- 15 hours ago
The road not taken - Full
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Inside a gothic cathedral stood two men looking for wives.
00:03One was Jace, a billionaire from the west coast.
00:06The other was Victor, a small-time thug from the east coast.
00:09For the sake of a massive bride price,
00:11our powerful stepmother made us choose which one we would marry.
00:14In my last life, my younger sister Lily rushed to choose Jace, the billionaire,
00:19and she pushed Victor, that low-life thug, onto me.
00:23But no one expected that five years later,
00:26Jace would go completely bankrupt
00:28and Lily would have no choice but to move with him into a leaking slum.
00:32As for that thug Victor, he carved a bloody path across the east coast
00:36and became a mafia godfather who struck fear into everyone who heard his name.
00:40I became the mafia matriarch countless people tried to curry favor with.
00:43Luxury cars and yachts, whenever I went out, money spent like water.
00:47When I saw Lily starving in the slums, picking up discarded vegetable leaves,
00:51I kindly handed her a check for $1 million to help improve her life.
00:54But she tore the check to pieces, clamped both hands around my throat,
00:57and dragged me towards a speeding truck.
00:59Give me back the life that should have been mine!
01:01The truck roared past and Lily and I died together.
01:05When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to five years ago,
01:09to the day Jace and Victor came to choose their wives.
01:14I like wild men.
01:16I'm going with you!
01:19As if she had already decided that in this life,
01:23she would become the mafia matriarch and crush me completely under her feet.
01:28I knew then that Lily had been reborn too.
01:31She thought she had stolen my life.
01:33But I only found it funny.
01:35Victor was no devoted underworld boss from some mafia movie.
01:39He was a demon who took pleasure in tormenting people.
01:42The only reason Victor became a mafia godfather in my last life
01:45was because of the leadership I gave him from behind the scenes.
01:48Even so, Victor still broke 199 of my bones.
01:52I looked at Lily's relieved expression and curved my lips.
01:56You think you're about to live a glorious life above everyone else?
02:00But you have no idea.
02:01This road will only drag you into hell.
02:04Lily thought that throwing herself into Victor's arms
02:07would guarantee he would take her in.
02:08But Victor shoved her away and fixed his gaze on me.
02:12Come here.
02:13I want you.
02:15My heart trembled.
02:16Fear flooded over me like a tide.
02:18Memories from my last life poured into my mind in an instant.
02:21Being chained in his basement and beaten.
02:22Being handed to other gangs as a hostage and violated.
02:25Having my bones shattered for human experiments.
02:28I froze where I stood.
02:29Unable to move even half a step.
02:31Lily panicked at the sight.
02:32Don't choose my sister Chloe.
02:34She's vain and greedy.
02:36Always thinking about diamonds and sports cars.
02:38How could she possibly endure your dangerous bloodstake life?
02:42She looks down on you, but I'm willing to suffer with you.
02:48Fine.
02:49Then you'll be my woman.
02:51As long as you behave and do what I say,
02:54I'll make sure you can walk all over this street.
02:57I believe you.
02:58I'll do whatever you say.
03:01At that moment, Jace, who stood beside us,
03:04held out an expensive wedding gown to me.
03:06Will you be my wife and leave with me?
03:09I'm currently facing a financial crisis.
03:13But I promise you, even if I lose everything,
03:15I'll never let you go hungry.
03:18Without hesitation, I placed my hand in his palm.
03:21I will.
03:22I knew very well that Jace was an exceptional man.
03:25In my last life, after Jace went bankrupt,
03:28even when he had to work three jobs a day,
03:30he still saved the last piece of bread for Lily.
03:32But Lily cursed him all day long, calling him useless.
03:34Since you're too blessed to appreciate him,
03:37then he'll be mine.
03:38When Lily climbed onto Victor's battered motorcycle,
03:40she turned back and whispered to me,
03:42Jace is about to go bankrupt and end up on the street.
03:45Victor will fight his way back into high society sooner or later.
03:48Chloe, in this life, you can wait in the gutter and look up at me.
03:53So she knew I had been reborn too,
03:55and she thought she had stolen my life.
03:57I watched the motorcycle roar away and sneered in the room.
04:00Only I knew Victor would treat the woman beside him like a machine
04:03until he had squeezed out every last drop of value.
04:06In my last life, when I first followed Victor back to the East Coast,
04:09I had naively believed he was a good man too.
04:11He bought me the most expensive dresses
04:13and took me in and out of the top underground casinos.
04:15Even though back then, I was so afraid I could barely walk,
04:19he brainwashed me,
04:20telling me this was the unique love
04:22a man who lived on the edge had for me.
04:25Until one day, his gang hit a dead end.
04:28Without hesitation, he chained me up
04:30and handed me over to a rival gang.
04:32I was abused by those vile men for two full years.
04:37Only then did I understand
04:39that Victor had only ever seen me
04:41as a scapegoat he could discard at any time.
04:44Chloe, welcome home.
04:47Jace's gentle voice sounded beside me.
04:50I followed Jace into the villa.
04:52The moment he opened the door, I froze.
04:54It was a luxurious dressing room
04:56filled with limited edition gowns from the current season.
04:59Brilliant jewels flashed almost blindingly under the lights.
05:02My eyes warmed.
05:04Jace, thank you.
05:06I've never seen such a beautiful place.
05:08Since you've come home with me,
05:10you're the mistress of this house.
05:13Swipe the card for anything you want.
05:19I'll never let my woman suffer the slightest grievous.
05:23Warmth rushed through my chest.
05:26Even though his company was currently being jointly stingled by Wall Street,
05:29he still gave me the very best.
05:33I'll behave.
05:34Facts proved that Jace was the perfect gentleman.
05:37He cherished me like a priceless treasure.
05:40My food, clothes, and daily necessities were all top tier.
05:44But he didn't know that I was no longer the fallen heiress
05:46who only knew how to enjoy herself.
05:49In my last life, I hid behind the scenes
05:52and helped Victor build a massive mafia empire.
05:56In this life, I could help Jace protect everything too.
06:00I walked straight into his study
06:02and picked up the financial reports on his desk.
06:08Since you're protecting me,
06:10I'll protect your business empire for you.
06:12Only three days later, Wall Street's hunt began.
06:15Jace's enemies had brabbed an executive in his company.
06:18They planned to present a fake report at the board meeting
06:20and forced Jace out.
06:21In my last life, Jace fell at this very step.
06:24Not only did he go bankrupt,
06:25he was also saddled with massive debt.
06:27But in this life, I was here.
06:29My experience laundering money for Victor in my past life
06:32made me intimately familiar with these kinds of business tactics.
