She walked step by step towards the director’s seat, extending her hand to Julian Thorne in front of millions of viewers. “Director Thorne, these past three months have made me realize my true feelings. True love shouldn’t be bound by rules. Can we be together?”
The live stream chat instantly exploded.
The hashtag #MayaHayes Drops Out For Love shot to the top of the trending list, and the comment section was filled with “She’s so fierce!” praises.
“Congratulations to Miss Anya Hayes, our ultimate winner,” the host announced, looking a little flustered.
But by then, no one cared about me, the “lucky winner.” All eyes were on the “true love” couple.
Maya’s eyes were red as she “congratulated” me, but as she hugged me, she whispered in my ear, “My dear sister, do you think you’ve won by getting a cripple? Remember, in this life, you’ll only ever get my scraps.”
I smiled even sweeter than her. “Thank you, sister, for making it possible.”
She’d never know that what she was so desperate to get was an abyss far more terrifying than hell itself.
In my past life, I discovered Julian Thorne’s darkest secret… but I wouldn’t tell her.
This time, it was her turn to experience that kind of “happiness.”
Liam Blackwood walked towards me, holding ninety–nine roses, and slid the diamond engagement ring onto my finger.
“Congrats, brother,” Julian Thorne said from below the stage, his eyes unreadable. He deliberately emphasized the word
“brother.”
This unexpected congratulation was broadcast live across the entire internet.
My heart sank.
This secret, which had only been forced into the open after Maya’s honeymoon in my past life, was now being revealed by him directly.
Sure enough… he was reborn too.
And in this life, now that he had Maya, he revealed his hand early.
- 2.
The live stream comments instantly blew up again.
“Using today’s happy news, as the sole legal heir of the Blackwood Group, I officially announce…” His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, yet it silenced the entire venue. “Next month, Maya will become our Mrs. Blackwood.””
Maya lowered her head shyly in his arms, then, out of Julian’s sight, she gave me a smug eyebrow raise.
I, however, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, I could stay away from that lunatic.
One reality show, two people getting what they wanted.
While the cameras were focused on the “perfect couple,” I subtly moved closer to Liam Blackwood. “Hey, new husband, how about we go to the beach for our honeymoon…?”
I hadn’t expected Liam’s ears to turn red, which suddenly made Julian tighten his grip on Maya.
Maya yelped in pain, and noticed us in the corner.
She stood on her tiptoes and whispered in Julian’s ear, “Julian, my sister actually threatened me… forced me to drop out. Luckily, I was already in love with you.”
Her eyes were slightly red, but her voice was just loud enough for those nearby to hear. “Now she’s finally got what she wanted, but…”
She deliberately paused, “Now that she knows you’re the true heir, will she regret choosing the wrong person?”
Julian’s eyes darkened instantly when he heard the word “threat,” but his brow relaxed slightly when he heard “drop out.”
He reassuringly tightened his arm around Maya’s waist. “Don’t worry, the position of Mrs. Blackwood will forever belong
only to you.”
He deliberately raised his voice for the last half of the sentence, his gaze fixed on me, laughing and talking with Liam Blackwood not far away.
After the show ended, I arranged to grab a late–night bite with Liam and went backstage to change.
To my surprise, Julian Thorne stopped me in a corner and directly laid out his cards.
“Reborn, you’ve certainly gotten smarter,” he chuckled. “Too bad… do you think marrying Liam will help you escape?”
He gripped my chin. “Your little schemes are probably going to fall apart. I won’t let you marry him with that face identical to Maya’s.”
“You were so ruthless in your past life,” he suddenly yanked my hair, forcing my head back. “To frame Maya, you actually jumped off a building. The entire internet cursed her for forcing her own sister to die…”
He sneered, “Too bad, even if I spent thirty million to bury the trending news, it still ruined her career.”
208 PM
<
Julian’s words hit me like a thunderclap.
So, that fall from the building was actually a meticulously planned setup by me?
Even my death was my fault?
“I know you chose Liam purely for money. I’ll give you fifty million. Disappear within a month. Don’t let me see that face again.”
Seeing me staring fixedly at him, he disgustedly threw my chin away. “And don’t ever covet what you shouldn’t.”
I almost laughed out loud.
He actually thought I still harbored any feelings for him?
On my sister’s wedding night in my past life, that madman had held me captive in his basement.
He slowly, methodically, pulled out my fingernails with pliers, savoring my twisted expression of pain.
“Beg me,” he choked my throat, making me gasp for air. “Say you were wrong, say you want to marry me.”
Blood dripped from my fingertips onto a customized wedding dress identical to my sister’s.
When I was too hoarse to scream, he slapped me in a rage. “Smile for me! You don’t look like her when you cry!”
He pressed me against a mirror, forcing me to look at my tear–streaked face, then gently licked away my tears. “Maya, I’ve looked for you for so long… how could you marry another man…?”
Unable to have my sister, he filled the void in his heart by torturing me.
Amidst my fragmented cries, he fantasized that the person beneath him was the unattainable girl of his dreams.
Now, reborn, he thought I would repeat the same mistakes?
He turned to leave, but suddenly pivoted back, grabbing my throat fiercely.
“Tell me… if this mouth could never speak again, wouldn’t some secrets be safer?”
Though I was the one suffocating, I saw a flicker of unease in his eyes.
This lunatic, he was afraid of his secrets being exposed after all.
D
- 3.
