In my past life, my sister and my fiancée joined forces with my best friend to destroy my company. As I collapsed in the pouring rain, bankrupt and broken, they stood by his side, laughing without restraint. “Look at you, Landon,” they sneered. “You’re like a pathetic stray dog.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the project bidding conference, three years in the past. Back then, when my company was just a startup, my sister and fiancée had warned me not to leverage our family connections. It wouldn’t be fair to the others, they said. Then, they turned around and handed the project to my best friend on a silver platter, all for the price of a smile. Reborn, I watched them manipulate things behind the scenes, just as they had before, to gift my project to him. And in that moment, the last vestiges of hope in my heart died. When they found out I was leaving the country, they set off a night’s worth of fireworks to celebrate finally being rid of me, the burden. But three years later, at the Aethel Group’s bidding conference, I walked onto the stage as the CEO’s husband. And as I began to speak, I saw their eyes turn red. 1 I never expected the first familiar face I’d see after returning to Sterling City would be my former best friend, Cole Evans. “Cole Evans, CEO of Zenith Corp. At eighteen, he entered Sterling City’s top university with outstanding grades. After graduating, he built his company from scratch, becoming one of the business world’s rising stars in just three short years…” On the first floor of the Sterling Grand Tower, a screen between the two elevator banks looped a highlight reel of his achievements. Three years had changed him. The timid, insecure boy from the countryside was gone, replaced by a man exuding a certain aristocratic air in his custom-tailored suit. Money, it seems, can truly mold a man. Today was the Aethel Group’s project bidding conference. The lobby was already swarming with reporters. I tried to ignore him, to mind my own business, but he approached me. “Landon? Is that really you? I almost didn’t recognize you.” “You suddenly left for overseas three years ago. I thought you were never coming back!” Cole’s voice was loud, loud enough for the reporters gathered in the distance to hear every word. I could feel their inquisitive gazes landing on me. “…Holt family… heir…” “…Ziegler engagement… Ivy…” “…Proposing… win her back… no…” Fragmented whispers, deliberately lowered, drifted into my ears. I glanced at Cole. He feigned ignorance, continuing, “Why didn’t you give a heads-up you were coming back? Could it be that you heard…” He cut himself off, feigning a slip of the tongue. “Landon, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” His panicked apology was a masterclass in misdirection, expertly guiding the onlookers to the wrong conclusion. A bold reporter was already shouting a question. “Mr. Evans, we hear that both Sierra Holt, the chief designer at Holt Jewels, and Ivy Ziegler, the Ziegler family heiress, are planning to propose to you. Is this true?” “Mr. Evans, if Miss Holt and Miss Ziegler both propose, who will you choose?” Cole dodged the question. “Ah… those are just online rumors for now. I hope everyone can be rational. Besides, Sierra and Ivy are both wonderful people. We’re just very good friends.” The elevator arrived. He gave a slight bow. “My apologies, but I have to give a speech at the Aethel Group’s conference. I need to go up and prepare.” He then turned to me with a friendly smile. “Landon, are you heading up?” I hesitated for only a second, and that was all it took. The reporters, getting no answers from Cole, turned their sights on me. “Mr. Holt, we heard you were pursuing Miss Ziegler before you went abroad. Did you come back because you heard she was planning to propose to Mr. Evans?” “We hear Miss Holt is your sister. Mr. Holt, would you be okay with Mr. Evans becoming your brother-in-law?” “If Miss Ziegler really does propose to Mr. Evans, what will you do? Will you try to stop it, or will you offer your blessing?” Their eyes were like those of starving wolves, their quickened breaths filled with greed and urgency. Reporters rarely care about the truth; they only care about the story. I knew if I didn’t respond, the internet would be flooded with speculation about my return within the hour. An image of a certain someone who got jealous easily flashed through my mind. I waved a dismissive hand at Cole. “In that case, I’ll go on ahead.” Just before the elevator doors closed, Cole’s lips curved into a sneer that only I could see. I looked away, turning to face the reporters. I was about to pull out my invitation when a sharp voice cut through the air. “Landon Holt, who let you come here?” “Are you planning to steal Cole’s project again, just like you did three years ago?” The cameras swiveled. My ex-fiancée, Ivy Ziegler, was striding toward me, her long legs accentuated by a tight miniskirt, her face a mask of fury. 2 “Three years ago, and now again.” “Landon, will you ever stop?” I frowned at Ivy’s accusation. “What are you talking about?” The woman who had once promised me a lifetime together now looked at me with pure disgust. “Everyone in Sterling City knows Aethel Group wants to work with Cole on this. Why else would you suddenly come back from overseas if not to steal his project?” Aethel Group wanted to work with Cole? That was news to me. My eyes flickered with surprise, which Ivy mistook for guilt. The disgust in her eyes was now tinged with contempt. “Do you think you can still use the Holt family name to bully Cole whenever you want?” “Aethel Group isn’t some small-time local company. They don’t care about your family background. If you don’t want to humiliate yourself, you should leave. Now.” I pulled out my invitation and waved it in her face. “Sorry, but I was invited to this conference. You have no right to tell me to leave.” “Don’t push your luck…” Ivy was about to threaten me when the reporters’ whispers seemed to spark a realization. Her expression shifted to one of utter disdain. “Landon, I told you, our engagement is over. Can you please stop harassing me? Whatever happens between me and Cole, it has nothing to do with you. We are never getting back together.” “You’re overthinking it. I’m only here for the conference. I’m married now. I’m not interested in who you end up with.” I didn’t lower my voice. The explanation was less for Ivy and more for the reporters. The crowd quieted, but Ivy just scoffed. “Landon, is this really necessary? Do you