06:34I hacked directly into that traitorous executive's email,
06:37obtained ironclayed proof that they had falsified the data,
06:39and sent it straight to the FBI.
06:41Not only that, I also used a black card
06:43Jace had given me to set a financial trap in the futures market.
06:45Jace, this time you won't lose.
06:48That night, a top charity gala was held in Manhattan.
06:51I held Jace's arm and stepped out of a Rolls Royce.
06:54But unexpectedly, I ran into Lily there.
06:57Victor was nothing but an up-and-coming street thug.
06:59He had no qualifications to attend such an event.
07:01Clearly, Lily had forced Victor to fortune-buying invitations
07:04so she could show off her mafia wife persona.
07:06Lily arrogantly blocked my path.
07:08Chloe, what a surprise!
07:09Jace, that loser who's going bankrupt tonight,
07:12actually managed to borrow money to rent you a gown?
07:14You have no idea how amazing Victor is.
07:17He took over three blocks of territory.
07:20The cash he brings home could fill a bathtub!
07:23See that?
07:23He assigned me fully-armed bodyguards to protect me,
07:26and every day he has people stew the finest supplements for me.
07:28You'll never experience this kind of love in your life.
07:31I looked at her nouveau riche posturing
07:33and smeared again and again in my heart.
07:36Bodyguards? Supplements?
07:38Lily had no idea that Victor's frantic territorial expansion
07:41had already angered several old mafia families.
07:44He gave Lily bodyguards to disguise her as a top-priority target
07:47and draw assassin fire.
07:49He fed her expensive supplements so he could draw her healthy blood
07:52and trade it to high-level figures on the underground black market
07:55in exchange for resources and life extension.
07:58I looked at Lily with pity.
07:59She wasn't far from death.
08:01Seeing me silent,
08:03Lily thought she had hit a sore point
08:04and laughed even more wildly.
08:07I just heard several Wall Street big shots say that after tonight,
08:11Jace will have nothing!
08:12She leaned closer and lowered her voice.
08:15When that happens,
08:16you'll have to sell yourself in the slums to pay off his debts.
08:19The throne above everyone else is mine in the end.
08:30When Lily saw that I wasn't intimidated at all,
08:33she stomped her foot hard.
08:35Chloe, just you wait!
08:37Sooner or later,
08:38you'll be kneeling and begging me!
08:42She turned and walked toward Eric,
08:44the crown prince of Wall Street,
08:45picked up a glass of champagne
08:47and tried to build a connection.
08:49Mr. Eric,
08:50Victor asked me to send you his regards.
08:52From now on,
08:54he'll have your East Coast business covered.
08:56Eric didn't even look at her
08:57before knocking over his glass with the back of his hand.
09:03What gutter rat thinks she's worthy of cozying up to me?
09:07But on TV,
09:08you clearly said you respected people
09:10who would do whatever it took to climb up.
09:11That's me!
09:12How can you look down on me?!
09:14Watching this,
09:15I couldn't help finding it funny.
09:16In my last life,
09:18after Victor became a mafia godfass,
09:20Eric did indeed fawn over me like a dog.
09:22But Lily didn't know
09:23that the current Victor was nowhere near qualified.
09:26Capitalists like Eric
09:27only respected absolute power.
09:29They would never spare a second glance
09:30for a street thug's woman.
09:33A cheap whore who eats off gangsters
09:35has no right to dirty my suit.
09:40Mrs. Jace,
09:41congratulations to Mr. Jace
09:43on his perfect counterattack
09:44in the futures market tonight,
09:46earning a net profit of one billion.
09:48Wall Street will be relying on you
09:50from now on!
09:51Lily froze where she stood,
09:53shaking her head in disbelief.
09:54What nonsense are you talking about?
09:55Jace is supposed to go bankrupt tonight.
09:56Victor is the future godfather.
09:58She suddenly lunged at Eric.
09:59Eric, open your eyes.
10:00You should be working with me.
10:01Eric shoved her to the floor,
10:02his face full of disgust.
10:03Who collects protection money?
10:04Tonight,
10:04some other family will throw him into the sea
10:06to feed the sharks.
10:07What mafia matriarch fantasy are you having?
10:09The surrounding elite covered their ears
10:11and laughed,
10:11their gazes as sharp as knives.
10:13So she's a lunatook
10:14trying to use a thug to climb into power.
10:16Hurry up and call security
10:17to throw this bitch out.
10:17She's dirtying our eyes.
10:19Humiliated to the bone,
10:20Lily climbed up from the floor
10:21and glared at everyone with hatred.
10:22Victor, pull out your gun!
10:23Show them who the king of the East Coast really is!
10:25The doors to the banquet hall
10:27were kicked open.
10:27Victor stormed in arrogantly
10:29with a dozen tattooed men
10:30all carrying machetes.
10:31Who the fuck dares touch my woman?
10:33Eric sneered.
10:33In an instant,
10:34dozens of armed Blackwater bodyguards
10:35surged out from every direction.
10:37Red laser sights
10:37locked onto Victor's forehead
10:38and chest in unisys.
10:40Victor's legs went weak.
10:41With a thud,
10:41he dropped to his knees.
10:43Mr. Eric,
10:44misunderstanding!
10:44This crazy bitch lost her mind!
10:46It has nothing to do with me!
10:47Victor,
10:47what are you saying?
10:48Shut up!
10:49Who gave you the right to speak here?
10:50To distance himself from her,
10:52he crawled over,
10:53grabbed Lily by the hair,
10:54and slapped her across the face
10:56again and again,
10:57more than a dozen times.
10:59Blood filled the corners of Lily's mouth.
11:01Her soul seemed to leave her body
11:02as he slapped her over and over.
11:04No!
11:05It shouldn't be like this!
11:07The entire hall fell into dead silence.
11:09Jace calmly set down his wine glass
11:11and shielded me behind him.
11:12He loserly wiped a drop of wine
11:14from the hem of his jacket.
11:15Every movement refined and elegant.
11:17He was worlds apart from Victor,
11:19who had just been wagging his tail and begging.
11:21If you're not gone in one minute,
11:23all of you are going into the sea.
11:26After dropping that threat,
11:27Eric strode away with his bodyguards.
11:29Lily seized the chance to break free from Victor
11:31and stumbled toward the door.
11:32You all look down on me today,
11:34but sooner or later you'll regret it!
11:36I will become a mafia godmother!
11:38Because her pride had been completely trampled,
11:41Lily never again had the face
11:42to appear in public after that day.
11:45Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
11:48In my last life,
11:50these three months were exactly the death trap.
11:53When Victor's territory was jointly purged
11:56by the major mafia families
11:58to borrow money from a Mexican drug lord for weapons,
12:01he personally pushed me onto an underground gambling table.
