The Billionaire’s Reluctant Bride (By Tessa Wren) novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1

In my previous life, I had three husbands–but none of them loved me. Their hearts belonged to the same woman: Janet Jameson, the butler’s daughter.

Even their dying words were the same: Don’t marry me.

So in this life, I would not waste my time on anyone who does not truly want me.

“If I must marry for the sake of the family, I choose Samuel Lockwood,” I told my parents.

“Samuel? Do you mean the illegitimate son from the northern branch of the Lockwood family? Why him all of a sudden?” they asked, stunned.

Because in his previous life, Samuel Lockwood rose to become the richest man in the world. He topped the Forbes list and dominated the business world like no one else.

If this marriage was about alliances and power, then I would make it

count.

Samuel was the kind of man who offered nothing but upside.

As for love? I had stopped hoping for that.

***

Emma Dalton was reborn on the day her parents laid out profiles of the eldest sons from the three top families in Chicago, asking her to choose

one to marry.

Without hesitation, she shook her head. “I’m not picking any of them.”

Her parents, Brent and Cassandra, were shocked. “Why not?”

“Because…”

Her heart throbbed painfully. She had been married to all three of them in her last life.

In the upper circles, everyone knew the Thompson, Vegara, Vanderpool, and Dalton families were the four powerhouses of Chicago.

Emma, the only daughter among the four, had become the most sought- after bride–each of the other three families wanted to marry into the Dalton family.

In her previous life, when she was choosing her marriage partner for the first time, she chose Isaac Thompson, and she happily thought that she would be happy for the rest of her life.

However, after they got married, he was not at home for 364 out of 365 days a year, not only making her a laughing stock in the circle but also dying in a chain car accident while trying to protect Janet.

Emma had been widowed at a young age, losing her first husband and spending three years alone before being remarried to Anthony Vegara -another match arranged by her family.

However, Anthony never cared about the marriage. To him, Emma meant nothing. In their second year together, he died in a reckless racing accident–all for Janet.

Because of this, people started calling Emma a husband–killer. It was not until she turned 30 that she married Mateo Vanderpool.

This time, their marriage was quiet and respectful. They lived peacefully, growing old together–until Mateo fell ill. Before he died, he held her hand and whispered his final wish.

“Emma, if there’s another life, please don’t marry me. I just want to be with Janet.”

It was then Emma realized that all of them had loved Janet.

That was why, before they each died, their last words were always the same, “Don’t choose me for marriage.”

Janet was just the daughter of the Dalton family’s butler. She was neither beautiful nor talented. All she knew how to do was act fragile and sweet.

Emma never understood how she lost to someone like that. She never knew why the men loved Janet so much that they were even willing to marry Emma just to protect Janet from being used by the family.

Emma spent her whole life watching them love Janet, and her whole life learning one simple truth.

She, Emma Dalton, was never anyone’s supporting role.

She did not want someone who did not want her,

So in this life, she did not pick any of the same men. Instead, she gave her parents a new answer.

“If I’m getting married, I only want Samuel from the Lockwood family.”

Brent and Cassandra were stunned.

“Samuel? The illegitimate son of the Lockwoods in New York? Why would you want to marry him all of a sudden?”

Because in his previous life, Samuel Lockwood rose to become the richest man in the world. He topped the Forbes list and held massive sway in the business world.

If this marriage was for the family’s benefit, then Emma needed to get the most out of it.

Samuel was a man who came with nothing but advantages.

As for love? She had stopped hoping for that.

Even though Brent and Cassandra were strongly opposed at first, Emma racked her brain to come up with reason after reason.

“New York’s economy is booming, and the Lockwood Group is the most influential family there. Haven’t you always wanted to break into the New York market but had to back off because we didn’t have a foothold? Marrying Samuel is our chance. You’ve even said it yourselves–Samuel is ambitious, sharp, and ruthless. A man like that is bound to achieve great things.”

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