Chapter 1

After my sister, Claire Whitman, and I came of age, our parents forced us to choose our futures. One of us would take over the family business. The other would marry into the Stone family in Lintabruge.

Greedy for inheritance, Claire chose the company without hesitation.

But she was lazy and indulgent, spending her days traveling and enjoying herself, completely neglecting the business.

In less than a year, she ran the company into the ground and lost everything.

I, on the other hand, married into the Stone family. I bore them two sons and secured my position as a powerful lady of a wealthy household.

Claire was driven mad with jealousy. At a family gathering, she stabbed me to death in a frenzy.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of our choices.

Claire spoke first. "I'll marry into the Stone family. The company can go to Sophia."

I couldn't help but smile. Oh, Claire, the Stone family was nothing but a living hell.

*****

"I totally fell for Marcus the second I saw him. I'm going to be with him, no matter what," Claire Whitman blurted out. "Sophia's way smarter than me. She'll totally run the company better than I ever could."

When our parents made it clear they wanted me to marry into the Stone family, Claire's face flushed with panic.

She looked like she'd marry Marcus Stone on the spot if she could, just to secure her place as a high-society wife.

Just a few days ago, she was talking big about being some girlboss of the new era, but now she was acting like a totally different person.

My parents were so stunned that they couldn't even get a word out. They just stared at her, totally baffled by how she could suddenly flip her personality like that.

I just sat there on the couch, quietly reviewing the company's financial reports, a cold, mocking smile playing on my lips.

Even with a second chance at life, Claire still couldn't restrain herself.

Mom didn't say much, but Dad, as a guy, had his own opinions.

"Claire, depending on anyone else is never as safe as depending on yourself. Sure, he might be into you now, but what if he changes his mind down the road?" Dad warned.

"I've heard Marcus's reputation isn't exactly spotless. You really need to think this through. I don't want to see you get hurt," Dad continued.

Trusting one's whole future to some guy was just asking for trouble.

Dad had seen plenty of guys in business ditch their families without a second thought.

The loyal wife who helped build an empire from nothing was only left with zilch when her husband moved on. No way did he want either of us to end up like that.

But Claire just wouldn't listen.

Maybe she was blinded by how glamorous my previous life looked, rolling out in luxury rides, my account always stacked with nine digits.

And everyone was jealous of my two cute sons.

She stubbornly believed that marrying Marcus was the only way to win at life, way better than inheriting the company and crashing it into the ground.

She couldn't care less about Dad's heartfelt advice, impatiently scratching her ear.

"Dad, those women just didn't have what it takes. I am gorgeous and irresistible. He'd be crazy to let me go. Why would he ever dump me?" Claire shot back.

"And you've seen him yourself. He's so classy. All that gossip out there is just nonsense," she insisted.

Her eyes were shining, full of that can't-lose attitude, like she was already sure Marcus was hers.

To her, it was all sunshine and roses ahead.

Honestly, compared to grinding away as a boss lady, always traveling and hustling at business events, she was way more cut out to be a pampered socialite, just chilling at home, listening to music, and showing up at parties.

I had to duck my head so I wouldn't crack up right there.

Marcus might look like the perfect gentleman in public, but only I knew the truth. Underneath that mask, he was a twisted monster.

For an illegitimate son to seize power in the Stone family, God knew what he did in the shadows to claw his way up.

He forced me to network for him, making me drink until my stomach bled, never giving a damn if I lived or died.

If I ever got on his bad side, he'd beat me black and blue, so even in the blazing summer, I had to wrap myself up just to hide the bruises.

But the worst part was how complicated the Stone family was, a vipers' nest where every morning meant waking up to another round of scheming and backstabbing.

It was the kind of place that would fuck you up and not even blink.

Inheriting the family business would be so much easier than that mess.

Seeing that Claire was dead set on her choice, my parents had nothing more to say.

They sighed and went back to their rooms.

Before leaving, Claire gave me one last haughty once-over, her gaze dripping with superiority.

"Sophia, when the company tanks and you're desperate, just give me a call. Who knows, maybe I'll let you be my little errand girl," she sneered.

I gave her a cool, knowing smile.

"Who knows, maybe you'll be the one calling me for help," I shot back.

I was so jealous that she would get to be hit by her loving husband and enjoy all the drama from his parents.

Unlike me, I would only cry my heart out in a multi-million dollar company.

Besides, I could always order a few toy boys for fun.