Chapter 1

"Sarah, you and Joshua grew up together, childhood sweethearts. In my heart, you're the perfect daughter-in-law for the Quinn family."

Mrs. Quinn held my hand, her eyes filled with a gentle, loving warmth. But in my previous life, this woman I considered family, in order to cover up her own affair, had conspired with Joshua to burn me alive!

I suppressed the deep-seated hatred in my heart, keeping my face impassive.

"Mrs. Quinn, you know that Joshua has a girlfriend now. You also know his stubborn nature; he's like a bull in a china shop. Besides, I've always seen Joshua as a brother."

Mrs. Quinn looked surprised and disbelieving. It's true that in my past life, I willingly married Joshua.

Because ever since I was seven years old, when Joshua promised to marry me, I believed that promise. I believed it for fifteen years.

Even though, in those fifteen years, he had long forgotten his promise.

Even though he had a string of girlfriends.

So when Mrs. Quinn approached me, telling me about the blood relation between Joshua and Emily and begging me to help her and Joshua, I agreed to marry him.

But I didn't expect Emily to get into a car accident.

And I certainly didn't expect that Joshua would believe I had manipulated his mother into forcing him to marry me.

Everyone thought I was the cause of all this misery.

In my past life, I had been trapped by a childhood promise.

Thankfully, in this life, I could move forward.

Mrs. Quinn wanted to say something more.

"Sarah, actually Joshua and Emily are..."

But before she could finish, Joshua's phone call interrupted her.

"Mom, why aren't you home? I'm bringing Emily home for dinner tonight. Where are you?"

Mrs. Quinn glanced at me, her eyes flickering.

"I'm at Sarah's. I'll ask Sarah to drive me back later, and she can stay for dinner too."

Joshua's voice suddenly rose on the other end of the phone.

"Sarah Thompson? Why did you go to her? She's a vicious woman, she keeps trying to undermine Emily behind my back! Did she say something bad about Emily to you again?"

Mrs. Quinn's face was flushed with embarrassment. She waved goodbye to me and hurried away, her voice on the phone too low for me to hear.

I didn't bother to listen.

I went straight back to my room, lay down on the soft bed, emptied my mind, and savored the joy of being reborn.

I fell into a deep sleep.

I was awakened by a nightmare.

In the dream, I once again felt the agonizing pain of scorching flames devouring my skin. I saw Mrs. Quinn and Joshua calmly taking out their phones to call the police after confirming I was beyond saving.

I saw my parents rushing back, holding my charred body and crying their hearts out.

When I woke up, tears streamed down my face, soaking my pillow.

Chapter 2

I casually picked up my phone, filled with messages from Joshua.

A few missed calls at first, and when I didn't answer, he switched to voice messages.

I clicked on one of them. Joshua's gritted teeth could be heard through the screen.

"Sarah Thompson, what did you say to my mom again? Trying to force me to marry you? I'm telling you, the sight of you makes me sick! You're not even worthy of shining Emily's shoes!"

I didn't bother to listen anymore. I knew that he, with his simple mind and limited vocabulary, could only spew out vulgar insults.

I replied with two words: "Loser."

Then I deleted and blocked him.

I turned and called the HR manager of my company, instructing him to fire Emily Quinn immediately.

As for the assistant position, I didn't need one for the time being. I would find a suitable candidate later.

Emily was originally my assistant. I admired her vibrancy and cheerfulness.

Joshua often came to see me, and gradually, he and Emily started dating.

But dating was one thing, Emily was not content.

Buying coffee, organizing project materials, arranging schedules - all these tasks became, in her words, me bullying her.

And Joshua, that empty-headed fool, actually believed her, repeatedly coming to find fault with me.

The worst time, Joshua publicly reprimanded me in front of the entire company.

"Sarah Thompson! You're a grown woman, and you're making Emily print documents for you? Is she your servant? Don't you have hands and feet to do it yourself?"

He completely disregarded my face as the boss in the company.

I tolerated it in my past life.

How foolish!

Giving an inch and they take a mile!

I quickly composed myself and drove to the company.

As soon as I stepped into the company, I felt several gazes directed at me.

Accompanied by hushed whispers.

I looked up, and the few interns who were just looking at me and whispering immediately shut their mouths.

I went to my office and called in Kevin, asking him what had been happening in the company recently.

He looked timid, hesitant to speak.

My eyes narrowed, and I told him to speak directly, without holding back.

