Twilight fell, and the capital city was awash in traffic and neon lights, the arteries of Europe's financial heart beating relentlessly.
Inside the towering headquarters of Laurent Group, the lights were still on. Work had not yet ended.
Elena Laurent stood before the floor-to-ceiling window. A cool breeze slipped in through the narrow opening, carrying the damp chill of snow that had just begun to melt.
Her long hair brushed against her cheek, lifted by the wind. At the corner of her lips, a faint, icy smile slowly formed.
She had been reborn.
In her previous life, everything had spiraled into darkness—
Public disgrace.A shattered leg.Forced drug dependency.Endless torment inside a private psychiatric institution.And finally, suffocation at the bottom of a swimming pool.
Every single scene was carved deep into her bones, vivid and merciless, gnawing at her sanity even now.
The sensation of dying still lingered. Elena drew in a sharp breath, cold air flooding her lungs, yet it did nothing to suppress the hatred surging violently through her chest.
Her eyes—once red from suffocation—fixed on the glittering nightscape beyond the glass.A ruthless, blood-soaked killing intent flickered within them.
Like a demon clawing its way back from hell.
This time—
She would kill back.
Her phone rang.
Elena glanced down. The name "Isabelle" flashed across the screen.
Her gaze narrowed dangerously.
She answered.
A light, cheerful voice flowed through the receiver, sweet and harmless:
"Sister, are you done with work? The birthday party you arranged for me has already started. When you're free, come by early to see the venue. The design you had prepared is so beautiful—I really love it. Sister, you're always so good to me…"
That voice.
She had heard it just moments before her death.
But back then, its owner had been looking down at her with naked disgust, pressing her head beneath the water, smiling as she spoke—
"Sister, do you like everything I arranged for you?"
"From the incident at my birthday party, to Marcus pretending to propose to you so he could seize control of Laurent Group…"
"From me getting pregnant with his child, to you being forced to get rid of it…"
"From you accidentally breaking your leg and finally realizing it was all a setup…"
"And then me poisoning you."
"Did you enjoy all of that?"
"Your proud Laurent family no longer exists. And you—once untouchable—are now something worse than a dog."
"And I? I will always be cherished."
"Everything I have today, I fought for myself. Thanks to you, sister, Marcus and I will live happily ever after. You won't get to see any of it."
"I'm tired of playing now."
"So you should die."
"Tomorrow, the news will report that Elena Laurent, the former glamorous CEO of Laurent Group, drowned in a swimming pool after suffering a mental breakdown."
"Such a beautiful face… admired by countless men. In a little while, it'll be bloated and ruined by the water."
"Oh, and one last thing."
"Weren't you always investigating the man from the night of my birthday party?"
"He's dead."
"You can go see him now. Consider it a gift."
The memory overlapped perfectly with the bright, innocent voice now echoing in her ear.
Disgust churned violently in Elena's chest.
On the phone, Isabelle paused, then asked in confusion,"Sister? Are you listening?"
Elena replied coolly, "Mm."
"Then come over once you're done. Marcus has already landed—he'll be there soon."
"…Alright."
She hung up.
Without hesitation, Elena picked up her tailored blazer and strode out.
Inside the car, she subconsciously reached for the storage compartment.
Empty.
The familiar student ID card wasn't there.
Her hand froze.
Only then did Elena realize—
None of it had happened yet.
The man Isabelle mentioned in her final moments…He was still alive.
Alive and well.
Not dead.
Elena's throat tightened. Her fingers curled slowly.
This time—
She would find him first.
She dialed another number.
"Secretary Moore," she said calmly, her voice steady but cold,"Draft an employment contract for me."