

After our eighty-eighth canceled wedding, I called my business partner. "I'm taking the Haviana market project." There was a beat of stunned silence. "Seriously? That's ten years overseas. You just got married—well, weren't you? Does your husband even know? What about your parents? You always said staying close to them was everything." I glanced around the empty church and let out a sharp laugh. "There was no wedding. No husband. And my parents? They've got Cindy. That's all they need." Another pause. "Alright. Pack your bags. You leave tomorrow." After the call, I ran a hand down my wedding dress. One last tear slipped out, quiet and pointless. Cindy had another "episode" today. Claimed she'd off herself. Andrew canceled—again. I'd looked at him, drained. "It's the eighty-eighth time." He dropped his head, guilt all over him. "Just a little more time, Viv. She's been off since the accident. I'm scared she'll actually do it. I swear, I'll talk to her. For real this time. Then we'll get married. Promise." My parents didn't hesitate. "Vivian, let Andrew go. If Cindy hadn't gotten kidnapped trying to save you, she wouldn't have these breakdowns. Are you really putting a wedding over your sister's life?" "How could you be so selfish?" I'd heard it all before. Used to fight it. Not this time. If neither my fiancé nor my parents wanted me around, then fine. I'd leave.

Donald Chester was tricked by his mother and younger brother's family into staying in the same household, leaving his wife and daughter at the mercy of the Chesters' abuse.He spent his life breaking his back in the family feed mill, only to be cast aside when it finally went public and made a fortune—dying in misery. Traveling back to 1988, Donald decisively split from the family and took his wife and daughter back to live in the countryside—only to discover that the fields and ponds are overrun with crayfish, a scourge to the villagers.Donald resolved to make a fortune for his own family by selling crayfish and forging a path to prosperity.

Modern office worker Emily Mason dies from overwork and wakes up in the 1980s as the wife of stone-faced military officer Ethan Hayes, who’s destined to become the world’s richest man. After Ethan injured his leg during flood rescue operations, he fell into depression.The original wife despised him for being disabled and demanded a divorce, hitting her head during the fight. When Emily wakes up and realizes what’s happened, she’s horrified. She also discovers that the war orphan Ethan adopted will become a future billionaire CEO.Emily decides to stay in the 80s and win over both her husband and their adopted daughter, building a fortune together and living the rich wife dream.