- 5 hours ago
The road not taken engsub engsubtitle
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Inside a gothic cathedral stood two men looking for wives.
00:03One was Jace, a billionaire from the west coast.
00:06The other was Victor, a small-time thug from the east coast.
00:09For the sake of a massive bride price,
00:11our powerful stepmother made us choose which one we would marry.
00:14In my last life, my younger sister Lily rushed to choose Jace, the billionaire,
00:19and she pushed Victor, that low-life thug, onto me.
00:23But no one expected that five years later,
00:26Jace would go completely bankrupt,
00:28and Lily would have no choice but to move with him into a leaking slum.
00:32As for that thug Victor, he carved a bloody path across the east coast
00:36and became a mafia godfather who struck fear into everyone who heard his name.
00:40I became the mafia matriarch countless people tried to curry favor with.
00:43Luxury cars and yachts, whenever I went out, money spent like water.
00:47When I saw Lily starving in the slums, picking up discarded vegetable leaves,
00:51I kindly handed her a check for one million dollars to help improve her life.
00:54But she tore the check to pieces, clamped both hands around my throat,
00:57and dragged me towards a speeding truck.
00:59Give me back the life that should have been mine!
01:01The truck roared past and Lily and I died together.
01:05When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to five years ago,
01:09to the day Jace and Victor came to choose their wives.
01:14I like wild men.
01:16I'm going with you!
01:19As if she had already decided that in this life,
01:23she would become the mafia matriarch and crush me completely under her feet.
01:28I knew then that Lily had been reborn too.
01:31She thought she had stolen my life.
01:33But I only found it funny.
01:35Victor was no devoted underworld boss from some mafia movie.
01:39He was a demon who took pleasure in tormenting people.
01:42The only reason Victor became a mafia godfather in my last life
01:45was because of the leadership I gave him from behind the scenes.
01:49Even so, Victor still broke 199 of my bones.
01:52I looked at Lily's relieved expression and curved my lips.
01:57You think you're about to live a glorious life above everyone else?
02:00But you have no idea.
02:02This road will only drag you into hell.
02:04Lily thought that throwing herself into Victor's arms
02:07would guarantee he would take her in.
02:09But Victor shoved her away and fixed his gaze on me.
02:13Come here.
02:14I want you.
02:15My heart trembled.
02:16Fear flooded over me like a tide.
02:18Memories from my last life poured into my mind in an instant.
02:21Being chained in his basement and beaten.
02:23Being handed to other gangs as a hostage and violated.
02:25Having my bones shattered for human experiments.
02:28I froze where I stood.
02:29Unable to move even half a step.
02:31Lily panicked at the sight.
02:33Don't choose my sister Chloe.
02:34She's vain and greedy.
02:36Always thinking about diamonds and sports cars.
02:38How could she possibly endure your dangerous bloodstake life?
02:42She looks down on you, but I'm willing to suffer with you.
02:48Fine.
02:49Then you'll be my woman.
02:51As long as you behave and do what I say,
02:54I'll make sure you can walk all over this street.
02:57I believe you.
02:59I'll do whatever you say.
03:01At that moment, Jace, who stood beside us,
03:05held out an expensive wedding gown to me.
03:07Will you be my wife and leave with me?
03:09I'm currently facing a financial crisis.
03:13But I promise you, even if I lose everything,
03:15I'll never let you go hungry.
03:18Without hesitation, I placed my hand in his palm.
03:22I will.
03:22I knew very well that Jace was an exceptional man.
03:25In my last life, after Jace went bankrupt,
03:28even when he had to work three jobs a day,
03:30he still saved the last piece of bread for Lily.
03:32But Lily cursed him all day long, calling him useless.
03:35Since you're too blessed to appreciate him,
03:37then he'll be mine.
03:38When Lily climbed onto Victor's battered motorcycle,
03:40she turned back and whispered to me,
03:42Jace is about to go bankrupt and end up on the street.
03:45Victor will fight his way back into high society sooner or later.
03:48Chloe, in this life, you can wait in the gutter and look up at me.
03:54So she knew I had been reborn too,
03:55and she thought she had stolen my life.
03:57I watched the motorcycle roar away and sneered in the room.
04:00Only I knew Victor would treat the woman beside him like a machine
04:03until he had squeezed out every last drop of value.
04:06In my last life, when I first followed Victor back to the East Coast,
04:09I had naively believed he was a good man too.
04:11He bought me the most expensive dresses
04:13and took me in and out of the top underground casinos.
04:16Even though back then, I was so afraid I could barely walk,
04:19he brainwashed me,
04:20telling me this was the unique love
04:22a man who lived on the edge had for me.
04:25Until one day, his gang hit a dead end.
04:28Without hesitation, he chained me up
04:30and handed me over to a rival gang.
04:33I was abused by those vile men for two full years.
04:37Only then did I understand
04:39that Victor had only ever seen me
04:41as a scapegoat he could discard at any time.
04:44Chloe, welcome home.
04:47Jace's gentle voice sounded beside me.
04:50I followed Jace into the villa.
04:52The moment he opened the door, I froze.
04:54It was a luxurious dressing room
04:56filled with limited edition gowns from the current season.
04:59Brilliant jewels flashed almost blindingly under the lights.
05:03My eyes warmed.
05:04Jace, thank you.
05:06I've never seen such a beautiful place.
05:08Since you've come home with me,
05:10you're the mistress of this house.
05:13Swipe the card for anything you want.
05:19I'll never let my woman suffer the slightest grievous.
05:23Warmth rushed through my chest.
05:26Even though his company was currently being jointly stingled by Wall Street,
05:30he still gave me the very best.
05:33I'll pay.
05:34Facts proved that Jace was the perfect gentleman.
05:37He cherished me like a priceless treasure.
05:40My food, clothes, and daily necessities were all top tier.
05:44But he didn't know that I was no longer the fallen heiress
05:47who only knew how to enjoy herself.
05:50In my last life, I hid behind the scenes
05:52and helped Victor build a massive mafia empire.
05:56In this life, I could help Jace protect everything too.
06:00I walked straight into his study
06:02and picked up the financial reports on his desk.
06:08Since you're protecting me,
06:10I'll protect your business empire for you.
06:13Only three days later, Wall Street's hunt began.
06:16Jace's enemies had bragged an executive in his company.
06:18They planned to present a fake report at the board meeting
06:20and forced Jace out.
06:21In my last life, Jace fell at this very step.
06:24Not only did he go bankrupt,
06:25he was also saddled with massive debt.
06:27But in this life, I was here.
06:29My experience laundering money for Victor in my past life
06:32made me intimately familiar with these kinds of business tactics.
