The Road Not Taken is an emotional billionaire romance about love, ambition, and the choices that shape our destiny. When two former lovers reunite after years apart, old feelings resurface alongside painful regrets and hidden secrets. As success, power, and unexpected twists collide, they must decide whether true love deserves a second chance—or if some roads are meant to remain untaken.
Watch the full episode with English subtitles (ENGSUB) and enjoy a captivating short drama filled with romance, heartbreak, redemption, and unforgettable emotional moments.
#TheRoadNotTaken #BillionaireRomance #CEORomance #SecondChanceLove #LoveStory #RomanceDrama #ShortDrama #DramaSeries #ShortFilm #ShortMovie #ENGSUB #EmotionalDrama #RomanticMovie #RelationshipDrama #ModernRomance
Watch the full episode with English subtitles (ENGSUB) and enjoy a captivating short drama filled with romance, heartbreak, redemption, and unforgettable emotional moments.
#TheRoadNotTaken #BillionaireRomance #CEORomance #SecondChanceLove #LoveStory #RomanceDrama #ShortDrama #DramaSeries #ShortFilm #ShortMovie #ENGSUB #EmotionalDrama #RomanticMovie #RelationshipDrama #ModernRomance
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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 Maffa 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.
02:01This road will only drag you into hell.
02:05Lily 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.
02:12Come 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, unable 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.
02:49Fine.
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,
03:03Jace, 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,
03:14even if I lose everything,
03:16I'll never let you go hungry.
03:19Without hesitation, I placed my hand in his palm.
03:22I will.
03:23I knew very well that Jace was an exceptional man.
03:26In my last life,
03:27after 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,
03:34calling him useless.
03:34Since 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.
03:49Chloe, in this life,
03:50you can wait in the gutter and look up at me.
03:53So she knew I had been reborn, too.
03:55And she thought she had stolen my life.
03:58I watched the motorcycle roar away and was smeared inwardly.
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,
04:07when I first followed Victor back to the East Coast,
04:09I had naively believed he was a good man, too.
04:12He bought me the most expensive dresses
04:13and took me in and out of the top underground casinos.
04:16Even though back then,
04:17I was so afraid I could barely walk,
04:19he brainwashed me,
04:21telling me this was the unique love,
04:23a man who lived on the edge had for me.
04:25Until one day,
04:27his gang hit a dead end.
04:28Without hesitation,
04:29he chained me up
04:30and handed me over to a rival gang.
04:33I was abused by those vile men for two full years.
04:38Only then did I understand
04:39that Victor had only ever seen me
04:41as a scapegoat he could discard at any time.
04:45Chloe, welcome home.
04:48Jace's gentle voice sounded beside me.
04:50I followed Jace into the villa
04:52The moment he opened the door,
04:54I froze.
04:54It was a luxurious dressing room
04:56filled with limited edition gowns
04:58from the current season.
05:00Brilliant jewels flashed almost blindingly under the lights.
05:03My eyes warmed.
05:05Jace, thank you.
05:06I've never seen such a beautiful place.
05:09Since 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
06:03and 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 force Jace out.
06:21In my last life, Jace fell at this very step.
06:24Not only did he go bankrupt,
06:26he 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
06:33with 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 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.
06:58Victor 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,
07:13actually 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
07:42had 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,
08:04Lily thought she had hit a sore point and laughed even more wildly.
08:08I just heard several Wall Street big shots say that
08:11after tonight, Jace 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.
08:28I smiled.
08:29Then let's wait and see.
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.
08:57Eric didn't even look at her
08:58before knocking over his glass with the back of his hand.
09:04What gutter rat thinks she's worthy of cozying up to me?
09:08But 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 godfast,
09:21Eric did indeed fawn over me like a dog.
09:23But Lily didn't know that the current Victor
09:25was nowhere near qualified.
09:27Capitalists like Eric
09:28only respected absolute power.
09:30They 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 counterattack
09:45in the futures market tonight,
09:47earning a net profit of one billion.
09:49Wall Street will be relying on you from 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, some other family
10:06will throw him into the sea
10:07to feed the sharks.
10:08What mafia matriarch fantasy are you having?
