The Road Not Taken ARS [Full Movie]

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The Road Not Taken ARS

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00:00:00a billionaire from the west coast. The other was Victor. Inside a gothic cathedral stood

00:00:04two men looking for wives. One was Jace, a billionaire from the west coast. The other

00:00:09was Victor, a small-time thug from the east coast. For the sake of a massive bride price,

00:00:14our powerful stepmother made us choose which one we would marry. In my last life, my younger

00:00:19sister Lily rushed to choose Jace, the billionaire, and she pushed Victor, that low-life thug,

00:00:24onto me. But no one expected that five years later, Jace would go completely bankrupt and Lily would

00:00:31have no choice but to move with him into a leaking slum. As for that thug Victor, he carved a

00:00:37bloody

00:00:37path across the east coast and became a mafia godfather who struck fear into everyone who heard

00:00:42his name. I became the mafia matriarch countless people tried to curry favor with. Luxury cars and

00:00:47yachts, whenever I went out, money spent like water. When I saw Lily starving in the slums, picking up

00:00:52discarded vegetable leaves, I kindly handed her a check for one million dollars to help improve

00:00:56her life. But she tore the check to pieces, clamped both hands around my throat, and dragged me

00:01:01towards a speeding truck. Give me back the life that should have been mine! The truck roared past

00:01:05and Lily and I died together. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to five years ago,

00:01:12to the day Jace and Victor came to choose their wives. I like wild men. I'm going with you!

00:01:22As if she had already decided that in this life, she would become the mafia matriarch and crush me

00:01:29completely under her feet. I knew then that Lily had been reborn too. She thought she had stolen my

00:01:35life. But I only found it funny. Victor was no devoted underworld boss from some mafia movie.

00:01:42He was a demon who took pleasure in tormenting people. The only reason Victor became a mafia godfather

00:01:47in my last life was because of the leadership I gave him from behind the scenes. Even so, Victor

00:01:53still broke 199 of my bones. I looked at Lily's relieved expression and curved my lips.

00:01:59You think you're about to live a glorious life above everyone else? But you have no idea. This road

00:02:05will only drag you into hell. Lily thought that throwing herself into Victor's arms would guarantee he

00:02:11would take her in. But Victor shoved her away and fixed his gaze on me. Come here. I want you.

00:02:18My heart trembled. Fear flooded over me like a tide. Memories from my last life poured into my mind

00:02:23in an instant. Being chained in his basement and beaten. Being handed to other gangs as a hostage and

00:02:27violated. Having my bones shattered for human experiments. I froze where I stood. Unable to move

00:02:33even half a step. Lily panicked at the sight. Don't choose my sister Chloe. She's vain and greedy.

00:02:39Always thinking about diamonds and sports cars. How could she possibly endure your dangerous

00:02:44bloodstake life? She looks down on you but I'm willing to suffer with you.

00:02:51Fine. Then you'll be my woman. As long as you behave and do what I say. I'll make sure you

00:02:58can

00:02:58walk all over this street. I believe you. I'll do whatever you say. At that moment, Jace, who stood beside

00:03:07us, held out an expensive wedding gown to me. Will you be my wife and leave with me? I'm currently

00:03:13facing a financial crisis. But I promise you, even if I lose everything, I'll never let you go hungry.

00:03:21Without hesitation, I placed my hand in his palm. I will. I knew very well that Jace was an exceptional

00:03:28man. In my last life, after Jace went bankrupt, even when he had to work three jobs a day, he

00:03:33still

00:03:33saved the last piece of bread for Lily. But Lily cursed him all day long, calling him useless.

00:03:38Since you're too blessed to appreciate him, then he'll be mine. When Lily climbed onto Victor's

00:03:42battered motorcycle, she turned back and whispered to me, Jace is about to go bankrupt and end up on

00:03:47the street. Victor will fight his way back into high society sooner or later. Chloe, in this life,

00:03:53you can wait in the gutter and look up at me. So she knew I had been reborn too, and

00:03:58she thought

00:03:59she had stolen my life. I watched the motorcycle roar away and sneered in the loop. Only I knew

00:04:04Victor would treat the woman beside him like a machine until he had squeezed out every last drop

00:04:08of value. In my last life, when I first followed Victor back to the East Coast, I had naively

00:04:13believed he was a good man too. He bought me the most expensive dresses and took me in and out

00:04:18of the

00:04:18top underground casinos. Even though back then, I was so afraid I could barely walk, he brainwashed me,

00:04:24telling me this was the unique love a man who lived on the edge had for me. Until one day,

00:04:30his gang

00:04:30hit a dead end. Without hesitation, he chained me up and handed me over to a rival gang. I was

00:04:37abused by

00:04:37those vile men for two full years. Only then did understand that Victor had only ever seen me as a

00:04:45scapegoat he could discard at any time. Chloe, welcome home. Jace's gentle voice sounded beside me.

00:04:53I followed Jace into the villa. The moment he opened the door, I froze. It was a luxurious

00:04:59dressing room filled with limited edition gowns from the current season. Brilliant jewels flashed

00:05:04almost blindingly under the lights. My eyes warmed. Jace, thank you. I've never seen such a beautiful

00:05:11place. Since you've come home with me, you're the mistress of this house. Swipe the card for anything

00:05:18you want. I'll never let my woman suffer the slightest grievous. Warmth rushed through my

00:05:28chest. Even though his company was currently being jointly stingled by Wall Street, he still

00:05:34gave me the very best. I'll behave. Facts proved that Jace was the perfect gentleman. He cherished me

00:05:42like a priceless treasure. My food, clothes, and daily necessities were all top tier. But he didn't

00:05:48know that I was no longer the fallen heiress who only knew how to enjoy herself. In my last life,

00:05:55I hid behind the scenes and helped Victor build a massive mafia empire. In this life, I could help

00:06:03Jace protect everything too. I walked straight into his study and picked up the financial reports on

00:06:09his desk. Since you're protecting me, I'll protect your business empire for you. Only three days later,

00:06:19Wall Street's hunt began. Jace's enemies had bragged an executive in his company. They planned to present a

00:06:24fake report at the board meeting and forced Jace out. In my last life, Jace fell at this very step.

00:06:29Not only did he go bankrupt, he was also saddled with massive debt. But in this life, I was here.

00:06:34My experience laundering money for Victor in my past life made me intimately familiar with these

00:06:39kinds of business tactics. I hacked directly into that traitorous executive's email, obtained ironclade

00:06:43proof that they had falsified the data, and sent it straight to the FBI. Not only that, I also used

00:06:48a

00:06:48black card Jace had given me to set a financial trap in the futures market. Jace, this time you won't

00:06:53lose.

00:06:54That night, a top charity gala was held in Manhattan. I held Jace's arm and stepped out

00:06:59of a Rolls Royce. But unexpectedly, I ran into Lily there. Victor was nothing but an up-and-coming

00:07:04street thug. He had no qualifications to attend such an event. Clearly, Lily had forced Victor

00:07:08to fortune-buying invitations so she could show off her mafia wife persona. Lily arrogantly blocked

00:07:12my path. Chloe, what a surprise. Jace, that loser who's going bankrupt tonight, actually managed to borrow

00:07:19money to rent you a gown? You have no idea how amazing Victor is. He took over three blocks of

00:07:24territory. The cash he brings home could fill a bathtub. See that? He assigned me fully armed bodyguards

00:07:30to protect me, and every day he has people stew the finest supplements for me. You'll never experience

00:07:35this kind of love in your life. I looked at her nouveau riche posturing and smeared again and again

00:07:40in my heart. Bodyguards? Supplements? Lily had no idea that Victor's frantic territorial expansion

00:07:46had already angered several old mafia families. He gave Lily bodyguards to disguise her as a top

00:07:52priority target and draw assassin fire. He fed her expensive supplements so he could draw her healthy

00:07:57blood and trade it to high-level figures on the underground black market in exchange for resources

00:08:02and life extension. I looked at Lily with pity. She wasn't far from death. Seeing me silent, Lily thought

00:08:09she had hit a sore point and laughed even more wildly. I just heard several Wall Street big shot say

00:08:16that

00:08:16after tonight, Jace will have nothing! She leaned closer and lowered her voice. When that happens,

00:08:22you'll have to sell yourself in the slums to pay off his debts. The throne above everyone else is mine

00:08:28in the end.

00:08:33I smiled. Then let's wait and see. When Lily saw that I wasn't intimidated at all,

00:08:39she stomped her foot hard. Chloe, just you wait! Sooner or later, you'll be kneeling and begging me!

00:08:47She turned and walked toward Eric, the crown prince of Wall Street, picked up a glass of champagne

00:08:53and tried to build a connection. Mr. Eric, Victor asked me to send you his regards. From now on,

00:09:00he'll have your East Coast business covered. Eric didn't even look at her before knocking over his

00:09:05glass with the back of his hand. What gutter rat thinks she's worthy of cozying up to me?

00:09:13But on TV, you clearly said you respected people who would do whatever it took to climb up.

00:09:17That's me! How can you look down on me? Watching this, I couldn't help finding it funny. In my last

00:09:23life, after Victor became a mafia godfast, Eric did indeed fawn over me like a dog. But Lily didn't

00:09:29know that the current Victor was nowhere near qualified. Capitalists like Eric only respected

00:09:34absolute power. They would never spare a second glance for a street thug's woman. A cheap whore who

00:09:40eats off gangsters has no right to dirty my suit. Mrs. Jace, congratulations to Mr. Jace on his

00:09:49perfect counterattack in the futures market tonight, earning a net profit of one billion! Wall Street

00:09:54will be relying on you from now on! Lily froze where she stood, shaking her head in disbelief.

00:10:00What nonsense are you talking about? Jace is supposed to go bankrupt tonight. Victor is the future

00:10:04godfather! She suddenly lunged at Eric. Eric, open your eyes! You should be working with me!

00:10:07Eric shoved her to the floor, his face full of disgust. Who collects protection money?

00:10:10Tonight, some other family will throw him into the sea to feed the sharks. What mafia matriarch

00:10:14fantasy are you having? The surrounding elite covered their ears and laughed, their gazes

00:10:18as sharp as knives. So she's a lunatook trying to use a thug to climb into power. Hurry up and

00:10:22call security to throw this bitch out! She's dirtying our eyes! Humiliated to the bone, Lily climbed

00:10:26up from the floor and glared at everyone with hatred. Victor, pull out your gun! Show them who the king

00:10:30of the East Coast really is! The doors to the banquet hall were kicked open. Victor stormed in arrogantly,

00:10:35with a dozen tattooed men, all carrying machetes. Who the fuck dares touch my woman?

00:10:39Eric sneered. In an instant, dozens of armed Blackwater bodyguards surged out from every

00:10:42direction. Red laser sights locked onto Victor's forehead and chest in unisus. Victor's legs

00:10:46went weak. With a thud, he dropped to his knees. Mr. Eric, misunderstanding! This crazy bitch

00:10:51lost her mind! It has nothing to do with me! Victor, what are you saying? Shut up! Who gave you

00:10:56the right to speak here? To distance himself from her, he crawled over, grabbed Lily by the hair,

00:11:00and slapped her across the face again and again, more than a dozen times. Blood filled the corners

00:11:06of Lily's mouth. Her soul seemed to leave her body as he slapped her over and over. No, it shouldn't

00:11:12be like this! The entire hall fell into dead silence. Jace calmly set down his wine glass and shielded

00:11:18me behind him. He leisurely wiped a drop of wine from the hem of his jacket. Every movement refined

00:11:23and elegant. He was worlds apart from Victor, who had just been wagging his tail and begging.

