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