Chapter 1
As the sole daughter of the Sullivan family, my billion–dollar inheritance came with a heavy price
tag: THREE KIDNAPPINGS before I even turned eighteen.
From then on, my father assigned me a hundred bodyguards. Even going to school required an
escort of three bulletproof vehicles.
Until my 18–year–old birthday, “Choose a husband who will protect you day and night.” My father pushed a pile of photos and said to me.
Without any hesitation, I chose Xavier Rhodes–the man who had always shown me the most
tenderness.
However, on our wedding night, he dismissed all my bodyguards. I was bound on a rooftop, a
kidnapper’s knife pressed against my throat.
On the other end of the phone, Xavier laughed coldly.
“Aria Sullivan, how dare you let your thugs harass Natalia. I’ve reassigned your security detail to protect her 24/7. Now you can see how it feels to live in fear.”
I counted each hour as the clock on the rooftop chimed.
With each passing hour, I lost another finger. After twenty–four hours, I had bled out completely, and
my heart died with me.
When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day to choose my husband.
In my father’s hands were the same eight photographs.
This time, my finger deliberately skipped past Xavier’s refined face and pointed to the mischievous
smile in the corner.
But my father said, “That one is already dead.”
I stared at the eight photographs in my father’s hands. Without hesitation, my finger skipped over Xavier Rhodes‘ refined face and pointed directly to the one at the bottom–a slightly tanned face with
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Dump the Toxic Ex. Marry the Hot Fake–Dead Hunk
Chapter 1
a roguish smile.
My father froze. “Aria, I thought Xavier was your favorite. Why choose Dominic Vega?”
I clenched my fist so tightly my nails nearly broke the skin of my palm.
Dominic had always been known for his athletic prowess and as the wild child of our social circle. His skin was sun–bronzed from spending his days at racing tracks and nightclubs, surrounded by gorgeous women. My father dismissed him, assigning him to some godforsaken mountain district just to get rid of him.
But I remembered. In my previous life, when I was tied to that rooftop, bleeding out drop by drop, as I jumped–in that final moment, I saw Dominic rushing toward me, face contorted with horror and
heartbreak.
The raw anguish in his eyes haunted me still.
“I choose him,” I said, my voice trembling.
My father frowned, pulling out his phone to scroll through his contacts before stopping awkwardly. He didn’t even have Dominic’s number saved.
How ironic. These eight men were all his adopted “sons,” yet Dominic didn’t even warrant a contact
entry.
His assistant called back quickly. “Sir, Dominic was lost in a mudslide in Cloud Valley last month.”
My father sighed. “Aria, choose someone else. Xavier is actually…”
“No one else,” I stood abruptly, my throat constricting. “Either him or no one at all.”
In my previous life, those so–called “brothers” either fawned over Xavier’s cousin or watched coldly as my life fell apart.
This time around, I’d rather spend my life alone than be stabbed in the back by their false kindness.
I drifted out of the office in a daze, my mind filled with the memory of Dominic’s final expression.
If even he was gone, who would risk everything for me now?
Suddenly, a cold hand gripped my wrist tightly.
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Dump the Toxic Ex, Marry the Hot Fake–Dead Hunk
Chapter 1
I looked up to see Xavier standing there.
Natalia stood beside him, her slender frame leaning slightly against his. Her eyes were rimmed with
red, as if she’d suffered some great injustice.
Xavier’s expression appeared gentle, but his words came out harsh.
“Aria, Natalia’s health isn’t good. Your hot spring villa is just sitting empty–let her stay there to
recover for a few days. She hasn’t been sleeping well and keeps coughing.”
In my previous life, I would have immediately softened and agreed.
But this time, I merely gave them a dismissive glance. “I don’t agree.”
Then I dialed my assistant. “Lock down the villa gates. Don’t let any unwanted visitors inside.”
Xavier’s expression darkened instantly. “Aria!”
He grabbed my wrist again, his grip painfully tight. “She’s my cousin, and soon she’ll be your family too. Can’t you just be reasonable?”
I let out a scornful laugh, yanking my hand away. “Family? We’re not family.”
His pupils contracted as if stung. “What’s wrong with you? Is this because Natalia borrowed your hairpin last time? Your room is overflowing with accessories–what’s wrong with lending her one?”
Natalia began to sniffle on cue, tears clinging to her eyelashes. “Xavier, let it go… Miss Sullivan looks down on me. I… I don’t deserve…”
I couldn’t be bothered to watch this performance any longer. I turned to leave. “I said no, and that’s
final.”
Back in my room, I buried myself under the covers and slept. The dizziness of rebirth still swirled in my mind until a shrill phone call jolted me awake.
“Miss!” My assistant’s voice came through, thick with tears. “Xavier brought Natalia into the villa! I couldn’t stop them–all the security guards are following his orders now…”
I sat up abruptly.
Flashbacks of my previous kidnapping played before my eyes–those bodyguards who were supposed to protect me had abandoned me just like this, following Xavier without hesitation, leaving
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Dump the Toxic Fx. Marry the Hot Fake–Dead Hunk
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Chapter 1
me alone with the kidnappers.
When I rushed to the villa, a security guard dared to block my path. “Miss Sullivan, Mr. Rhodes
instructed that no one is to disturb them.”
SLAP!
I struck him hard across the face.
“You eat my food but take orders from someone else?” I trembled with rage. “Get out. Now!”
When I pushed open the inner door, the scene before me made my blood run cold.
Dump the Tovie Ex Marry the Hot Fake Dead Hunk