00:11:27If you're not gone in one minute, all of you are going into the sea. After dropping that threat,

00:11:33Eric strode away with his bodyguards. Lily seized the chance to break free from Victor and stumbled

00:11:38toward the door. You all look down on me today, but sooner or later you'll regret it! I will become

00:11:43a mafia godmother! Because her pride had been completely trampled, Lily never again had the face

00:11:49to appear in public after that day. Three months passed in the blink of an eye. In my last life,

00:11:57these three months were exactly the death trap. When Victor's territory was jointly purged by the major

00:12:03mafia families. To borrow money from a Mexican drug lord for weapons, he personally pushed me onto an

00:12:09underground gambling table. Those desperados shoved a loaded resolvor into my mouth and forced me to

00:12:17play Russian select. Each time the trigger was pulled, Victor showed no heartache at all. Instead,

00:12:26he held other women and laughed loudly as he placed his bets. The despair of that cold gun barrel pressed

00:12:33against my throat. Utterly shredded my dignity as a human being. In his eyes, I had never been a mafia

00:12:41matriarch. I was only a chip he could trade for money at any time. I didn't know whether Lily would

00:12:49experience all of that. But based on my observation of Victor in this life, he would only torment Lily even

00:12:57more vusciously. Facts proved my guess was right. The next morning, I had just walked out of an

00:13:03upscale clubhouse when a battered pickup car riddled with bullet holes came barreling towards me like mad.

00:13:10A bodyguard threw me to the ground and the pickup slammed into a stone pillar beside us with a crash.

00:13:19Lily's shrill voice came from inside. Chloe, get out here! My heart jolted. Lily had come.

00:13:34Although I had prepared myself, when I saw what she looked like now, I nearly vomited. I never imagined Victor

00:13:41would torture Lily into such a state. Lily tumbled out of the bullet-rivet old pickup.

00:13:47Her once delicate face was sun and deathly pale. Beneath her expensive silk-slip dress,

00:13:52her body was covered in bruises and needle marks. She crawled toward me and clung tightly to my leg.

00:13:58Chloe, let's switch back! Knot and tears mixed together on her face, making her look both pitiful

00:14:03and disgusting. That lunatic Victor has been losing territory lately and he's taking all his anger out on me!

00:14:09He draws my blood every day to sell it and he forces me to accompany those perverts so he can

00:14:15win

00:14:15resources! She suddenly lifted her head and shouted with righteous confidence.

00:14:20You clearly knew this life would be so miserable! Why didn't you warn me? This was supposed to be

00:14:25your suffering! Let's switch back now! You go be Victor's dog and I'll be your rich wife!

00:14:31Hearing such shameless words, I sneered and kicked her away.

00:14:37Switch back? Lily? Did they beat your brain broken?

00:14:41I looked down at her from above. Who was the one who rushed to climb onto Victor's motorcycle?

00:14:51Who was the one who gloated and mocked me?

00:14:55Saying I could only look up at you from the slums?

00:14:58She lay on the ground, pounding the pavement in a frenzy as she screamed.

00:15:02That's because you tricked me!

00:15:05You hid from me what would happen if I chose Victor!

00:15:10But don't get too pleased with yourself!

00:15:12A flash of vicious, sick pleasure crossed Lily's eyes.

00:15:16According to how things went in the last life,

00:15:18that useless Jace is going completely bankrupt today!

00:15:22When that happens, you won't even be able to afford the slums!

00:15:25You'll have to beg on the street!

00:15:27The words had barely left her mouth.

00:15:32Twelve Rolls Royce phantoms roared to a stop in front of us,

00:15:35sealing off the entire street.

00:15:38The car doors opened.

00:15:40Dressed in a custom suit,

00:15:41strode toward us surrounded by dozens of Blackwater bodyguards.

00:15:44Seeing such an astonishing scene,

00:15:46throat tightened, a sharp swallow betraying her shock.

00:15:48Impossible! You're supposed to go bankrupt today!

00:15:51How could you still have money?

00:15:52But she instantly reacted.

00:15:54Now was the time to cling to power.

00:15:56She shoved me aside and rushed toward two,

00:15:58deliberately exposing her collarbones and leaning close as she pleaded sweetly.

00:16:01Mr. Miss, you don't be deceived by my sister!

00:16:03She's a demon to the bone!

00:16:05Sooner or later, she'll destroy your business empire!

00:16:07Lifted her head pitifully.

00:16:09Only a clean woman like me is worthy of your wealth.

00:16:12As long as you want me...

00:16:12Get away!

00:16:13Didn't even spare her a sidelong glance.

00:16:15He walked straight past her and came to me.

00:16:18He took out an expensive handkerchief and,

00:16:20with aching tenderness, wiped the dust grabbed onto the hem of my clothes.

00:16:25Then he turned and looked down at her.

00:16:27If she really is a demon, then I'd willingly offer her my soul.

00:16:31Besides, she's the one who helped me dominate Wall Street.

00:16:34Chloe is my only woman.

00:16:36As for you, you're not even worthy of carrying her shoes.

00:16:38Picture One looked as if she had been struck by lightning.

00:16:41Jealousy twisted her features.

00:16:43She screamed and tried to lunge forward again.

00:16:45No!

00:16:46This life should be mine!

00:16:49Just then, an old, unlicensed van screeched to a stop by the roadside.

00:16:54Two tattooed thugs jumped out,

00:16:57grabbed her by the hair,

00:16:58and dragged her viciously toward the van.

00:17:01Filthy bitch!

00:17:02How dare you run out and play victim!

00:17:04Boss Victor is waiting for you to come back!

00:17:06We haven't drawn enough blood today!

00:17:09Watching the van speed away, I frowned.

00:17:12Special supplements?

00:17:13Had Victor come up with some new trick again?

00:17:15The instincts I had developed in my last life

00:17:17while managing Victor's underground industries

00:17:19told me this was absolutely not simple.

00:17:21After returning to the Manishin,

00:17:22I immediately locked the study-a-door and turned off the computer.

00:17:25Relying my understanding of Victor's cratic network

00:17:28from my Yen-P, the Uthrai,

00:17:29bypassed the firewall with ease

00:17:31and hacked directly into the underground medical system

00:17:34he had recently connected.

00:17:35In an encrypted purchase list,

00:17:37I found the true ingredients of those special supplements.

00:17:40The moment I clicked it open,

00:17:41a chill crawled up my spine.

00:17:43They weren't supplements at all.

00:17:45They were living organ rejection suppressors,

00:17:47a substance explicitly banned on the dark web.

00:17:49So that was it.

00:17:51Victor's frantic expansion had angered the old mafia,

00:17:53and his cash flow had completely collapsed.

00:17:56To repay his debts,

00:17:58he had accepted a live organ order from a sick drug lord.

00:18:02Victor fed her that drug every day and kept her well-fed.

00:18:05Not because he cherished her,

00:18:07because he was treating her like a mobable organ incubator,

00:18:10ensuring that her heart and corneals

00:18:11would perfectly match the buyer's body when they were dug out.

00:18:15Ridiculous, Lily.

00:18:16She thought she had stolen my script as mafia matriarch,

00:18:19and ran around showing off that exclusive love,

00:18:22never knowing she was walking step by step towards the slaughterhouse.

00:18:26I scrolled to the last line of the order.

00:18:28The system showed that the harvest delivery date was three days later,

00:18:31at an East Coast elite charity gala.

00:18:34I curved my lips coldly.

00:18:37The show was about to begin.

00:18:39On the night of the delivery,

00:18:40the East Coast's most prestigious charity gala was held at a Manhattan hotel.

00:18:44And at that moment, she knew nothing about death's arrival.

00:18:47Because she had been taking that illegal rejection-suppressing drug for so long,

00:18:50her body was already on the verge of collapse.

00:18:52She could barely take two steps without losing her breath.

00:18:55But she still believed it was only weakness caused by Victor's abuse.

00:18:58She stole an invitation from Victor's drawer,

00:19:00covered her corpse-pale face with thick foundation,

00:19:03and snuck into the gala.

00:19:04Amid the glittering crowd,

00:19:06she immediately set her sights on a gray-haired Wall Street magnetet.

00:19:08She used the same old trick,

00:19:10forcing tears into her eyes as she pressed herself delicately against the magnet's arm.

00:19:13Sir, please save me.

00:19:14Victor, that thug keeps torturing me.

00:19:16As long as you're willing to pay to take me away,

00:19:18I'll do anything for you.

00:19:20She looked at the magnet with expectation,

00:19:22thinking that with her looks,

00:19:23finding a new patron would be easy.

00:19:25The magnet held his glass of red wine and looked her up and down.

00:19:28But there was no desire in his eyes.

00:19:31Take you away.

00:19:34Poor little thing, don't you know?

00:19:37Victor already pre-sold your heart and cornalized to me yesterday.

00:19:42I'm your buyer.

00:19:45The moment you heard that,

00:19:47the fanging expression on her face froze.

00:19:50All the blood in her body seemed to turn to ice.

00:19:53What did you say?

00:19:57What did you say?

00:19:59My heart, my corneals?

00:20:00Her mind exploded with a buzz.

00:20:02She finally understood what those expensive supplements really were.

00:20:05The mafia love she had been so proud of

00:20:07had been nothing more than fattening her like a pig for slaughter from beginning to end.

00:20:11No, no, no!

00:20:13She shoved the magnet away and fled through the banquet hall like a madwoman,

00:20:17not even noticing when one of her high heels fell off.

00:20:19She crashed headfirst into me,

00:20:21as I stood arm in arm with the man,

00:20:23chatting and laughing with the mayor.

00:20:25Bang!

00:20:26When she saw it was me,

00:20:27she seemed to seize the last straw of hope.

00:20:30With a thud,

00:20:31she dropped to her knees at my feet

00:20:32and slammed her head against the floor again and again.

00:20:34Sister, I was wrong!

00:20:36I really was wrong!

00:20:37She cock-oated until blood streamed down her forehead,

00:20:40wailing missibly.

00:20:41Victor wants to cut out my heart!

00:20:47I'll never fight you for anything again, please!

00:20:49I looked down at her from above,

00:20:51my eyes utterly unmoved.

00:20:53You chose your own road.

00:20:55I coldly pulled back the hem of my dress.

00:20:57If you walk into hell yourself,

00:20:59don't blame others for not reaching out.

00:21:01Lily collapsed to the floor in despair.

00:21:03Just then,

00:21:04the doors to the banquet hall were kicked open.

00:21:06First heard one swaggered in with several armed, tattooed men.

00:21:10In his hand was a huge, thick four.

00:21:12A sinister smile hung on his lips

00:21:14as he walked step by step towards Sir Larm on the floor.

00:21:18Found you, not you.

00:21:20Seeing the man approach with the sedative,

00:21:22the girl scrambled backward in terror,

00:21:24screaming like a pig being slaughtered.

00:21:26No, no!

00:21:27The distinguished guests at the gala were terrified.

00:21:29The man shouted,

00:21:30Let me move!

00:21:30I'm only here to take my goods today!

00:21:33Anyone who dares call the cops,

00:21:34I'll kill their whole family!

00:21:36Standing beside one,

00:21:37I watched the farce coldly.

00:21:39Not only did I not hide,

00:21:40I took my phone out of my clutch.

00:21:43Save Lily?

00:21:44Impossible.

00:21:45But I would never pass up the chance

00:21:47to crush Victor completely.

00:21:48My slender fingers tapped rapidly across the screen,

00:21:51activating the trojan I had set up in advance.

00:21:54In less than three seconds,

00:21:55Victor's 13 money laundering accounts

00:21:56on the global dark internet were wiped clean and frozen.

00:21:59At the same time,

00:22:00he elegantly pressed the send button on his lot,

00:22:02packaging and sending the complete surveillance footage

00:22:03and evidence chain of Victor's live organ transaction tonight

00:22:06to the FBI in one minute.

00:22:08The next second,

00:22:08police sirens and ready-flashing lights

00:22:10pierced through the banquet hall.

00:22:11Dozens of SWAT armored vehicles

00:22:12blocked the entrance so tightly

00:22:13that not even water could pass.

00:22:14Boss!

00:22:14All our accounts have been frozen!

00:22:16The place is crawling with cops!

00:22:17One's men stared at their phones in terror.

00:22:19One's face went deathly pale,

00:22:20as if he had fallen into an ice pit.

00:22:21What?

00:22:22What's going on?

00:22:23He could no longer care about anything else.

00:22:25He lunged at her and stabbed the thick syringe

00:22:26viciously into her neck.

00:22:28Everybody stay the fuck back!

00:22:31Anyone moves,

00:22:32and I'll blow this bitch's head off!

00:22:37The entire tube of illegal green liquid

00:22:39was pushed into Lily's hand.

00:22:40It wasn't an ordinary sedative,

00:22:41but a high concentration,

00:22:43minor-inducing death.