12:05Those desperados shoved a loaded Resolvor into my mouth
12:09and forced me to play Russian Salette.
12:13Each time the trigger was pulled,
12:16Victor showed no heartache at all.
12:19Instead, he held other women
12:21and laughed loudly as he placed his bets.
12:24The despair of that cold gun barrel pressed against my throat
12:28utterly shredded my dignity as a human being.
12:31In his eyes,
12:33I had never been a mafia matriarch.
12:35I was only a chip he could trade for money at any time.
12:41I didn't know whether Lily would experience all of that.
12:45But based on my observation of Victor in this life,
12:49he would only torment Lily even more viciously.
12:52Facts proved my guess was right.
12:54The next morning,
12:55I had just walked out of an upscale clubhouse
12:58when a battered pickup car riddled with bullet holes
13:00came barreling towards me like mad.
13:03A bodyguard threw me to the ground
13:05and the pickup slammed into a stone pillar beside us with a crash.
13:13Lily's shrill voice came from inside.
13:15Chloe, get out here!
13:18My heart jolted.
13:20Lily had come.
13:28Although I had prepared myself,
13:30when I saw what she looked like now,
13:32I nearly vomited.
13:33I never imagined Victor would torture Lily into such a state.
13:37Lily tumbled out of the bullet-rivet old pickup.
13:40Her once delicate face was sun and deathly pale.
13:43Beneath her expensive silk-slip dress,
13:45her body was covered in bruises and needle marks.
13:47She crawled toward me and clung tightly to my leg.
13:50Chloe, let's switch back!
13:53Knot and tears mixed together on her face,
13:55making her look both pitiful and disgusting.
13:57That lunatic Victor has been losing territory lately
14:00and he's taking all his anger out on me!
14:02He draws my blood every day to sell it
14:05and he forces me to accompany those perverts
14:08so he can win resources!
14:09She suddenly lifted her head
14:11and shouted with righteous confidence.
14:13You clearly knew this life would be so miserable!
14:15Why didn't you warn me?
14:17This was supposed to be your suffering!
14:19Let's switch back now!
14:21You go be Victor's dog
14:23and I'll be your rich wife!
14:24Hearing such shameless words,
14:26I sneered and kicked her away.
14:30Switch back?
14:31Lily, did they beat your brain broken?
14:34I looked down at her from above.
14:36Who was the one who rushed to climb onto Victor's motorcycle?
14:44Who was the one who gloated and mocked me?
14:48Saying I could only look up at you from the slums?
14:52She lay on the ground,
14:53pounding the pavement in a frenzy as she screamed.
14:55That's because you tricked me!
14:59You hid from me what would happen if I chose Victor!
15:03But don't get too pleased with yourself!
15:05A flash of vicious, sick pleasure crossed Lily's eyes.
15:09According to how things went in the last life,
15:11that useless Jace is going completely bankrupt today!
15:15When that happens,
15:16you won't even be able to afford the slums!
15:18You'll have to beg on the street!
15:20The words had barely left her mouth.
15:25Twelve Rolls-Royce phantoms roared to a stop in front of us,
15:28sealing off the entire street.
15:30The car doors opened.
15:32Dressed in a custom suit,
15:34strode toward us surrounded by dozens of Blackwater bodyguards.
15:37Seeing such an astonishing scene's throat tightened,
15:39a sharp swallow betraying her shock.
15:41Impossible!
15:42You're supposed to go bankrupt today!
15:44How could you still have money?
15:45But she instantly reacted.
15:47Now was the time to cling to power.
15:48She shoved me aside and rushed toward two,
15:51deliberately exposing her collarbones
15:52and leaning close as she pleaded sweetly.
15:54Mr. Mishu, don't be deceived by my sister!
15:56She's a demon to the bone!
15:57Sooner or later, she'll destroy your business empire!
16:00Lifted her head pitifully.
16:01Only a clean woman like me is worthy of your wealth,
16:04as long as you want me to-
16:05Get away!
16:06Didn't even spare her a sidelong glance.
16:08He walked straight past her and came to me.
16:10He took out an expensive handkerchief and,
16:13with aching tenderness,
16:14wiped the dust grabbed onto the hem of my clothes.
16:17Then he turned and looked down at her.
16:19If she really is a demon,
16:21then I'd willingly offer her my soul.
16:23Besides, she's the one who helped me dominate Wall Street.
16:27Chloe is my only woman.
16:28As for you, you're not even worthy of carrying her shoes.
16:31Picture One looked as if she had been struck by lightning.
16:34Jealousy twisted her features.
16:35She screamed and tried to lunge forward again.
16:38No!
16:39This life should be mine!
16:42Just then, an old, unlicensed van screeched to a stop by the roadside.
16:47Two tattooed thugs jumped out,
16:50grabbed her by the hair,
16:51and dragged her viciously toward the van.
16:54Filthy bitch!
16:55How dare you run out and play victim!
16:57Boss Victor is waiting for you to come back!
16:59We haven't drawn enough blood today!
17:01Watching the van speed away, I frowned.
17:04Special supplements?
17:05Had Victor come up with some new trick again?
17:07The instincts I had developed in my last life
17:09while managing Victor's underground industries
17:11told me this was absolutely not simple.
17:13After returning to the Manishin,
17:15I immediately locked the study-a-door
17:16and turned off the computer.
17:18Relying my understanding of Victor's crated network
17:20from my Yen-P, the Uth-Rai,
17:22bypassed the firewall with ease
17:23and hacked directly into the underground medical system
17:26he had recently connected.
17:27In an encrypted purchase list,
17:29I found the true ingredients of those special supplements.
17:32The moment I clicked it open,
17:34a chill crawled up my spine.
17:35They weren't supplements at all.
17:37They were living organ rejection suppressors,
17:39a substance explicitly banned on the dark web.
17:41So that was it.
17:43Victor's frantic expansion had angered the old mafia
17:46and his cash flow had completely collapsed.
17:48To repay his debts,
17:50he had accepted a live organ order
17:52from a sick drug lord.
17:54Victor fed her that drug every day
17:56and kept her well-fed.
17:57Not because he cherished her,
17:59because he was treating her
18:00like a mobable organ incubator,
18:02ensuring that her heart and corneals
18:04would perfectly match the buyer's body
18:05when they were dug out.
18:07Ridiculous, Lily.
18:08She thought she had stolen my script
18:10as mafia matriarch
18:11and ran around showing off that exclusive love,
18:14never knowing she was walking step-by-step
18:16towards the slaughterhouse.
18:18I scrolled to the last line of the order.
18:20The system showed that the harvest delivery date
18:22was three days later
18:23at an East Coast elite charity gala.
18:27I curved my lips coldly.
18:29The show was about to begin.
