Chapter 1
My father had taken in two orphaned brothers to serve as bodyguards for my sister and me.
The older one, Evander Draven, was tall and commanding- fell in love at first sight with my sister Celeste Virell.
Well, that left me with the younger brother, Renric Draven, who was supposedly autistic.
I couldn’t stand the thought of Renric being sent back to face more bullying at the orphanage, so I accepted him without question.
Since he wouldn’t speak, I dragged him to the best psychiatric specialists money could buy at hospitals across the country. Every single day for seven years, I spent two hours telling him jokes even though he never once responded.
Now that he couldn’t actually protect me, I started learning martial arts myself and begged Dad not to send him away.
I genuinely believed he was just hurt inside, that with enough patience and care, he’d eventually heal.
Until the day, our yacht capsized.
He brutally ripped the life vest right off my body, and for the first time ever, he spoke to me: “Sorry, but Celeste’s vest got torn.”
Celeste is my elder sister.
As I sank beneath the waves, he squeezed my hand one last time. “I failed you in this life. I’ll make it right in the next one.”
Turns out his autism was complete bullshit-an act he only put on for me.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day we selected our bodyguards.
I frozen in front of the two brothers. Celeste glanced over at me and pressed her lips together thoughtfully. “You know what, never mind. I’ll take Renric instead. Elara’s so delicate-she needs someone tall and strong to protect her.” With that, she moved from
Evander’s side to stand beside Renric.
The older brother, Evander’s jaw tightened visibly. I still didn’t react, my mind reeling from being thrown back in time.
In my past life, I’d hesitated here too, watching Evander and Celeste draw closer with each passing moment. Seeing my confusion back then, she’d offered to switch with me. Looking at her wounded expression, I’d genuinely thought she was trying to give me the
better deal.
I was so naive-I actually believed she was looking out for me, so I refused no matter how much she insisted. I didn’t want Celeste to
suffer, and I couldn’t bear watching that younger boy get sent back to more abuse.
Until the yacht went down and I realized the truth. Even as Celeste protested about not wanting my life vest, she still let the brothers put it on her without much of a fight. Her bodyguard Evander was literally a certified lifeguard, and there was driftwood floating right next to her.
But her refusal was just performance art-she knew I’d never let anyone sacrifice for me, that I’d always back down. She lost nothing while looking like a saint.
This time, I nodded. “Fine.”
Celeste’s face went completely rigid. She’d clearly been counting on me to refuse like last time. She wasn’t the only one stunned-Renric stared at me too, his eyes wide with confusion.
“Absolutely not!” dad’s voice cut through the tension. “You’re the eldest Virell daughter. Your safety comes first. This boy has autism and can barely speak-he’s nowhere near good enough for you.”
I smiled grimly. So he’d known about Renric’s supposed condition all along, yet still brought him here. Apparently this whole “choice” thing was just for show.
Celeste quietly exhaled in relief and was dabbing at her eyes, about to say something when Renric spoke up: “I can talk.”
I looked up sharply. The same Renric who hadn’t said a word for seven years in my past life was suddenly chatty? Seeing that calculating look in his eyes-way too sharp for someone his age-everything clicked into place.
He was reborn too. Of course. All that dramatic talk about “making it right in the next life”-but when actually given a second chance, he still couldn’t stand being stuck with me. He just didn’t realize yet that I no longer wanted him either.
“As for combat skills, you can test me again if you want, sir.” Renric’s voice was steady and confident.
I didn’t doubt his abilities for a second. After I died, my spirit had watched him protect Celeste until rescue came, driving a harpoon straight through a shark’s body.
How pathetic that in my past life, I’d learned martial arts myself because I was terrified Father would send this “helpless” boy back to
the orphanage.
Sure enough, once Renric dropped the act, he had our trainer pinned in three moves flat. Father’s expression shifted immediately, and the wounded look completely vanished from Celeste’s face.
Renric had always been the better-looking of the two brothers-if not for the supposed autism, she would’ve chosen him from day one.
“Very well then. Renric will serve you, and Evander, you’ll look after my second daughter.” my dad’s decision was final.
When Evander glanced over at me and caught sight of the scars covering half my face, he visibly flinched. Then he dropped to his knees right there on the marble floor.
“Sir, just send me back to the orphanage instead!”
