My Second Chance With His Uncle

When my mother asked which man I wanted to marry into the Sterling family, I didn't choose Julian this time.

Instead, I chose his uncle, Sam Sterling.

My mother looked at me, her expression a mix of confusion and concern. After all, everyone in the elite circles of North Heights knew that Julian and I were childhood sweethearts. I had spent ten years following him like a shadow, loudly proclaiming to anyone who would listen that I wouldn't marry anyone else.

I offered her a bitter, weary smile. My mind drifted to my previous lifethe years spent in a hollow marriage where Julian never touched me. I had spent those years convinced he suffered from some secret, shameful illness, going to great lengths to protect his dignity.

It wasn't until our golden wedding anniversary that I accidentally stumbled into the basement vault he had forbidden everyone to enter.

The walls were covered, floor to ceiling, with thousands of candid photographs of my cousin, Stephanie.

In that moment, the truth shattered me. He wasn't cold; he just didn't love me. He never had.

Since the universe had seen fit to give me a second chance, I decided to step aside and let them have each other.

But later, when I walked toward his uncle in a Vera Wang gown, Julians face turned deathly pale. And then, he lost his mind.

...

Three days after the engagement was finalized, I ran into Julian at an upscale lounge.

His friends saw me walk in and immediately began to snicker, their eyes gleaming with mockery.

Look, Julian, your little shadow is back!

Hey, Nancy, the contract is signed, isn't it? Do you really need to keep him on such a short leash? Cant the guy even grab a drink with the boys?

When Julian saw me, his irritation was palpable. He looked at me as if I were a stain on his expensive suit.

Nancy, are you really that desperate? he hissed, stepping close enough for me to smell the bourbon on his breath. Going behind my back to get our families to settle the contract? Now everyone in the city thinks were engaged. You really outdid yourself this time.

The disdain in his eyes used to make my heart ache. Now, it just felt like a dull, distant noise. I took a slow breath and spoke calmly.

I didn't need your permission. Because the man Im marrying isn't you.

The room went dead silent for a heartbeat before erupting into laughter. Julians friends were practically doubled over.

Julian, man, go comfort your little fiance! one of them wheezed. Or shes going to find an even crazier way to get your attention!

Julian frowned, his ego clearly bruised by my lack of tears. Nancy, is this a new game? Playing hard to get?

He scoffed, stepping into my personal space. Marrying into the Sterlings? If its not me, who else could it be? Youve been screaming about being my wife since you were in pigtails. Everyone already considers you my property.

He leaned down, whispering harshly into my ear: Ill let the engagement thing slide. But remember thisIll give you a grand wedding to keep the families happy. But the legal papers? The actual marriage license? Im saving that for the woman I actually want.

I looked up at him, stunned. In my last life, Julian had followed his familys orders perfectly. We had signed the papers and married almost immediately.

Did he remember? Was he reborn, too?

Before I could read the expression on his face, Stephanie arrived.

The moment she saw Julian and me standing together, her eyes welled up with practiced precision.

Nancy Julian she sobbed, her voice trembling. I heard youre youre getting married soon. I didn't bring a gift, but I just wanted to wish you wish you both a lifetime of happiness.

Before she could finish, she turned and ran out of the lounge, crying.

Look what you did! Julian snarled at me. He didn't spare me another glance before charging out after her.

When they finally returned, they were holding hands, fingers interlaced.

Stephanies lips were swollen and red, and there was a very deliberate, dark hickey on Julians throat.

The crowd watched me with hungry eyes, waiting for the explosion. In the past, if I saw another woman so much as breathe near Julian, I would have caused a scene, screaming and crying until he looked at me.

Julian stepped in front of Stephanie, shielding her, his face set in a look of defiant anticipation. He was waiting for me to break.

But minutes passed, and I just sipped my sparkling water.

Julian looked surprised, then let out a cold, mocking laugh. I see youve finally grown some sense. At least you aren't making a fool of yourself tonight.

When the party ended, Julian caught me by the arm. Its late. Its not safe. Ill drive you.

I didn't decline. A free ride was a free ride.

As I walked toward the car, I moved for the front passenger door, but Julian blocked me, his body a solid wall.