He lowered his head, not daring to look at me.

"It's just... there are rumors in the company that... you tried to break up Mr. Quinn and Emily Quinn, and when you failed, you... abused your power and forced Emily out..."

I raised an eyebrow. It was the same old dirty tactic.

I admit, although I liked Joshua, in my past life, after learning he had a girlfriend, I knew to avoid any impropriety.

Moreover, in this life, I wouldn't be foolish enough to fight over a loser like Joshua.

I asked the HR manager to fire several other interns who were close to Emily.

After all, these were the ones who had taken the lead in slandering me after Emily's accident in my previous life.

Abusing power?

So what if I abused my power? This company still belonged to the Thompson family, not the Quinn family, or the Quinn family, right?

Since their hearts weren't with me, keeping them would be a waste of company resources.

I opened the document on my desk, it was the bid for the Cloud City Group project.

In my past life, Joshua and I competed for this project.

Joshua had always been a playboy, more interested in racing cars and partying than studying.

And I was a top graduate from Berkeley with double degrees in Finance and Management.

Under normal circumstances, he was bound to lose.

But the unexpected happened. The day before the bidding, my bid document disappeared, and during the meeting, Joshua used our company's document!

It was easy for me to guess that the culprit was Emily.

I found Emily, ready to confront her.

Before I could speak, tears started streaming down her face.

Joshua shielded her, disregarding his position and yelling at me,

"You're incompetent, you lost the bid! Now you're blaming Emily? Is this how you bully people?"

All eyes turned to us.

Emily sobbed softly behind him, looking like a damsel in distress.

The next day, rumors spread that the head of Thompson Corp. was an incompetent fool who verbally abused her subordinate after losing a bid.

This time, let me see what you, Joshua Quinn, with your empty head, can use to compete with me.

Chapter 3

The following day, I sat in my office, reviewing the final edits to the Cloud City Group bid. Every detail had been combed through twice, ensuring no chance for sabotage. Yet, I couldn’t shake the memory of how things had unfolded in my past life. The whispers of incompetence, the betrayal that had tarnished my name, and the humiliation I endured were all coming back to me with a speed that surpasses that of light. I had been powerless then, trapped in a web spun by people I trusted. Not this time.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.

“Come in,” I said, not looking up from the document. The door was opened seconds later and then just as quickly, closed.

“Ms. Thompson. I hope I’m not interrupting.” Kevin, who was now acting as my temporary assistant said, his voice holding some urgency that made me look up. Immediately, I knew something was wrong and I hoped it had nothing to do with the Quinns or Emily.

“What is it Kevin?” I asked, my eyes narrowing as I studied him.

“We have a minor…..or let me say, a huge problem.”

I gestured for him to continue. My stomach tightened as I glanced at my wristwatch. I had only a few minutes left if I want to arrive on time for the bidding. Whatever he had to say, it had better be worth the interruption.

He hesitated, his lips pressing together in a way that sparked an uncomfortable sense of déjà vu. I had seen this before. The worried expression, the hesitation, the air of dread, it all mirrored a moment from my past life, when Kevin had come to inform me that my bid document had been stolen.

But that couldn’t be the issue now. The document was sitting right in front of me.

“What is it?” I asked again, louder this time as I was sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for him to let it out.

“T-the rumor is that there’s a strong competitor,” he stammered, the words tumbling out in a rush, “and it’s not Mr. Quinn. Word has it that this new man is stronger and more influential. With just a snap of his fingers, he could secure the bid.”

It took only a second for his words to sink in.

“A new competitor?” I asked my voice a bit louder than I intended. This was not something I was expecting. I had meticulously studied every competitor for this bid, down to their past projects and weaknesses. How could someone so important have slipped past my radar?

Kevin nodded, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. “Yes, ma’am. Leonel Enterprises. The CEO, Ashton Leonel is said to have entered the race last minute. I thought you should know before heading to the bidding.”

Leonel Enterprises. The name sounded vaguely familiar, but it wasn’t on the original list of contenders. My stomach tightened, but I forced myself to stay calm. “What do we know about him?”

Kevin exhaled loudly, then began, “He’s... different from the usual corporate types. He’s young, mid-thirties, and incredibly innovative. Built his company from the ground up. No one knows who he is or what he looks like. Word is, he’s got strong connections in Cloud City’s tech and sustainability sectors.”

“And you’re telling me this now?” I leaned back in my chair, tamping down the frustration rising in my chest.