00:22:43In less than two seconds,

00:22:45Lily's eyes flooded bloodline,

00:22:46and the veins on her neck

00:22:47bulged like earthworms.

00:22:48Her entire body lost

00:22:49all sense of pain and reason.

00:22:51She stared fixedly at me,

00:22:52dazzling and glamorous,

00:22:53protected in J.P.'s arms.

00:22:54The extreme resentment

00:22:55of being trampled underfoot

00:22:56erupted completely

00:22:57under the drug's effects.

00:22:58I was reborn too,

00:22:59so why do you get to live so well?

00:23:01Lily let out a beast-like howl

00:23:02that barely sounded human.

00:23:03She actually bit into Victor's arm

00:23:05and tore off a large chunk of flesh.

00:23:06Victor screamed and let go.

00:23:08Like a vengeful ghost,

00:23:09Lily grabbed a sharp,

00:23:10broken wine bottle from the table

00:23:11and charged wildly at my face.

00:23:12I'LL RUIN YOU!

00:23:14GO TO HELL WITH ME!

00:23:15She was extremely fat,

00:23:16but didn't even blink.

00:23:18Before she could get

00:23:18within half a meter of me,

00:23:19Jace lifted his long leg

00:23:21and delivered a ruthlessly

00:23:21clean sidekick

00:23:22straight to Lily's chest.

00:23:23Lily flew out like a torn sack.

00:23:25With a crash,

00:23:25she smashed heavily

00:23:26into the five-tier champagne tower.

00:23:28Glass shards pierced her entire body

00:23:29and blood gushed out.

00:23:30Lying in a pool of blood,

00:23:31she vomited blood

00:23:32while pointing at me

00:23:33and laughing madly.

00:23:34JACE!

00:23:34Don't be fooled by her!

00:23:36Lily shrieked hysterically,

00:23:37trying to use her final

00:23:39tropsod to destroy me.

00:23:40She's a reborn woman!

00:23:42In her last life,

00:23:43she was a demon

00:23:43with blood all over her hands!

00:23:45She only chose you

00:23:47because she knew

00:23:47you would become rich

00:23:48in this life!

00:23:49She doesn't love you at all!

00:23:55The entire room fell silent.

00:23:57Blood filled Lily's mouth

00:23:58as she looked at Jace smugly,

00:24:00thinking that exposing

00:24:01the secret of rebirth

00:24:02at me with disgust,

00:24:04she screamed.

00:24:05In her last life,

00:24:06you were picking through trash

00:24:07in the slums

00:24:08while she was all powerful

00:24:09mafia matriarch!

00:24:11You're just a tool she's using!

00:24:12Everyone waited

00:24:13for Jace's reaction.

00:24:14I stood where I was

00:24:15and looked at him calmly.

00:24:17Jace looked down

00:24:17at Lily on the floor,

00:24:18his lips curling

00:24:19in a cold smile.

00:24:20If that's true,

00:24:21then I really should

00:24:22thank you

00:24:22for your stupidity

00:24:23in this life.

00:24:24Jace's voice

00:24:25was low and dominating.

00:24:26Thank you for personally

00:24:27pushing such a perfect wife

00:24:29into my arms.

00:24:30Just then,

00:24:31SWAT officers

00:24:32broke through the doors.

00:24:33Don't move!

00:24:33Drop your weapons!

00:24:36The scene descended

00:24:37instantly into chaos.

00:24:39Seeing that the tide

00:24:40had turned,

00:24:40Victor grabbed a chair

00:24:41and smashed the floor

00:24:42to Sleeling window.

00:24:43In the final second

00:24:44before he leapt

00:24:45into the cold seawater,

00:24:46Victor stared hard at me,

00:24:47shielded in Jaya's arms,

00:24:48my eyes cold.

00:24:49In her last life,

00:24:50she was the all-powerful

00:24:51mafia matriarch.

00:24:52In his mind,

00:24:53the sentence Lily had

00:24:54shouted flash like lightning.

00:24:55Victor's eyes instantly

00:24:56changed from fear to shock.

00:24:57It was her?

00:24:59Cold seawater choked

00:25:00his windpipe.

00:25:00Victor swam desperately

00:25:01through the sewer

00:25:02like a stray dog

00:25:03that had lost its home.

00:25:04But Lily's words

00:25:05from the gala

00:25:05kept replaying in his mind.

00:25:07In her last life,

00:25:07she was the all-powerful

00:25:08mafia matriarch.

00:25:09Victor fled back

00:25:10to the moldy-smelling basement

00:25:11and looked at the territory

00:25:12he had now lost completely.

00:25:14His heart felt as if

00:25:15it had been struck

00:25:15by a heavy hammer.

00:25:16He suddenly remembered

00:25:17many details

00:25:18from his last life.

00:25:19In his last life,

00:25:20every time his gang

00:25:21hit a dead end,

00:25:21he would somehow

00:25:22receive intelligence

00:25:23to solve it the next day.

00:25:24He had thought Lily

00:25:25was born blessed

00:25:25with good fortune,

00:25:26so each time he had

00:25:27placed Lily high on a pedestal.

00:25:29But in this life,

00:25:30Lily,

00:25:30who carried memories too,

00:25:31was a fool

00:25:32who didn't even

00:25:32understand mafia slang

00:25:33and only knew how

00:25:34to cry for designer brands.

00:25:36And just now

00:25:36at the gala,

00:25:37the way Chloe froze

00:25:38his overseas dark web accounts

00:25:39was exactly like

00:25:40the mysterious strategist

00:25:41behind the scenes

00:25:42from his last life.

00:25:43Victor understood

00:25:44in an instant.

00:25:46the one who helped me

00:25:47conquer everything

00:25:48in my last life,

00:25:49the one who shield me

00:25:50from danger

00:25:50was Chloe all along!

00:25:52Victor's knees went weak

00:25:54and he dropped

00:25:55onto the damp floor.

00:25:57He finally realized

00:25:58that with his own hands,

00:26:00he had thrown away

00:26:00a queen who could have

00:26:01helped him dominate

00:26:02the world,

00:26:03only to pick up

00:26:04a useless blood bag

00:26:05that had drained him dry.

00:26:07Victor's bloodshot eyes

00:26:08locked onto a financial

00:26:10magazine photo

00:26:10of Jace and Chloe

00:26:11on the wall.

00:26:13He punched the frame

00:26:14to pieces.

00:26:15Chloe is mine!

00:26:17She belongs to me!

00:26:19Three days later,

00:26:20in the underground

00:26:21parking garage

00:26:22of the J group,

00:26:23I had just stepped out

00:26:24of my private elevator

00:26:25when a foul-smelling,

00:26:27unshaven man

00:26:28suddenly lunged out

00:26:29from behind

00:26:29a load-carrying pollen.

00:26:31Chloe!

00:26:32I finally found you!

00:26:34It was Victor!

00:26:35With a heavy thud,

00:26:36he dropped to his knees

00:26:37in front of me.

00:26:38Ignoring the muddy water

00:26:39on the ground,

00:26:40he sobbed and slapped himself

00:26:42across the face

00:26:42again and again.

00:26:43I was wrong, Chloe.

00:26:44I was blinded

00:26:45by that idiot Lily.

00:26:46I was blind as a dog!

00:26:47He shuffled forward

00:26:48on his knees,

00:26:49trying to hug my leg,

00:26:50crying until his face

00:26:51was covered in snot

00:26:52and tears.

00:26:53You're my woman.

00:26:54As long as you come back,

00:26:56we can join hands

00:26:57like in our last life

00:26:58and take Jace money.

00:26:59We're the destined

00:27:00king and queen

00:27:01of the underworld!

00:27:02Looking at him

00:27:02so utterly pathetic,

00:27:04I felt only nausea.

00:27:05I pressed the red

00:27:07emergency alarm

00:27:07on my car key.

00:27:09The piercing alarm

00:27:11instantly echoed

00:27:11through the garage.

00:27:13Victor panicked

00:27:13and still tried

00:27:14to forcibly drag me.

00:27:15A dark figure

00:27:16flashed past.

00:27:17Jace, like a leopard,

00:27:18kicked Victor

00:27:19three meters away.

00:27:20Jace unbuttoned

00:27:21his suit jacket

00:27:22unhastingly

00:27:22and handed it

00:27:23to the bodyguard

00:27:24behind him.

00:27:25His eyes held

00:27:25a terrifying violence.

00:27:26Victor,

00:27:27you're not only blind,

00:27:28you're hopelessly stupid.

00:27:31Jace!

00:27:32You're nothing

00:27:33but a pretty boy

00:27:34living off a woman!

00:27:35Driven into a corner,

00:27:37Victor erupted

00:27:38with a desperado's ferocity.

00:27:40He pulled out

00:27:41a switchblade

00:27:41and roared

00:27:42as he lunged

00:27:43at Jace,

00:27:44but he had no idea

00:27:45what kind of monster

00:27:46he was facing.

00:27:46Jace didn't even dodge.

00:27:48He shifted slightly

00:27:48to avoid the blade,

00:27:49then caught Victor's wrist

00:27:50in a backhand grip

00:27:51and snapped it hard.

00:27:52The crisp sound

00:27:53of breaking bone

00:27:54rang out.

00:27:54Victor let out

00:27:55a pig-like scream

00:27:56and the knife

00:27:56fell to the floor.

00:27:57Then Jace drove

00:27:58his knee upward,

00:27:59slamming it heavily

00:28:00into Victor's chest.

00:28:01Two ribs snapped

00:28:02instantly.

00:28:03The entire sequence

00:28:04flowed smoothly,

00:28:06carrying a brutal beauty

00:28:07of absolute domination.

00:28:09Victor collapsed

00:28:09to the floor like mud,

00:28:11coughing out mouthfuls

00:28:12of blood.

00:28:13Jace stepped forward

00:28:13and mercilessly planted

00:28:15his leather shoe

00:28:15on Victor's broken fingers,

00:28:17grinding down hard.

00:28:19You think you deserved

00:28:20her in your last life?

00:28:22Jace looked down

00:28:22at Victor

00:28:23as he corrals it in pain.

00:28:25You couldn't protect her.

00:28:27All you could do

00:28:29was rely on the pitiful

00:28:30power she handed you.

00:28:31And in this life,

00:28:34you don't even have

00:28:35the right to say

00:28:36her name.

00:28:38Jace gestured.

00:28:40Blackwater bodyguards

00:28:40stepped forward

00:28:41and dragged Victor

00:28:42like a dead dog,

00:28:43throwing him into the

00:28:43garbage heap

00:28:44in the back alley.

00:28:45And at that moment,

00:28:46the gears of fate

00:28:47turned.

00:28:47An ambulance

00:28:48from the hospital

00:28:49happened to stop

00:28:49at the Annie entrance.

00:28:50The one who secretly

00:28:51slipped down from it

00:28:52was Lily,

00:28:53dragging her broken body.

00:28:55To avoid the expensive

00:28:56medical bills,

00:28:57Lily had escaped

00:28:58from the public hospital.

00:28:59She limped into

00:29:00the back alley,

00:29:01about to look

00:29:02for something to eat,

00:29:03when she suddenly

00:29:04saw Victor rivaling

00:29:05in the garbage heap.

00:29:07Victor?

00:29:08The moment she made

00:29:09out that face,

00:29:09Lily showed not

00:29:10the slightest sympathy.

00:29:11Instead,

00:29:12she burst into

00:29:12wild laughter.

00:29:13You liar!

00:29:14Weren't you a mafia boss?

00:29:15Why are you lying here

00:29:16like a stray dog?

00:29:17Victor struggled

00:29:18to open his eyes.

00:29:19Seeing the woman

00:29:19who had ruined him

00:29:20so badly,

00:29:21old hatred and new rage

00:29:22erupted like a volcano.

00:29:23If not for Lily,

00:29:24how would he have

00:29:25lost Chloe?

00:29:27Ah, filthy bitch!

00:29:30This is all your fault!

00:29:32Victor lunged at her,

00:29:33clapped his hands

00:29:34around Lily's throat,

00:29:35and pressed her

00:29:36into the filthy

00:29:36water-water-filled

00:29:37garbage heap.