Sit in the back, he said curtly.

He then held the front door open for Stephanie, ushering her in with a gentleness he had never shown me.

Im so sorry, Nancy, Stephanie chirped from the front seat, looking back with a faux-pitying smile. Julian is just so worried about me. He knows I get car sick if Im not in the front.

I said nothing and climbed into the back seatexactly where I had intended to sit anyway.

The entire drive was filled with their hushed giggles and whispered inside jokes.

At a red light, Stephanie leaned over, pouting, asking Julian to help her apply lip gloss. They lingered, their faces inches apart, their breathing becoming heavy and synchronized in the quiet cabin of the car.

Suddenly, Julian glanced in the rearview mirror, as if remembering I was there.

When he saw me staring blankly out the window, completely indifferent, his expression shifted. His jaw tightened, and he slammed the car into gear, his mood turning inexplicably foul.

When we reached my house, I moved to get out, but Julian caught my wrist again. He shoved a small jewelry box into my hand, his tone condescending.

Fine. Stop with this 'indifferent' act. Its beneath you.

He sighed. This bracelet is your engagement gift. Just be a good girl, and Ill give you the wedding. At least in the eyes of the city, youll be my wife.

I looked at the box, then at him. And the marriage license? Who are you signing that with? Stephanie?

Julians temper flared, though there was a flicker of smug satisfaction in his eyes.

I knew you were faking. Im warning you, Nancydon't you dare say a word of this to our parents. What Stephanie and I have is beyond your understanding. Shes fragile, shes kind, and she doesn't have a manipulative bone in her body. If you hurt her, don't blame me if I call off the wedding entirely.

I almost laughed. He was so cowardly, so afraid to stand up to the Sterling patriarchs, yet he framed it as if I were the villain in his tragic romance.

I didn't answer. I simply turned and walked into my house.

The second I closed the door, my phone buzzed. It was a video from Stephanie.

In the video, Julian was carefully fastening a diamond necklace around her neck. I recognized the branda luxury boutique. I realized then that the bracelet Julian had shoved at me was likely a "gift with purchase" from that very necklace.

The camera tilted. Their lips met, and the wet, rhythmic sound of their kissing filled my quiet hallway.

Nancy, Stephanies text followed. Julian told you, right? After the wedding, hes signing the papers with me.

Think about ita marriage that isn't legally recognized means no inheritance. No rights. I think its my turn to be the billionaires wife this time around, don't you?

My blood ran cold. Stephanie had been reborn, too.

No wonder they were moving so fast. In the previous life, they had hidden their affair for decades. Now, they were trying to rewrite history together.

I looked down at my phone, remembering the business trends from my past life. After Julian and I "married," the Sterling Group had suddenly exploded with new contracts and unprecedented growth. Everyone said I was his lucky charm. I had lived in that lie for fifty years before seeing those photos.

My mother came into my room then, her voice soft. Sam is coming back from London in five days.

I felt a spark of genuine hope. In my last life, Sam SterlingJulians unclehad never married. He was the ghost of the family, a powerful, silent figure who lived mostly abroad.

I remembered him as a kind, older-brother figure from my childhood. Marrying him felt like finding a safe harbor in a storm.

The next day, I went to my "secret garden"a private glass conservatory on the rooftop of my familys office building. I had spent years filling it with exotic blooms, all of them Julians favorites, in a desperate attempt to please him.

Now that my future husband had changed, the garden needed to change, too.

I spent the next few days clearing out the old and planting the flowers Sam preferreddeep blue hydrangeas and white lilies.

I stepped away to the breakroom for a coffee, and my phone pinged. I opened Instagram to see Stephanies latest post.

My heart stopped. The photos showed my conservatory in ruins. My carefully tended flowers were snapped at the stems, petals scattered like blood across the floor. In the center of the carnage, Julian was holding Stephanie, both of them beaming at the camera.

Julian knew I needed a place for my photoshoot, so he found this hidden gem for me! It feels so good to be loved!

I sprinted back to the roof.

Inside, Julian was plucking a stray jasmine bloomone of the few leftand tucking it behind Stephanies ear.

This is my private space! I screamed, my voice cracking. How dare you bring her here? How dare you destroy my garden!