06:35I hacked directly into that traitorous executive's email,
06:37obtained ironclade proof that they had falsified the data,
06:39and sent it straight to the FBI.
06:41Not only that, I also used a black card Jace had given me
06:44to set a financial trap in the futures market.
06:46Jace, this time you won't lose.
06:49That night, a top charity gala was held in Manhattan.
06:52I held Jace's arm and stepped out of a Rolls Royce.
06:55But unexpectedly, I ran into Lily there.
06:57Victor was nothing but an up-and-coming street thug.
07:00He had no qualifications to attend such an event.
07:02Clearly, Lily had forced Victor to fortune-buying invitations
07:04so she could show off her mafia wife persona.
07:06Lily arrogantly blocked my path.
07:08Chloe, what a surprise.
07:10Jace, that loser who's going bankrupt tonight,
07:12actually managed to borrow money to rent you a gown?
07:14You have no idea how amazing Victor is.
07:17He took over three blocks of territory.
07:19The cash he brings home could fill a bathtub.
07:23See that?
07:23He assigned me fully armed bodyguards to protect me,
07:26and every day he has people stew the finest supplements for me.
07:29You'll never experience this kind of love in your life.
07:32I looked at her nouveau riche posturing
07:33and smeared again and again in my heart.
07:36Bodyguards? Supplements?
07:38Lily had no idea that Victor's frantic territorial expansion
07:41had already angered several old mafia families.
07:44He gave Lily bodyguards to disguise her as a top priority target
07:48and draw assassin fire.
07:49He fed her expensive supplements so he could draw her healthy blood
07:52and trade it to high-level figures on the underground black market
07:55in exchange for resources and life extension.
07:58I looked at Lily with pity.
08:00She wasn't far from death.
08:01Seeing me silent,
08:03Lily thought she had hit a sore point
08:05and laughed even more wildly.
08:08I just heard several Wall Street big shots say
08:10that after tonight,
08:11Jace will have nothing!
08:13She leaned closer and lowered her voice.
08:15When that happens,
08:16you'll have to sell yourself in the slums
08:18to pay off his debts.
08:19The throne above everyone else is mine in the end.
08:27I smiled.
08:28Then let's wait and see.
08:31When Lily saw that I wasn't intimidated at all,
08:34she stomped her foot hard.
08:35Chloe, just you wait!
08:37Sooner or later,
08:38you'll be kneeling and begging me!
08:42She turned and walked toward Eric,
08:44the crown prince of Wall Street,
08:46picked up a glass of champagne
08:47and tried to build a connection.
08:49Mr. Eric,
08:50Victor asked me to send you his regards.
08:53From now on,
08:54he'll have your East Coast business covered.
08:56Eric didn't even look at her
08:57before knocking over his glass
08:59with the back of his hand.
09:03What gutter rat thinks she's worthy
09:05of cozying up to me?
09:07But on TV,
09:08you clearly said you respected people
09:10who would do whatever it took to climb up.
09:12That's me!
09:13How can you look down on me?
09:14Watching this,
09:15I couldn't help finding it funny.
09:16In my last life,
09:18after Victor became a mafia godfass,
09:20Eric did indeed fawn over me like a dog.
09:22But Lily didn't know
09:23that the current Victor
09:24was nowhere near qualified.
09:26Capitalists like Eric
09:27only respected absolute power.
09:29They would never spare a second glance
09:31for a street thug's woman.
09:33A cheap whore who eats off gangsters
09:35has no right to dirty my suit.
09:40Mrs. Jace,
09:42congratulations to Mr. Jace
09:43on his perfect counterattack
09:44in the futures market tonight,
09:46earning a net profit of one billion.
09:48Wall Street will be relying on you
09:50from now on!
09:51Lily froze where she stood,
09:53shaking her head in disbelief.
09:54What nonsense are you talking about?
09:55Jace is supposed to go bankrupt tonight.
09:57Victor is the future godfather.
09:58She suddenly lunged at Eric.
09:59Eric, open your eyes.
10:00You should be working with me.
10:01Eric shoved her to the floor,
10:02his face full of disgust.
10:03Who collects protection money?
10:04Tonight, some other family
10:05will throw him into the sea
10:06to feed the sharks.
10:07What mafia matriarch fantasy
10:08are you having?
10:09The surrounding elite
10:10covered their ears and laughed,
10:12their gazes as sharp as knives.
10:13So she's a lunatook
10:14trying to use a thug
10:15to climb into power.
10:16Hurry up and call security
10:17to throw this bitch out.
10:18She's dirtying our eyes.
10:19Humiliated to the bone,
10:20Lily climbed up from the floor
10:21and glared at everyone with hatred.
10:22Victor, pull out your gun!
10:24Show them who the king
10:24of the East Coast really is!
10:26The doors to the banquet hall
10:27were kicked open.
10:28Victor stormed in arrogantly
10:29with a dozen tattooed men
10:30all carrying machetes.
10:31Who the fuck dares touch my woman?
10:33Eric sneered.
10:34In an instant,
10:34dozens of armed Blackwater bodyguards
10:36surged out from every direction.
10:37Red laser sights
10:38locked onto Victor's forehead
10:39and chest in unisus.
10:40Victor's legs went weak.
10:41With a thud,
10:42he dropped to his knees.
10:43Mr. Eric, misunderstanding!
10:44This crazy bitch lost her mind!
10:46It has nothing to do with me!
10:47Victor, what are you saying?
10:48Shut up!
10:49Who gave you the right to speak here?
10:51To distance himself from her,
10:52he crawled over,
10:53grabbed Lily by the hair,
10:54and slapped her across the face
10:56again and again,
10:57more than a dozen times.
10:59Blood filled the corners
11:00of Lily's mouth.
11:01Her soul seemed to leave her body
11:03as he slapped her over and over.
11:05No!
11:05It shouldn't be like this!
11:07The entire hall fell into dead silence.
11:09Jace calmly set down his wine glass
11:11and shielded me behind him.
11:12He leisurely wiped a drop of wine
11:14from the hem of his jacket.
11:15Every movement refined and elegant.
11:17He was worlds apart from Victor,
11:19who had just been wagging his tail and begging.
11:21If you're not gone in one minute,
11:23all of you are going into the sea.
11:26After dropping that threat,
11:27Eric strode away with his bodyguards.
11:29Lily seized the chance to break free from Victor
11:31and stumbled toward the door.
11:33You all look down on me today,
11:34but sooner or later you'll regret it!
11:36I will become a mafia godmother!
11:38Because her pride had been completely trampled,
11:41Lily never again had the face
11:42to appear in public after that day.
11:45Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
11:48In my last life,
11:50these three months were exactly the death trap.
11:53When Victor's territory was jointly purged
11:56by the major mafia families.
