I Refused to Marry my Fiance after Reborn

When I was very weak after labor, I was suffocated by the midwife right there in my bed.

I thought my husband, Archie Clark, would avenge my death.

But I realized that it had been his doing after my death.

He orchestrated my murder and drove my father to his grave with rage.

Before the traditional mourning period was even completed, he was already celebrating his marriage to his cousin, Kallie Mason. She had already been pregnant for months at that time.

My son was still an infant and faced disaster.

In the end, Kallie even falsely accused my son of poisoning his stepmother and hanged him in the cold winter snow.

1

When I opened my eyes, I saw Archie's face.

He sat in the main seat and looked down at me. He was saying something nonstop. "One guy who went to the same school as me recently gifted the examiner an expensive calligraphy piece and received some guidance from the examiner. It's rumored that my friend might pass the exam. Such action is disgraceful, but it is unfair to me. Can you give me one famous painting? I want to compete with him."

At first, I was a bit confused.

Then I understood that I had been reborn to the time shortly after Archie and I got engaged.

At that time, I hadn't been deceived by Archie into a hasty pregnancy before getting married. And my father hadn't died of anger, and my family's fortune was still in my hands.

However, it was already a little late. My father had fallen ill.

In my previous life, after he was seriously ill, he feared that I couldn't maintain my family's wealth, so he carefully selected a scholar from a farming family for me in the hope that I could rely on him.

That scholar was Archie.

I silently watched him speak with fervor.

In my previous life, after being suffocated to death by the midwife on the day of childbirth, I lingered as a soul in the Clark family for ten years, so I fully saw Archie's true colors.

How ridiculous it was in my previous life! Back then, I believed he was a gentleman and was happily expecting to marry him. I even used a considerable amount of my money to support him and pave his way to success.

Yet, he killed me later when I was weak after giving birth to my son.

Archie had said too much, and his mouth became dry. He took a sip of coffee to refresh his throat.

Seeing me silent for a while, he was a little impatient. "Cailey, are you worried about something? I'm not opportunistic. I'm unwilling to accept such a result. Besides, if I passed the exam, it will be good for you, too. So I do this for your own good. After all, you are merely from a family of merchants and were considered lower in social standing."

His condescending attitude made me nauseous, and I retorted in confusion, "Are you unwilling to accept such a result?"

2

He said righteously, "Of course, I am not convinced. I've studied diligently for nearly ten years. Why should he use money to pass the exam? If he succeeds, what did we work so hard for?"

Seeing his resolute stance, I scoffed.

In my previous life, I was convinced by his words and gave him many valuable items to the examiner without receiving a shred of gratitude, only for him to feel entitled.

I widened my eyes, pretending ignorance. "If that's the case, why don't you report it to the authorities? Bribing an examiner is a serious crime. If you reported truthfully, he wouldn't be able to participate in the imperial exams, and wouldn't that be fair?"

Archie mumbled, "Well... It's complicated."

Then he changed his tone and pressed me further. "Cailey, do you or do you not want to give me the expensive painting? If I succeed in achieving the top position, it will benefit my career, and you'll gain prestige."

I coldly chuckled inwardly, and my tone carried sarcasm as I said, "If you're unwilling to report, and you claim to be a talented scholar from a poor background, why do you need to bribe others? "If you truly learn well enough, what do you have to worry about?"

Archie sensed my refusal in my words, and his face turned dark.

He likely hadn't expected me to be so tough.

He stared at me for a while before slamming the coffee cup onto the table. "Cailey, you're of low status and talentless. You are reaching high to get engaged to me. If my family weren't poor, I would certainly marry a noblewoman. Just ask around to see which scholar's wife is an unremarkable merchant's daughter. If you can't help me, then don't hold me back."

Had it been my past self, I would've felt ashamed for holding him back and strived even harder to support him.

Seeing me silent, he presumed I was feeling ashamed. He acted like a triumphant rooster and arrogantly ordered the butler to fetch the painting from my private treasury. "And bring an extra jade pillow of good quality. My mother needs it."

The butler hesitated and glanced at me, and I stopped him. "Are you a scholar or a thief?"

Archie was stung by my words and couldn't maintain his composure. He repeatedly said, "Fine. Fine. Fine. You are the merchant's daughter and truly don't grasp the bigger picture. I will reconsider our marriage."

With that, he stormed off.

3

When Sloane, Sloane Clark, and Kallie arrived at my place, I was tallying the previous gifts to the Clark family.

As soon as Sloane entered, she feigned a smile. "Cailey, why haven't you visited me lately?"

I looked at Kallie holding Sloane's hand, which was adorned with a bracelet I had given her.

Sloane always disdained my merchant background, but the Clark family needed money, so she pretended to treat me well before I got married.

Naturally, it was also because I spent money generously on her.

But ever since Archie tricked me into pregnancy and forced me to quickly marry him, Sloane had changed her attitude. She had repeatedly made things difficult for me. When I was still pregnant, she followed strict rules and wore me down.