18:31On the night of the delivery,
18:32the East Coast's most prestigious charity gala
18:34was held at a Manhattan hotel.
18:36And at that moment,
18:37she knew nothing about death's arrival.
18:39Because she had been taking
18:40that illegal rejection-suppressing drug
18:42for so long,
18:42her body was already on the verge of collapse.
18:44She could barely take two steps
18:46without losing her breath.
18:47But she still believed
18:48it was only weakness caused by Victor's abuse.
18:50She stole an invitation from Victor's drawer,
18:52covered her corpse-pale face
18:54with thick foundation,
18:55and snuck into the gala.
18:56Amid the glittering crowd,
18:58she immediately set her sights
18:59on a gray-haired Wall Street magnetite.
19:00She used the same old trick,
19:02forcing tears into her eyes
19:03as she pressed herself delicately
19:04against the magnet's arm.
19:05Sir, please save me.
19:07Victor, that thug keeps torturing me.
19:08As long as you're willing to pay
19:10to take me away,
19:11I'll do anything for you.
19:12She looked at the magnet with expectation,
19:14thinking that with her looks,
19:15finding a new patron would be easy.
19:17The magnet held his glass of red wine
19:18and looked her up and down.
19:20But there was no desire in his eyes.
19:23Take you away.
19:26Poor little thing, don't you know?
19:29Victor already pre-sold your heart
19:31and cornalized to me yesterday.
19:34I'm your buyer.
19:37The moment you heard that,
19:39the fanging expression on her face froze.
19:42All the blood in her body
19:43seemed to turn to ice.
19:45What did you say?
19:49What did you say?
19:50My heart, my corneals?
19:52Her mind exploded with a buzz.
19:54She finally understood
19:55what those expensive supplements really were.
19:57The mafia love she had been so proud of
19:59had been nothing more than fattening her
20:01like a pig for slaughter from beginning to end.
20:03No, no, no!
20:05She shoved the magnet away
20:06and fled through the banquet hall
20:07like a madwoman,
20:08not even noticing when one of her high heels fell off.
20:11She crashed headfirst into me
20:13as I stood arm in arm with the man,
20:15chatting and laughing with the mayor.
20:17Bang!
20:18When she saw it was me,
20:19she seemed to seize the last straw of hope.
20:21With a thud,
20:22she dropped to her knees at my feet
20:24and slammed her head against the floor again and again.
20:26Sister, I was wrong!
20:27I really was wrong!
20:29She cock-o'd it until blood streamed down her forehead,
20:32wailing missibly.
20:33Victor wants to cut out my heart!
20:38I'll never fight you for anything again, please!
20:41I looked down at her from above,
20:43my eyes utterly unmoved.
20:44You chose your own road.
20:47I coldly pulled back the hem of my dress.
20:49If you walk into hell yourself,
20:51don't blame others for not reaching out.
20:53Lily collapsed to the floor in despair.
20:55Just then,
20:56the doors to the banquet hall were kicked open.
20:58First heard one swaggered in
21:00with several armed, tattooed men.
21:01In his hand was a huge, thick four.
21:04A sinister smile hung on his lips
21:06as he walked step by step
21:07towards Sir Larme on the floor.
21:10I found you, not me.
21:12Seeing the man approach with the sedative,
21:14the girl scrambled backward in terror,
21:16screaming like a pig being slaughtered.
21:17No, no!
21:18The distinguished guests at the gala were terrified.
21:21The man shouted,
21:21Let me move!
21:22I'm only here to take my goods today!
21:24Anyone who dares call the cops,
21:26I'll kill their whole family!
21:27Standing beside one,
21:29I watched the farce coldly.
21:30Not only did I not hide,
21:32I took my phone out of my clutch.
21:35Save Lily?
21:36Impossible.
21:37But I would never pass up the chance
21:39to crush Victor completely.
21:40My slender fingers tapped rapidly across the screen,
21:43activating the trojan I had set up in advance.
21:45In less than three seconds,
21:46Victor's 13 money laundering accounts
21:48on the global dark internet
21:49were wiped clean and frozen.
21:50At the same time,
21:51he elegantly pressed the send button on his watch,
21:53packaging and sending
21:54the complete surveillance footage
21:55and evidence chain
21:56of Victor's live organ transaction tonight
21:58to the FBI in one film.
21:59The next second,
22:00police sirens and ready-flashing lights
22:01pierced through the banquet hall.
22:02Dozens of SWAT armored vehicles
22:04blocked the entrance so tightly
22:05that not even water could pass.
22:06Boss,
22:06all our accounts have been frozen.
22:08The place is crawling with cops.
22:09One's men stared at their phones in terror.
22:10One's face went deathly pale,
22:11as if he had fallen into an ice pit.
22:13What?
22:13What's going on?
22:14He could no longer care about anything else.
22:16He lunged at her
22:17and stabbed the thick syringe
22:18viciously into her neck.
22:19Everybody stay the fuck back!
22:23Anyone moves,
22:24and I'll blow this bitch's head off!
22:28The entire tube of illegal green liquid
22:30was pushed into Lily's vein.
22:31It wasn't an ordinary sedative,
22:33but a high-concentration,
22:34linear-inducing jet.
22:35In less than two seconds,
22:36Lily's eyes flooded bloodline,
22:37and the veins on her neck
22:38bulged like earthworms.
22:39Her entire body lost
22:40all sense of pain and reason.
22:42She stared fixably at me,
22:43dazzling and glamorous,
22:44protected in Jace's arms.
22:45The extreme resentment
22:46of being trampled underfoot
22:47erupted completely
22:48under the drug's effects.
22:49I was reborn too,
22:50so why do you get to live so well?
22:52Lily let out a beast-like howl
22:53that barely sounded human.
22:54She actually bit into Victor's arm
22:56and tore off a large chunk of flesh.
22:57Victor screamed and let go.
22:59Like a vengeful ghost,
23:00Lily grabbed a sharp,
23:01broken wine bottle from the table
23:02and charged wildly at my face.
23:04I'll ruin you!
23:05Go to hell with me!
23:06She was extremely fat,
23:08but it didn't even blink.
23:09Before she could get
23:09within half a meter of me,
23:11Jace lifted his long leg
23:12and delivered a ruthlessly
23:13clean sidekick
23:13straight to Lily's chest.
23:15Lily flew out like a torn sack.
23:16With a crash,
23:16she smashed heavily
23:17into the five-tier champagne tower.
23:19Glass shards pierced her entire body
23:20and blood gushed out.
23:21Lying in a pool of blood,
23:22she vomited blood
23:23while pointing at me
23:24and laughing madly.
23:25Jace, don't be fooled by her!
