Chapter 1 288 Vouchers "Eloise, you're almost 22 now," her mother, Maeve Patnick, said on the phone, her voice filled with hope. "You've got five boys to choose from. Have you made up your mind yet?" Eloise Patnick stood silently by the tall window, her fingers brushing against the frame. The sunlight poured in, but it couldn't ware the chill in her eyes. "I've already made my decision," she replied softly. "I knew it!" Maeve laughed happily. "You used to follow Ronald around everywhere when you were little, so it must be him, right?" "No, I'm not choosing him," Eloise replied, her tone steady. There was a sudden silence on the other end of the line. Maeve asked, unsure, "Then... Do you want to choose between Vincent, Leonel, or Tobias? They've all liked you for so long." "I'm not choosing any of them." ་་ Maeve let out a shocked breath. "That only leaves Mario. But you two have never gotten along! You can't possibly..." "I choose him." Eloise cut her off, sounding completely sure. "Mom, I want to marry Mario." "What?!" Maeve's voice shot up. "Eloise, you and Mario have been fighting since you were kids! You pushed him into a pool when you were five, put chili powder into his birthday cake when you were ten, and threw his limited-edition sneakers into a fountain at 15..." As Maeve listed all the crazy things she'd done to Mario, Eloise couldn't help but smile a little. Maeve added, "Just last year, you told me you never wanted to see him again. He was so upset that he left the country. Why are you suddenly changing your mind?" Eloise lowered her eyes, pressing her fingertips together. Because she was reborn, she realized Mario had been the only one who truly loved her, and she had never even noticed. 0.00% 06:04 Chapter 1 In her previous life, she'd stood in this same spot and happily told her mother she would marry Ronald Kobeck. But she never imagined that the cold and proud heir of the Kobeck family would fake his death to escape their wedding, just for another woman, leaving her drowning in heartbreak for 20 years? She was born into the rich Patnick family in Los Angeles. Macve was close friends with the ladies of the Kobeck family, the Bristow family, the Dester family, the Griffith family, and the Nygard family. That year, all six of them got pregnant around the same time. The other five gave birth to sons. Only the Patnick family had a daughter, Eloise. On the day she was born, the five other ladies were filled with envy and rushed to hold the adorable baby girl. They even ended up arguing over who would become her future mother- in-law. Left with no choice, Maeve agreed that when her daughter turned 22, she could choose a husband from among the five families. In her previous life, she picked Ronald right away. The man she had spent her whole youth chasing, believing that he would be the one to bring her happiness. But just before their wedding, his plane crashed, and no one ever found his body. She spent 20 years searching for his body, never once giving up. During that time, Vincent Bristow, Leonel Dester, and Tobias Griffith stayed close to her. They treated her with kindness and care, trying to help her move on and step out of the shadows. She was grateful for how sincerely they treated her, but no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't forget Ronald. Until that rainy night... While walking through the rainy streets of London, she caught sight of Ronald, the man she thought was dead, pinning Cecilia Rifkin against a wall and kissing her. Cecilia-the poor scholarship student she had once supported-now held tightly in the arms of her fiancé. Nearby, Vincent, Leonel, and Tobias stood quietly. After the kiss ended, they gently placed a DC.DA Chapter 1 coat over Cecilia's shoulders and handed her some fruit. With soft concern, one of them said, "You kissed for so long your lips look swallen. "Don't worry, Cecilia. Just stay abroad and live happily with Ronald. Well take care of Eloise here. She'll never find out where you are." At that point, it became painfully clear that Ronald had loved Cecilia for a long time , even faking his own death just to run away with her. She also realized that the other three had feelings for Cecilia, too. They were only pretending to care about her so she wouldn't ruin Cecilia's happy ending. When she found out, she ran away in panic, but sadly, she ended up in a car accident. On the opposite side of the road, the four men just watched without helping as she lay dying Finally, there was Mario, the one she had despised since childhood. The man she often spoke badly about was the one who gathered her remains and cried quietly at her grave. "Eloise!" Maeve's voice pulled her thoughts back. "Are you still listening?" Eloise took a deep breath, her fingers slightly shaking. "Mom, I've made my decision. I will announce Mario as my fiancé at my 22nd birthday