11:58To borrow money from a Mexican drug lord for weapons,
12:01he personally pushed me onto an underground gambling table.
12:05Those desperados shoved a loaded Resolvor into my mouth
12:09and forced me to play Russian Salette.
12:13Each time the trigger was pulled,
12:15Victor showed no heartache at all.
12:19Instead, he held other women
12:21and laughed loudly as he placed his bets.
12:24The despair of that cold gun barrel
12:26pressed against my throat
12:28utterly shredded my dignity as a human being.
12:32In his eyes,
12:33I had never been a mafia matriarch.
12:36I was only a chip he could trade for money at any time.
12:41I didn't know whether Lily would experience all of that.
12:46But based on my observation of Victor in this life,
12:49he would only torment Lily even more viciously.
12:52Facts proved my guess was right.
12:54The next morning,
12:55I had just walked out of an upscale clubhouse
12:58when a battered pickup car riddled with bullet holes
13:01came barreling towards me like mad.
13:03A bodyguard threw me to the ground
13:05and the pickup slammed into a stone pillar beside us
13:08with a crash.
13:13Lily's shrill voice came from inside.
13:16Chloe, get out here!
13:18My heart jolted.
13:20Lily had come.
13:28Although I had prepared myself,
13:30when I saw what she looked like now,
13:32I nearly vomited.
13:33I never imagined Victor would torture Lily into such a state.
13:37Lily tumbled out of the bullet-rivet old pickup.
13:40Her once delicate face was sun and deathly pale.
13:43Beneath her expensive silk-slip dress,
13:45her body was covered in bruises and needle marks.
13:48She crawled toward me and clung tightly to my leg.
13:51Chloe!
13:51Let's switch back!
13:53Knot and tears mixed together on her face,
13:55making her look both pitiful and disgusting.
13:57That lunatic Victor has been losing territory lately,
14:00and he's taking all his anger out on me!
14:03He draws my blood every day to sell it,
14:05and he forces me to accompany those perverts
14:08so he can win resources!
14:09She suddenly lifted her head
14:11and shouted with righteous confidence.
14:13You clearly knew this life would be so miserable!
14:16Why didn't you warn me?
14:17This was supposed to be your suffering!
14:19Let's switch back now!
14:21You go be Victor's dog,
14:23and I'll be your rich wife!
14:24Hearing such shameless words,
14:26I sneered and picked her away.
14:30Switch back?
14:31Lily?
14:32Did they beat your brain broken?
14:35I looked down at her from above.
14:37Who was the one who rushed to climb onto Victor's motorcycle?
14:44Who was the one who gloated and mocked me,
14:48saying I could only look up at you from the slums?
14:52She lay on the ground,
14:53pounding the pavement in a frenzy as she screamed.
14:55That's because you tricked me!
14:59You hid from me what would happen if I chose Victor!
15:03But don't get too pleased with yourself!
15:06A flash of vicious, sick pleasure crossed Lily's eyes.
15:09According to how things went in the last life,
15:11that useless Jace is going completely bankrupt today!
15:15When that happens,
15:16you won't even be able to afford the slums!
15:19You'll have to beg on the street!
15:20The words had barely left her mouth.
15:25Twelve Rolls Royce phantoms roared to a stop in front of us,
15:29sealing off the entire street.
15:31The car doors opened.
15:33Dressed in a custom suit,
15:34strode toward us surrounded by dozens of Blackwater bodyguards.
15:37Seeing such an astonishing scene,
15:39throat tightened,
15:39a sharp swallow betraying her shock.
15:41Impossible!
15:42You're supposed to go bankrupt today!
15:44How could you still have money?
15:45But she instantly reacted.
15:47Now was the time to cling to power.
15:48She shoved me aside and rushed toward two,
15:51deliberately exposing her collarbones
15:52and leaning close as she pleaded sweetly.
15:54Mr. Monsieur, don't be deceived by my sister!
15:56She's a demon to the bone!
15:58Sooner or later, she'll destroy your business empire!
16:00Lifted her head pitifully.
16:02Only a clean woman like me is worthy of your wealth.
16:04As long as you want me...
16:05Get away!
16:06Didn't even spare her a sidelong glance.
16:08He walked straight past her and came to me.
16:11He took out an expensive handkerchief and,
16:13with aching tenderness,
16:15wiped the dust grabbed onto the hem of my clothes.
16:17Then he turned and looked down at her.
16:20If she really is a demon,
16:21then I'd willingly offer her my soul.
16:24Besides, she's the one who helped me dominate Wall Street.
16:27Chloe is my only woman.
16:29As for you, you're not even worthy of carrying her shoes.
16:31Picture one looked as if she had been struck by lightning.
16:34Jealousy twisted her features.
16:36She screamed and tried to lunge forward again.
16:38No!
16:39This life should be mine!
16:42Just then, an old, unlicensed van screeched to a stop by the roadside.
16:47Two tattooed thugs jumped out,
16:50grabbed her by the hair,
16:51and dragged her viciously toward the van.
16:54Filthy bitch!
16:55How dare you run out and play victim!
16:57Boss Victor is waiting for you to come back!
17:00We haven't drawn enough blood today!
17:01Watching the van speed away, I frowned.
17:04Special supplements?
17:05Had Victor come up with some new trick again?
17:07The instincts I had developed in my last life
17:10while managing Victor's underground industries
17:11told me this was absolutely not simple.
17:14After returning to the Manishin,
17:15I immediately locked the study door and turned off the computer.
17:18Relying my understanding of Victor's cratic network
17:20from my Yen-P, though,
17:21I bypassed the firewall with ease
17:23and hacked directly into the underground medical system
17:26he had recently connected.
17:27In an encrypted purchase list,
17:29I found the true ingredients of those special supplements.
17:32The moment I clicked it open,
17:34a chill crawled up my spine.
17:36They weren't supplements at all.
17:37They were living organ rejection suppressors,
17:39a substance explicitly banned on the dark web.
17:42So that was it.
17:43Victor's frantic expansion had angered the old mafia,
17:46and his cash flow had completely collapsed.
17:49To repay his debts,
17:50he had accepted a live organ order from a sick drug lord.
17:54Victor fed her that drug every day and kept her well fed.
17:58Not because he cherished her,
17:59because he was treating her like a mobable organ incubator,
18:02ensuring that her heart and corneals
18:04would perfectly match the buyer's body
18:05when they were dug out.
18:07Ridiculous, Lily.
18:09She thought she had stolen my script as mafia matriarch
18:12and ran around showing off that exclusive love,
18:14never knowing she was walking step by step
18:17towards the slaughterhouse.
18:18I scrolled to the last line of the order.