23:27Lily shrieked hysterically,
23:29trying to use her final
23:30tropsod to destroy me.
23:31She's a reborn woman!
23:33In her last life,
23:34she was a demon
23:34with blood all over her hands!
23:37She only chose you
23:38because she knew
23:39you would become rich in this life!
23:41She doesn't love you at all!
23:46The entire room fell silent.
23:48Blood filled Lily's mouth
23:49as she looked at Jace smugly,
23:51thinking that exposing
23:52the secret of rebirth
23:53at me with disgust,
23:55she screamed.
23:56In her last life,
23:57you were picking through trash
23:58in the slums
23:59while she was all-powerful
24:00mafia matriarch!
24:02You're just a tool she's using!
24:03Everyone waited for Jace's reaction.
24:05I stood where I was
24:06and looked at him calmly.
24:07Jace looked down at Lily on the floor,
24:09his lips curling in a cold smile.
24:11If that's true,
24:12then I really should thank you
24:13for your stupidity in this life.
24:15Jace's voice was low and dominating.
24:17Thank you for personally
24:18pushing such a perfect wife
24:20into my arms.
24:21Just then,
24:22SWAT officers broke through the doors.
24:24Don't move!
24:24Drop your weapons!
24:27The scene descended
24:28instantly into chaos.
24:30Seeing that the tide had turned,
24:31Victor grabbed a chair
24:32and smashed the floor
24:33to Sleeling window.
24:34In the final second
24:35before he leapt
24:36into the cold seawater,
24:37Victor stared hard at me,
24:38shielded in Jaya's arms
24:39my eyes cold.
24:40In her last life,
24:41she was the all-powerful
24:42mafia matriarch.
24:43In his mind,
24:44the sentence Lily had
24:44shouted flash like lightning.
24:46Victor's eyes instantly
24:47changed from fear to shock.
24:48It was her?
24:49Cold seawater choked
24:50his windpipe.
24:51Victor swam desperately
24:52through the sewer
24:52like a stray dog
24:53that had lost its home.
24:54But Lily's words
24:55from the gala
24:56kept replaying in his mind.
24:57In her last life,
24:58she was the all-powerful
24:59mafia matriarch.
25:00Victor fled back
25:01to the moldy-smelling basement
25:02and looked at the territory
25:03he had now lost completely.
25:04His heart felt as if
25:05it had been struck
25:06by a heavy hammer.
25:07He suddenly remembered
25:08many details
25:08from his last life.
25:09In his last life,
25:10every time his gang
25:11hit a dead end,
25:12he would somehow
25:13receive intelligence
25:13to solve it the next day.
25:14He had thought Lily
25:15was born blessed
25:16with good fortune,
25:17so each time he had
25:18placed Lily high
25:18on a pedestal.
25:19But in this life,
25:20Lily, who carried memories too,
25:22was a fool who didn't
25:22even understand
25:23mafia slang
25:24and only knew how to cry
25:25for designer brands.
25:26And just now at the gala,
25:28the way Chloe froze
25:28his overseas dark web accounts
25:30was exactly like
25:31the mysterious strategist
25:32behind the scenes
25:33from his last life.
25:34Victor understood
25:35in an instant.
25:36The one who helped me
25:38conquer everything
25:38in my last life.
25:39The one who shielded me
25:40from danger
25:41was Chloe all along.
25:43Victor's knees went weak
25:44and he dropped
25:45onto the damp floor.
25:47He finally realized
25:49that with his own hands,
25:50he had thrown away a queen
25:51who could have helped him
25:52dominate the world.
25:53only to pick up
25:55a useless blood bag
25:56that had drained him dry.
25:57Victor's bloodshot eyes
25:59locked onto a financial magazine
26:01photo of Jace and Chloe
26:02on the wall.
26:03He punched the frame
26:05to pieces.
26:06Chloe is mine!
26:07She belongs to me!
26:09Three days later,
26:10in the underground parking garage
26:12of the J group,
26:13I had just stepped out
26:14of my private elevator
26:15when a foul-smelling,
26:17unshaven man
26:18suddenly lunged out
26:19from behind
26:20a load-carrying pollen.
26:22Chloe!
26:22I finally found you!
26:24It was Victor.
26:25With a heavy thud,
26:26he dropped to his knees
26:27in front of me.
26:28Ignoring the muddy water
26:29on the ground,
26:30he sobbed and slapped himself
26:32across the face
26:33again and again.
26:34I was wrong, Chloe.
26:35I was blinded
26:35by that idiot Lily.
26:36I was blind as a dog!
26:38He shuffled forward
26:38on his knees,
26:39trying to hug my leg,
26:41crying until his face
26:42was covered in snot and tears.
26:43You're my woman.
26:44As long as you come back,
26:46we can join hands
26:47like in our last life
26:48and take Jace money.
26:49We're the destined
26:50king and queen
26:51of the underworld!
26:52Looking at him
26:53so utterly pathetic,
26:54I felt only nausea.
26:56I pressed the red
26:57emergency alarm
26:58on my car key.
27:00The piercing alarm
27:01instantly echoed
27:02through the garage.
27:03Victor panicked
27:04and still tried
27:04to forcibly drag me.
27:06A dark figure
27:06flashed past.
27:07Jace, like a leopard,
27:08kicked Victor
27:09three meters away.
27:10Jace unbuttoned
27:11his suit jacket
27:12unhastingly
27:13and handed it
27:14to the bodyguard
27:14behind him.
27:15His eyes held
27:15a terrifying violence.
27:16Victor, you're not
27:17only blind,
27:18you're hopelessly stupid.
27:21Jace!
27:22You're nothing
27:23but a pretty boy
27:24living off a woman!
27:26Driven into a corner,
27:27Victor erupted
27:28with a desperado's
27:29ferocity.
27:30He pulled out
27:30a switchblade
27:31and roared
27:32as he lunged
27:33at Jace,
27:33but he had no idea
27:35what kind of monster
27:35he was facing.
27:36Jace didn't even dodge.
27:38He shifted slightly
27:38to avoid the blade,
27:39then caught Victor's wrist
27:40in a backhand grip
27:41and snapped it hard.
27:42The crisp sound
27:43of breaking bone
27:44rang out.
27:44Victor let out
27:45a pig-like scream
27:46and the knife
27:46fell to the floor.
27:47Then Jace drove
27:48his knee upward,
27:49slamming it heavily
27:50into Victor's chest.
27:51Two ribs snapped instantly.
27:53The entire sequence
27:54flowed smoothly,
27:55carrying a brutal beauty
27:57of absolute domination.
27:58Victor collapsed
27:59to the floor
28:00like mud,
28:01coughing out
28:01mouthfuls of blood.