00:29:38You useless thing!

00:29:39Give me back Chloe!

00:29:41Give me back

00:29:41my mafia empire!

00:29:42Lily's eyes rolled

00:29:43back from the choking

00:29:44and her hands

00:29:44clawed wildly.

00:29:45The true love

00:29:46they had once believed

00:29:47would bring mutual benefit

00:29:48now tore at each other

00:29:48like two mad dogs,

00:29:50blaming each other

00:29:50and ripping each other apart.

00:29:51In the final second

00:29:52before suffocation,

00:29:53Lily's hand found

00:29:54a sharp shard of glass.

00:29:56Go to hell!

00:29:59Using all her strength,

00:30:00she stabbed the shard

00:30:01fiercely into

00:30:02Victor's female artery.

00:30:04Blood instantly

00:30:05sprayed out like a fountain,

00:30:06splattering across

00:30:07Lily's face.

00:30:09Victor screamed.

00:30:12The two of them

00:30:13collapsed together

00:30:14into the reeking pool

00:30:15of blood and trash,

00:30:17convulsing in despair.

00:30:18A passerby discovered

00:30:19them and called the police,

00:30:20and the two were taken

00:30:21back to the public hospital.

00:30:23Due to severe blood loss,

00:30:24Victor's thigh

00:30:24was already paralyzed.

00:30:25As for Lily,

00:30:26when she woke up

00:30:27in the hospital bed,

00:30:28a doctor walked over

00:30:29to her coldly

00:30:29with her test results.

00:30:31Because you have been

00:30:31taking illegal living organ

00:30:32suppresses from

00:30:33your dark web

00:30:34for a long time,

00:30:35your kidneys and liver

00:30:36have completely failed.

00:30:37You have two months

00:30:38at most.

00:30:39There's no treatment value.

00:30:41Wait to die.

00:30:42The doctor's words

00:30:44were like a final verdict.

00:30:45Lily finally realized it.

00:30:47The rebirth script

00:30:49she had thought herself

00:30:50so clever for stealing

00:30:51had not helped her

00:30:53rise above everyone else.

00:30:55Instead,

00:30:55she had personally

00:30:57pushed open the gates

00:30:58to hell.

00:30:59The television

00:30:59on the hospital wall

00:31:00lit up.

00:31:01On the screen,

00:31:02the grand celebration

00:31:03of the Jace Group

00:31:04successful listing

00:31:05on Wall Street

00:31:05was being broadcast live.

00:31:07I wore a gown

00:31:08and rang the opening bell

00:31:09under the eyes

00:31:10of the world,

00:31:11dazzling like a queen.

00:31:12If I can't live,

00:31:14you won't have

00:31:15peace either!

00:31:16She violently ripped

00:31:17the IV needle

00:31:18from the back of her hand.

00:31:20Blood dripped

00:31:20onto the white sheets.

00:31:22She stole a nurse's uniform

00:31:23and made an insane decision.

00:31:25Lily wrapped all the wounds

00:31:27on her body in bandages,

00:31:28pulled the loose cleaner's

00:31:29robe over herself,

00:31:30and slipped in the

00:31:31outdoor celebration banquet

00:31:32for the Jace Group's

00:31:33listing in her arms.

00:31:34She carried a large

00:31:34barrel of gasoline,

00:31:36had bought on the black market.

00:31:37As long as she could

00:31:38burn me and Jace

00:31:39to ashes in front of everyone,

00:31:41she would be willing

00:31:41to die in the flames immediately.

00:31:43At the center of the reception,

00:31:45Jace and I were being

00:31:46interviewed by global media.

00:31:47I wore a custom gown

00:31:48and looked invincible

00:31:49beneath the flashes.

00:31:50Lily hid behind a pillar

00:31:52in the shadows,

00:31:53staring at that blinding glory.

00:31:55The flames of jealousy

00:31:56in her heart

00:31:57burned all the way

00:31:57up her throat.

00:31:58Die!

00:31:59All of you die!

00:32:00She pushed the cart

00:32:01carrying the gasoline

00:32:02using the darkness

00:32:03to inch closer

00:32:04to the ventilation system.

00:32:06As long as she pressed

00:32:06the igniter,

00:32:07this place would become

00:32:08a living hell.

00:32:09Just as her hand

00:32:10reached for the lighter,

00:32:11a pair of rough hands

00:32:12suddenly strapped

00:32:13stretched out

00:32:13from the darkness,

00:32:14clamped over her mouth

00:32:15and dragged her forcibly

00:32:16into the dim fire stair hill.

00:32:19It was Victor.

00:32:23Who told you

00:32:24to make a move?

00:32:25He still hadn't given up.

00:32:26He wanted to use Lily

00:32:27for one last struggle.

00:32:28What we need is money.

00:32:30We need the lifeline

00:32:31in Chloe's hands.

00:32:32You are not allowed to act.

00:32:34Chloe!

00:32:35Once your sister alive,

00:32:36bring ten million in cash

00:32:37to basement level two.

00:32:39Remember,

00:32:39no bodyguards.

00:32:41He thought I would go soft.

00:32:43He thought that

00:32:43as long as I appeared,

00:32:45he could use me

00:32:45as a bargaining chain

00:32:46to turn the tables

00:32:47just like in the last life.

00:32:50Watching the video.

00:32:52Madam,

00:32:53shall I mobilize mercenaries

00:32:55and flatten the place?

00:32:56No need.

00:32:57I want them to see

00:32:58with their own eyes

00:32:59that before this position,

00:33:01they don't even qualify

00:33:02to be ants.

00:33:04Instead,

00:33:04I had Jace

00:33:05robolize the city's

00:33:06armed forces

00:33:06and surround the entire building

00:33:08like an iron barrel.

00:33:09basement level two.

00:33:11Victor stared at the elevator

00:33:12with high expectations.

00:33:16How is this possible?

00:33:18How dare you come

00:33:19without the money?

00:33:20I slowly stepped out

00:33:21from behind the bodyguards,

00:33:23every step calm and elegant.

00:33:24I didn't even glance at Lily,

00:33:26who was tied to the fire hydrant.

00:33:27Victor,

00:33:28you used me in my last life

00:33:30and tortured me in this one.

00:33:32Did you think you could still

00:33:32threaten me like some

00:33:33ridiculous clown?

00:33:35Didn't you want to light the fire?

00:33:37Go on.

00:33:38Don't be a coward.

00:33:40When Lily heard this,

00:33:41the last spark of hope

00:33:42in her eyes went out completely.

00:33:44She looked at my lofty posture,

00:33:46at how I didn't even deign

00:33:47to get her a single day.

00:33:49I'm done playing!

00:33:51I'm really done playing!

00:33:53I'll make all of you

00:33:55die with me!

00:33:59Before Victor could react,

00:34:00Lily suddenly broke free

00:34:01from the cut ropes

00:34:02and, like a mad woman,

00:34:03wrapped her arms tightly

00:34:04around Victor's neck.

00:34:05Don't ruin me!

00:34:07You made me into this monster!

00:34:10She bit down hard

00:34:10on Victor's ear,

00:34:12bloody tears streaming

00:34:13from her eyes.

00:34:14Victor,

00:34:15didn't you want money?

00:34:17Didn't you want to be

00:34:18the emperor of the underworld?

00:34:21Then let's go be that in hell!

00:34:24You crazy bitch!

00:34:25Let go of me!

00:34:27He struggled desperately,

00:34:29but Lily no longer

00:34:30wanted to live.

00:34:30She slammed violently

00:34:31into the still-burning lighter

00:34:33in Victor's room.

00:34:33A whole barrel of gasoline

00:34:35instantly poured over them both.

00:34:36Flames shot into the air,

00:34:38lighting up the entire

00:34:38underground garage.

00:34:40Fire swallowed the two evil ghosts

00:34:41who had once schemed

00:34:42against each other

00:34:43and now died together

00:34:44like conjoined twins.

00:34:45Amid piercing screams,

00:34:46they twisted and rolled

00:34:47in the flames.

00:34:48Under Jace's protection,

00:34:50I turned and left.

00:34:51Behind me was the past

00:34:52reduced to scorched earth,

00:34:55and I strode toward the future

00:34:57that belonged to me.

00:34:59The fire was quickly extinguished.

00:35:02Victor and Lily were completely reduced

00:35:04to two charred corpses,

00:35:05so burned that even DNA

00:35:06was difficult to extract.

00:35:08The news spread everywhere.

00:35:09The media frantically dug

00:35:10into the so-called family feud

00:35:12within the conglomerate.

00:35:13I did not have the PR department

00:35:14cover it up.

00:35:15Instead, I took the initiative

00:35:16to release to the media

00:35:17Victor's illegal live organ

00:35:19trading network

00:35:20and the evidence that he and Lily

00:35:21had planned the assassination.

00:35:23The media outlets

00:35:24that had originally been waiting

00:35:26to laugh at us quickly turned

00:35:28their guns around in the face

00:35:29of iron-flabbed criminal evidence

00:35:31and praised us as heroes

00:35:34who had eliminated a cancer

00:35:36from society.

00:35:38The group's stock not only

00:35:39did not fall,

00:35:40it surged for three straight days

00:35:42in the market because of our

00:35:44positive image of punishing evil

00:35:46and protecting the innocent.

00:35:48I stood before the floor

00:35:49to cleansing windows,

00:35:51looking down at the ant-like

00:35:52crowds below.

00:35:53Just then, Jace walked over

00:35:55with a glass of expensive red wine

00:35:57and gently pulled me

00:35:58into his arms.

00:36:00Madam,

00:36:01those troublesome mafia families

00:36:03have all signed

00:36:03the asset transfer agreements

00:36:05according to your requirements.

00:36:07He kissed my cheek tenderly.

00:36:09After tonight,

00:36:09there will be no so-called

00:36:10underground rules

00:36:11on the East Coast.

00:36:12You are the only rule.

00:36:13I looked out at the glittering

00:36:15knee beyond the window,

00:36:16lightly swirling the blood-red wine

00:36:17in my glass.

00:36:18A smile of certain sectority

00:36:20curved my lip.

00:36:21Although Victor was dead,

00:36:22the territory he left behind

00:36:24had become a piece

00:36:25of fat meat.

00:36:26The twelve remaining

00:36:27old mafia families

00:36:28on the East Coast

00:36:29were eager to move.

00:36:31In their eyes,

00:36:32Jace was nothing more

00:36:33than a legitimate businessman

00:36:34taking advantage

00:36:35of an opening.

00:36:36That night,

00:36:37a threatening letter

00:36:37containing a bullet

00:36:38was delivered

00:36:39to the group headquarters,

00:36:40demanding that Jace

00:36:41hand over 70%

00:36:42of the shipping routes,

00:36:43or he would not live

00:36:44to see tomorrow's sun.

00:36:45Looking at the bullet

00:36:46on the desk,

00:36:47killing intake surged

00:36:48in Jace's eyes,

00:36:49and he was about to order

00:36:50a direct assault.

00:36:51I pressed down

00:36:52on his hand,

00:36:52took a black encrypted

00:36:53USB drive from the safe,

00:36:55and tossed it lightly

00:36:56onto the desk.

00:36:57A direct attack

00:36:58would be too merciful.

00:36:59This is the underground

00:37:00intelligence network.

00:37:01I spent five years

00:37:03building in my last life.

00:37:04I looked at Jace,

00:37:05my gaze confident

00:37:06and cold.

00:37:07It contains every

00:37:08financial weakness

00:37:09of those twelve families,

00:37:10the locations of their

00:37:11illegitimate children

00:37:12overseas,

00:37:13and conclusive evidence

00:37:14of their dark web smuggling.

00:37:16One fatal strike.

00:37:18That's our style.

00:37:19Jace picked up

00:37:20the USB drive.

00:37:21The viciousness

00:37:22in his eyes

00:37:22instantly transformed

00:37:23into the utmost admiration

00:37:25and indulgent affection.

00:37:26He lowered his head

00:37:27and kissed me deeply.

00:37:28As you command,

00:37:29my queen.

00:37:30Tonight,

00:37:31I'll tear down

00:37:32their thrones

00:37:32and turn them

00:37:33into stepping stones

00:37:34for you.