10:10The surrounding elite
10:11covered their ears and laughed,
10:12their gazes as sharp as knives.
10:14So she's a lunatook
10:15trying 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
10:22and 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
10:31all carrying machetes.
10:32Who the fuck dares touch my woman?
10:34Eric 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.
10:42With 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
10:57again and again,
10:58more than a dozen times.
10:59Blood filled the corners
11:01of Lily's mouth.
11:02Her soul seemed to leave her body
11:03as he slapped her over and over.
11:05No!
11:06It 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.
11:22If you're not gone in one minute,
11:24all of you are going into the sea.
11:27After dropping that threat,
11:28Eric strode away with his bodyguards.
11:30Lily seized the chance
11:31to break free from Victor
11:32and stumbled toward the door.
11:33You all look down on me today,
11:35but sooner or later you'll regret it!
11:37I will become a mafia godmother!
11:39Because her pride
11:40had been completely trampled,
11:42Lily never again had the face
11:43to appear in public after that day.
11:46Three months passed
11:47in the blink of an eye.
11:49In my last life,
11:51these three months
11:52were exactly the death trap
11:54when Victor's territory
11:56was jointly purged
11:57by the major mafia families.
11:59To 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
12:16was pulled,
12:17Victor showed
12:18no heartache at all.
12:20Instead,
12:21he held other women
12:22and laughed loudly
12:24as he placed his bets.
12:25The despair
12:26of that cold gun barrel
12:27pressed against my throat
12:29utterly shredded
12:30my dignity
12:31as a human being.
12:32In his eyes,
12:34I had never been
12:35a mafia matriarch.
12:36I was only a chip
12:38he could trade
12:38for money
12:39at any time.
12:42I didn't know
12:43whether Lily
12:43would experience
12:44all of that.
12:46But based on my observation
12:48of Victor in this life,
12:50he would only torment Lily
12:51even more vusciously.
12:53Facts proved
12:54my 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
13:07slammed into a stone pillar
13:08beside us
13:09with 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
13:31what she looked like now,
13:32I nearly vomited.
13:34I never imagined Victor
13:36would torture Lily
13:37into such a state.
13:38Lily tumbled out
13:39of the bullet-rivet
13:40old 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
13:48and needle marks.
13:49She crawled toward me
13:50and clung tightly
13:51to my leg.
13:52Chloe, 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
14:00territory lately
14:01and he's taking
14:02all his anger out on me!
14:04He 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
14:16so miserable!
14:17Why didn't you warn me?
14:18This was supposed
14:19to be your suffering!
14:21Let'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 and
14:28picked her away.
14:31Switch back?
14:32Lily?
14:33Did they beat
14:33your brain broken?
14:36I 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!
15:00You hid from me
15:01what would happen
15:02if I chose Victor!
15:04But don't get
15:05too pleased
15:06with yourself!
15:06A flash of vicious,
15:08sick pleasure
15:08crossed Lily's eyes.
15:10According to how
15:11things 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!
15:20You'll have to beg
15:20on the street!
15:22The words had barely
15:23left her mouth.
15:26Twelve Rolls-Royce
15:27phantoms roared
15:28to a stop
15:29in front of us,
15:30sealing off
15:30the entire street.
15:32The 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,
15:41a 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.
15:50She 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,
16:00she'll destroy
16:00your business empire!
16:01Lifted her head pitifully.
16:03Only a clean woman
16:04like me is worthy
16:05of your wealth,
16:05as long as you want me to-
16:06Get away!
16:07Didn't even spare her
16:08a sidelong glance.
16:09He walked straight
16:10past her and came to me.
16:12He took out
16:12an expensive handkerchief
16:14and,
16:14with aching tenderness,
16:16wiped the dust
16:17grabbed onto
16:17the hem of my clothes.
16:19Then he turned
16:19and looked down at her.
16:20If 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.
16:30As for you,
16:30you're not even worthy
16:31of carrying her shoes.
16:32Picture 1 looked
16:33as if she had been
16:34struck by lightning.
16:35Jealousy twisted
16:36her features.
16:37She screamed
16:38and tried to
16:38lunge forward again.