18:21The system showed that the harvest delivery date
18:23was three days later,
18:24at an East Coast elite charity gala.
18:27I curved my lips coldly.
18:29The show was about to begin.
18:31On the night of the delivery,
18:32the East Coast's most prestigious charity gala
18:34was held at a Manhattan hotel.
18:36And at that moment,
18:38she knew nothing about death's arrival.
18:39Because she had been taking that illegal,
18:41rejection-suppressing drug for so long,
18:43her body was already on the verge of collapse.
18:45She could barely take two steps without losing her breath.
18:47But she still believed it was only weakness
18:49caused by Victor's abuse.
18:51She stole an invitation from Victor's drawer,
18:52covered her corpse-pale face with thick foundation,
18:55and snuck into the gala.
18:57Amid the glittering crowd,
18:58she immediately set her sights
18:59on a gray-haired Wall Street magnet hit.
19:01She used the same old trick,
19:02forcing tears into her eyes
19:03as she pressed herself delicately
19:04against the magnet's arm.
19:05Sir, please save me.
19:07Victor, that thug keeps torturing me.
19:08As long as you're willing to pay to take me away,
19:11I'll do anything for you.
19:12She looked at the magnet with expectation,
19:14thinking that with her looks,
19:15finding a new patron would be easy.
19:17The magnet held his glass of red wine
19:19and looked her up and down,
19:20but there was no desire in his eyes.
19:23Take you away.
19:26Poor little thing, don't you know?
19:29Victor already pre-sold your heart
19:31and coronelized to me yesterday.
19:34I'm your buyer.
19:37The moment you heard that,
19:39the fanging expression on her face froze.
19:42All the blood in her body seemed to turn to ice.
19:46What did you say?
19:49What did you say?
19:51My heart, my corneals?
19:52Her mind exploded with a buzz.
19:54She finally understood
19:55what those expensive supplements really were.
19:57The mafia love she had been so proud of
19:59had been nothing more than fattening her
20:01like a pig for slaughter from beginning to end.
20:03No, no, no!
20:05She shoved the magnet away
20:07and fled through the banquet hall like a madwoman,
20:09not even noticing when one of her high heels fell off.
20:11She crashed headfirst into me
20:13as I stood arm in arm with the man,
20:15chatting and laughing with the mayor.
20:17Bang!
20:18When she saw it was me,
20:19she seemed to seize the last straw of hope.
20:22With a thud,
20:23she dropped to her knees at my feet
20:24and slammed her head against the floor again and again.
20:26Sister, I was wrong!
20:27I really was wrong!
20:29She cock-oed it until blood streamed down her forehead,
20:32wailing missibly.
20:33Victor wants to cut out my heart!
20:39I'll never fight you for anything again, please!
20:41I looked down at her from above,
20:43my eyes utterly unmoved.
20:45You chose your own road.
20:47I coldly pulled back the hem of my dress.
20:49If you walk into hell yourself,
20:51don't blame others for not reaching out.
20:53Lily collapsed to the floor in despair.
20:55Just then,
20:56the doors to the banquet hall were kicked open.
20:58First heard one swaggered in
21:00with several armed, tattooed men.
21:02In his hand was a huge, thick four.
21:04A sinister smile hung on his lips
21:06as he walked step by step
21:07towards Sir Lurne on the floor.
21:10Found you, nutty.
21:12Seeing the man approach with the sedative,
21:14the girl scrambled backward in terror,
21:16screaming like a pig being slaughtered.
21:18Don't die!
21:19The distinguished guests at the gala were terrified.
21:21The man shouted,
21:21I'm only here to take my goods today.
21:24Anyone who dares call the cops,
21:26I'll kill their whole family!
21:28Standing beside one,
21:29I watched the farce coldly.
21:31Not only did I not hide,
21:32I took my phone out of my clutch.
21:35Save Lily?
21:36Impossible.
21:37But I would never pass up the chance
21:39to crush Victor completely.
21:40My slender fingers tapped rapidly across the screen,
21:43activating the trojan I had set up in advance.
21:45In less than three seconds,
21:46Victor's 13 money laundering accounts
21:48on the global dark etnet
21:49were wiped clean and frozen.
21:50At the same time,
21:51he elegantly pressed the send button on his watch,
21:53packaging and sending
21:54the complete surveillance footage
21:55and evidence chain
21:56of Victor's live organ transaction tonight
21:58to the FBI in one place.
21:59The next second,
22:00police sirens and ready flashing lights
22:02pierced through the banquet hall.
22:03Dozens of SWAT armored vehicles
22:04blocked the entrance so tightly
22:05that not even water could pass.
22:06Boss!
22:06All our accounts have been frozen!
22:08The place is crawling with cops!
22:09One's men stared at their phones in terror.
22:10One's face went deathly pale,
22:12as if he had fallen into an ice pit.
22:13What?
22:14What's going on?
22:14He could no longer care about anything else.
22:16He lunged at her
22:17and stabbed the thick syringe
22:18viciously into her neck.
22:19Everybody stay the fuck back!
22:22Anyone moves,
22:24and I'll blow this bitch's head off!
22:28The entire tube of illegal green liquid
22:30was pushed into Lily's vein.
22:31It wasn't an ordinary sedative,
22:33but a high concentration
22:34manual-inducing drug.
22:35In less than two seconds,
22:36Lily's eyes flooded blood flow,
22:37and the veins on her neck
22:38bulged like earthworms.
22:40Her entire body lost
22:41all sense of pain and reason.
22:42She stared fixably at me,
22:43dazzling and glamorous,
22:44protected in Jace's arms.
22:46The extreme resentment
22:46of being trampled underfoot
22:47erupted completely
22:48under the drug's effects.
22:49I was reborn too,
22:50so why do you get to live so well?
22:52Lily let out a beast-like howl
22:53that barely sounded human.
22:55She actually bit into Victor's arm
22:56and tore off a large chunk of flesh.
22:58Victor screamed and let go.
22:59Like a vengeful ghost,
23:00Lily grabbed a sharp,
23:01broken wine bottle from the table
23:02and charged wildly at my face.
23:04I'll ruin you!
23:05Go to hell with me!
23:07She was extremely fat,
23:08but didn't even blink.
23:09Before she could get
23:10within half a meter of me,
23:11Jace lifted his long leg
23:12and delivered a ruthlessly
23:13clean sideship
23:14straight to Lily's chest.
23:15Lily flew out like a torn sack.
23:16With a crash,
23:17she smashed heavily
23:17into the five-tier champagne tower.
23:19Glass sharts pierced
23:20her entire body,
23:21and blood gushed out.
23:21Lying in a pool of blood,
23:23she vomited blood
23:23while pointing at me
23:24and laughing madly.
