard Louisa respond in a clear, serious voice, "I'd love to."