Chapter 1
I was born bad. I was abducted when I was a child. Later, I took revenge on an entire village. By the time my biological parents found me, I was just a nobody working in a chemical lab. After the reunion, my twin younger sister, Evelyn, would often come see me—bringing me lunch, buying me pretty dresses. There was always a smile in her eyes. “Emmy, you’re too skinny. You’ve got to eat better.” “You must’ve had a hard time growing up in the countryside after you were taken. From now on, I’m going to take care of you.” Then, Evelyn fell in love. Blushing, she told me, “Emmy, I’m getting married. He’s from the Whitlock family—the richest family in Ravenwood Hills. I know you don’t like crowds, so I asked Mother to livestream the wedding for you, okay?” “When I become a rich wife, I’ll have tons of allowance. I’ll send you money every month so you can quit that lab job.” But I never got to see her wedding livestream. What I got instead… was the news of her death. And just like that, the part of me that had been buried for years—the part that carried strength, precision, and a relentless will—woke up again. …
I found Evelyn in the woods near Everwell Finishing School, tucked away in the mountains. She was gone. There were no signs, no warning—just the quiet tragedy of a young woman who had passed far too soon, carrying new life with her. I held her gently. As I did, her phone slipped from her pocket. A message appeared on the screen. “Learned the rules yet, now that you’ve been at Everwell for so long? Don’t you ever touch Delilah again. I’ll give you a grand wedding—make you the happiest bride in the world.” From: Damian Whitlock. Tears blurred my vision. I typed slowly: “I’m sorry, honey. I was wrong.” We kept the funeral private. Just our parents and me. Mother was beside herself, whispering through tears, “I never should’ve let her get involved with them… We should’ve protected her.” Father sat quietly for a long time before finally saying, “It was never just kindness… There was always something behind it.” Then, the door swung open. A sharp voice filled the room. “Evelyn, is this your way of avoiding me? Pretending to disappear?” I instinctively stepped back, out of view. Father stood, his voice low but firm. “Please leave. This isn’t the time.” Damian’s tone turned cold. “You think you can play these games with me?” He held up a photo—Evelyn, smiling peacefully, like nothing had happened. Delilah stepped into view, her tone soft and innocent. “Mr. Lane, please don’t be upset. Evelyn wasn’t very kind to me… That’s why she needed time away.” “She was meant to prepare herself for her future role.” I clenched my fists. It was them. They’d driven her to this point, and now they stood here like they’d done nothing wrong. Mother stepped forward, her voice shaking. “She trusted you. And now she’s gone.” Delilah blinked away tears. “I didn’t mean for anything to happen…” Damian interrupted. “Tell Evelyn this is her final chance. Come back, apologize to Delilah, and act accordingly—or everything ends here.” “If she truly loves me, she’ll understand. I won’t wait forever.” I said nothing. But something inside me had already shifted—and there was no going back.
At the investors’ meeting, our intern suggested serving Yoo-hoo chocolate milk to the investors.
My fiancé indulgently agreed, and the other shareholders quickly nodded along.
In my past life, I’d firmly opposed this. It was the most critical round of our company’s funding-one failure, and our entire cash flow would collapse, saddling every shareholder with massive debts.
But my fiancé had accused me. “You’re just petty. Admit it, you’re jealous that she’s younger.”
The other shareholders impatiently chimed in, “Yoo-hoo is fine! Besides, the investors only care about the company’s strength.”
We had founded this company from scratch with our own sweat and tears. I couldn’t bear to watch everyone’s efforts crumble.
So before the meeting, I’d replaced all the Yoo-hoo snacks with investors’ preferred refreshments-Earl Grey and White Blossom Herbal Tea, fresh fruit platters, and artisan pastries.
The investors had been pleased, and we successfully secured funding, going public with a soaring market valuation.
Yet the intern had stormed out in tears, only to be hit by a truck. She survived-but was left paralyzed from the waist down.
She went live, crying as she accused me of workplace bullying-saying I’d pushed her under a truck out of jealousy.
My fiancé’s silence further fueled the public outrage.
Angry protesters doused me in gasoline and burned me alive. My mother had died of a heart attack, and my father had been hit by a car and left to die in the street.
Now, in this life, when I heard the intern suggest Yoo-hoo again, I kept my mouth shut. Yoo-hoo sounded wonderful-perfect with animal crackers.
Quietly, I made a call. “That offer you mentioned-high salary, shares in the company-is it still valid?”
In Madeline Rhodes’ livestream, she wept bitterly, accusing me of workplace bullying and stealing credit for her project.
Gavin Stone had stepped forward, promising to fix what I’d done wrong by marrying Madeline and giving her a lavish wedding.
After my death, I’d watched my mother suffer a heart attack. Protesters had blocked the ambulance, leaving her to die painfully at home, mere steps away from help.
My father had been struck dead on the street, his body ignored.
Madeline and Gavin had stood by coldly, allowing stray dogs to gnaw on my father’s corpse.
“Sloane committed terrible sins. Her parents deserved it.”
I hovered helplessly above, desperately trying to chase away the dogs-but nothing I did could touch them.
When I opened my eyes again, I heard Madeline’s wronged voice clearly.
“What’s wrong with serving Yoo-hoo at the investors’ meeting? Why is Sloane so mean?”
“Yeah, Sloane. Yoo-hoo is innovative. The investors might love it.”
I looked around. Gavin and all the shareholders were eyeing me impatiently.
I pinched my thigh hard. It hurt.
I’d been reborn?!
The investors were nearly fifty, many with health issues and dairy allergies. Yoo-hoo? Were they tired of living? Chapter 1
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Smiling sweetly, I said, “Madeline’s suggestion is excellent. I agree.”
Gavin and I had founded this company ourselves. Our shareholders were mostly friends, investing their entire net worth.
To attract funding, I’d drunk myself into the ER more than once. Gavin and I worked from dawn till dusk, never daring to slow down.
In my last life, terrified that all our hard work would fall apart, I switched the refreshments before the meeting-and it won the investors’ favor.
Instead, my family had been destroyed, and I’d been burned alive.
In this life, I wanted to see how long the company would survive if the investors actually drank Yoo-hoo.
Madeline eagerly explained her plan next, but I’d already lost interest and quietly slipped out through the back.
In an empty office, I dialed a number.
“Miss Harper, why the sudden call? Have you reconsidered my offer?”
“Yes, Spencer, I accept-but I want absolute decision-making authority and veto power.”
On the other end, I sensed Spencer sit up immediately, his voice earnest and pleased.
“Agreed to all your terms, Sloane. I’m looking forward to our partnership.”
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