00:37:34Outside the window,

00:37:35thunder rolled

00:37:36and rain lashed down.

00:37:38Alone,

00:37:39Jace pushed open

00:37:39the doors

00:37:40to the East Coast

00:37:41underground round table chamber.

00:37:43Inside the round table chamber,

00:37:44twelve mafia elders

00:37:45were smoking cigars

00:37:46and laughing arrogantly.

00:37:47Seeing that Jace

00:37:48had truly dared

00:37:49to come alone,

00:37:50several hot-tempered

00:37:51old men pulled out

00:37:51gold-plated pistols

00:37:52and slammed them

00:37:53heavily onto the table.

00:37:54Pretty boy,

00:37:54if you know what's good

00:37:55for you,

00:37:56you'll sign the

00:37:56asset transfer agreement.

00:37:58Then we might still

00:37:59leave you and that

00:37:59beautiful wife of yours

00:38:00whole corpses.

00:38:02Jace didn't even

00:38:03look at the guns.

00:38:04He leisurely pulled out

00:38:05the chair at the head

00:38:06of the table

00:38:07and sat down,

00:38:08then threw twelve

00:38:09printed sets of

00:38:10confidential financial

00:38:11datements and photos

00:38:12into their faces

00:38:13like trash.

00:38:14Look at your own cards

00:38:15before you decide

00:38:16whether to raise

00:38:17your voice at me.

00:38:18The elders picked up

00:38:19the documents

00:38:20and their faces

00:38:21turned instantly pale.

00:38:22The hands holding

00:38:23their cigars

00:38:24trembled like sieves.

00:38:26Those were their

00:38:26most lethal weak points.

00:38:28As long as Jace

00:38:29sent them with one click,

00:38:30they would immediately

00:38:31lose everything,

00:38:32perhaps even their families.

00:38:34You?

00:38:35What do you want?

00:38:37Jace smeared

00:38:38and snapped his fingers

00:38:39lightly.

00:38:39The hidden walls

00:38:40around the chamber

00:38:40instantly descended,

00:38:42revealing hundreds

00:38:42of heavily armed mercenaries

00:38:44whose infrared sights

00:38:45were all locked

00:38:45onto the centers

00:38:46of their foreheads.

00:38:47Jace rose and looked

00:38:48down at the once

00:38:48invincible underworld

00:38:49overlords from above.

00:38:51Sign the submission agreement.

00:38:52From today on,

00:38:53the rules of the

00:38:54East Coast underworld

00:38:55are decided by my wife.

00:38:57When Jace returned

00:38:58to the manor

00:38:58with the tokens

00:38:59of submission

00:38:59from the twelve families,

00:39:01it was already

00:39:02late at night.

00:39:03After my shower,

00:39:04I stood before

00:39:05the Florida clearing windows,

00:39:06watching the wind

00:39:07and rain finally

00:39:08stop outside.

00:39:09Jace embraced me

00:39:10from behind

00:39:10and flipped the

00:39:11black gold serpent ring.

00:39:12A symbol of the

00:39:13highest power

00:39:14on the dark wet

00:39:15onto my ring finger.

00:39:16His fingers

00:39:17were faintly callid.

00:39:18When they touched

00:39:19my back,

00:39:20my body stiffened

00:39:20controllably

00:39:21because of the

00:39:22bone-deep memories

00:39:22of beatings

00:39:23from my last life.

00:39:24Jace noticed.

00:39:25He did not rush

00:39:26to take anything

00:39:27from me.

00:39:28Instead,

00:39:28he turned me around

00:39:29and looked at me

00:39:30with aching tenderness.

00:39:31He lowered his head

00:39:32and reverently kissed

00:39:33the invisible scars

00:39:34on my body,

00:39:35kissing away the last

00:39:36trace of guardedness

00:39:37towards intimacy

00:39:37in my heart.

00:39:39Chloe,

00:39:40in this life,

00:39:40you're no one's

00:39:41strategist behind

00:39:42the scenes anymore

00:39:43and you don't have

00:39:43to take a blade

00:39:44for anyone.

00:39:45Jace's held my face,

00:39:47his voice low

00:39:48and tempting.

00:39:49You are the only one

00:39:50in power

00:39:51and I am your

00:39:52most loyal believer.

00:39:54Looking at the deep

00:39:54love burning in his

00:39:55eyes for me alone,

00:39:56I finally let go

00:39:57completely of the

00:39:58shadows from my

00:39:59past life.

00:40:00I wrapped my arms

00:40:01around his neck

00:40:01and kissed him

00:40:02back with equal heat.

00:40:03Moonlight streamed

00:40:04through the windows

00:40:04and spilled across

00:40:05the luxurious bed

00:40:06where two figures

00:40:07merged completely.

00:40:09Five years later,

00:40:10it was the very day

00:40:10when, in my last life,

00:40:11Jace went bankrupt

00:40:12and Lily rolled

00:40:13beneath the truck

00:40:13to her death.

00:40:14But now we were

00:40:14at the top floor

00:40:15of the highest

00:40:15tower on Wall Street.

00:40:16Wearing a custom gown,

00:40:17I rang the NASDAQ

00:40:18opening bell,

00:40:19the richest person

00:40:19in the world

00:40:20and the supreme

00:40:20matriarch of the dark web.

00:40:22Thunderous applause

00:40:22filled the room

00:40:23and camera flashes

00:40:24blazed like daylight.

00:40:25Holding a glass

00:40:25of champagne,

00:40:26I walked to the

00:40:26Florida clear window

00:40:27and looked down

00:40:28over the city

00:40:28I had thoroughly conquered.

00:40:29At the end of my

00:40:30line of sight

00:40:30lay that filthy slum.

00:40:32In my last life,

00:40:33Lily had gnawed

00:40:33on rotten vegetable

00:40:34leaves there

00:40:34then dragged me

00:40:35to my death

00:40:35out of jealousy.

00:40:36In this life,

00:40:37she thought she had

00:40:38stolen the Trump card

00:40:39but she turned to ashes

00:40:40in the very first year.

00:40:41Jace walked to my side

00:40:42holding our three-year-old heir.

00:40:43What are you thinking about?

00:40:44His eyes full of

00:40:45doting affection

00:40:46as he wrapped

00:40:46an arm around my waist.

00:40:48As if performing magic,

00:40:50he took a document

00:40:50from the pocket

00:40:51of his suit

00:40:51and handed it to me.

00:40:53Darling,

00:40:54you said before

00:40:54that looking at that

00:40:55slum bothered you.

00:40:56I've had people

00:40:56approve the demolition plan

00:40:57to buy it.

00:40:58I looked at the document

00:40:59and couldn't help

00:41:00laughing softly.

00:41:01The place that had

00:41:01buried our fates

00:41:02in my last life

00:41:02could now be erased

00:41:03completely from the map

00:41:04with nothing more

00:41:05than my signature.

00:41:06Three days later,

00:41:07more than a dozen

00:41:08heavy bulldozers

00:41:09drove into the slums.

00:41:10Amid the enormous roar,

00:41:11the dilapidated chantels,

00:41:12the place that had

00:41:13buried Lily's greed

00:41:13and despair,

00:41:14collapsed with a crash

00:41:15and became ruins.

00:41:16On the original site,

00:41:17the world's largest

00:41:18commercial landmark,

00:41:19named after me,

00:41:20would rise.

00:41:21At the groundbreaking ceremony,

00:41:23global media swarmed in.

00:41:26Countless microphones

00:41:27were thrust in front of me.

00:41:28This is James' man!

00:41:29How did you go

00:41:30from an ordinary girl

00:41:31to the overlord

00:41:31who dominates both

00:41:32the legitimate

00:41:33and underground worlds today?

00:41:34What was the core secret?

00:41:35Is it because you were lucky

00:41:36and chose the right person?

00:41:38Hearing the question,

00:41:40I raised my brows slightly.

00:41:42I turned and glanced down

00:41:43from the stage.

00:41:44Jace was holding our son.

00:41:45Watching me with a smile

00:41:46like the most loyal knight,

00:41:47eyes filled the pride

00:41:48of someone thinking

00:41:49my wife shines brightest.

00:41:50I withdrew my eyes

00:41:51and looked to the camera,

00:41:53the corner of my throat

00:41:53curving into a calm,

00:41:54aggressively confident smile.

00:41:56Fate has never been about

00:41:57what cards you managed to steal.

00:42:01It's about whether you have

00:42:02the brains to play them well.

00:42:04Unfortunately,

00:42:05some people think

00:42:05they've stolen the winning hand,

00:42:07but they don't even qualify

00:42:08to sit at the table.

00:42:09I raised the champagne

00:42:10in my hand.

00:42:11Sunlight struck

00:42:12the black gold serpent ring,

00:42:14refracting a dazzling gleam.

00:42:16Cheers

00:42:17to my empire.

00:42:19Daughter of the Lord,

00:42:21let mine awaken

00:42:22care to the throne.

00:42:24Glory to the soul and land,

00:42:26a gift from Hecumus.

00:42:28Love to earth.

00:42:30Give me a red wine.

00:42:39The wine you asked for.

00:42:47You walk in here

00:42:48while he is clearly occupied?

00:42:50Are you blind

00:42:52or just stupid?

00:42:59Then Lord Rowan

00:43:00can pour his own wine.

00:43:01What did you just...

00:43:03Did you call him by his name?

00:43:05You address him as

00:43:06my lord,

00:43:07you disrespectful

00:43:08little twat!

00:43:12That is enough,

00:43:14Isolette.

00:43:16Know your place, Zahra.

00:43:18You have no house,

00:43:19no bloodline,

00:43:21nowhere you're in this realm

00:43:22that would take you in.

00:43:23I will leave then.

00:43:24I will go rogue

00:43:25before I die.

00:43:26You have no soul power yet.

00:43:30Until you do,

00:43:31you belong to this house.

00:43:33You belong to me.

00:43:37Come to my study

00:43:38once you have cleaned

00:43:39this up.

00:43:49Fifteen years

00:43:50with not a single

00:43:51confirmed trace

00:43:51of my daughter.

00:43:52What more do you need,

00:43:54Lord Blackwell?

00:43:55I hear you,

00:43:56Lord Cassian,

00:43:57but murder

00:43:58and abduction

00:43:59require proof.

00:44:01The other houses

00:44:02will not move

00:44:02against Greth

00:44:03without it.

00:44:04House Greth

00:44:04attacked House Solani

00:44:05fifteen years ago.

00:44:06My daughter

00:44:07vanished the same night.

00:44:09I know what happened

00:44:10to her.

00:44:11Her body was never

00:44:12found, Lord Blackwell.

00:44:14In fifteen years,

00:44:15no body.

00:44:16What does that tell you?

00:44:19Or do you just

00:44:20not want to hear it?

00:44:22You are the only one

00:44:24with the power

00:44:24and the standing

00:44:26to help us.

00:44:27You have to help me

00:44:27avenge my daughter.

00:44:34Clotha,

00:44:35Laxias,

00:44:36Hekma,

00:44:37if any of you

00:44:38are listening,

00:44:38please,

00:44:40tomorrow,

00:44:40give me my soul power

00:44:42when I turn eighteen.

00:44:43Set me free.

00:44:45We will live simply.

00:44:47In the woods

00:44:47if we have to.

00:44:48We will hunt

00:44:49for what we need.

00:44:50We will need nothing

00:44:51from anyone

00:44:52in this house

00:44:52ever again.

00:44:55I will attend

00:44:56Rowan Greth's

00:44:57feast tomorrow.

00:44:58Whatever is inside

00:44:59that castle,

00:45:00I will find it.

00:45:02You have my word.

00:45:06I will pull

00:45:06everything we have

00:45:07on the Gretheth

00:45:08attack on House Selenen.

00:45:10Every record.

00:45:13Every body.

00:45:15Body that was not found.

00:45:17Do it.

00:45:20Zara Saloni's body

00:45:21was never found.

00:45:23I suspect

00:45:24she is not dead.

00:45:45You're a fast learner,

00:45:47my lady.

00:46:08Rowan,

00:46:09you asked to see me.

00:46:10What is she doing here?

00:46:12Was she watching us?

00:46:14You will address me

00:46:16as my lord.

