As the icy river water flooded into the car, I knew we were doomed.
My best friend finally broke down, sobbing with regret:
"Hay, I'm sorry."
"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have married Conner Horne."
"If I hadn't insisted on coming to B Road to race, you wouldn't have..."
Endangered by her actions, my life hung in the balance.
Yet, despite this, I harbored no resentment in my heart.
Instead, listening to her broken sobs, my heart felt shattered.
Like countless times before, I pulled her into my embrace.
While gently stroking her back, I comforted her with words:
"It's okay, it's okay... No one in this world is more important to me than you."
"And besides... if it weren't for you saving me back then, I wouldn't have been able to live these extra years..."
Yes, my second chance at life was given to me by my best friend.
I was diagnosed with autism when I was three years old and still couldn't speak.
At first, my parents ran around trying to find a cure for my condition.
But as time went on, my condition didn't improve, I couldn't even call out 'Mom' or 'Dad.'
The neighbors spread nasty rumors, and after hearing them so often, my father became tired of it.
He started drinking heavily and beating my mother, blaming her for giving birth to a freak.
That's what caused him to endure so much shame.
Unable to bear the injustice, my mother took all of my father's money and fled with her lover.
But she left me behind.
Feeling both financially and emotionally betrayed, my father flew into a rage and vented all his anger on me.
One day, drunk, he took out his belt and lashed at me without mercy.
When he was about to beat me to death, it was my best friend Jillian Carlson who rushed in, disregarding the danger to save me.
For the next ten years, we relied on each other for survival.
She never minded my odd personality. She worked hard to support me and even paid for my education.
I regarded her as the most important person in my life.
For her, I could do anything.
Even if it meant sacrificing my own dreams and agreeing to marry the frail eldest grandson to bring the Horne Family good luck.
All so that Jillian could fulfill her dream of marrying her idol.
After hearing my words, Jillian was overwhelmed with emotion. "Hay, we'll be sisters in our next life."
We hugged each other tightly, awaiting the arrival of death.
"Haley, would you consider changing your marriage request?"
"Miss Carlson's character... may not be suitable for becoming a wealthy family's wife."
Just as I thought I was certain to die, a cold and stern male voice suddenly sounded in my ear.
Though the man's tone was polite, it was not difficult to detect the underlying disgust.
I opened my eyes and saw the Horne Family's butler sitting upright, speaking to me in a formal manner about terms.
Looking around at the familiar surroundings and considering the butler's words, I suddenly realized—
I might have been reborn.
Back to the time when someone came to me with a large sum of money, seeking a marriage to bring good fortune.
In my previous life, Conner, the highly intelligent and almost otherworldly eldest grandson of the Horne Family, was on the brink of death.
Consulting a fortune teller, it was said that a marriage for good fortune could solve the problem.
And I'm the one who was destined to be the perfect match.
To save the eldest grandson, the Horne family came to propose to me.
Facing their offer of a large sum of money, I wasn't tempted, but I had one request—
That was for Caiden, the second young master of the Horne family, to marry my best friend.
Caiden Horne was the idol Jillian had loved for years, but she could not have him.
So, I proposed this condition for the marriage.
The Horne family reacted strongly to my coercive behavior, yet they dared not turn hostile.
Thus, the butler came to persuade me to reconsider.
In my previous life, my firm attitude led to their concession.
But it didn't result in Jillian getting what she wanted.
Recalling her sorrowful and desperate gaze before my death, my heart nearly shattered.
Wait! Before my death?
I've been reborn.
What about Jillian?
I couldn't wait to know her current situation.
Ignoring whether it was polite to abruptly end the conversation, I said "See you later" and hurriedly left.