16:39No!
16:40This life should be mine!
16:43Just then,
16:44an old,
16:45unlicensed 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
16:53viciously toward the van.
16:55Filthy bitch!
16:56How dare you
16:57run out and play victim!
16:58Boss Victor is waiting
16:59for you to come back!
17:01We haven't drawn
17:01enough blood today!
17:03Watching the van
17:04speed 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 Manichin,
17:16I immediately locked
17:17the study a door
17:17and turned off the computer.
17:19Relying my understanding
17:20of Victor's
17:21crated network
17:22from my Yen P,
17:22the Uthrai,
17:23bypassed the firewall
17:24with ease
17:25and hacked directly
17:26into the underground
17:27medical system
17:28he had recently connected.
17:29In an encrypted
17:29purchase list,
17:30I found the true
17:31ingredients of those
17:32special supplements.
17:34The moment I clicked it open,
17:35a chill crawled up my spine.
17:37They weren't supplements
17:38at all.
17:38They were living
17:39organ rejection suppressors,
17:41a substance explicitly
17:42banned on 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
17:57that drug every day
17:58and 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
18:07when they were dug out.
18:09Ridiculous, 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
18:23that 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 at a Manhattan hotel.
18:38And at that moment,
18:39she knew nothing
18:39about death's arrival
18:40because she had been
18:41taking that 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
18:47two steps
18:48without losing her breath,
18:49but she still believed
18:50it was only weakness
18:51caused by Victor's abuse.
18:52She stole an invitation
18:53from Victor's drawer,
18:54covered her corpse-pale face
18:56with thick foundation,
18:57and 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 the 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,
19:17finding 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 cornealized to 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.
19:56She finally understood
19:57what those expensive
19:58supplements 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.
20:05No, no, no!
20:07She shoved the magnet away
20:08and fled through
20:09the 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
20:18with the mayor.
20:19Bang!
20:20When 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.
20:28Sister, I was wrong!
20:29I really was wrong!
20:31She cock-o'd it
20:31until blood streamed
20:32down her forehead,
20:33wailing missibly.
20:35Victor wants to come!
20:36Let out my heart!
20:40I'll never fight you
20:41for anything again,
20:42please!
20:43I looked down at her
20:44from above,
20:44my eyes utterly unmoved.
20:46You chose your own road.
20:49I coldly pulled back
20:50the hem of my dress.
20:51If you walk into hell yourself,
20:53don't blame others
20:53for not reaching out.
20:54Lily collapsed
20:55to the floor in despair.
20:57Just 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 Larm
21:10on the floor.
21:12Found you,
21:13nutty.
21:14Seeing the man approach
21:15with the sedative,
21:16the girl scrambled
21:17backward in terror,
21:18screaming like a pig
21:18being slaughtered.
21:19No, no!
21:20The distinguished guests
21:21at the gala
21:22were terrified.
21:23The man shouted,
21:23I'm only here to take
21:25my goods today.
21:26Anyone who dares
21:27call the cops,
21:28I'll kill their whole family.
21:29Standing beside one,
21:31I 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
21:40pass up the chance
21:40to crush Victor completely.
21:42My slender fingers
21:43tapped rapidly
21:44across the screen,
21:45activating the trojan
21:45I had set up in advance.
21:47In less than three seconds,
21:48Victor's 13 money laundering accounts
21:50on the global dark internet
21:51were wiped clean and frozen.
21:52At the same time,
21:53he elegantly pressed
21:54the send button on his watch,
21:55packaging and sending
21:56the complete surveillance footage
21:57and evidence chain
21:58of Victor's live organ transaction
21:59tonight to the FBI
22:00in one case.
22:01The next second,
22:02police sirens
22:02and red-due flashing lights
22:03pierced through the banquet hall.
22:04Dozens of SWAT armored vehicles
22:06blocked the entrance
22:06so tightly
22:07that not even water could pass.
22:08Boss!
22:08All our accounts have been frozen!
22:09The place is crawling with cops!
22:11One'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.
22:22Bring me the fuck back!
22:25Anyone moves
22:26and 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,
22:35but a high concentration
22:36in the air-inducing jet.