Stephanie flinched, her eyes instantly brimming with tears. Julian did I do something wrong? Why is she so angry? Im so scared

Julian stepped in front of her, his face darkening. Nancy, quit the theatrics. You grew these flowers for me anyway, didn't you?

He gestured vaguely at the wreckage. I was bored of your little obsession with this place. What does it matter if Stephanie uses it for a few photos? Stop making everything about you.

I looked at the crushed lilies on the floor, my eyes stinging. Who said these were for you? I was preparing this for my future husband!

Julian let out a sharp, mocking bark of laughter. Give it a rest, Nancy. We all know Im the only man youve ever wanted. Ive already agreed to marry youstop acting like a brat.

I looked at the broken petals and began to cry.

Just then, a crew of workers began hauling in massive crates of sunflowersStephanies favorite.

As they began to unpack them, the air became thick with yellow pollen. My throat tightened instantly. My skin began to flush a violent red.

Julian knew. He had known since we were ten years old that I was deathly allergic to sunflower pollen.

But his eyes weren't on me. He was busy directing the workers, his face lit up as he watched Stephanie twirl among the bright yellow blooms.

Suddenly, Stephanie let out a small gasp. Julian I think I scratched my finger on one of Nancys roses. It hurts

Julians face twisted into a mask of maternal worry. He swept her up into his arms, then turned to me, his voice a roar of fury.

Nancy! Even your flowers are as spiteful and vicious as you are! If Stephanie gets an infection from this, I swear to God, youll pay for it!

He turned and carried her out, ignoring the way I was clutching my throat, my face turning purple, my hand reaching out to him in a desperate plea for help.

I don't know how long it took me to crawl out of that room. Every breath felt like swallowing glass.

When I finally reached my medication in the office below and the air began to return to my lungs, the cold truth settled in my gut.

In the past, I thought Julian just didn't love me. I never realized he was capable of watching me die for the sake of a scratch on Stephanies finger.

I leaned against the wall, shaking. Thank God. Thank God I wasn't marrying him.

I took several hours to compose myself. Tonight was the formal family dinner to welcome Sam back. I needed to look perfect. I needed to make a good impression.

When I reached the underground parking garage, I saw a car rocking rhythmically in the distance.

As I got closer, I recognized Julians silver Maserati.

The drivers side window was half-down. Julian had Stephanie draped over his lap. Her eyes were glazed, her body moving in a slow, steady rhythm.

Even though I no longer loved him, the sheer audacity of itdoing this in the family garage before a formal dinnermade my chest tighten.

Julian opened his eyes and locked onto mine. A flicker of panic crossed his face, but it was gone in a second.

Instead of stopping, he reached up, brushed a strand of hair from Stephanies face, and kissed her deeply, moaning loudly enough for the sound to echo off the concrete walls. He was doing it on purpose. He wanted to break me.

I looked away, climbed into my own car, and drove toward the Sterling estate.

On the way, I stopped to pick up a silk tie I had ordered for Sam.

I arrived at the mansion at the same time as Julian. As he stepped out of his car, I could see discarded wrappers on the floor of his passenger seat.

He saw the gift bag in my hand and his smirk returned, full of smug entitlement.

Bought me a gift? Let me see.

I pulled the bag behind my back, my pulse racing. Its not for you.

He chuckled, lighting a cigarette and blowing a cloud of smoke toward me. I saw you in the garage, Nancy. I know youre dying inside.

He leaned against his car. I told you already. You get the wedding. Stephanie gets the license. Shes the one making the sacrifice here, really.

He flicked ash onto the pavement. Shell be my legal wife. What we do is natural. Shell probably stay at our house sometimes. Youll have to get used to it. Its for your own good, reallykeeps the family name intact.

The level of his delusion was staggering. I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my arm.

Listen. My uncle Sam is going to be there tonight. The whole family answers to him. This dinner is serious.

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a low warning. Im giving you enough face by showing up. If the elders ask about the marriage license, you tell them weve already signed it. Understand?

Also, Stephanies finger is still sore. After dinner, youre going to apologize to her. If you don't well, I can always call off the wedding before its official.