party. € "Please ask him to come back right away." She hesitated, then added with quiet strength. "It would be better if you and Dad tell him yourselves. He probably won't take it seriously otherwise." Although Maeve didn't quite understand what she was thinking, she loved her deeply, so she just sighed and said, "Alright. If you really want this, we'll fly to Switzerland tomorrow." After ending the call, Eloise finally let out a breath and slowly turned to go upstairs. She opened the hidden compartment in her walk-in closet and discovered four elegant gift boxes placed neatly in a row, a sparkling diamond necklace from Ronald, a limited-edition watch from Vincent, an auction-worthy painting from Leonel, and a special custom perfume from Tobias. Each item was worth a fortune-and each one held a lie from the previous life. Without a second glance, she gathered the gifts and walked out. Just as she entered the garden, a voice she knew well called out. "Ronald..." Cecilia's eyes were red, and her words were trembling, "Ms. Patnick's 22nd Chapter 1 birthday is coming up. She likes you so much, she'll definitely choose you. Once that happens, you'll be a married man soon. I won't be able to stay by your side anymore. She paid for my school, and I still kept seeing you behind her back. I've already let her down too much." She lowered her head, and her voice got softer. "You're the heir of the Kobeck Group. I'm just a poor student who could only keep studying because of the Patnick family's help. This time we had together... just forget it." Eloise stopped walking. Not far away, the four men had gathered around Cecilia. Ronald's face darkened as he held her by the wrist. "Who said you could go? I don't care if she chooses me. I only love you, "Don't worry. I've already made a plan. If she chooses me, I'll fake a plane crash the day before the wedding, give up everything, and escape with you." "Cecilia, don't worry," Vincent said kindly, handing her a handkerchief. "After you two leave, the rest of us will distract Eloise and make sure she never finds you." Leonel smiled faintly. "Exactly. Just enjoy your happily ever after with Ronald. "Cecilia, you don't have to worry about anything while we're here." Tobias added gently "But..." Cecilia whispered, biting her lower lip as her eyes filled with tears. "If Ms. Patnick finds out, she'll be heartbroken." The four men spoke together, "You're the only one we care about. Eloise doesn't matter to us at all!" Eloise stood quietly behind a tree, feeling like her heart was being squeezed by something invisible. Yes, whether she lived or died had nothing to do with them. That's exactly how they treated her in her previous life. She walked forward with the gift boxes in her arms, her face cold and blank. Her heels tapped sharply against the stone path. "Ms. Patnick?!" Cecilia suddenly looked alarmed and rushed over. "Why are you here..." Chapter 1 Elone didn't place at her "Take out the frush" "PI do it for you!" Cecilia quickly reached out. "Your family paid for my college. I promised to do whatever it takes to repay you!" "No need." Eloise replied coldly "You don't have to be so formal, Ms. Patnick..." While they were talking, Cecilia suddenly twisted her ankle, "Ah!" She cried out and grabbed onto Eloise's arm. The next second, both of them tumbled into the pool nearby Cold water instantly covered Eloise's head, She couldn't swim. She struggled to stay above the surface. "Help..." On land, the four men jumped into the water at the same time, but not for her. She saw them rush toward Cecília, fighting to reach her first, while she slowly sank deeper and deeper. As water rushed into her nose, she faintly saw Ronald carrying Cecilia to safety, Vincen taking off his coat to wrap around her, Leonel pressing on her chest, and Tobias calling for an ambulance... In the end, Ronald lifted Cecilia's chin and kissed her hard. Chapter 3 Title: Committed In CrushReel's ongoing novel "Committed," a man, grappling with the pressure to propose to his girlfriend, finds himself at a crossroads when he unexpectedly encounters a runaway bride. Seeking an escape from his relationship's demands, he embarks on a journey to Greece where he crosses paths with the enigmatic former... Exploring themes of love, commitment, and serendipity, this modern romance delves into the complexities of relationships and the unexpected turns life can take. As the protagonist navigates between duty and desire, readers are drawn into a tale of opposites attracting amidst picturesque Greek landscapes. What sets "Committed" apart is its heartfelt portrayal of emotional conflict and the pursuit of true connection. Dive into this sweet romance that promises twists of fate and heartfelt revelations. Available to read online at CrushReel for those seeking a story that resonates with the beauty of unexpected encounters.