Three Lifetimes to Escape His Obsession

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Only when my nails bit deep into my palm did I dare believe this wasn't a hallucination.

Elias Foster sat across on the sofa, his tailored suit accentuating his sharp posture, eyes burning with the same paranoia as in our past two lives.

Nancy, Olivia, he said, this time, I won't choose.

My hand trembled violently as I gripped the coffee cup; the warm liquid spilled onto the web of my hand, burning me instantlybringing back the memory of my first life's endI was locked in the attic by him and starved to death beside the bay window.

Olivia Jordan sat right beside me, her face even paler than mine. In the second life, Elias pushed her to her death from a high-rise.

Now, the third life.

Elias actually said he wouldn't choose.

"I will marry both of you at the same time," he said, crushing the cigar into the crystal ashtray, his voice devoid of any hesitation. "Nancy will be my official wife; Olivia will be my concubine, and the Foster family's resources will be split evenly between your two families."

"Elias, have you lost your mind?" Olivia's voice trembled, but she regained her strength before I did and snapped back, "We haven't even settled the debts from the past two lifetimes, and you still dare to bring up marriage?"

I drew a deep breath, swallowing the lump in my throat.

The pain of the past two lifetimes surged over my chest like an unrelenting tide. This time, I refuse to make the same mistake again.

"Elias, we will never marry you." I stared at him, the fear in my eyes slowly being replaced by determination. "You can forget that idea."

Elias raised an eyebrow, as if he had long anticipated our reaction. He stood up, approached me, and looked down at me: "Nancy, don't force me to use the old ways."

His words were like a knife, instantly piercing through the calm I was forcing myself to maintain.

In the first lifetime, he threatened me with my parents' company; in the second, he kidnapped Olivia's younger brother.

But this time, Olivia and I exchanged a glance and saw the same determination in each other's eyes no matter the cost to our families, we would never fall into his abyss again.

Elias sneered coldly when we remained silent. "In three days, I will go to the Stern family to propose."

After saying that, he turned and left. When the front door closed behind him, Olivia and I both exhaled in relief.

Three days later, Elias indeed arrived.

The Stern's living room was packedmy parents and several elder relatives, all wearing ingratiating smiles.

Elias handed over a betrothal gift box, containing costly jewelry and stock certificates, his tone firm and unwavering: "Mr. Stern, Mrs. Stern, I intend to marry Nancy."

I stood at the top of the stairs on the second floor, watching the absurd farce unfold below, and suddenly gripped the railing tightly.

In the two previous lifetimes, I watched my parents accept his gifts and force me to nod.

But in this life, I will no longer stay silent.

"I will not marry him."

My voice rang out clear and bright, instantly silencing the chatter in the living room.

All eyes turned to me. Elias' face darkened, and my parents' expressions were full of panic.

"Nancy! What nonsense are you talking about?" My mother hurried upstairs and reached for my hand, but I pulled away.

"I'm not talking nonsense," I said, stepping down the stairs until I stood before Elias. "Elias, do you dare tell everyone you only plan to marry me?"

Elias's eyes flickered, but he remained silent.

I sneered, raising my voice: "Elias wants to marry both Olivia and me. Elias, what do you take us for? What do you think marriage means?"

The moment I spoke, the living room exploded into uproar.

My father's face flushed red as he pointed at me. "Nancy...you , how can you fabricate such lies!"

"I didn't," I said, pulling the voice recorder from my pocket and pressing play. Elias's words from yesterday came through clearly: "...I want to marry both of you simultaneously; Nancy will be my official wife, Olivia will be my concubine..."

When the recording ended, Elias's face darkened completely.

He lunged to snatch the recorder, but I stepped back just in time to avoid him.

"Elias, marrying us won't be so easy."

News of Elias's failed proposal spread through the circle that very day.

I thought my parents would understand my choice, but to my surprise, they locked me in my room that very night.

"Nancy, you're so childish!" My father pounded on the door from outside, his voice thick with anger. "The Fosters are one of the most powerful families in the city! For Elias Foster to even consider marrying you is an honor most girls can only dream of! How dare you embarrass him in front of everyone like that!"

"An honor?" I leaned against the door, tears finally spilling down. "Dad, in my past two lives, he locked me away until I died, and he pushed Olivia off a high building. Is that what you call an honor?"

The voice outside faltered for a moment, then my mother's crying echoed, "Nancy, those are just your dreams. Just listen to us and marry him. Otherwise, our family will be doomed!"

Just then, the phone rangit was Olivia calling.

I quickly wiped away my tears and answered.

"Nancy, are you alright?" Olivia's voice was thick with worry. "My parents just finished arguing with me. They said... Elias's proposal might not be completely unacceptable."

My heart suddenly plunged.

"They agreed?"

"Yes," Olivia's voice cracked with tears. "My dad said the Foster family agreed to invest in ours. As long as I give the nod, my brother's spot to study abroad can be secured too. They even said that being a concubine isn't a big deal, as long as they can access the Foster family's resources..."

"This is utterly unreasonable!" I interrupted her, my heart burning with both anger and urgency. "Olivia, don't agree. We'll find a way out together!"

"I know," Olivia sniffed. "Elias just messaged meour parents from both sides are meeting tomorrow to discuss our marriage."

After hanging up, I sank to the floor, gazing into the night outside the window, feeling powerless for the first time.

In our past two lives, our families pushed us step by step into Elias's arms. In this life, are we doomed to repeat the same fate?

The next day the parents of both families still went to the agreed-upon hotel.