think lying about being married will make me anxious? Let me tell you, playing hard to get won’t work. I couldn’t care less if you’re married or not.” “I know.” I nodded and stepped into the newly arrived elevator. As long as the press didn't print lies, I didn't care what Ivy believed. Just as the doors were closing, she slipped in beside me. The doors shut, sealing us in the small space. “Alright, what will it take for you to leave?” she asked, her face grim. A ghost of a smile played on my lips. “You have that little faith in Cole?” “How could you possibly compare to him?” she sneered. “After Cole signs with Aethel, I’m going to propose to him, right here. I’m afraid he’ll get the wrong idea if you’re around.” I replied with four, emotionless words. “Congratulations.” “Can you just stop this? I know you’re jealous, but you can’t force feelings. This act is not good for either of us.” Her voice was tired, with a hint of condescension, as if she were doing me a favor. “Look, if you leave right now, I’ll personally see to it that Ziegler Corp gives you two projects.” I shook my head coolly. “I don’t need them.” Her tone soured. “I just don’t want Cole to be upset. You should take the offer while you can. Otherwise, you might end up with nothing.” I didn't respond to anything else she said. By the time the elevator doors opened, her face was flushed with anger. She stormed out, tossing a final command to the woman waiting by the door before stalking off on her high heels. “Control your brother.” I looked at the woman—my own sister, Sierra—and cursed my luck. I had planned to ignore her, but as I stepped out of the elevator, she grabbed my arm. Sierra dragged me to a secluded corner, her eyes cold. “What are you doing here?” “Bidding,” I said flatly. “Nonsense. Go home, now,” she snapped. “Are you planning to steal Cole’s project again, just like three years ago?” 3 Sierra’s words were almost identical to Ivy’s. I looked up at the person who was supposed to be my closest living relative and felt a bitter irony. That project three years ago was a joint venture between the Holt and Ziegler corporations. It wasn't large, but for a startup, it was a golden opportunity. Thinking I had an inside track, I went to Sierra to ask for it. She shot me down immediately. When Ivy heard, she came and gave me an earful. They said it wasn’t fair to the small, self-made companies. I didn’t understand. Business is about resource integration. I had the ability to complete the project, and I had the connections. Why couldn't I use them? Later, I found out why. It was for Cole, who was also competing for the same project. One moment, Sierra and Ivy were warning me off; the next, they were dispatching their own professional teams to help Cole perfect his proposal. When I was on the verge of winning by a single vote, they personally joined the review panel and cast their votes for him, handing him the victory. When I confronted them, they were full of self-righteous justifications. “Can’t you have some empathy? You have the Holt and Ziegler corporations to fall back on, but Cole has no choice but to succeed. Since we’re in a position to help, of course we should.” In my past life, I hadn't accepted it. I exposed them publicly, causing Cole to lose the bid. I continued to oppose him at every turn. To get back at me for him, Sierra and Ivy joined forces to attack my company, driving me to bankruptcy even before Cole. As I was cornered by debt collectors, with nowhere to turn, the two people who should have been my closest allies stood by Cole’s side, mocking my pathetic state. I lost consciousness in the pouring rain. When I woke up, I was back at that bidding conference, three years earlier. Watching Sierra and Ivy join the panel at the last minute to cheat for Cole, just like before, my heart died completely. I liquidated my company. The night they threw a celebration party for Cole, I boarded a plane and left the country alone. In three years, they never contacted me once. Yet the moment I returned, they were on guard, terrified I would harm their precious darling. Even with the memories of two lifetimes, a dull ache spread through my chest. I looked at Sierra with reddened eyes and repeated the same words she’d used on me three years ago, before that first conference. “I’m not participating in this bid as a member of the Holt family. You have no right to make me leave.” I shook her off and turned to go. But two bodyguards suddenly appeared and blocked my path. I turned back to Sierra. Her expression was placid. “If Cole wins this project, his company can go public at least two years ahead of schedule. I can’t let you ruin his chance.” If a company’s representative doesn’t show up, they automatically forfeit the bid. She had supported Cole for three years, yet she still had no faith in his abilities. She still had to resort to cheating to help him. And this was the man who had caused my two closest relatives to betray me, time and time again. I wanted to laugh, but it felt too tragic. I wanted to ask Sierra what she even saw in him, but the thought was tasteless. A lifetime of death stood between us. There was no possibility of reconciliation. “Sierra, do you really think these two can stop me?” Her brow furrowed. “What did you call me?” “Hah.” I gave a short, sharp laugh and turned toward the bodyguards. “Stop him,” Sierra commanded. The two muscular guards lunged at me. As their hands reached for my shoulders, I lunged forward, arching my back as my hands shot out, fingertips aimed for their exposed armpits. They quickly changed their tactic, pressing down, but I drew my hands back to my chest, straightened my back, and used the momentum to lean forward, driving my elbows into their chests. Thump, thump! The guards staggered back. I moved behind them, and before they could regain their footing, I struck each of them in the back, creating distance as they stumbled. Our positions were now reversed. As the two guards steadied themselves and prepared to charge again, I took a step back, positioning myself in full view of a security camera. “Stop!” Sierra quickly called them off, her expression a complex mix of emotions. “When did you become so strong?” I gave her a silent look and walked toward the conference hall. Yes, when? Life abroad was much more dangerous than at home. I was getting robbed several times a month, far more than the average person. If I hadn’t learned to defend myself, I would have been dead long ago.
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