23:25Jace, don't be fooled by her!
23:27Lily shrieked hysterically,
23:29trying to use her final
23:30tropsod to destroy me.
23:31She's a reborn woman!
23:33In her last life,
23:34she was a demon
23:35with blood all over her hands!
23:37She only chose you
23:38because she knew
23:39you would become rich
23:40in this life!
23:41She doesn't love you at all!
23:46The entire room fell silent.
23:48Blood filled Lily's mouth
23:49as she looked at Jace smugly,
23:51thinking that exposing
23:52the secret of rebirth
23:54at me with disgust,
23:55she screamed.
23:56In her last life,
23:57you were picking through trash
23:58in the slums
23:59while she was all powerful
24:00mafia matriarch!
24:02You're just a tool she's using!
24:03Everyone waited
24:04for Jace's reaction.
24:05I stood where I was
24:06and looked at him calmly.
24:08Jace looked down
24:08at Lily on the floor,
24:09his lips curling
24:10in a cold smile.
24:11If that's true,
24:12then I really should thank you
24:13for your stupidity
24:14in this life.
24:15Jace's voice was low
24:16and dominating.
24:17Thank you for personally
24:18pushing such a perfect wife
24:20into my arms.
24:21Just then,
24:22SWAT officers
24:23broke through the doors.
24:24Don't move!
24:25Drop your weapons!
24:27The scene descended
24:29instantly into chaos.
24:30Seeing that the tide
24:31had turned,
24:31Victor grabbed a chair
24:32and smashed the floor
24:33to Sleeling window.
24:34In the final second
24:35before he leapt
24:36into the cold seawater,
24:37Victor stared hard at me,
24:38shielded in Jace's arms
24:39my eyes cold.
24:40In her last life,
24:41she was the all-powerful
24:42Mafia matriarch.
24:43In his mind,
24:44the sentence Lily
24:44had shouted
24:45flash like lightning.
24:46Victor's eyes instantly
24:47changed from fear
24:48to shock.
24:48It was her?
24:49Cold seawater
24:50choked his windpipe.
24:51Victor swam desperately
24:52through the sewer
24:53like a stray dog
24:53that had lost its home.
24:54But Lily's words
24:55from the gala
24:56kept replaying in his mind.
24:57In her last life,
24:58she was the all-powerful
24:59Mafia matriarch.
25:00Victor fled back
25:01to the moldy-smelling basement
25:02and looked at the territory
25:03he had now lost completely.
25:05His heart felt as if
25:06it had been struck
25:06by a heavy hammer.
25:07He suddenly remembered
25:08many details
25:09from his last life.
25:10In his last life,
25:11every time his gang
25:11hit a dead end,
25:12he would somehow
25:13receive intelligence
25:13to solve it the next day.
25:15He had thought Lily
25:15was born blessed
25:16with good fortune,
25:17so each time
25:17he had placed Lily
25:18high on a pedestal.
25:19But in this life,
25:20Lily, who carried memories too,
25:22was a fool
25:22who didn't even understand
25:23Mafia slang
25:24and only knew how to cry
25:25for designer brands.
25:26And just now at the gala,
25:28the way Chloe froze
25:29his overseas dark web accounts
25:30was exactly like
25:31the mysterious strategist
25:32behind the scenes
25:33from his last life.
25:34Victor understood
25:35in an instant.
25:37The one who helped me
25:38conquer everything
25:39in my last life.
25:40The one who shielded me
25:41from danger
25:41was Chloe all along!
25:43Victor's knees went weak
25:44and he dropped
25:45onto the damp floor.
25:47He finally realized
25:49that with his own hands,
25:50he had thrown away a queen
25:51who could have helped him
25:52dominate the world,
25:53only to pick up
25:55a useless blood bag
25:56that had drained him dry.
25:57Victor's bloodshot eyes
25:59locked onto a financial magazine
26:01photo of Jace and Chloe
26:02on the wall.
26:04He punched the frame to pieces.
26:06Chloe is mine!
26:07She belongs to me!
26:09Three days later,
26:11in the underground parking garage
26:12of the J group,
26:13I had just stepped out
26:14of my private elevator
26:15when a foul-smelling,
26:18unshaven man
26:18suddenly lunged out
26:19from behind
26:20a load-carrying pollen.
26:22Chloe!
26:23I finally found you!
26:24It was Victor.
26:25With a heavy thud,
26:27he dropped to his knees
26:28in front of me.
26:28Ignoring the muddy water
26:30on the ground,
26:30he sobbed and slapped himself
26:32across the face
26:33again and again.
26:34I was wrong, Chloe.
26:35I was blinded
26:35by that idiot Lily.
26:36I was blind as a dog!
26:38He shuffled forward
26:39on his knees,
26:40trying to hug my leg,
26:41crying until his face
26:42was covered in snot and tears.
26:43You're my woman.
26:44As long as you come back,
26:46we can join hands
26:47like in our last life
26:48and take Jace money.
26:49We're the destined king
26:51and queen of the underworld!
26:52Looking at him
26:53so utterly pathetic,
26:54I felt only nausea.
26:56I pressed the red
26:57emergency alarm
26:58on my car key.
27:00The piercing alarm
27:01instantly echoed
27:02through the garage.
27:03Victor panicked
27:04and still tried
27:04to forcibly drag me.
27:06A dark figure
27:07flashed past.
27:07Jace, like a leopard,
27:09kicked Victor
27:09three meters away.
27:11Jace unbuttoned
27:12his suit jacket
27:12unhastingly
27:13and handed it
27:14to the bodyguard
27:14behind him.
27:15His eyes held
27:15a terrifying violence.
27:17Victor,
27:17you're not only blind,
27:19you're hopelessly stupid.
27:21Jace!
27:22You're nothing
27:23but a pretty boy
27:24living off a woman!
27:26Driven into a corner,
27:27Victor erupted
27:28with a desperado's ferocity.
27:30He pulled out
27:31a switchblade
27:31and roared
27:32as he lunged
27:33at Jace.
27:34But he had no idea
27:35what kind of monster
27:36he was facing.
27:37Jace didn't even dodge.
27:38He shifted slightly
27:38to avoid the blade,
27:39then caught Victor's wrist
27:40in a backhand grip
27:41and snapped it hard.
27:42The crisp sound
27:43of breaking bone
27:44rang out.
27:45Victor let out
27:45a pig-like scream
27:46and the knife
27:46fell to the floor.
27:47Then Jace drove
27:48his knee upward,
27:49slamming it heavily
27:50into Victor's chest.
27:51Two ribs snapped instantly.
27:53The entire sequence
27:54flowed smoothly,
27:56carrying a brutal beauty
27:57of absolute domination.
