Lucien Arkwright stood alone at the top floor of the Arkwright Tower, staring down at a city that belonged to him.
Lights stretched endlessly beneath his feet banks, corporations, media empires, entire industries every single one carried his name somewhere in its roots. With a single decision, he could crash markets or resurrect companies.
He was the richest man in the world.
And tomorrow, he would be married.
Lucien loosened his tie, feeling an unfamiliar tightness in his chest. Not pain something heavier. Emptier.
On the glass table beside him lay the marriage contract.
No love clauses.
No emotional obligations.
Only signatures and assets.
A perfect business marriage.
Yet the face that surfaced in his mind wasn't numbers it was Elira Vale.
Beautiful. Calm. Distant.
She had never smiled at him.
Behind closed doors in a quiet estate, Marissa Vale held her daughter's hands tightly.
Elira she said softly, eyes sharp calculating. You only need to endure this.
Elira's fingers trembled.
When Lucien Arkwright dies, her mother continued voice low everything he owns becomes yours. And when it becomes yours it becomes mine.
Elira swallowed.
She didn't answer.
Silence was enough.
That night, Lucien remained in his mansion.
No guards.
No assistants.
No celebration.
Just him and the echo of his own footsteps.
He poured a glass of wine, then stopped.
His vision blurred.
The glass shattered on the floor.
Lucien reached for the wall, but his strength vanished as if someone had turned off his existence.
So this is how it ends, he thought.
Not betrayed.
Not assassinated.
Just alone.
As darkness closed in, a cold voice pierced the void.
[Host life signs terminated.]
[Scanning marital fate…]
[Conditions met.]
Lucien tried to speak.
Couldn't.
[Wife System activating.]
The world shattered.
Lucien jolted awake.
Sunlight streamed through tall windows.
His heart hammered violently.
He sat up—and froze.
This room…
This bed…
This was his old penthouse.
Before the wedding preparations.
Before the contract was finalized.
Before everything.
A translucent screen appeared before his eyes.
[Welcome back, Host.]
[Time Regression Successful.]
[Current Timeline: 3 Years Before Death.]
Lucien's breath grew steady.
Not panic.
Not confusion.
Cold clarity.
"So…" he murmured, eyes sharp. "I died."
[Correct.]
The screen shifted.
[System Name: Eternal Bond Protocol]
[Alias: Wife System]
Lucien laughed quietly.
A low, dangerous sound.
"My entire life, I was surrounded by people who wanted my money," he said.
"And now you tell me… wives are my power?"
[Correction.]
[Chosen wives are your power.]
[Forced bonds are invalid.]
The system flashed again.
[First Fate Target Detected.]
A name appeared.
Elira Vale
[Affection: 12%]
[Fear: 78%]
[Regret: Present]
Lucien stared at the numbers.
Then he smiled.
Slow. Calculated. Certain.
"This time," he said calmly,
"I won't be a wallet."
The screen pulsed.
[New Path Confirmed.]
Outside, the city waited—unaware that its future ruler had just returned.