Chapter 13: The Choice He Never Expected

Jack stood beside the driveway, one hand resting casually on the door of his truck.

The white boutonniere pinned to his chest looked strangely out of place against his dark suit and weathered appearance.

He looked at me for a few seconds before his gaze dropped to the aquamarine ring on my finger.

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"So you really chose it."

I nodded.

"I did."

Jack's eyes shifted toward the brightly decorated villa behind me.

"Then I suppose your family has already told you what that ring means."

"They told me enough."

He studied my face carefully.

"And you still chose it?"

"Especially because of what it means."

For the first time, Jack looked genuinely surprised.

In my previous life, I had barely spoken to him before Emma married him.

I remembered the way everyone had described him afterward.

A country horse trainer. A nobody. A man who couldn't possibly understand the life Emma had been born into.

But now that I was standing in front of him, I realized how wrong those descriptions had been.

There was something steady in his eyes that I had never seen in Corbin's.

"Esme," Jack said quietly, "you should know that marrying me means leaving everything you're familiar with."

"I know."

"There won't be Manhattan parties every weekend. There won't be servants waiting around for you. You'll have horses, long drives, muddy boots, and a life far away from all this."

I looked back at the Sinclair gifts filling the villa.

Then I looked down at the aquamarine ring.

"That sounds peaceful."

Jack went silent.

A moment later, he laughed softly.

"You're not what I expected."

"Neither are you."

His smile faded slightly.

"Then perhaps we should start over."

He extended his hand.

"Jack West."

I looked at his hand before placing mine in it.

"Esme Ellis."

His palm was warm and rough from years of working with horses.

Somehow, that simple touch felt more sincere than all the expensive gifts I had received in my previous life.

Behind us, the front door opened.

My mother appeared first, followed by my father and Emma.

Emma's eyes immediately landed on Jack's hand holding mine.

Her expression changed.

She had expected me to regret my choice.

She had expected me to chase after Corbin.

Instead, I was standing beside the man she had once considered beneath her.

Jack released my hand and turned toward my family.

"Mr. and Mrs. Ellis, I came to confirm the engagement."

My father forced a smile.

"Of course. Everything has already been arranged."

Emma stepped forward.

"Jack, can I speak with Esme alone?"

I looked at my sister.

In my previous life, Emma had cried when she learned she was marrying Jack.

This time, there were no tears in her eyes.

There was only something sharp and unreadable.

"We have nothing to discuss," I said.

Emma's face stiffened.

"You're really going to marry him?"

"Yes."

"Even though you know what happened to me last time?"

I stared at her.

"What happened to you last time wasn't because of Jack."

Her lips parted.

For a moment, she had no answer.

My mother immediately stepped between us.

"Enough. Today is supposed to be a happy occasion."

She turned toward Jack with an apologetic smile.

"Please don't take Esme's behavior personally. She's been difficult lately."

Jack didn't look at my mother.

He looked directly at me.

"I don't think she's difficult."

My mother froze.

"I think she knows exactly what she wants."

My heart tightened unexpectedly.

In my previous life, I had spent years waiting for someone to say those words about me.

No one ever had.

Jack held out his arm.

"Ready to go?"

I slipped my hand through his arm.

"Ready."

As we walked toward his truck, I glanced back once.

Emma stood beneath the doorway, watching us leave.

For the first time since my rebirth, I felt no guilt about choosing myself.

I had already lost one life trying to become the daughter, wife, and sister everyone else wanted.

This time, I would build a life that belonged to me.