22:37In less than two seconds,
22:38Lily's eyes flooded bloodway
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 fixedly at me,
22:45dazzling and glamour,
22:46protected in Jason's arms.
22:48The extreme resentment
22:48of being trampled 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.
23:00Victor 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
23:05at my face.
23:06I'll ruin you!
23:07Go to hell with me!
23:08She was extremely far.
23:10It 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
23:15clean sidekick
23:15straight to Lily's chest.
23:17Lily flew out
23:17like a torn sack.
23:18With a crash,
23:19she smashed heavily
23:19into the five-tier champagne tower.
23:21Glass shards pierced
23:22her entire body
23:22and blood gushed out.
23:23Lying in a pool of blood,
23:25she vomited blood
23:25while pointing at me
23:26and laughing madly.
23:27Jace!
23:28Don't be fooled by her!
23:29Lily shrieked hysterically,
23:31trying 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
23:37with 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
23:49fell silent.
23:50Blood filled Lily's mouth
23:51as she looked at Jace
23:53smugly,
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-powerful
24:03mafia matriarch!
24:04You're just a tool
24:05she'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 for your stupidity
24:16in this life.
24:17Jace's voice was low
24:18and dominating.
24:19Thank you for personally
24:20pushing such a perfect wife
24:22into my arms.
24:23Just then,
24:24SWAT officers broke
24:25through the doors.
24:26Don't move!
24:27Drop your weapons!
24:30The scene descended
24:31instantly into
24:31chaos.
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 shoved flash
24:47like lightning.
24:48Victor's eyes instantly
24:49changed from fear
24:50to shock.
24:50It was her?
24:51Cold seawater choked
24:53his windpipe.
24:53Victor swam desperately
24:54through the sewer
24:55like a stray dog
24:56that had lost its home.
24:57But Lily's words
24:58from the gala
24:58kept replaying in his mind.
25:00In her last life,
25:00she was the all-powerful
25:01mafia matriarch.
25:02Victor fled back
25:03to the moldy-smelling
25:04basement and looked
25:05at 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.
25:12In his last life,
25:13every time his gang
25:13hit a dead end,
25:14he would somehow
25:15receive intelligence
25:16to solve it the next day.
25:17He had thought Lily
25:17was born blessed
25:18with good fortune,
25:19so each time he had
25:20placed Lily high
25:21on a pedestal.
25:21But in this life,
25:23Lily, who carried
25:23memories too,
25:24was a fool who didn't
25:25even understand mafia slang
25:26and only knew
25:27how to cry
25:27for designer brands.
25:29And just now
25:29at the gala,
25:30the way Chloe froze
25:31his overseas dark 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.
25:39The 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
25:46went weak
25:47and he dropped
25:47onto the damp floor.
25:50He finally realized
25:51that with his own hands,
25:52he had thrown away
25:53a queen who could have
25:54helped him dominate the world,
25:56only to pick up
25:57a useless blood bag
25:58that had drained him dry.
26:00Victor's bloodshot eyes
26:01locked onto a financial magazine
26:03photo of Jace and Chloe
26:04on the wall.
26:06He punched the frame
26:07to pieces.
26:08Chloe is mine!
26:10She belongs to me!
26:12Three days later,
26:13in the underground parking garage
26:15of the J group,
26:16I had just stepped out
26:17of 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 and 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 and tears.
26:46You're my woman.
26:47As long as you come back,
26:48we can join hands
26:50like in our last life
26:50and take Jace money.
26:52We're the destined king
26:53and queen of the underworld!
26:55Looking 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, like a leopard,
27:11kicked Victor
27:12three meters away.
27:13Jace unbuttoned
27:14his suit jacket
27:15unhastingly
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.
27:24Jace!
27:25You're nothing
27:26but a pretty boy
27:27living off a woman!
27:28Driven into a corner,
27:30Victor erupted
27:31with a desperado's ferocity.
27:32He pulled out
27:33a switchblade
27:34and roared
27:35as he lunged
27:36at 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
27:46of breaking bone
27:46rang out.
27:47Victor let out
27:48a pig-like scream
27:48and the knife
27:49fell to the floor.
