My Girlfriend Regrets It Madly

My strong-willed fiance fell in love with a penniless assistant who works multiple jobs.

And she decided to dump me, the trust fund kid, without a second thought.

I figured it was just pity for the poor guy.

So I gave the assistant a pile of cash to disappear forever.

Years later, she became CEO of a conglomerate.

Her first move was to destrory my family.

She literally stood over my grave, gloating.

"If you hadn't interfered, Liam and I would be married and have kids! This is exactly what you deserve!"

That's when I found out.

The assistant looked exactly like her dead childhood sweetheart C the one killed in a car crash.

Then I was reborn.

Back to the moment my fiance publicly declared her love for her assistant, looking down her nose as she demanded I break off our engagement.

I walked straight over to the Manhattan socialite everyone called "Princess."

"Family marriage alliance, do you want it?"

"Thanks to Liam for all his support with the new product launch!"

"Liam, I love you!"

At the victory party, slightly tipsy on champagne, my fiance, Victoria Chase, gazed adoringly at her assistant.

He wore a cheap t-shirt with a teardrop-shaped mole under his left eye.

Her words shocked everyone.

People pretended not to hear, or nervously joked she was just drunk.

After an awkward shuffle, someone pushed Victoria towards me.

"Hey Vic, Seb's right here. Maybe you should go back home with him."

Everyone forced a laugh, but they were still awkward.

Everyone knew that Victoria was famous for her self-control.

She was a former workaholic, now a driven startup CEO.

Control freak was her middle name. She'd never let herself slip up like this.

Sure enough, as the murmurs died down, Victoria scoffed.

She flinched away from my touch, swirling her red wine glass, showing a picture of sober clarity.

"I'm not joking. I love Liam. He's my soulmate!"

"Sebastian Shaw, you spoiled rich kid, what would you know about a real connection?"

"This time, you won't stop me!"

This time?

I stared at Victoria. That smirk, that defiant glint in her eye...

It hit me like a ton of bricks. Victoria was reborn too!

While I was reeling, Liam stumbled off the stage.

"Seb, man, it's not like that with Ms. Chase! I'll resign tomorrow! Don't fight because of me!"

Victoria clearly hadn't expected Liam to bail. She grabbed his arm, right there in front of everyone.

And she interlaced her fingers with his.

"Liam, your mom's in the hospital! If you quit, how will you pay her bills?"

"You dropped out of college to take care of her! Are you really going to give up now?"

"Liam, I understand you. I'll help you!"

Victoria's own mother died young because they couldn't afford treatment.

Liam's situation was a raw nerve for her. Plus, her obsession with her lost love from the first time around...

No wonder, reborn, Victoria used this party to force me to break off the engagement and clear the way for Liam.

Seeing her aggressive stance, the crowd gasped in shock.

Everyone knew I was Victoria's obsessed admirer.

Seeing me clench my jaw in silence, a friend piped up.

"Seb, Vic's just pissed you missed her birthday last week. Just apologize, yeah?"

Another buddy chimed in, "Maybe get down on your knees? Real men know when to give in. Groveling to your girl ain't shameful!"

Back in college, I'd been hooked by Victoria's fierce, never-give-up attitude.

I'd even threatened to cut ties with my family to get them to accept her.

Now, her company barely off the ground, and she couldn't wait to kick me to the curb.

My silence seemed to convince Victoria she'd won.

She tilted her chin up, radiating disdain.

"Sebastian Shaw, hear me now! Apology or groveling, it doesn't matter! I'm ending this engagement! If you don't agree, I'll"

"I agree!"

I cut in before she could finish talking.

"Call it off! Right now!"

I said that firmly.

My friends froze.

Victoria actually flinched, staring at me unexpectedly.

She'd planned this whole scene to humiliate me while declaring her love for Liam.

Now her script was useless. She just shot me a venomous glare.

"Sebastian Shaw, you finally get it over! Good! I might not love you, but we can still be friends!"

"Once the company goes public, Liam and I are getting married. Hope you'll come!"

Go public?

I snorted. Coldly.

Last time, it was my money and my connections that clawed Victoria's company through the bloodbath to an IPO.

Now without me, facing the cutthroat business world, does she really think she can take the company public with nothing but this penniless man?

I glanced at Liam, he was excited after hearing the words.

Catching my look, his lips curled.

He struck a pose, the picture of smug victory.

"Seb, man, I'm sorry about tonight. But true love is priceless. You gotta understand!"

I'd investaged Liam Russos background.

His "mom's illness" dropout story was bullshit.

The reality was that he got kicked out for brawling over some girl.

His "part-time jobs" was to hit on rich women at the gym.

Meeting Liam's challenging stare, I just waved a dismissive hand.

"Since you two pieces of trash found each other, who am I to stand in the way?"

Liam went pale.

Victoria lunged forward, shielding her precious Liam.

"Sebastian Shaw! I know you're obsessed with me! But love isn't about right or wrong! Liam is innocent!"

"I'm sorry if it hurts you, but I can't betray my heart and marry you!"

It was the most ridiculous thing I'd ever heard.

LOL.

"Victoria, done with the performance? Great. Now get out of my way."

Then I walked straight towards the girl in the beret, hiding in the corner, sneaking glances my way.

Seeing me approach, she tried to bolt, but her Polaroids spilled everywhere. All pictures of me.

I smiled. "Beatrice Finch. Do you want to marry me?"

The person who had originally tried to slip away turned back in astonishment, asking in disbelief, "Seb? Are you insane?"

I pulled out the ring box. "Family marriage alliance. You in?"

The room went dead silent.

The Finches were old-money political royalty.

The Shaws were Manhattan elite. Our union would shake up the entire power structure.

Seeing I was serious, Beatrice looked stunned, then hopeful.

"You... you won't regret this?"

Beatrice and I grew up together. I thought she saw me as a brother.

Until last life, when she collected my dead body and went after Victoria like a vengeful fury. That's when I knew.

Thinking of that, I nodded firmly.

But Victoria couldn't stand it.

She crossed her arms, oozing sarcasm.

"Sebastian Shaw! Just because I dumped you, you're proposing to someone else with my ring? Is this your pathetic revenge?!"

Liam, desperate for attention, pulled out... a bracelet?

"Victoria babe... can I call you that? This is my family's heirloom. For my future wife. Will you accept it?"

Victoria beamed, melting against Liam like a lovesick teenager. "Anything from you, I love."

I ignored the performance.

I held the ring out to Beatrice.

"Size 12. Your name engraved inside. Prong setting, just like you always loved. What do you think?"

When Beatrice lifted that 10-carat diamond...

The sparkle didn't just light up the hotel ballroom. It blinded everyone watching.

The gossip mill exploded!

"Holy shit! She ditched a two-million-dollar diamond for some two-hundred-dollar silver bracelet? And she calls herself a business genius? Dumb as hell!"

"Ha! And she thought Seb couldn't live without her? Pathetic!"

The whispers swirled.

Victoria's face turned purple with rage.

I didn't even glance her way and turned to leave.

She actually stamped her foot, shouting at my retreating back.

"Sebastian Shaw! You think this little show will make me change my mind?!"

"Let me tell you, I won't compromise for money!"