00:46:23If you walk in here

00:46:25without knocking again,

00:46:26I will make sure

00:46:26you cannot walk

00:46:27at all.

00:46:30Izalid,

00:46:31leave us.

00:46:33Excuse me?

00:46:34I said,

00:46:35leave us.

00:46:46How long have you

00:46:47lived here at House Greth?

00:46:49Almost 15 years.

00:46:51Have we ever

00:46:52let you go hungry?

00:46:54Cold?

00:46:56Without shelter?

00:46:57No.

00:46:59What are you

00:46:59trying to say?

00:47:03Are you jealous?

00:47:05Is that what this is?

00:47:07You wish you were

00:47:08the one I was fucking?

00:47:09You disgust me.

00:47:10What?

00:47:12I am not jealous.

00:47:13I am disgusted.

00:47:15And you are not my lord.

00:47:17The only L word that fits you

00:47:19is low life.

00:47:22My lord.

00:47:23Lord Theron Blackwell

00:47:24of House Blackwell

00:47:25has confirmed his attendance

00:47:26at tomorrow's feast.

00:47:31Terran Blackwell

00:47:32is coming here?

00:47:32I only sent that invitation

00:47:34out of courtesy.

00:47:34Why now?

00:47:35What does he want?

00:47:35My lord,

00:47:36I believe it signals respect.

00:47:38If Terran attends,

00:47:39the other houses will follow.

00:47:40It confirms our standing.

00:47:41You think so?

00:47:42He must know House Greth

00:47:43is the second house

00:47:44in the realm.

00:47:45He is acknowledging the threat.

00:47:49Since you find this so amusing,

00:47:52you will prepare

00:47:53and serve the entire feast,

00:47:55beginning to end.

00:47:56Tomorrow is my 18th birthday.

00:47:58You promised me a day's rest.

00:48:00I changed my mind.

00:48:11Does Zada know

00:48:12the cloth I wove her to you?

00:48:17Do not ever mention again.

00:48:23I forgive me, my lord.

00:48:26It only seemed as though

00:48:27you two were...

00:48:31We are nothing.

00:48:32She is a servant.

00:48:34An orphan.

00:48:36I do not know why

00:48:37the Moray goddesses

00:48:38chose her for me

00:48:39and I do not care.

00:48:40I will not accept it.

00:48:43What do you plan to do with her?

00:48:46Once she turns 18 tomorrow,

00:48:48her soul power will awaken.

00:48:49She will feel the fated

00:48:50between us the moment it does.

00:48:52I will sever it publicly

00:48:53in front of the entire feast.

00:48:55Severing a threat

00:48:55decreed by the Morayas

00:48:57is not a simple act, my lord.

00:48:58Clothra herself spun away

00:49:00but I do not care.

00:49:01You are dismissed.

00:49:09Damn it, Zara.

00:49:14Sorin, I need you to source

00:49:16a worthy gift for Lord Rowan Greth

00:49:18before tomorrow's feast.

00:49:19A gift?

00:49:20For Rowan Greth?

00:49:21Why would you...

00:49:22We keep our friends close

00:49:23and our enemies closer.

00:49:25Yes, my lord.

00:49:25Daughters of allied houses,

00:49:27each one a strong political match.

00:49:30If you arrive at the feast

00:49:31with one of them on your arm,

00:49:32it sends a message.

00:49:34House Blackhead

00:49:35is building alliances,

00:49:36not just the family.

00:49:37I will not be bringing a companion.

00:49:39My lord,

00:49:40if House Greth discovers

00:49:41you are still unwavered your age,

00:49:43they will question your standard.

00:49:44They will use it against you

00:49:45at the feast.

00:49:45Let them.

00:49:46I am Theron Blackway.

00:49:51Let's hope she is there,

00:49:53whoever she is.

00:50:01My lord.

00:50:02Those burns?

00:50:03Are those...

00:50:04Jade Hog?

00:50:05Yes.

00:50:05Inside the estate?

00:50:07How did it get past the...

00:50:08It was tracking something.

00:50:10A soul whose suppression is breaking.

00:50:13Something it could smell

00:50:14from a long distance.

00:50:20The trail leads toward

00:50:21House Greth territory.

00:50:23Lord Cassian's daughter.

00:50:24Have the carriage ready at dawn.

00:50:26Sauron,

00:50:28tell no one about the burns.

00:50:45Happy birthday to me.

00:50:47Happy birthday, Zara.

00:50:50Who is there?

00:50:52It is me, Lara.

00:50:54I am your divine gift, Zara.

00:50:56Hecate's gift.

00:50:57The one they sealed away

00:50:58when you were a child.

00:51:00I have been here

00:51:01the entire time.

00:51:02They simply would not

00:51:03let me speak.

00:51:04Hecate's gift.

00:51:05You are Hecate's gift.

00:51:07It is very good

00:51:08to finally meet you.

00:51:09And there is something

00:51:10I need to tell you

00:51:11about the one

00:51:11the Moiri decried for us.

00:51:13The one Clothra

00:51:13wove into your thread

00:51:14at birth.

00:51:15Clothra wove a thread for me?

00:51:16Yes.

00:51:17The one she decreed for us.

00:51:18He is here.

00:51:19He has always been here.

00:51:20In this castle.

00:51:22Who?

00:51:23Rowan Greth,

00:51:24lord of this house.

00:51:26Clothra wove you

00:51:27for him at birth.

00:51:28He has known

00:51:29since before you did.

00:51:52He is coming.

00:51:53I can feel him approaching.

00:51:55Zara, when you see the thread,

00:51:58do not let it show

00:51:59on your face.

00:52:11Do not let it show on your face.

00:52:13So, Hector finally broke the seal.

00:52:17You knew.

00:52:19This whole time,

00:52:20you knew what Clothra decreed

00:52:21and you said nothing.

00:52:23So what?

00:52:23You are a servant.

00:52:25A casteless orphan.

00:52:26You have no house,

00:52:28no bloodline,

00:52:28nothing.

00:52:29What Clothra decreed

00:52:31does not change

00:52:31what you are.

00:52:33I defy the decree, Zara.

00:52:47If you beg,

00:52:49perhaps I will reconsider.

00:52:52I accept your defiance, Rowan.

00:52:56What?

00:53:00The thread is gone.

00:53:02So are we.

00:53:03Clothra does not weave

00:53:04a second thread

00:53:05for the same person.

00:53:06You will live

00:53:07and die casteless.

00:53:08So be it.

00:53:09Pack what you have tonight.

00:53:11After today,

00:53:11I do not want to see you

00:53:12in this castle again.

00:53:13I have been waiting years

00:53:15for you to say that, Rowan.

00:53:20You are allowed

00:53:21to feel it, Zara.

00:53:22What he did this morning.

00:53:26I just need to get

00:53:27through this feast.

00:53:29If there is someone

00:53:31coming tonight,

00:53:32I can feel a presence

00:53:33in the road.

00:53:34Something old.

00:53:35Something that knows

00:53:36Hector's gift from a distance.

00:53:37Everything can wait

00:53:38until after the feast.

00:53:46The carers were in this

00:53:47tree line last night.

00:53:49How close?

00:53:50Close enough to leave

00:53:51tribute at the window.

00:53:53Someone inside that castle

00:53:54has been paying them

00:53:55to stay back.

00:53:56Paying the carers

00:53:57to stay back from whom?

00:54:06Hector's bloodline

00:54:08in Inside House Greth.

00:54:33Lord Blackwit,

00:54:34what a pleasure.

00:54:35I hope the road

00:54:36treated you well.

00:54:36Our castle sits deep

00:54:37in the forest.

00:54:38Not the easiest journey.

00:54:40Lord Rowan,

00:54:41built House Greth castle

00:54:42from the foundations up.

00:54:43It is everything

00:54:44a great house should be.

00:54:46Hmm.

00:54:47A gift from House Blackwit,

00:54:48Lord Greth,

00:54:49in honor of

00:54:50tomorrow's betrothal.

00:54:53Lord Blackwit,

00:54:54this is far too generous.

00:54:56We could not possibly...

00:54:57Pocket change.

00:54:58Shall we?

00:55:02What do you think

00:55:03you are doing?

00:55:04Do not embarrass me.

00:55:08I saw a servant girl

00:55:10at the rest juice pile.

00:55:13Find out who she is,

00:55:14how she came from,

00:55:15how long she has been here,

00:55:17everything.

00:55:18And the carers were paying her

00:55:19the kind of attention

00:55:20they paid to...

00:55:20I know, Sorin.

00:55:21Find out who she is,

00:55:22tonight,

00:55:23before the feast ends.

00:55:32Lord Blackwit.

00:55:33I have always admired

00:55:34what House Blackwit

00:55:35has built

00:55:35in the Northern Territory.

00:55:37The estate,

00:55:38the trade routes.

00:55:39I feel we share

00:55:39very similar tastes

00:55:40in what a great house

00:55:41should be.

00:55:42Isoleth.

00:55:42Zara,

00:55:43wine.

00:55:46We have an important guest,

00:55:48Lord Blackwell

00:55:49of House Blackwell.

00:55:50Show some respect.

00:55:53What are you waiting for?

00:55:54We have an important guest.

00:55:55This is Lord Theron Blackwell

00:55:57of House Blackwell.

00:55:58Show some respect.

00:56:01I need to step out

00:56:02a moment, my lord.

00:56:08Excuse me.

00:56:10Where are you going

00:56:11with that?

00:56:13I am trying to wash.

00:56:15Wash?

00:56:15You call that washing?

00:56:17Can you just leave me alone?

00:56:19Please.

00:56:20I am not even supposed

00:56:21to be talking to you.

00:56:23I just want to know

00:56:24your name.

00:56:25Please.

00:56:26It's my 18th birthday today.

00:56:28Just do not make this worse.

00:56:33It is her birthday.

00:56:35Lord Blackliffe

00:56:36is going to want to know that.

00:56:39I noticed you came alone,

00:56:40Lord Blackwell.

00:56:41No companion for the feast.

00:56:44Is there no one

00:56:45who has caught your interest?

00:56:46I hear House Blackwell

00:56:48has no shortage

00:56:48of fine houses

00:56:49seeking alliance.

00:56:51There is someone.

00:56:52Is that so?

00:56:56Well,

00:56:57we have some of the finest

00:56:58bloodlines in the realm

00:56:59here tonight.

00:57:00Lady Maron of House Vale.

00:57:03Strong covenant line.

00:57:04Excellent standing.

00:57:05Lady Maron,

00:57:07Lord Blackwet

00:57:08of House Blackwet.

00:57:09She has good bloodline.

00:57:11And,

00:57:12well,

00:57:13if Lady Maron

00:57:14is not to your pace,

00:57:15take your pick

00:57:16of any house here tonight.

00:57:17This is the finest

00:57:18gathering in the realm

00:57:19this season.

00:57:20There is someone,

00:57:21actually.

00:57:22Oh?

00:57:22Who is the lucky lady?

00:57:24That servant girl.

00:57:25From earlier.

00:57:26The one who poured the wine.

00:57:31You cannot be serious,

00:57:33Lord Blackwell.

00:57:34She is a costless servant

00:57:36with no house name.

00:57:38Whatever interest you have,

00:57:41surely one of the noble daughters

00:57:42here tonight

00:57:43would serve you far better.

00:57:44I am not interested

00:57:45in the noble daughters.

00:57:46She does not even

00:57:48bathe properly.

00:57:49She has no access

00:57:50to moods a lot.

00:57:51Is that something

00:57:51she chooses?

00:57:52Or something

00:57:53she has not permitted?

00:57:58Send her to my guest room.

00:58:00I would like to speak with her.

00:58:02That is not going to...

00:58:06Of course.

00:58:08We will send her up.

00:58:23Well,

00:58:24it seems you have admirers.

00:58:26Lord Blackwell has requested

00:58:27your company

00:58:28in his guest room

00:58:29this evening.

00:58:32For some reason,

00:58:33Lord Blackwell wants you

00:58:34for the evening.

00:58:35No idea why.

00:58:38What are you talking about?

00:58:42Please do not wear that.

00:58:45Consider it a parting gift.

00:58:47I heard Rowan

00:58:48sent you away.

00:58:50Finally.

00:58:52Lord Blackmeth's guest room.