27:50Then Jace drove
27:51his knee upward,
27:52slamming it heavily
27:53into 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
28:02like mud,
28:03coughing out
28:04mouthfuls of blood.
28:05Jace stepped forward
28:06and mercilessly planted
28:07his leather shoe
28:08on Victor's broken fingers,
28:10grinding down hard.
28:11You think you deserved
28:12her in your last life?
28:14Jace looked down
28:15at Victor
28:15as he corals it
28:16in pain.
28:18You couldn't protect her.
28:20All you could do
28:21was rely on
28:22the pitiful power
28:23she handed you.
28:24And in this life,
28:27you don't even have
28:28the right to say
28:28her name.
28:31Jace gestured.
28:32Blackwater bodyguards
28:33stepped forward
28:34and dragged Victor
28:34like a dead dog,
28:35throwing him into
28:36the garbage heap
28:36in the back alley.
28:37And at that moment,
28:38the gears of fate
28:39turned.
28:40An ambulance from
28:41the 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,
28:50Lily 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
28:56saw Victor rivaling
28:57in the garbage heap.
28:59Victor?
29:00The moment she made
29:01out that face,
29:02Lily showed not
29:03the slightest sympathy.
29:04Instead,
29:04she burst into
29:05wild laughter.
29:06You liar!
29:07Weren't you a mafia boss?
29:08Why are you lying here
29:09like a stray dog?
29:09Victor struggled
29:10to open his eyes.
29:11Seeing the woman
29:12who had ruined him
29:12so badly,
29:13old hatred
29:13and new rage
29:14erupted like a volcano.
29:15If not for Lily,
29:17how would he have
29:18lost 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
29:30garbage heap.
29:30You useless thing!
29:32Give me back Chloe!
29:33Give me back
29:34my mafia empire!
29:35Lily's eyes rolled
29:35back from the choking,
29:36and her hands
29:37clawed wildly.
29:37The 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,
29:53she stabbed the shard
29:54fiercely into
29:55Victor's female artery.
29:56Blood instantly
29:57sprayed out like a fountain,
29:59splattering across
30:00Lily's face.
30:02Victor screamed.
30:05The two of them
30:06collapsed together
30:06into the reeking pool
30:07of blood and trash,
30:09convulsing in despair.
30:11A passerby discovered
30:12them and called the police,
30:13and the two were taken
30:13back to 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 living organ
30:25suppresses from
30:25the urd dark web
30:26for a long time,
30:27your kidneys and liver
30:28have completely failed.
30:29You have two months
30:30at most.
30:32There's no treatment value.
30:33Wait to die.
30:35The doctor's words
30:36were like a final verdict.
30:38Lily finally realized it.
30:40The 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
30:50to hell.
30:51The television
30:51on the hospital wall
30:52lit 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
31:02under the eyes
31:02of the world,
31:03dazzling like a queen.
31:04If I can't live,
31:06you won't have
31:07peace either!
31:09She violently
31:09ripped the IV needle
31:11from 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.
31:18Lily wrapped all the wounds
31:19on her body in bandages,
31:20pulled the loose cleaner's
31:21robe over herself,
31:22and slipped in the
31:23outdoor celebration banquet
31:24for the Jace Group's
31:25listing in her arms.
31:26She carried a large
31:26barrel of gasoline,
31:28had bought on the
31:28black market.
31:29As long as she could
31:30burn me and Jace
31:31to ashes in front
31:32of everyone,
31:33she would be willing
31:33to die in the flames
31:34immediately.
31:35At the center
31:36of 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.
31:43Lily hid behind a pillar
31:44in the shadows,
31:45staring at that
31:46blinding glory.
31:47The flames of jealousy
31:48in her heart
31:49burned all the way
31:50up her throat.
31:50Die!
31:51All of you die!
31:53She pushed the cart
31:53carrying the gasoline
31:54using the darkness
31:55to inch closer
31:56to the ventilation system.
31:58As 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 hell.
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
32:56globalize the city's
32:57armed 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.
33:08How is this possible?
33:10How 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
33:22and tortured me in this one.