28:02Jace stepped forward
28:03and mercilessly planted
28:04his leather shoe
28:05on Victor's broken fingers,
28:07grinding down hard.
28:09You think you deserved
28:10her in your last life?
28:11Jace looked down
28:12at Victor
28:13as he corralsed
28:14in pain.
28:15You couldn't protect her.
28:17All you could do
28:18was rely on the pitiful
28:20power she handed you.
28:21And in this life,
28:24you don't even have
28:25the right to say
28:26her name.
28:28Jace gestured.
28:29Blackwater bodyguards
28:30stepped forward
28:31and dragged Victor
28:32like a dead dog,
28:33throwing him into the
28:33garbage heap
28:34in the back alley.
28:35And at that moment,
28:36the gears of fate
28:36turned.
28:37An ambulance
28:38from the hospital
28:38happened to stop
28:39at the Annie entrance.
28:40The one who secretly
28:41slipped down from it
28:42was Lily,
28:43dragging her broken body.
28:44To avoid the expensive
28:46medical bills,
28:47Lily had escaped
28:48from the public hospital.
28:49She limped into
28:50the back alley,
28:51about to look
28:52for something to eat,
28:53when she suddenly
28:53saw Victor rivaling
28:55in the garbage heap.
28:56Victor?
28:57The moment she made
28:58out that face,
28:59Lily showed not
29:00the slightest sympathy.
29:01Instead,
29:01she burst into
29:02wild laughter.
29:03Ha ha, you liar!
29:04Weren't you a mafia boss?
29:05Why are you lying here
29:06like a stray dog?
29:07Victor struggled
29:07to open his eyes,
29:08seeing the woman
29:09who had ruined him
29:09so badly.
29:10Old hatred
29:11and new rage
29:11erupted like a volcano.
29:13If not for Lily,
29:14how would he have
29:15lost Chloe?
29:19Filthy bitch!
29:20This is all your fault!
29:22Victor lunged at her,
29:23clapped his hands
29:23around Lily's throat,
29:25and pressed her
29:25into the filthy
29:26water-water-filled
29:27garbage heap.
29:28You useless thing!
29:29Give me back Chloe!
29:30Give me back
29:31my mafia empire!
29:32Lily's eyes rolled
29:33back from the choking,
29:34and her hands
29:34clawed wildly.
29:35The true love
29:35they had once believed
29:36would bring mutual benefit
29:37now tore at each other
29:38like two mad dogs,
29:39blaming each other
29:40and ripping each other apart.
29:41In the final second
29:42before suffocation,
29:43Lily's hand found
29:44a sharp shard of glass.
29:46Go to hell!
29:48Using all her strength,
29:50she stabbed the shard
29:51fiercely into
29:52Victor's female artery.
29:54Blood instantly
29:54sprayed out like a fountain,
29:56splattering across
29:57Lily's face.
29:59Victor screamed.
30:02The two of them collapsed
30:03together into the
30:04reeking pool of blood
30:05and trash,
30:06convulsing in despair.
30:08A passerby discovered
30:09them and called the police,
30:10and the two were taken
30:11back to the public hospital.
30:12Due to severe blood loss,
30:13Victor's thigh was
30:14already paralyzed.
30:15As for Lily,
30:16when she woke up
30:16in the hospital bed,
30:17a doctor walked over
30:18to her coldly
30:19with her test results.
30:20Because you have been
30:20taking illegal living organ
30:22suppresses from
30:23the earth dark web
30:23for a long time,
30:24your kidneys and liver
30:25have completely failed.
30:27You have two months
30:27at most.
30:29There's no treatment value.
30:30Wait to die.
30:32The doctor's words
30:33were like a final verdict.
30:35Lily finally realized it.
30:37The rebirth script
30:38she had thought herself
30:39so clever for stealing
30:40had not helped her
30:42rise above everyone else.
30:44Instead,
30:45she had personally
30:46pushed open the gates
30:47to hell.
30:48The television
30:48on the hospital wall
30:49lit up.
30:50On the screen,
30:51the grand celebration
30:52of the Jace Group
30:53successful listing
30:54on Wall Street
30:54was being broadcast live.
30:56I wore a gown
30:57and rang the opening bell
30:59under the eyes
30:59of the world,
31:00dazzling like a queen.
31:02If I can't live,
31:03you won't have
31:04peace either.
31:06She violently ripped
31:07the IV needle
31:08from the back of her hand.
31:09Blood dripped
31:10onto the white sheets.
31:11She stole a nurse's uniform
31:12and made an insane decision.
31:15Lily wrapped all the wounds
31:15on her body in bandages,
31:17pulled the loose cleaner's
31:18robe over herself
31:19and slipped in the
31:20outdoor celebration banquet
31:21for the Jace Group's
31:22listing in her arms.
31:23She carried a large
31:23barrel of gasoline,
31:25had bought on the black market.
31:26As long as she could
31:27burn me and Jace
31:28to ashes in front
31:29of everyone,
31:29she would be willing
31:30to die in the flames
31:31immediately.
31:32At the center
31:33of the reception,
31:34Jace and I were being
31:35interviewed by global media.
31:36I wore a custom gown
31:37and looked invincible
31:38beneath the flashes.
31:39Lily hid behind
31:40a pillar in the shadows,
31:42staring at that
31:42blinding glory.
31:44The flames of jealousy
31:45in her heart
31:46burned all the way
31:46up her throat.
31:47Die!
31:48All of you die!
31:49She pushed the cart
31:50carrying the gasoline
31:51using the darkness
31:52to inch closer
31:53to the ventilation system.
31:54As long as she pressed
31:55the igniter,
31:56this place would become
31:57a living hell.
31:58Just as her hand
31:59reached for the lighter,
32:00a pair of rough hands
32:01suddenly stretched out
32:02from the darkness,
32:03clamped over her mouth,
32:04and dragged her forcibly
32:05into the dim fire stair hell.
32:08It was Victor.
32:12Who told you
32:13to make a move?
32:13He still hadn't given up.
32:15He wanted to use Lily
32:16for one last struggle.
32:17What we need is money.
32:19We need the lifeline
32:20in Chloe's hands.
32:21You are not allowed
32:22to act.
32:23Chloe!
32:24Once your sister alive,
32:25bring ten million in cash
32:26to basement level two.
32:27Remember,
32:28no bodyguards.
32:30He thought I would go soft.
32:31He thought that as long
32:32as I appeared,
32:33he could use me
32:34as a bargaining chain
32:35to turn the tables
32:36just like in the last life.
32:39Watching the video.
32:41Madam,
32:42shall I mobilize mercenaries
32:44and flatten the place?
32:45No need.
32:46I want them to see
32:47with their own eyes
32:48that before this position,
32:50they don't even qualify
32:51to be ants.
