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