Kevin looked genuinely regretful. “I just found out myself, Ms. Thompson. Leonel Enterprises wasn’t initially listed as a competitor. Their interest was confirmed only this morning.”

I glanced at the document on my desk, my strategy for the bid suddenly feeling inadequate. If this Ashton Leonel has the influence and connections Kevin claims, it would be no small feat to outmaneuver him.

“Fine,” I said briskly, standing. “I’ll handle it. Keep digging. I want to know everything about him; his strengths, weaknesses, even the way he ties his shoes if you can find it.”

Kevin nodded and left, leaving me alone in the office. I allowed myself a single deep breath before collecting my documents. If Leonel thinks he can walk in at the last moment and take this project from me, he is sorely mistaken.

This wasn’t just about the bid. This is about rewriting my story, proving to the world and to myself that I am not the same woman who had been crushed under the weight of betrayal.

“Ashton Leonel. Who are you?” The question escaped my lips as a whisper.

I had searched for information about him right after Kevin left and just as Kevin said, the man was a mystery. No photos, no interviews, only whispers of his brilliance and influence. It doesn’t matter. Whoever he is, whatever connections he has, I would face him head-on.

With only a few minutes left, I picked up the document, ready to meet this new challenge, not just for the company, but for myself.

As I made my way to the garage where the driver was seated in the car waiting for me, I couldn’t help but think of Ashton and how this bidding would end. The ride was thankfully shorter than I anticipated and soon, I found myself standing by the door of an elevator of the Green Ocean Hotel.

The lobby of the Hotel was bustling with activity. Executives in tailored suits moved in clusters, their conversations a murmur of strategic whispers. The bidding event for the Cloud City Group project had drawn the city’s sharpest minds, and the atmosphere was filled with anticipation.

I adjusted the folder in my hand, glancing briefly at my reflection in the gleaming elevator doors. My expression was calm, but inside, my thoughts were running wild. Ashton Leonel. A name that had suddenly risen from the shadows to challenge everything I had worked for. No face to the name, no traceable history. Just power and influence cloaked in mystery.

The soft ding of the elevator arriving broke my thoughts. I took a step forward, eager to claim my spot.

As the doors slid open, a man stepped out of the shadows beside me and entered the elevator without a second glance. His stride was confident, his presence commanding.

“Excuse me,” I said, irritated as I moved to follow him inside. “I believe I was here first.”

He turned his head slightly, just enough for me to catch a glimpse of his face. Sharp jawline, piercing gray eyes, and an expression so cold it could freeze lava. He was dressed in a black suit that screamed custom-made, the crisp lines tailored to perfection. The man looked like he had stepped out of a crime lord’s playbook, ruthless, indifferent, and utterly unbothered.

“You can wait,” he said curtly, his voice low and gravelly.

I blinked, stunned by his audacity for a moment. “Wait? For the next one, you mean?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he pressed the button for his floor, his attention fixed on the control panel as if I don’t exist.

I stepped closer, planting myself in the threshold to keep the doors from closing. “No. That’s not how this works. I was here first, so either step aside or share the elevator.”

He raised an eyebrow, finally looking directly at me. “Step aside?” His tone carried a trace of amusement as though he found my defiance amusing.

“Yes, step aside,” I said, my irritation growing. “Unless you’ve somehow managed to buy exclusive rights to elevators along with whatever else you seem to own.”

He smirked, a small, infuriating curve of his lips. “I don’t waste time arguing over trivialities.” And then, with a flick of his wrist, he pressed the ‘close doors’ button.

Before I could react, the elevator doors slid shut in my face.

For a moment, I just stood there, stunned. The nerve of that man. My hand tightened on the folder in my grasp, the urge to slam it against something was very hard to control.

I took a deep breath, stepping back to wait for the next elevator. Let it go, Sarah, I told myself. You’re here for the bid, not to spar with entitled strangers.

Still, as the next elevator arrived, I couldn’t shake the image of him; the way he carried himself, like the entire world was his to command. Whoever he was, I hoped I wouldn’t have to see him again. Joshua is enough interesting spot in my life. I do not need another person from the male population who thinks the world revolves around him.

But as the elevator doors slid open, I froze.

There he was, leaning casually against the mirrored wall, his fiery eyes lifting to meet mine.

"Changed your mind already?" he asked, his smirk as infuriating as it was deliberate.

And just like that, I knew this wasn’t the last time our paths would cross.