27:59Victor collapsed
27:59to the floor
28:00like mud,
28:01coughing out
28:01mouthfuls of blood.
28:03Jace stepped forward
28:04and mercilessly planted
28:05his leather shoe
28:05on Victor's broken fingers,
28:07grinding down hard.
28:09You think you deserved
28:10her in your last life?
28:12Jace looked down
28:13at Victor
28:13as he corals it
28:14in pain.
28:15You couldn't protect her.
28:18All you could do
28:19was rely on the pitiful
28:20power she handed you.
28:21And in this life,
28:24you don't even have
28:25the right to say her name.
28:28Jace gestured.
28:30Blackwater bodyguards
28:31stepped forward
28:31and dragged Victor
28:32like a dead dog,
28:33throwing him into the garbage heap
28:34in the back alley.
28:35And at that moment,
28:36the gears of fate turned.
28:37An ambulance from the hospital
28:39happened to stop
28:39at the Annie entrance.
28:41The one who secretly
28:42slipped down from it
28:42was Lily,
28:43dragging her broken body.
28:45To avoid the expensive
28:46medical bills,
28:47Lily had escaped
28:48from the public hospital.
28:49She limped into the back alley,
28:51about to look for something
28:52to eat,
28:53when she suddenly saw Victor
28:54rivaling in the garbage heap.
28:57Victor?
28:57The moment she made out
28:59that face,
28:59Lily showed not
29:00the slightest sympathy.
29:01Instead,
29:01she burst into wild laughter.
29:03You liar!
29:04Weren't you a mafia boss?
29:05Why are you lying here
29:06like a stray dog?
29:07Victor struggled
29:07to open his eyes.
29:08Seeing the woman
29:09who had ruined him so badly,
29:10old hatred and new rage
29:12erupted like a volcano.
29:13If not for Lily,
29:14how would he have lost Chloe?
29:19Filthy bitch!
29:20This is all your fault!
29:22Victor lunged at her,
29:23clapped his hands
29:24around Lily's throat,
29:25and pressed her
29:25into the filthy,
29:26water-water-filled
29:27garbage heap.
29:28You useless thing!
29:29Give me back Chloe!
29:30Give me back my mafia empire!
29:32Lily's eyes rolled back
29:33from the choking,
29:34and her hands clawed wildly.
29:35The true love
29:36they had once believed
29:36would bring mutual benefit
29:37now tore at each other
29:38like two mad dogs,
29:39blaming each other
29:40and ripping each other apart.
29:41In the final second
29:42before suffocation,
29:43Lily's hand found
29:44a sharp shard of glass.
29:46Go to hell!
29:48Using all her strength,
29:50she stabbed the shard fiercely
29:52into Victor's female artery.
29:54Blood instantly sprayed out
29:55like a fountain,
29:56splattering across Lily's face.
29:59Victor screamed.
30:02The two of them collapsed together
30:04into the reeking pool
30:05of blood and trash,
30:06convulsing in despair.
30:08A passerby discovered them
30:09and called the police,
30:10and the two were taken back
30:11to the public hospital.
30:12Due to severe blood loss,
30:13Victor's thigh was already paralyzed.
30:15As for Lily,
30:16when she woke up in the hospital bed,
30:17a doctor walked over to her
30:19coldly with her test results.
30:20Because you have been taking
30:21illegal living organ suppresses
30:23from the earth dark web
30:23for a long time,
30:25your kidneys and liver
30:26have completely failed.
30:27You have two months at most.
30:29There's no treatment value.
30:31Wait to die.
30:32The doctor's words
30:33were like a final verdict.
30:35Lily finally realized it.
30:37The rebirth script
30:38she had thought herself
30:39so clever for stealing
30:41had not helped her rise
30:42above everyone else.
30:44Instead,
30:45she had personally
30:46pushed open the gates to hell.
30:48The television
30:49on the hospital wall lit up.
30:50On the screen,
30:51the grand celebration
30:52of the Jace Group
30:53successful listing
30:54on Wall Street
30:55was being broadcast live.
30:56I wore a gown
30:57and rang the opening bell
30:59under the eyes of the world,
31:00dazzling like a queen.
31:02If I can't live,
31:03you won't have peace either!
31:06She violently ripped
31:07the IV needle
31:08from the back of her hand.
31:09Blood dripped
31:10onto the white sheets.
31:11She stole a nurse's uniform
31:13and made an insane decision.
31:15Lily wrapped all the wounds
31:16on her body in bandages,
31:17pulled the loose cleaner's
31:18robe over herself,
31:19and slipped in the outdoor
31:20celebration banquet
31:21for the Jace Group's
31:22listing in her arms.
31:23She carried a large barrel
31:24of gasoline,
31:25had bought on the black market.
31:26As long as she could burn
31:28me and Jace to ashes
31:29in front of everyone,
31:29she would be willing to die
31:31in the flames immediately.
31:32At the center of the reception,
31:34Jace and I were being interviewed
31:35by global media.
31:36I wore a custom gown
31:38and looked invincible
31:38beneath the flashes.
31:40Lily hid behind a pillar
31:41in the shadows,
31:42staring at that blinding glory.
31:44The flames of jealousy
31:45in her heart
31:46burned all the way
31:47up her throat.
31:48Die!
31:48All of you die!
31:50She pushed the cart
31:51carrying the gasoline
31:52using the darkness
31:52to inch closer
31:53to the ventilation system.
31:55As long as she pressed
31:56the igniter,
31:56this place would become
31:57a living hell.
31:58Just as her hand
31:59reached for the lighter,
32:00a pair of rough hands
32:01suddenly stretched out
32:02from the darkness,
32:03clamped over her mouth,
32:04and dragged her forcibly
32:05into the dim fire stair hell.
32:08It was Victor.
32:12Who told you
32:13to make a move?
32:13He still hadn't given up.
32:15He wanted to use Lily
32:16for one last struggle.
32:17What we need is money.
32:19We need the lifeline
32:20in Chloe's hands.
32:21You are not allowed
32:22to act.
32:23Chloe!
32:24Want your sister alive?
32:25Bring 10 million in cash
32:26to basement level 2.
32:28Remember,
32:28no bodyguards.
32:30He thought I would go soft.
32:32He thought that as long
32:33as I appeared,
32:34he could use me
32:34as a bargaining chain
32:35to turn the tables
32:36just like in the last life.
32:39Watching the video.
32:41Madam,
32:42shall I mobilize mercenaries
32:44and flatten the place?
32:45No need.
32:46I want them to see
32:47with their own eyes
32:48that before this position,
32:50they don't even qualify
32:51to be ants.