33:23Did you think you could still
33:24threaten me
33:25like some ridiculous clown?
33:27Didn't you want to light the fire?
33:29Go on.
33:30Don't be a coward.
33:32When Lily heard this,
33:33the last spark of hope
33:34in her eyes
33:35went out completely.
33:36She looked at my lofty posture
33:37at how I didn't even deign
33:39to give her a single glance.
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
33:53from the cut ropes
33:53and, like a mad woman,
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,
34:07didn't you want money?
34:09Didn'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 room.
34:25A whole barrel of gasoline
34:26instantly poured over
34:27the dark.
34:28Flames shot into the air,
34:29lighting up the entire
34:30underground village.
34:31Fire swallowed the two
34:32evil ghosts
34:33who had once screamed
34:34against 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 completely
34:55reduced to 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
35:06cover it up.
35:07Instead, I took the initiative
35:08to release to the media
35:09Victor's illegal live organ
35:11trading network
35:11and the evidence that he and Lily
35:13had planned the assassination.
35:15The media outlets that had originally
35:17been waiting to laugh at us
35:18quickly turned their guns around
35:20in the face of iron-flabbed criminal evidence
35:23and praised us as heroes
35:25who had eliminated a cancer from society.
35:29The group's stock not only did not fall,
35:32it surged for three straight days
35:34in the market
35:34because of our positive image
35:37of punishing evil
35:38and protecting the innocent.
35:39I stood before the floor
35:41declasing windows,
35:42looking down at the ant-like crowds below.
35:44Just then,
35:45Jace walked over
35:46with a glass of expensive red wine
35:48and gently pulled me into his arms.
35:52Madam,
35:52those troublesome mafia families
35:54have all signed
35:55the asset transfer agreements
35:56according to your requirements.
35:59He kissed my cheek tenderly.
36:00After tonight,
36:01there will be no so-called
36:02underground rules on the East Coast.
36:03You are the only rule.
36:05I looked out at the glittering knee
36:06beyond the window,
36:07lightly swirling the blood-red wine
36:09in my glass.
36:10A smile of certain sectority
36:11curved my lip.
36:12Although Victor was dead,
36:14the territory he left behind
36:15had become a piece of fat meat.
36:17The 12 remaining old mafia families
36:20on the East Coast
36:20were eager to move.
36:22In their eyes,
36:24Jace was nothing more
36:24than a legitimate businessman
36:26taking advantage of an opening.
36:27That night,
36:28a threatening letter
36:29containing a bullet
36:30was delivered to the group headquarters,
36:32demanding that Jace
36:32hand over 70% of the shipping routes,
36:34or he would not live
36:35to see tomorrow's sun.
36:36Looking at the bullet on the desk,
36:38killing intake surged
36:39in Jace's eyes,
36:40and he was about to order
36:41a direct assault.
36:42I pressed down on 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 and cold.
36:59It contains every financial weakness
37:00of those 12 families,
37:02the locations of their
37:03illegitimate children overseas,
37:04and conclusive evidence
37:05of their dark web smuggling.
37:07One fatal strike.
37:09That's our story.
37:10Jace picked up the USB drive.
37:12The viciousness in his eyes
37:14instantly transformed
37:15into the utmost admiration
37:16and indulgent affection.
37:18He lowered his head
37:19and kissed me deeply.
37:20As you command,
37:21my queen.
37:22Tonight,
37:22I'll tear down their thrones
37:24and turn them into
37:24stepping stones for you.
37:26Outside the window,
37:27thunder rolled
37:27and rain lashed down.
37:29Alone,
37:30Jace pushed open the doors
37:31to the East Coast
37:32underground round table chamber.
37:34Inside the round table chamber,
37:3612 mafia elders
37:36were smoking cigars
37:38and laughing arrogantly.
37:39Seeing that Jace
37:39had truly dared
37:40to come alone,
37:41several hot-tempered old men
37:42pulled out gold-plated pistols
37:44and slammed them
37:44heavily onto the table.
37:45Pretty boy,
37:46if you know what's good for you,
37:47you'll sign the
37:48asset transfer agreement.