And Kallie was a truly wicked woman.

She was a distant relative of Sloane and usually acted close to me.

But she had long had an affair with Archie, and Sloane was willing to accept her as her daughter-in-law.

After my death, Archie told others I died in childbirth and seized my family's fortune after driving my father to his grave.

He quickly married Kallie, who was pregnant.

Less than a month after my death, Kallie gave birth to a boy. I once went to see him. He greatly resembled Archie.

I had an early labor due to Kallie's provocations. My son was born prematurely and was weak. But he Archie's eldest son.

Kallie repeatedly abused my son. She made him her son's servant, subject to everyone's beatings and scoldings, while Archie and Sloane turned a blind eye.

Eventually, Kallie falsely accused my son of poisoning her and hanged him in the snowy winter. So her son became the eldest in the Clark family.

I recalled Kallie's actions in my previous life, and my heart was burned with anger.

Kallie was unaware of my thoughts and pretended to explain the situation. But she actually said something to make Sloane more displeased with me. "Oh Cailey, you must be caught up in some troubles. Otherwise, why wouldn't you visit Sloane?"

I lowered my gaze and hid the hatred in my eyes.

I could never forget my son, who knelt in the snow and sobbed and called for his mother. He was just ten years old back then.

But at that time, I could do nothing but watch him die.

Now, I finally had the chance to avenge him.

Sloane was indifferent to my troubles. She pretended to care for me with hollow words and then immediately stated her purpose. "A few days ago, Archie said he's reconsidering the marriage. Did anything happen? He is a scholar with a passionate temperament. You'd better humble yourself a bit. I don't need the jade pillow. Give it to Archie for his connections. After all, it will bring the family honor and respect if he passes the exam. Think it over. You won't have a good reputation if you break off the engagement. With your status, you won't find a husband like him again. Of course, I'm on your side. Bring some good gifts to apologize to him, and it'll be over."

Though Sloane seemed to be advising me, her tone was condescending, as if she was granting me a favor.

He was also threatening me. I was a merchant's daughter, which wasn't esteemed. If the engagement was broken, Archie could say something bad about me, and many would agree with him.

If he claimed I lacked virtue, I couldn't refute it, only being branded with that reputation.

But now I understood something that I didn't in my previous life.

My family didn't need Archie as a son-in-law. Instead, the Clark family needed my family's wealth. So I was fearless.

Seeing me thoughtful, Sloane assumed that I was convinced. She gave Kallie a look, and the latter immediately said, "Cailey, I accompanied Sloane to a banquet a few days ago. The golden bracelets those ladies wore were truly beautiful. It's a pity that she doesn't have one. It puts her at a disadvantage. If she had some, people wouldn't look down on her."

I knew they wanted something, but I was too impatient to deal with them. So I used my father's illness as an excuse and started to cry. "Mrs. Clark, I indeed have some troubles. My father is gravely ill. Even if I use up all my might, it might not be enough to cure him. To fulfill my filial duty, I have no choice but to swallow my pride and ask you to give back the gifts I gave you before."

Sloane stammered, "The gifts are naturally... But everyone faces birth, aging, sickness, and death. You can't change it. Why not let your father die directly?"

I put on a determined look. "Wealth is just an external thing. My father is what matters.

Sloane was speechless.

Before I could finish speaking, she hurriedly stood up and left with Kallie without looking back after giving me the excuse that Archie needed comforting.

4

Half a month had passed, and I had quite a bit of leisure, perhaps because the Clark family was afraid I would ask back the things I had given to them.

They had squandered everything I gave them, so they couldn't return it to me.

However, an unexpected guest arrived today. It was Kallie.

Her eyes were filled with tears, and she looked pitiful and frightened. Before she said anything, she cried.

I remembered what had happened in my previous life and suddenly understood.

At that time, Kallie was already pregnant with Archie's baby.

It happened in my previous life. Kallie claimed that she had been deceived by another guy and promised to spend the rest of her life with him. Before she and that guy got married, she was tricked into sleeping with him.

Now, she was pregnant, and that guy fled upon hearing the news. So she was left alone with the unborn baby.

Back then, I pitied her for being young and naive. She described herself so miserably, so I felt compassion for her.

She feared the potential harm to her health if she had a miscarriage and wanted to give birth to it. Then she intended to have the baby adopted.

During her pregnancy, the Ashton family covered all her expenses, including hiring a midwife. For those nine months, everything was funded by my family.

I never expected that she was carrying Archie's baby.

So I was deceived in raising Archie's illegitimate child. What was even more disgusting was that the illegitimate son used the Ashton family's resources without gratitude and bullied my son.

In the end, he became the sole son of the Clark family and inherited the wealth they stole from the Ashton family.

Listening to Kallie's cries, which were the same as those in my previous life, I could only smirk coldly inside.

Now that I knew the truth, why would I raise Archie's illegitimate son?