00:58:54To the right

00:58:54at the end of the upper corridor.

00:58:55Do not disappoint him.

00:58:57I am not going.

00:58:58Why not?

00:58:58Does he not interest you?

00:59:00I do not know him.

00:59:01And Clothie does not

00:59:02weave second threads.

00:59:03You said so yourself.

00:59:04Clothie does not weave

00:59:05the same thread twice.

00:59:06But she weaves

00:59:07more than one kind.

00:59:09Go and see for yourself.

00:59:11And Zara.

00:59:13Please.

00:59:14Change your dress.

00:59:20Go and see for yourself.

00:59:26Go and see for yourself.

00:59:30Go and see for yourself.

00:59:31Go and see for yourself.

00:59:32Go and see for yourself.

00:59:33Go and see for yourself.

00:59:34Go and see for yourself.

00:59:35Go and see for yourself.

00:59:36Go and see for yourself.

00:59:38Go and see for yourself.

00:59:40Go and see for yourself.

00:59:43Go and see for yourself.

00:59:45Go and see for yourself.

00:59:50Thiel, Lord Blackwet.

00:59:53What did you just call me?

00:59:56Rowan!

00:59:57Isoleth sent me to the wrong room.

00:59:59She did this deliberately.

01:00:11Zara!

01:00:14What in the name of the gods?

01:00:17What do you think you are doing with my betrothed?

01:00:19You castless little witch!

01:00:25She came to seduce my betrothed.

01:00:28In his own room.

01:00:29Look at what she is wearing.

01:00:31You put me in this dress.

01:00:33You sent me to this room.

01:00:34You told me it was Lord Blackwell's...

01:00:37You lying.

01:00:38Do not touch her.

01:00:44If you lay another hand on her,

01:00:46I will make certain you regret it for the rest of your days.

01:00:59Blackwell, this is my castle.

01:01:01My house!

01:01:03You do not...

01:01:04She is with me now.

01:01:05Come.

01:01:06Come.

01:01:07Come.

01:01:08Come.

01:01:09Come.

01:01:10Come.

01:01:11Come.

01:01:15How is your face?

01:01:17It is fine.

01:01:19I am used to it.

01:01:21Why do you let them do that?

01:01:22In case you have not noticed,

01:01:24I am not exactly in a position of power here.

01:01:27So,

01:01:28this is the castless servant of House Greth,

01:01:31with an attitude.

01:01:33Thank you for what you did back there.

01:01:35You do not have to.

01:01:36I am leaving this house tonight.

01:01:37Release me.

01:01:39You are aware I am Lord of Shouse Blackwell,

01:01:41the more powerful house in Orvran.

01:01:44I am.

01:01:46Which is exactly why you would not want someone like me.

01:01:50No house, no bloodline.

01:01:51What is your name?

01:01:53Zara.

01:01:55Just Zara.

01:01:56I do not remember my house name.

01:01:59My parents died when I was small.

01:02:01House Greth took me in.

01:02:02You are with me now, Zara.

01:02:04You do not have to go anywhere tonight.

01:02:06Or at all.

01:02:18Happy birthday.

01:02:22This is my castle.

01:02:25My territory.

01:02:26Step aside.

01:02:28Lord Blackwell has requested privacy.

01:02:29I cannot allow entry.

01:02:31You cannot allow.

01:02:31I am Lord of this house.

01:02:32I could have you removed from this castle entirely.

01:02:36The accord between houses expires soon, my lord.

01:02:38You would not want to offend Lord Blackwell over a servant.

01:02:41There is no way a lord like Theron Blackwell accepts someone like her.

01:02:46She has nothing.

01:02:47She is nothing.

01:02:49Zara is not nothing, my lord.

01:02:51She is Lord Blackwell's guest.

01:02:58Why do you care so much about her?

01:03:00She is irrelevant.

01:03:01She is nothing.

01:03:02I do not want to talk about it.

01:03:04I imagine she is doing everything she can to please Lord Blackwell right now.

01:03:08That shameless, castless wench.

01:03:10I said I do not want to talk about it.

01:03:16Zara.

01:03:18Did you just call me Zara?

01:03:21What?

01:03:22You are being paranoid.

01:03:24Paranoid.

01:03:24I am paranoid.

01:03:26I knew it.

01:03:27I have always known it.

01:03:29It was always about her.

01:03:31Always Zara.

01:03:32Did you ever even care about me?

01:03:35What am I to you?

01:03:36What have I ever been?

01:03:38You are right.

01:03:39He cannot have her.

01:03:41What?

01:03:42Are you serious right now?

01:03:44I am talking to you!

01:03:46Rowan!

01:03:47Do not you dare leave me here!

01:03:55Lord Rowan insists on seeing Zara.

01:03:57He says it is urgent.

01:04:00You do not have to go.

01:04:04I should.

01:04:05I want to end this properly.

01:04:13What do you want, Rowan?

01:04:14You cannot go with Theron Blackneck.

01:04:16You do not even know him.

01:04:18Clotha decreed him for me.

01:04:19I am your decree.

01:04:22Zara, do not leave.

01:04:24I know things between us have been...

01:04:26Things between us?

01:04:27There were no things between us, Rowan.

01:04:29For fifteen years you treated me like a servant.

01:04:32You watched Isolde abuse me and you said nothing.

01:04:34You kept Hectes' seal on me so I would never know who I was.

01:04:37And then you broke Clotha's thread.

01:04:39You rejected me, Rowan.

01:04:40Your words to the gods.

01:04:42I will marry Isolde.

01:04:43The betrothal is too far along to break.

01:04:46But I can move you somewhere safe.

01:04:48A house of your own.

01:04:49You would want for nothing.

01:04:50You do not have to go to Blackwick.

01:04:51You do not have to...

01:04:52What are you trying to say to me right now?

01:04:53Are you telling me you want me to be your kept secret?

01:04:56The other woman while you marry Isolde?

01:04:58I came to say goodbye, Rowan.

01:05:00That is all this is.

01:05:03Zara, I have always loved you.

01:05:06What?

01:05:08I said I love you.

01:05:09Do you hear me?

01:05:10You cannot treat someone like nothing for fifty years and then tell them you love you.

01:05:14That is not love.

01:05:15Let me go!

01:05:16I told you I am willing to work something out.

01:05:18What more could you possibly want from me?

01:05:20This is how you show love?

01:05:21I do not want it.

01:05:22Let me go!

01:05:22Stop pretending.

01:05:24You think I do not know?

01:05:25You disobeyed me.

01:05:26Gave me that attitude every day to get my attention.

01:05:29You have it.

01:05:30I never wanted your attention.

01:05:32I never wanted any of this.

01:05:33Let me go!

01:05:37We are leaving.

01:05:38Now.

01:05:40What about my things?

01:05:42I have everything you will ever need.

01:06:04You will have your own rooms at House Blackneck.

01:06:07Tomorrow I can arrange for whatever you need.

01:06:09Clothing, anything you want.

01:06:11We can send for.

01:06:12Is that a village?

01:06:13The market town of Veld.

01:06:15Three leagues from Greth territory.

01:06:18A market town.

01:06:22We will sort out the council inquiry tomorrow.

01:06:25Lord Cassian will want to move quickly once.

01:06:29Forgive me.

01:06:30What were you saying?

01:06:32I have never even seen anything beyond the castle walls.

01:06:37Call me Theron.

01:06:41Take the long road through Veld.

01:06:43We are not going home yet.

01:06:56Zara.

01:06:57Zara.

01:06:57This house.

01:06:58It knows us.

01:06:59Hectala and Neve have walked the same road since before mortals had names for either of them.

01:07:04This is a safe place.

01:07:07The shadows.

01:07:08The shadows.

01:07:08They are moving.

01:07:11They are the nextborn.

01:07:12They guard this house.

01:07:14They will not harm you.

01:07:15They are alive?

01:07:16They are older than alive.

01:07:18They have been here since Nyx first made her covenant with my bloodline.

01:07:26They have never done that before.

01:07:28They recognize Hecate's gift.

01:07:30They are saying hello.

01:07:37I want the girl.

01:07:39Send her out.

01:07:40She is a guest of House Blacknickth.

01:07:42She leaves when she chooses.

01:07:44Open the gate, Zoran.

01:07:46Last time I ask.

01:07:48No.

01:08:00You brought hollow men to my house.

01:08:03You broke my gate.

01:08:05Think very carefully about what you do next.

01:08:08The girl is a servant of my house.

01:08:09She is not yours to keep.

01:08:11Give me the girl and I walk away.

01:08:13She is not a servant of your house.

01:08:15She never was.

01:08:17And I think you have always known that.

01:08:43What are you doing?

01:08:53Stand down.

01:08:57This isn't over, Blackweck.

01:09:00Send a raven next time.

01:09:02Like a lord.

01:09:04Rowan.

01:09:12I know about the attack on House Saluni.

01:09:14I know you sealed a three-year-old child and kept her hidden for fifty years.

01:09:17And I know Clotha with thread for her.

01:09:19And you threw it away.

01:09:21Atrotus is watching you.

01:09:22You defied the Moraes, buried Hecate's bloodline, and destroyed an entire house.

01:09:25The gods don't forget that.

01:09:27And neither do I.

01:09:28You read my ring without permission.

01:09:30That is a violation of the accord between houses.

01:09:39Do not go out there, Zara.

01:09:42Rowan's RS gift is not controlled when he is this angry.

01:09:46He would not mean to, but he could drain you through the seal fractures.

01:09:50The cracks make you vulnerable.

01:09:52I am not afraid of him.

01:09:54I know.

01:09:55But the seal is not fully broken yet.

01:09:58Until it is.

01:10:00Stay inside this house.

01:10:01The Nyxborn will not let him pass the gate.

01:10:04What happened at the gate?

01:10:06He backed down.

01:10:07For now.

01:10:08But he will move against you.

01:10:09Soon.

01:10:11Rowan does not accept losses.

01:10:12What does he want from me?

01:10:14He defied the decree himself.

01:10:16He sent me away.

01:10:16What is there left to take?

01:10:18He does not want you.

01:10:19He wants to make certain no one else has you.

01:10:20There is a difference.

01:10:21Your name is not just Zara.

01:10:22Your full name is Zara Solene.

01:10:24Daughter of Lord Cassiel Solene and Lady Neva Solene of House Solene.

01:10:30That is not possible.

01:10:32My parents died when I...

01:10:34They did not die.

01:10:36House Greth attacked House Solene 15 years ago.

01:10:39Your parents survived.

01:10:41You were taken in the chaos.

01:10:43Either by Greth soldiers or hidden here afterward.

01:10:46Your parents have been searching for you ever since.

01:10:48My parents are alive?

01:10:49Yes.

01:10:50I met with them two days ago.

01:10:52Your father sat across a desk from me and told me 15 years of searching.

01:10:56Your mother has not stopped looking since the night you disappeared.

01:10:59House Solene.

01:11:01Hector's Covenant.

01:11:02Yes.

01:11:03Your bloodline carries Hector's Gift.

01:11:05Soul Sight.

01:11:06The ability to see the complete truth of any person.

01:11:08Rarest gift in Arboran.

01:11:09It is why the Covenant Seal was placed on you as a child.

01:11:12To keep Hector's Gift buried.

01:11:13To keep you buried.

01:11:16Why are you doing this?

01:11:17I gave your father, Lord Cassian, my word.

01:11:20That is not what I mean.

01:11:21You came to that feast looking for something.

01:11:23You saw me and you spent the rest of the night trying to find out who I was, why.

01:11:25The Shadehound tracks in my study led to House Greth territory.

01:11:28The Keris retreating when I arrived.

01:11:30The pieces were already there.

01:11:31That is still not what I mean.

01:11:34My gift responded to you at the gate before I knew who you were.

01:11:37That does not happen.

01:11:39Not to me.

01:11:40Lyra said Clothed are weaves more than one kind of thread.

01:11:42Yes.

01:11:43She does.

01:12:04Lord Cassian.

01:12:06I said I would find her.

01:12:13You have her eyes.

01:12:16Your mother's eyes, exactly.

01:12:24I did not know you were alive.

01:12:26They told me.

01:12:27I thought...

01:12:27I know.