32:52Instead,
32:53I had Jace
32:54robalize the city's
32:54armed forces
32:55and surround the entire
32:56building like an iron barrel.
32:58Basement level 2.
33:00Victor stared at the elevator
33:01with high expectations.
33:04How is this possible?
33:06How dare you come
33:08without the money?
33:09I slowly stepped out
33:10from behind the bodyguards,
33:11every step calm
33:12and elegant.
33:13I didn't even glance
33:14at Lily,
33:14who was tied
33:15to the fire hydrant.
33:16Victor,
33:17you used me
33:18in my last life
33:18and tortured me
33:19in this one.
33:20Did you think
33:21you could still threaten me
33:22like some ridiculous clown?
33:24Didn't you want
33:25to light the fire?
33:26Go on.
33:27Don't be a coward.
33:29When Lily heard this,
33:30the last spark of hope
33:31in her eyes
33:31went out completely.
33:33She looked at my lofty posture
33:34and how I didn't even deign
33:36to give her a single day.
33:38I'm done playing!
33:39I'm really done playing!
33:42I'll make all of you
33:43die with me!
33:47Before Victor could react,
33:48Lily suddenly broke free
33:49from the cut ropes
33:50and, like a mad woman,
33:51wrapped her arms tightly
33:52around Victor's neck.
33:53Don't ruin me!
33:56You made me
33:57into this monster!
33:58She bit down hard
33:59on Victor's ear,
34:00bloody tears streaming
34:01from her eyes.
34:03Victor,
34:03didn't you want money?
34:05Didn't you want to be
34:06the emperor
34:07of the underworld?
34:09Then let's go
34:10be that in hell!
34:12You crazy bitch!
34:14Let go of me!
34:16He struggled desperately,
34:17but Lily no longer
34:18wanted to live.
34:19She slammed violently
34:20into the still-burning lighter
34:21in Victor's room.
34:22A whole barrel of gasoline
34:23instantly poured over
34:24the night.
34:24Flames shot into the air,
34:26lighting up the entire
34:27underground garage.
34:28Fire swallowed
34:29the two evil ghosts
34:30who at once screamed
34:31against each other
34:31and now died together
34:32like conjoined twins.
34:34Amid piercing screams,
34:35they twisted and rolled
34:36in the flames.
34:37Under Jace's protection,
34:38I turned and left.
34:40Behind me was the past
34:41reduced to scorched earth.
34:43And I strode toward the future
34:45that belonged to me.
34:48The fire was quickly extinguished.
34:50Victor and Lily were
34:51completely reduced
34:52to two charred corpses,
34:53so burned that even DNA
34:54was difficult to extract.
34:56The news spread everywhere.
34:57The media frantically dug
34:58into the so-called
34:59family feud
35:00within the conglomerate.
35:01I did not have
35:02the PR department
35:02covered up.
35:03Instead,
35:04I took the initiative
35:04to release to the media
35:05Victor's illegal
35:07live organ trading network
35:08and the evidence
35:09that he and Lily
35:09had planned the assassination.
35:11The media outlets
35:12that had originally
35:13been waiting to laugh at us
35:15quickly turned their guns around
35:17in the face of
35:18iron-flabbed criminal evidence
35:19and praised us as heroes
35:22who had eliminated
35:23a cancer from society.
35:26The group's stock
35:27not only did not fall,
35:28it surged for three straight days
35:30in the market
35:31because of our positive image
35:33of punishing evil
35:34and protecting the innocent.
35:36I stood before the floor
35:37to cleansing windows,
35:39looking down
35:39at the ant-like crowds below.
35:41Just then,
35:42Jace walked over
35:43with a glass of expensive
35:44red wine
35:45and gently pulled me
35:46into his arms.
35:48Madam,
35:49those troublesome
35:50mafia families
35:51have all signed
35:52the asset transfer agreements
35:53according to your requirements.
35:55He kissed my cheek tenderly.
35:57After tonight,
35:57there will be no so-called
35:58underground rules
35:59on the East Coast.
36:00You are the only rule.
36:01I looked out
36:02at the glittering me
36:03beyond the window,
36:04lightly swirling
36:05the blood-red wine
36:05in my glass.
36:06A smile of certain
36:07sectority curved my lip.
36:09Although Victor was dead,
36:10the territory he left behind
36:12had become a piece
36:13of fat meat.
36:14The twelve remaining
36:15old mafia families
36:16on the East Coast
36:17were eager to move.
36:19In their eyes,
36:20Jace was nothing more
36:21than a legitimate businessman
36:22taking advantage
36:23of an opening.
36:24That night,
36:24a threatening letter
36:25containing a bullet
36:26was delivered
36:27to the group headquarters,
36:28demanding that Jace
36:29hand over 70%
36:30of the shipping routes,
36:31or he would not live
36:32to see tomorrow's sun.
36:33Looking at the bullet
36:34on the desk,
36:35killing intake surged
36:36in Jace's eyes,
36:37and he was about
36:37to order a direct assault.
36:39I pressed down
36:39on his hand,
36:40took a black encrypted
36:41USB drive from the safe,
36:43and tossed it lightly
36:44onto the desk.
36:45A direct attack
36:46would be too merciful.
36:47This is the underground
36:48intelligence network.
36:49I spent five years
36:50building in my last life.
36:52I looked at Jace,
36:53my gaze confident and cold.
36:55It contains every
36:56financial weakness
36:57of those twelve families,
36:58the locations of their
36:59illegitimate children overseas,
37:01and conclusive evidence
37:02of their dark web smuggling.
37:04One fatal strike.
37:06That's awesome.
37:07Jace picked up
37:08the USB drive.
37:09The viciousness in his eyes
37:10instantly transformed
37:11into the utmost admiration
37:12and indulgent affection.
37:14He lowered his head
37:15and kissed me deeply.
37:16As you command,
37:17my queen.
37:18Tonight,
37:19I'll tear down their thrones
37:20and turn them into
37:21stepping stones for you.
37:22Outside the window,
37:23thunder rolled
37:24and rain lashed down.
37:25Alone,
37:26Jace pushed open the doors
37:28to the East Coast
37:28underground round table chamber.
37:30Inside the round table chamber,
37:32twelve mafia elders
37:33were smoking cigars
37:34and laughing arrogantly.
37:35Seeing that Jace
37:36had truly dared
37:36to come alone,
37:37several hot-tempered old men
37:38pulled out gold-plated pistols
37:40and slammed them
37:40heavily onto the table.
37:41Pretty boy,
37:42if you know what's good for you,
37:43you'll sign the
37:44asset transfer agreement.
37:45Then we might still
37:46leave you and that
37:47beautiful wife of yours
37:48whole corpses.
37:49Jace didn't even
37:50look at the guns.