Archie had a good plan, but I would make sure it failed.

Kallie looked at me with tearful eyes. "Miss Cailey, I'm truly at a dead end. The Ashton family is wealthy, so you will surely accommodate me. Right? I promise to repay you, no matter what you need me to do."

I put on a sympathetic face but asked, "According to the laws, it is a serious crime to deceive a woman into pregnancy. Now that you're pregnant, it's difficult for a single mother to make a living. Why not report him? If it's true, your expenses during pregnancy will be covered. You can't let yourself be deceived for nothing."

Kallie was stunned. She didn't expect me to say that. "But, but my reputation..."

I raised my eyebrows and feigned confusion. "You're the victim. So you will be forgiven. What do you fear?"

At that era, women weren't bound by such restrictions. There were even female officials in the government.

"Or do you want to shield that guy and can't forget about him?"

If she couldn't bear to expose the guy who had deceived her, then her behavior of complaining in front of me was truly a joke.

Kallie stammered for a long moment and said hesitantly, "But I don't want to be so ruthless. I want to give birth to the baby and then have it adopted."

I smiled faintly and waved my hand. "You don't want to report him. And you want to give birth to the baby. I can't help you. If you ask for my help, I will only report him. The deceitful scoundrel tricked women. If he wasn't taught a lesson, how will future young women manage? Should they all be fooled by him again? So it will be better to set an example."

Kallie was frightened by my repeated mentions of reporting to the authorities. She was terrified that I would actually report and that it would be traced to Archie. She could only glare at me resentfully and leave quickly.

5

Then I immediately set off for the village where my father was recuperating.

He was having medicine. Upon seeing me, he was overjoyed.

I felt sad when I saw him again.

After my mother passed, he feared I would be bullied by a stepmother, so he never remarried. He had dedicated himself to raising me.

But later, as his illness worsened, I didn't know what to do. Coincidentally, I was pregnant and listened to Archie's suggestion to get married to him so that I might bring good luck to my father.

After my death, I had witnessed Archie reveal the cruel truth.

He married me merely to seize my family's wealth.

He even told my father that he planned to cause my death, so my father was enraged to death.

I didn't disclose my rebirth to my father because it was too bizarre. Besides, if he knew those things, he might go to confront Archie in anger.

I only told him that I discovered Archie and Kallie's dubious relationship and that Archie seemed to be plotting to seize the Ashton family's wealth.

Even with just that, my father was furious.

I calmed him and promised that Archie wouldn't get away with it. My father was finally relieved and entrusted me with his people and urged me to gather evidence.

On my way back to my house, I saw a familiar face, with a resemblance to Archie. He was sitting at the entrance of a gambling den and making a commotion.

I had seen him at the Clark family before. Sloane treated him very well and gave him everything he asked for. Most of the jewelry I gave her ended up in his hands, and he often went to the Clark family to ask for money.

Later, when Kallie took charge of the Clark family, she stopped helping that guy, which caused a rift between her and Sloane.

Sloane claimed that he was Archie's uncle, Jacob White, but I had my doubts. After pondering for a moment, I asked my servants to investigate that guy while hinting to him that the Clark family had connections with a wealthy merchant.

6

When Sloane sent someone to invite me over, I brought a considerable entourage.

After all, the Clark family's house and servants were all provided by my family. I got news from the servants that Jacob had caused a huge commotion because he had accumulated significant gambling debts.

Sloane's face was somewhat ashen, and he didn't seem to have slept well for days. The antiques in the hall were gone. They must have been taken by Jacob to pay off debts.

Sloane said something to show her care for me first. Then she even inquired about my father's health. I was too impatient to beat around the bush and said directly, "Mrs. Clark, is there something you wanted to discuss with me?"

Sloane perked up. "Cailey, you've been engaged to Archie for some time now. When do you plan to get married? I'm getting older and would love to have grandchildren soon. While I'm still healthy, I can help you raise your children. Archie mentioned it to me recently. He attaches great importance to it."

Since the day I parted unhappily with Archie, I hadn't seen him. Yet, I often heard of him attending banquets, surrounded by beautiful female servants. Did he really want to get married to me?

I suspected the Clark family was struggling financially, so they remembered me as a source of wealth.

I sipped my coffee and feigning sorrow. "My father is still ill. How can I think of getting married now?"

Sloane seemed anxious as she held my hand. "Your father is already unwell. If he suddenly passes away, you'll have to observe mourning for three years. Wouldn't that delay everything?"

Hearing her curse my father, I changed my expression instantly and took my hand back. "Mrs. Clark, mind your words."

Realizing her mistake, Sloane forced a smile, but she was unwilling to give up. "If you marry Archie now, it could bring joy and lift your father's spirits."

I put down my cup heavily and was unwilling to talk to her. "Let's discuss it later."

Seeing me rise to leave, she seemed inclined to stop me. But she noticed I had brought many servants behind me, so she dared not make a move and could only watch helplessly as I left.