32:52Instead,
32:53I had Jace robolize
32:54the city's armed forces
32:55and surround the entire building
32:56like an iron barrel.
32:58Basement level two.
32:59Victor stared at the elevator
33:01with high expectations.
33:04How is this possible?
33:06How dare you come
33:07without the money?
33:09I slowly stepped out
33:10from behind the bodyguards,
33:11every step calm
33:12and elegant.
33:13I didn't even glance
33:14at Lily,
33:14who was tied
33:15to the fire hydrant.
33:16Victor,
33:17you used me
33:17in my last life
33:18and tortured me
33:19in this one.
33:20Did you think
33:20you could still threaten me
33:21like some ridiculous clown?
33:24Didn't you want
33:24to light the fire?
33:25Go on.
33:27Don't be a coward.
33:28When Lily heard this,
33:30the last spark of hope
33:31in her eyes
33:31went out completely.
33:32She looked at my lofty posture
33:34and how I didn't even deign
33:35to give her a single game.
33:38I'm done playing.
33:39I'm really done playing.
33:42I'll make all of you
33:43die with me.
33:47Before Victor could react,
33:48Lily suddenly broke free
33:49from the cut ropes
33:50and, like a mad woman,
33:51wrapped her arms
33:52tightly around Victor's neck.
33:53Don't ruin me.
33:55You made me
33:56into this monster.
33:58She bit down hard
33:59on Victor's ear,
33:59bloody tears streaming
34:01from her eyes.
34:03Victor,
34:03didn't you want money?
34:05Didn't you want to be
34:06the emperor
34:07of the underworld?
34:09Then let's go
34:10be that in hell!
34:12You crazy bitch!
34:14Let go of me!
34:15He struggled desperately,
34:17but Lily no longer
34:18wanted to live.
34:19She slammed violently
34:20into the still-burning
34:20lighter in Victor's ear.
34:22A whole barrel of gasoline
34:23instantly poured over
34:24the night.
34:24Flames shot into the air,
34:26lighting up the entire
34:27underground garage.
34:28Fire swallowed the two
34:29evil ghosts who at once
34:30schemed against each other
34:31and now died together
34:32like conjoined twins.
34:34Amid piercing screams,
34:35they twisted and rolled
34:35in the flames.
34:36Under Jace's protection,
34:38I turned and left.
34:39Behind me was the past
34:41reduced to scorched earth,
34:43and I strode toward the future
34:45that belonged to me.
34:47The fire was quickly extinguished.
34:50Victor and Lily were
34:51completely reduced
34:51to two charred corpses,
34:53so burned that even DNA
34:54was difficult to extract.
34:56The news spread everywhere.
34:57The media frantically dug
34:58into the so-called family feud
35:00within the conglomerate.
35:01I did not have the PR department
35:02cover it up.
35:03Instead, I took the initiative
35:04to release to the media
35:05Victor's illegal live organ
35:07trading network
35:08and the evidence that he and Lily
35:09had planned the assassination.
35:11The media outlets that had
35:13originally been waiting
35:14to laugh at us
35:14quickly turned their guns around
35:17in the face of iron-flavbed
35:18criminal evidence
35:19and praised us as heroes
35:22who had eliminated a cancer
35:24from society.
35:25The group's stock
35:27not only did not fall,
35:28it surged for three straight days
35:30in the market
35:31because of our positive image
35:33of punishing evil
35:34and protecting the innocent.
35:36I stood before the floor
35:37declasing windows,
35:38looking down at the
35:39ant-like crowds below.
35:41Just then,
35:42Jace walked over
35:43with a glass of expensive
35:44red wine
35:45and gently pulled me
35:46into his arms.
35:48Madam,
35:49those troublesome
35:50mafia families
35:51have all signed
35:51the asset transfer agreements
35:53according to your requirements.
35:55He kissed my cheek tenderly.
35:56After tonight,
35:57there will be no so-called
35:58underground rules
35:59on the East Coast.
36:00You are the only rule.
36:01I looked out
36:02at the glittering knee
36:03beyond the window,
36:04lightly swirling
36:04the blood-red wine
36:05in my glass.
36:06A smile of certain
36:07sectority curved my lip.
36:09Although Victor was dead,
36:10the territory he left behind
36:12had become a piece
36:12of fat meat.
36:14The twelve remaining
36:15old mafia families
36:16on the East Coast
36:17were eager to move.
36:18In their eyes,
36:20Jace was nothing more
36:21than a legitimate businessman
36:22taking advantage
36:23of an opening.
36:24That night,
36:24a threatening letter
36:25containing a bullet
36:26was delivered
36:26to the group headquarters,
36:28demanding that Jace
36:29hand over 70%
36:30of the shipping routes
36:30or he would not live
36:32to see tomorrow's sun.
36:33Looking at the bullet
36:34on the desk,
36:35killing intake surged
36:36in Jace's eyes
36:36and he was about
36:37to order a direct assault.
36:39I pressed down
36:39on his hand,
36:40took a black encrypted
36:41USB drive
36:42in his safe
36:42and tossed it
36:43lightly onto the desk.
36:44A direct attack
36:45would be too merciful.
36:47This is the
36:47underground intelligence network.
36:49I spent five years
36:50building in my last life.
36:52I looked at Jace,
36:53my gaze confident and cold.
36:55It contains
36:55every financial weakness
36:56of those twelve families,
36:58the locations
36:58of their illegitimate
36:59children overseas
37:00and conclusive evidence
37:02of their dark web smugging.
37:03One fatal strike.
37:05That's our story.
37:07Jace picked up
37:07the USB drive.
37:09The viciousness
37:09in his eyes
37:10instantly transformed
37:11into the utmost admiration
37:12and indulgent affection.
37:14He lowered his head
37:15and kissed me deeply.
37:16As you command,
37:17my queen.
37:18Tonight,
37:19I'll tear down
37:19their thrones
37:20and turn them
37:20into stepping stones
37:21for you.
37:22Outside the window,
37:23thunder rolled
37:24and rain lashed down.
37:25Alone,
37:26Jace pushed open
37:27the doors
37:27to the East Coast
37:28underground round table chamber.
37:30Inside the round table chamber,
37:32twelve mafia elders
37:33were smoking cigars
37:34and laughing arrogantly.
37:35Seeing that Jace
37:36had truly dared
37:36to come alone,
37:37several hot-tempered
37:38old men pulled out
37:39gold-plated pistols
37:40and slammed them heavily
37:40onto the table.
37:41Pretty boy,
37:42if you know
37:42what's good for you,
37:43you'll sign
37:44the asset transfer agreement.
37:45Then we might still
37:46leave you
37:46and that beautiful
37:47wife of yours
37:48whole corpses.