37:51He leisurely pulled out
37:53the chair at the head
37:54of the table
37:54and sat down,
37:55then threw twelve
37:56printed sets of
37:57confidential financial
37:58datements and photos
38:00into their faces
38:00like trash.
38:02Look at your own cards
38:03before you decide
38:04whether to raise
38:04your voice at me.
38:06The elders picked up
38:07the documents
38:07and their faces
38:08turned instantly pale.
38:10The hands holding
38:11their cigars
38:12trembled like sieves.
38:13Those were their
38:14most lethal weak points.
38:15As long as Jace
38:16sent them with one click,
38:18they would immediately
38:19lose everything,
38:20perhaps even their families.
38:22You?
38:23What do you want?
38:24Jace smeared
38:25and snapped his
38:26fingers lightly.
38:27The hidden walls
38:27around the chamber
38:28instantly descended,
38:29revealing hundreds
38:30of heavily armed
38:31mercenaries whose
38:32infrared sights were
38:32all locked onto
38:33the centers of
38:34their foreheads.
38:34Jace rose and
38:35looked down at the
38:36once invincible
38:36underworld overlords
38:38from above.
38:38Sign the submission
38:39agreement.
38:40From today on,
38:41the rules of the
38:41East Coast underworld
38:42are decided by my
38:44wife.
38:44When Jace returned
38:45to the manor with
38:46the tokens of
38:46submission from
38:47the twelve families,
38:48it was already
38:49late at night.
38:50After my shower,
38:51I stood before the
38:52Florida clearing windows,
38:53watching the wind and
38:54rain finally
38:55stop outside.
38:56Jace embraced me
38:57from behind and
38:58slipped the black
38:59gold serpent ring,
39:00a symbol of the
39:00highest power on
39:01the dark wet,
39:02onto my ring finger.
39:03His fingers were
39:04faintly callid.
39:05When they touched
39:06my back,
39:07my body stiffened
39:08controllably because
39:09of the bone-deep
39:09memories of beatings
39:10from my last life.
39:11Jace noticed.
39:12He did not rush to
39:13take anything from me.
39:15Instead, he turned
39:16me around and looked
39:17at me with aching
39:17tenderness.
39:18He lowered his head
39:20and reverently kissed
39:20the invisible scars on
39:21my body, kissing away
39:23the last trace of
39:23guardedness towards
39:24intimacy in my heart.
39:26Chloe, in this life,
39:28you're no one's
39:29strategist behind the
39:29scenes anymore,
39:30and you don't have to
39:31take a blade for anyone.
39:33Jace's held my face,
39:34his voice low and
39:35tempting.
39:36You are the only one
39:37in power, and I am
39:39your most loyal believer.
39:41looking at the deep love
39:42burning in his eyes
39:43for me alone.
39:44I finally let go
39:45completely of the
39:45shadows from my past
39:46life.
39:47I wrapped my arms
39:48around his neck and
39:49kissed him back with
39:50equal heat.
39:50Moonlight streamed
39:51through the windows and
39:52spilled across the
39:53luxurious bed where
39:54two figures merged
39:55completely.
39:55Five years later,
39:56it was the very day
39:57when, in my last life,
39:58Jace went bankrupt and
39:59Lily rolled beneath the
40:00truck to her death.
40:00But now we were at the
40:01top floor of the highest
40:02tower on Wall Street.
40:03Wearing a custom gown,
40:04I rang the NASDAQ
40:05opening bell, the richest
40:06person in the world and
40:07the supreme matriarch
40:08of the dark web.
40:08Thunderous applause
40:09filled the room and
40:10camera flashes blazed
40:11like daylight.
40:12Holding a glass of
40:12champagne, I walked to
40:13the floor to clear
40:14window and looked down
40:14over the city I had
40:15thoroughly conquered.
40:16At the end of my line
40:17of sight lay that
40:18filthy slum.
40:19In my last life, Lily
40:20had gnawed on rotten
40:20vegetable leaves there,
40:21then dragged me to my
40:22death out of jealousy.
40:23In this life, she
40:24thought she had stolen
40:25the Trump card, but she
40:26turned to ashes in the
40:27very first year.
40:28Jace walked to my side
40:29holding our three-year-old
40:29heir.
40:30What are you thinking
40:30about?
40:31His eyes full of doting
40:32affection as he wrapped
40:33an arm around my waist.
40:35As if performing magic,
40:36he took a document
40:38of his suit and handed
40:39it to me.
40:40Darling, you said before
40:41that looking at that
40:42slum bothered you.
40:42I've had people approve
40:43the demolition plan to
40:44buy it.
40:45I looked at the document
40:46and couldn't help
40:46laughing softly.
40:47The place that had
40:48buried our fates in my
40:49last life could now be
40:50erased completely from
40:51the map with nothing
40:51more than my signature.
40:53Three days later, more
40:54than a dozen heavy
40:55bulldozers drove into
40:56the slums.
40:56Amid the enormous roar,
40:58the dilapidated
40:58chantels the place that
40:59had buried Lily's greed
41:00and despair collapsed
41:01with a crash and became
41:02ruins.
41:02On the original site, the
41:04world's largest
41:04commercial landmark, named
41:06after me, would rise.
41:08At the groundbreaking
41:09ceremony, global media
41:11swarmed in.
41:12Countless microphones
41:13were thrust in front of me.
41:15This is Jace, man.
41:16How did you go from
41:16an ordinary girl to
41:17the overlord who dominates
41:19both the legitimate
41:19and underground worlds
41:20today?
41:20What was the core secret?
41:22Was it because you were
41:23lucky and chose the
41:24right person?
41:25Hearing the question,
41:26I raised my brows slightly.
41:28I turned and glanced
41:29down from the stage.
41:30Jace was holding our son.
41:32Watching me with a smile
41:33like the most loyal night,
41:34eyes filled the pride of
41:35someone thinking,
41:35my wife shines brightest.
41:37I withdrew my eyes and
41:38looked to the camera,
41:39the corner of my throat
41:40curving into a calm,
41:41aggressively confident
41:42smile.
41:43Fate has never been about
41:44what cards you managed
41:45to steal.
41:47It's about whether you
41:48have the brains to play
41:49them well.
41:50Unfortunately, some people
41:52think they've stolen the
41:53winning hand, but they
41:54don't even qualify to sit
41:55at the table.
41:56I raised the champagne in
41:57my hand.
41:58Sunlight struck the black
41:59gold serpent ring,
42:00refracting a dazzling
42:01gleam.
42:03Cheers to my empire.
42:04Cheers to my empire.
42:05Cheers to my empire.
42:05Cheers to my empire.
42:05Cheers to my empire.
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