01:12:28I know what they told you.

01:12:29I prayed.

01:12:31For years I prayed.

01:12:32I did not know who I was praying to.

01:12:34I called her Hectith.

01:12:36I just prayed that someone was listening.

01:12:37Hector was listening.

01:12:39She always was.

01:12:40I never stopped looking for you.

01:12:42Not one day.

01:12:44Not one hour.

01:12:51You were three years old.

01:12:54The night they came.

01:12:55House Greth attacked at the third bell of night.

01:12:58No warning.

01:12:58No declaration.

01:13:00Just Greth soldiers at our walls.

01:13:02They knew exactly what they wanted.

01:13:04Hectata's covenant had just passed to you at birth.

01:13:06House Solane with a newborn heir carrying the full force of soul sight that terrified them.

01:13:11You would have been the most powerful voice at any council table in Auron.

01:13:15So they took me instead of killing me?

01:13:18They put the covenant seal on you that same night.

01:13:20And they kept you where they could watch you and where the seal would never break.

01:13:24Surrounded by Rowan Zara's gift.

01:13:26Pressing the seal down every day simply by existing near you.

01:13:29We're in closeness to Cree.

01:13:32Rowan was woven for me at birth.

01:13:34He knew if the thread appeared he could not hide who I was any longer.

01:13:37Which is why he defied it immediately.

01:13:40Better to pay the cost of defying the Moirai than to let you know who you were.

01:13:45He was afraid of me.

01:13:50His entire house has been afraid of you since the night you were born.

01:13:57The seal will fully break within days.

01:14:00Once Hectata's gift is free in her.

01:14:02See through every lie in this realm.

01:14:05She will see what we did to her family.

01:14:07She will be able to prove it at council.

01:14:09Then we stop it before it breaks.

01:14:11The seal is too far gone.

01:14:13Rowan's suppression cannot close those fractures.

01:14:15Hector is driving them open from the divine side.

01:14:17There is only one thing that stops Hecta's gift once it starts.

01:14:19Voidban.

01:14:21Voidban severs the covenant permanently.

01:14:23Hecta's gift gone from her bloodline entirely.

01:14:26Gone.

01:14:27I know someone who can get it.

01:14:32Get it.

01:14:39How does it work?

01:14:40One touch to bare skin.

01:14:42The poison enters through contact.

01:14:44It reaches the covenant connection in the blood within one hour.

01:14:47After that, the gift is gone.

01:14:49The bloodline's covenant with Hecta dissolves permanently.

01:14:52As if the original bargain was never made.

01:14:54If I use it on her, what happens?

01:14:56She lives.

01:14:58She simply becomes ordinary.

01:15:13Good morning.

01:15:14Good morning.

01:15:16This was always your room.

01:15:17We never changed it.

01:15:26Tell me what Lyra says your gift does.

01:15:28In full.

01:15:29Soul sight.

01:15:30Hecta's gift.

01:15:31I can see the complete truth of any person.

01:15:34What they intend, what they hide, what they have done.

01:15:36No lie survives it.

01:15:38In its full form, Lyra says I can read an entire room simultaneously.

01:15:41Can you use it now?

01:15:42Not yet.

01:15:43The seal is still there.

01:15:44Most of it.

01:15:45Lyra says when it fully breaks, the gift will arrive all at once.

01:15:48She says it will be overwhelming.

01:15:50At first.

01:15:51When it does, you will be able to see the truth of everyone around you.

01:15:55Including me.

01:15:56Does that concern you?

01:15:58No.

01:15:59Zara.

01:16:00The warmth between you.

01:16:02That is real.

01:16:03Clothy wove it differently this time.

01:16:05It will not collapse if defied.

01:16:06It only grows.

01:16:08Not yet.

01:16:08What?

01:16:09Nothing.

01:16:10Lyra talks a great deal.

01:16:14Rowan demands we surrender Zara to House Graith custody within three days.

01:16:19Or he declares inter-house conflict.

01:16:25He cannot declare conflict against both our houses.

01:16:28House Selene and House Blackwell together outrank him at every council.

01:16:32He does not need to win the conflict.

01:16:34He only needs to create enough chaos that the other houses look away while he moves against Zara directly.

01:16:42He is not going to wait for the council.

01:16:44He is going to move before the seal breaks.

01:16:47Lord Cassian.

01:16:48Can you call the council?

01:16:51Formally.

01:16:52Openly.

01:16:53Before Rowan moves first.

01:16:58I can.

01:16:59But if Rowan has something that can stop the seal breaking before the council convenes.

01:17:04Do not let anyone you do not trust come near your wrist.

01:17:07Not until the seal is fully gone.

01:17:2215 years ago House Graith attacked House Selene without declaration, without cause and without consequence.

01:17:27My door three years old was taken that same night.

01:17:30A covenant seal placed on a child of Hecate's bloodline to suppress her divine gift.

01:17:34She was kept as a servant in House Graith for 15 years.

01:17:38I am asking this council to answer for what was done.

01:17:41House Graith denies every accusation.

01:17:43The girl in question was an orphan found wandering near our territory.

01:17:46We took her in out of charity.

01:17:48The covenant seal was placed for her own protection.

01:17:51Her gift was unstable.

01:17:53Lord Cassian has no proof of anything he has claimed.

01:17:56Furthermore, this girl has no documented bloodline.

01:17:59No House Solene birth record survives the attack on their estate.

01:18:03Lord Cassian is asking the council to accept the word of a castless servant over the standing of House Graith.

01:18:09I have proof.

01:18:12When Ronan showed up to my house, I used my gift and read his ring.

01:18:15What I found wasn't pretty.

01:18:1615 years of deliberate moves against House Solene.

01:18:19The attack, taking the child, locking Hectima's gift inside her with that seal.

01:18:23All of it.

01:18:25That ring has witnessed everything.

01:18:26He read my ring without permission.

01:18:28Article 7 of the Accord permits a reading of House Insignia when a missing heir is involved.

01:18:32That itself is a violation of the Accord.

01:18:34Everything he claims to have read is inadmissible.

01:18:36Zahra Solene is a missing heir.

01:18:38Her father sits at this table.

01:18:49Zahra, left side.

01:18:51Now!

01:18:58Zahra, fight it.

01:19:00Do not let it reach the covenant.

01:19:02Do not.

01:19:13What did you give her?

01:19:15Nothing that was not necessary.

01:19:21Zahra?

01:19:23Zahra!

01:19:24Zahra!

01:19:25Hectias is here!

01:19:26She is fighting it!

01:19:28Hold on!

01:19:53This is what you were born for, Zahra Solenea.

01:19:57Now let them see you.

01:20:01Welcome home.

01:20:52My name is Zara Soleen.

01:20:55My house made a covenant with Hector at our founding.

01:20:57Her gift allows me to see the complete truth of any person in this room.

01:21:01Nothing hidden survives it.

01:21:02You accepted payment from House Grief six years ago

01:21:05in exchange for blocking House Zalane's petition to this council.

01:21:09You told your household it was a trade agreement.

01:21:12I am not here to expose every secret in this room.

01:21:15I am here to confirm one thing.

01:21:17Everything Lord Blackwell told this council is true.

01:21:20I can see it in every person who was present at House Grief during the years they kept me.

01:21:24Every action, every decision, every order given.

01:21:28This council will not accept the testimony of a girl

01:21:31who just had a vow pressed to her wrist.

01:21:33She is clearly...

01:21:37Sit down.

01:21:45Rowan, you lost.

01:21:47Accept the judgment of the council for the mistakes you have made.

01:21:55You're done, Rowan.

01:21:57Look around you.

01:21:58I'm not done until I say I'm done!

01:22:02тоже never seen the night.

01:22:18I can't fall.

01:22:21Let go, Rowan.

01:22:23I have my family.

01:22:25I have a great piece.

01:22:25Oh.

01:22:29And all that, let go.

01:22:33It is over, Rowan.

01:22:40You went to a crossroads at night.

01:22:42You took something from Hades Domain.

01:22:44Don't.

01:22:45You pressed it against my wrist in front of this entire council and watched me go down.

01:22:52You tried to kill a divine gift.

01:22:54In neutral land.

01:22:56In front of eight houses sitting in the room.

01:22:58Every lord hearing it clearly.

01:23:00I protected my house.

01:23:02What she would have done with that gift, I can see every lie you've ever told.

01:23:06Don't try another one.

01:23:07I move that House Crane be held responsible for the attempted use of Hades-sourced poison on a divine heir

01:23:12in neutral ground.

01:23:13Isalte Crane to be stripped of her house title and remanded to council custody pending full judgment.

01:23:18You cannot.

01:23:19I am the daughter of House Crane.

01:23:20My father will...

01:23:21Your father is not in this room.

01:23:23Rowan.

01:23:24Rowan, tell them.

01:23:25Tell them I did it for us.

01:23:26For the house.

01:23:27You told me to get it.

01:23:29You said, get it!

01:23:32You're not going to say anything, are you?

01:23:37I did everything for you.

01:23:39Every single thing.

01:23:41The room.

01:23:42The vial.

01:23:45Fifteen years of watching you look at her instead of me and I said nothing.

01:23:49I did everything you needed and you won't even...

01:23:52I loved you.

01:23:53That was real.

01:23:55Even if nothing else was.

01:24:10I want you to know something before you go.

01:24:13You spent fifteen years trying to stop this moment.

01:24:16And here we are anyway.

01:24:18What do you want, Zahra?

01:24:19An apology?

01:24:20I want nothing from you.

01:24:22That is what I came to tell you.

01:24:24After everything you did, I feel nothing when I look at you.

01:24:30The council exiled him.

01:24:33He lost any powers he had.

01:24:43I do not know how to do this.

01:24:45I do not know how to do this.

01:24:53Every single day.

01:24:55I said your name every single day so I would not forget the sound of it.

01:24:59So it would still be ready when you came back.

01:25:06Welcome home, Zahra.

01:25:19You found her.

01:25:21You brought her home.

01:25:24House Barnett has House Solina's gratitude for what you did,

01:25:26and I mean that without reservation.

01:25:29I did not come today for gratitude.

01:25:31No.

01:25:32I did not think so.

01:25:33What are your intentions toward my daughter, Lord Blackwell?

01:25:35Honorable ones, I want the right to court her.

01:25:37Properly, openly, with your knowledge and consent.

01:25:39Nothing hidden, nothing rushed.

01:25:40She has been kept hidden and castless for fifteen years.

01:25:42She has just received her full divine gift and learned who she is.

01:25:45She is not a prize to be collected, Lord Blackwell, by anyone,

01:25:47including the man who helped find her.

01:25:49I know that.

01:25:50The decision is hers entirely.

01:25:51I am asking your permission to be considered,

01:25:53not your permission to decide for her.

01:25:55She already knows you came.

01:25:57She saw it in your face the moment you arrived.

01:25:59I am aware of that.

01:26:00Good.

01:26:00Then there is no point pretending this conversation is a secret.

01:26:12I spoke with your father.

01:26:14I know.

01:26:14I saw it in your face before you said a word.

01:26:16Is that going to be a permanent condition?

01:26:18Reading everything before anyone speaks?

01:26:20Yes.

01:26:22Good.

01:26:25In the Accord Hall, when you read me, what did you see?

01:26:29Everything you have done.

01:26:30Everything you intend.

01:26:32Everything you have been afraid to say out loud since the gate at House Greth.

01:26:36And?

01:26:36And nothing hidden.

01:26:38You are exactly what you appear to be.

01:26:40That is rarer than you know.

01:26:42Do you see that?

01:26:46I see it.

01:26:48I told you.

01:26:49A decree of purpose.

01:26:51It only grows.

01:26:52So, what do we do with it?

01:26:55I have a few ideas.

01:26:57You are not as serious as you pretend to be.

01:26:59And you are not as unbothered as you pretend to be.

01:27:02I read you, you know.

01:27:04What am I supposed to do with it?

01:27:05I know.

01:27:08You were not afraid of that.

01:27:11I had nothing to hide.

01:27:20Lyra is going to be insufferable about this.

01:27:22I heard that.

01:27:24Come on.

01:27:25Your father is going to send someone to find us soon.

01:27:27Let him.

The Road Not Taken ARS [Full Movie]

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