37:49Jace didn't even
37:50look at the guns.
37:51He leisurely
37:52pulled out the chair
37:53at the head
37:53of the table
37:54and sat down,
37:55then threw
37:56twelve printed sets
37:57of confidential
37:58financial datements
37:59and photos
37:59into their faces
38:00like trash.
38:01Look at your own cards
38:03before you decide
38:04whether to raise
38:04your voice at me.
38:05The elders
38:06picked up the documents
38:07and their faces
38:08turned instantly pale.
38:10The hands holding
38:11their cigars
38:11trembled like sieves.
38:13Those were their
38:14most lethal weak points.
38:15As long as Jace
38:16sent them
38:17with one click,
38:18they would immediately
38:18lose everything,
38:20perhaps even
38:20their families.
38:21You?
38:23What do you want?
38:24Jace smeared
38:25and snapped his fingers
38:26lightly.
38:26The hidden walls
38:27around the chamber
38:28instantly descended,
38:29revealing hundreds
38:30of heavily armed mercenaries
38:31whose infrared sights
38:32were all locked
38:33onto the centers
38:33of their foreheads.
38:34Jace rose and looked
38:35down at the once
38:36invincible underworld overlords
38:37from above.
38:38Sign the submission agreement.
38:40From today on,
38:40the rules of the
38:41East Coast underworld
38:42are decided by my wife.
38:44When Jace returned
38:45to the manor
38:45with the tokens
38:46of submission
38:46from the 12 families,
38:48it was already
38:49late at night.
38:50After my shower,
38:51I stood before
38:52the Florida clearing windows,
38:53watching the wind
38:54and rain finally
38:55stop outside.
38:56Jace embraced me
38:57from behind
38:57and slipped the black
38:58gold serpent ring,
38:59a symbol of the highest
39:01power on the dark wet,
39:02onto my ring finger.
39:03His fingers
39:04were faintly callid.
39:05When they touched
39:06my back,
39:07my body stiffened
39:07controllably
39:08because of the
39:09bone-deep memories
39:09of beatings
39:10from my last life.
39:11Jace noticed.
39:12He did not rush
39:13to take anything
39:14from me.
39:15Instead,
39:15he turned me around
39:16and looked at me
39:17with aching tenderness.
39:18He lowered his head
39:19and reverently kissed
39:20the invisible scars
39:21on my body,
39:22kissing away
39:22the last trace
39:23of guardedness
39:24towards intimacy
39:24in my heart.
39:26Chloe,
39:27in this life,
39:28you're no one's
39:28strategist behind
39:29the scenes anymore
39:30and you don't have
39:31to take a blade
39:31for anyone.
39:32Jace's held my face,
39:34his voice low
39:35and tempting.
39:36You are the only one
39:37in power
39:38and I am your
39:39most loyal believer.
39:41Looking at the deep
39:41love burning in his
39:42eyes for me alone,
39:43I finally let go
39:44completely of the
39:45shadows from my
39:46past life.
39:47I wrapped my arms
39:48around his neck
39:48and kissed him
39:49back with equal heat.
39:50Moonlight streamed
39:51through the windows
39:51and spilled across
39:52the luxurious bed
39:53where two figures
39:54merged completely.
39:55Five years later,
39:56it was the very day
39:57when, in my last life,
39:58Jace went bankrupt
39:59and Lily rolled
39:59beneath the truck
40:00to her death.
40:00But now we were
40:01at the top floor
40:01of the highest
40:02tower on Wall Street.
40:03Wearing a custom gown,
40:04I rang the NASDAQ
40:05opening bell,
40:05the richest person
40:06in the world
40:06and the supreme
40:07matriarch of the dark web.
40:08Thunderous applause
40:09filled the room
40:10and camera flashes
40:10blazed like daylight.
40:11Holding a glass
40:12of champagne,
40:13I walked to the
40:13Florida clear window
40:14and looked down
40:14over the city
40:15I had thoroughly conquered.
40:16At the end of my
40:16line of sight
40:17lay that filthy slum.
40:18In my last life,
40:19Lily had gnawed
40:20on rotten vegetable
40:21leaves there,
40:21then dragged me to my
40:22death out of jealousy.
40:23In this life,
40:24she thought she had stolen
40:25the Trump part,
40:26but she turned to ashes
40:26in the very first year.
40:27Jace walked to my side
40:28holding our three-year-old heir.
40:30What are you thinking about?
40:31His eyes full of doting affection
40:32as he wrapped an arm
40:33around my waist.
40:34As if performing magic,
40:36he took a document
40:37from the pocket of his suit
40:38and handed it to me.
40:40Darling,
40:40you said before
40:41that looking at that slum
40:42bothered you.
40:42I've had people approve
40:43the demolition plan
40:44to buy it.
40:45I looked at the document
40:45and couldn't help
40:46laughing softly.
40:47The place that had buried
40:48our fates in my last life
40:49could now be erased
40:50completely from the map
40:51with nothing more
40:52than my signature.
40:53Three days later,
40:53more than a dozen
40:54heavy bulldozers
40:55drove into the slums.
40:56Amid the enormous roar,
40:57the dilapidated chantels,
40:58the place that had buried
40:59Lily's greed and despair,
41:00collapsed with a crash
41:01and became ruins.
41:02On the original site,
41:03the world's largest
41:04commercial landmark,
41:05named after me,
41:06would rise.
41:07At the groundbreaking ceremony,
41:10global media swarmed in.
41:12Countless microphones
41:13were thrust in front of me.
41:15This is Jace, man.
41:15How did you go
41:16from an ordinary girl
41:17to the overlord
41:18who dominates both
41:19the legitimate
41:19and underground worlds today?
41:20What was the core secret?
41:22Is it because you were lucky
41:23and chose the right person?
41:25Hearing the question,
41:26I raised my brows slightly.
41:28I turned and glanced
41:29down from the stage.
41:30Jace was holding our son.
41:31Watching me with a smile
41:32like the most loyal knight,
41:34eyes filled the pride
41:34of someone thinking
41:35my wife shines brightest.
41:37I withdrew my eyes
41:38and looked to the camera,
41:39the corner of my throat
41:40curving into a calm,
41:41aggressively confident smile.
41:42Fate has never been about
41:44what cards you manage to steal.
41:47It's about whether you have
41:48the brains to play them well.
41:50Unfortunately,
41:51some people think
41:52they've stolen the winning hand,
41:53but they don't even qualify
41:54to sit at the table.
41:56I raised the champagne
41:56in my hand.
41:58Sunlight struck
41:58the black gold serpent ring,
42:00refracting a dazzling gleam.
42:02Cheers
42:02to my empire.
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