37:49Then we might still
37:50leave you and that
37:51beautiful 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 12 printed sets
38:01of confidential
38:02financial datements
38:03and photos
38:03into their faces
38:04like trash.
38:05Look at your own cards
38:07before 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
38:15their cigars trembled
38:16like sieves.
38:17Those were their
38:17most lethal weak points.
38:19As long as Jace
38:20sent them with one click,
38:22they would immediately
38:22lose everything,
38:24perhaps 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
38:32instantly descended,
38:33revealing hundreds
38:34of heavily armed
38:34mercenaries whose
38:35infrared sights were
38:36all locked onto
38:37the centers of
38:37their foreheads.
38:38Jace rose and
38:39looked down at the
38:39once-invincible
38:40underworld overlords
38:41from above.
38:42Sign the submission agreement.
38:43From today on,
38:44the rules of the
38:45East Coast underworld
38:46are decided by my wife.
38:48When Jace returned
38:49to the manor
38:49with the tokens
38:50of submission
38:50from the 12 families,
38:52it was already
38:53late at night.
38:54After my shower,
38:55I stood before
38:56the Florida clearing
38:57windows,
38:57watching the wind
38:58and rain finally
38:59stop outside.
39:00Jace embraced me
39:01from behind
39:02and slipped the
39:02black gold serpent ring,
39:03a symbol of the
39:04highest power
39:05on the dark wet,
39:06onto my ring finger.
39:07His fingers were
39:08faintly callid.
39:09When they touched
39:10my back,
39:11my body stiffened
39:11controllably
39:12because of the
39:13bone-deep memories
39:13of beatings
39:14from my last life.
39:15Jace noticed.
39:16He did not rush
39:17to take anything
39:18from 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 the
39:27last trace of
39:27guardedness towards
39:28intimacy in my heart.
39:30Chloe,
39:31in this life,
39:32you're no one's
39:32strategist behind
39:33the scenes anymore
39:34and you don't have
39:35to take a blade
39:35for anyone.
39:36Jace's held my face,
39:38his voice low
39:39and tempting.
39:40You are the only
39:40one in power
39:42and I am your
39:43most loyal believer.
39:44Looking at the
39:45deep love burning
39:46in his eyes
39:46for me alone,
39:47I finally let go
39:48completely of the
39:49shadows from my
39:50past life.
39:51I wrapped my arms
39:52around his neck
39:52and kissed him
39:53back with 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, in my last life,
40:02Jace went bankrupt
40:03and Lily rolled
40:03beneath the truck
40:04to her death.
40:04But now we were
40:05at 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
40:10in the world
40:11and the supreme
40:11matriarch of the dark web.
40:12Thunderous applause
40:13filled the room
40:14and camera flashes
40:15blazed like daylight.
40:16Holding a glass of champagne,
40:17I walked to the floor
40:17to clear window
40:18and looked down
40:18over the city
40:19I had thoroughly conquered.
40:20At the end of my line
40:21of sight lay
40:21that filthy slum.
40:23In my last life,
40:23Lily had gnawed
40:24on rotten vegetable leaves
40:25there,
40:25then dragged me
40:26to my death
40:26out of jealousy.
40:27In this life,
40:28she thought she had
40:29stolen the Trump part,
40:30but she turned to ashes
40:30in the very first year.
40:32Jace 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.
40:38As 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
40:48to buy it.
40:49I looked at the document
40:50and 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
41:04Lily'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.
41:12At the groundbreaking ceremony,
41:14global media swarmed in.
41:16Countless microphones
41:17were thrust in front of me.
41:19This is Jace, man.
41:20How did you go
41:20from an 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
41:33down from the stage.
41:34Jace was holding our sun.
41:36Watching me with a smile
41:37like the most loyal knight,
41:38eyes filled the pride
41:39of someone thinking,
41:40my 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.
41:47Fate has never been about
41:48what cards you manage 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,
41:58but they don't even qualify
41:59to sit at the table.
42:00I raised the champagne
42:01in my hand.
42:02Sunlight struck
42:03the black gold serpent ring,
42:04refracting a dazzling gleam.
42:06Cheers
42:07to my empire.
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