Olivia and I secretly followed behind, hiding in the corridor outside the private room, listening to the conversation inside.

"Mr. Foster, we have no objections to the marriage," my father's voice came through. "But... marrying two at the same timewouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it?" Elias's voice was cold. "The Foster family can afford the standing of two wives. As long as you consent, I can cover the Stern family's financial gap and handle the Jordan family's projects."

"Then... what about Olivia?" Olivia's mother's voice was hesitant.

"Mrs. Jordan, rest assured," Elias said, "A concubine is still part of the Foster family. The respect and resources due will not be lacking. Besides, I've already said, this is the last chance. Either agree, or..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but the threat was clear.

Olivia and I exchanged a glance, seeing only despair in each other's eyes.

At that moment, the private room door suddenly swung open. Elias stepped out and happened to run into us.

He raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "Had enough of eavesdropping?"

"Elias, don't force our parents!" I stepped forward, positioning myself in front of Olivia.

Elias smiled faintly. "Force them?" His smile vanished, replaced by an icy glare. "They'd jump at the chance to marry into my family."

The parents in the private room quickly came out. My father grabbed my arm and lowered his voice, "Nancy, stop this and come back with us."

"I'm not going back!" I struggled. "You can't sacrifice us to this madman for the sake of profit!"

Elias's eyes suddenly turned cold. He pulled out his phone and brought up a document. "Mr. Stern, if I withdraw my investment now, the Stern Group will have nothing left within a month."

My father's face instantly went deathly pale.

Olivia's father grabbed her hand. "Olivia, listen to me and agree. Otherwise, your brother..."

"Dad!" Olivia shook off his hand, tears streaming down her face. "How can you do this to me?"

Elias surveyed the chaos before him and curled his lips into a cruel smile. "I'll give you one day to decide. By this time tomorrow, I want to see the signed consent forms from both your families; otherwise, you'll face the consequences."

After saying that, he turned and left, leaving us and our parents locked in a tense standoff in the hallway.

Our standoff with our parents dragged on all day.

In the evening, Olivia messaged me, saying she had decided to feign agreement to Elias's marriage proposal.

"Nancy, I've figured it out," she said on the phone. "There's no point confronting him directly now. We have to get close to him, find his weaknesses. Maybe then we can uncover why he's been obsessively bound to us across our past two lifetimes."

I remained silent for a long time.

Olivia's words made sense, but I knew too well how cruel Elias was, and I feared she might come to harm.

"I'll go with you," I said firmly. "The two of us together is better than going alone."

After hanging up, I walked into the living room, where my parents sat on the sofa, sighing deeply.

The moment they saw me, they stood up immediately.

"Nancy, have you made up your mind?" My mother asked anxiously.

I nodded. "I agree to marry Elias, but on one condition."

"What condition? Tell us!" my father urged quickly.

"First, the wedding must be held abroad. I won't tolerate being the subject of gossip here."

"Second, after the wedding, I want my own private space; Elias must not interfere with my life."

"Third, the Jordan family must receive the same treatment as meno exceptions."

The private space is so I can maintain contact with Olivia.

My parents immediately agreed and quickly called Elias.

When Elias heard we had agreed, his voice was calm; he simply said he would arrange the wedding as soon as possible.

After hanging up, I returned to my room and stared at the moon outside the window, my heart heavy with unease.

I can't shake the feeling that Elias agreed far too readily this time.

Three days later, Elias sent someone with wedding invitations and plane tickets; the wedding was scheduled for a week later at a private manor in Snowland.

On the day of the wedding, the Snowland manor lay blanketed in snow, draped everywhere with white roses, looking both romantic and eerie.

I wore a pristine white wedding gown, standing at the end of the red carpet, watching Elias walk toward me step by step.

He looked exceptionally handsome today, but his gaze remained deep and unreadable.

The atmosphere at the banquet was like a frozen lake; even the crystal chandelier's light carried a coldness.

Elias barely spoke the entire time, only occasionally raising his glass, but his gaze never left Olivia and me, as if appraising two possessions that belonged to him.

Olivia lightly touched my hand; I squeezed hers back, silently telling her, "Wait a little longer."

We all knew the real storm would come after the banquet ended.

Sure enough, as soon as we returned to the master bedroom on the second floor, Elias locked the door.

Olivia lifted her chin, eyes blazing with stubborn defiance. "Elias, in the past two lifetimes, you killed us. Do you really think we'll let you control us again this time?"

"Control you?" Elias laughed, madness thick in his voice. "Olivia, have you forgotten how you begged me in the past two lives? Nancy, have you also forgotten what the dust in the attic smells like?"

His words were like needles, stabbing painfully at my chest.

But this time, I did not flinch. "Those were all in the past. In this life, we won't let you win again."

"Won't let me win?" Elias's gaze suddenly turned icy. He picked up his phone and dialed a number. "Then watch and see who will save you."

Before long, there was a knock at the door. Two men dressed in black servant uniforms entered, tall and fierce-eyed.

My heart tightened, and I instinctively pulled Olivia back.

"Elias, what are you trying to do?"

"Do what?" Elias approached the two servants and patted them on the shoulder. "In our past two lives, you always said I was ruthless. This time, I'm trying a different method. These two will 'take good care' of you and make sure you learn what happens when you don't obey."

The two servants immediately strode toward us, their heavy footsteps pressing down on my heart.

Olivia gripped my arm tightly, her voice shaking. "Elias, you're insane! Aren't you afraid someone will find out?"

"What?" Elias sneered, "This manor is my private domain. Even if I buried you all in the snow, no one would ever know."