Chapter 1

An intern fell in love with my billionaire CEO fiancé, and at the company's anniversary gala, she brazenly declared war on me in front of the entire staff, "Ms. Langley, I want to compete with you for Mr. Rowe!"

The crowd erupted, and I caught a flash of approval in my fiancé's eyes.

In my past life, I warned her against being a homewrecker, but she held her own life hostage on the rooftop, threatening to jump just to force my hand.

"Ms. Langley, what else do you have besides your family background that makes you worthy of Mr. Rowe?" she demanded.

"I never loved him for his money. Even if I'm the mistress, it's still true love!"

Jonathan even pointed in my face and snarled, "She did nothing wrong by loving someone! Don't taint pure love with your filthy mind!"

And just like that, that cheating pair joined forces to shove me off the rooftop.

After my death, the intern built a career as an inspirational influencer by milking her sob story: "Even though she's gone, the trauma she inflicted upon me will never truly fade, but I will live on with even greater strength!"

And my parents, in their quest to avenge my death, ended up perishing alongside my fiancé's family in mutual destruction.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day the intern declared she wanted to compete with me for Jonathan.

*****

When I opened my eyes after being reborn, Sophie Sinclair was already standing on the stage, openly challenging me.

"Ms. Langley! I want to compete with you for Mr. Rowe!"

She clutched the microphone so hard her knuckles turned white, her voice shaking with that all-or-nothing determination, but it still echoed through the entire anniversary hall.

Everyone's eyes were glued to the girl on stage in a cheap, ill-fitting suit, her chin lifted defiantly.

"Oh my God..."

"Is she crazy? An intern actually dares to try to steal Ms. Langley's fiancé?"

"Mr. Rowe's fiancée is Charlotte Langley! Who does she think she is?"

"But that's so gutsy! Risking everything for love, like something straight out of a TV drama..."

The buzz of gossip swirled around me like a swarm of flies.

Beside me, I could feel Jonathan stiffen.

It wasn't out of anger, but excitement.

I tilted my head slightly to look at my fiancé, Jonathan Rowe.

There was a flash of admiration in his deep eyes, impossible to hide. He looked at Sophie like she was a wild, rule-breaking piece of art, bursting with life.

Heh.

What a familiar scene.

In my last life, this was the moment everything fell apart.

What did I say back then?

Oh, right. I told Sophie, "Ms. Sinclair, you are still young. Don't stray down the wrong path; being a willing homewrecker is utterly disgraceful."

I had tried to maintain my composure as a well-bred heiress and reason with her logically.

And what did I get in return?

What I received in return was her hysterical preaching that true love was blameless, Jonathan's accusation that my mind was filthy, and the icy sensation of being shoved to my death after she held the rooftop hostage.

It was her revolting hypocrisy after my death, posing as the victim to become an influencer and weeping pitifully on camera while claiming, "Even though she's gone, the pain she caused me will never disappear."

And my parents, trying to get justice for me, ended up losing everything, destroying both the Rowe family and ours in the process.

A bone-deep hatred coiled around my heart like a venomous vine, nearly suffocating me.

But this time, I wasn't going to let history repeat itself.

When I opened my eyes again, I was right back where the nightmare began.

God had given me a second chance.

Good. Very good.

This time, I was going to watch you two bastards turn your so-called "true love" anthem into a requiem for your own downfall.

The commotion in the crowd kept going.

Everyone's eyes were like spotlights, darting back and forth between the three of us.

Sophie, clearly encouraged by that flash of approval in Jonathan's eyes, stood even taller, her chin high with the pride of a martyr. She said it again, her voice even more determined.

"Ms. Langley, what else do you have besides your family background that makes you worthy of Mr. Rowe?"

"I never loved him for his money! Even if I'm called the other woman, it's still true love!"

As soon as she said that, the crowd erupted again.

"Damn, she's bold!"

"Not for the money? Who's she fooling? Does she even realize how many billions Mr. Rowe is worth?"

"But she sounds so sincere. Maybe it really is love?"

Jonathan's brow furrowed, but his displeasure wasn't aimed at Sophie's outrageous declaration. Instead, he shot me a look, a subtle urging—and a warning.

He was warning me not to embarrass Sophie in front of everyone.

In my last life, that look from him was what threw me off balance.

But now?

I sneered inwardly, but on the outside, I let a flawless smile spread across my face, one that looked almost forgiving, even a little pitying.

I stepped forward, gracefully taking the other microphone from the frozen host's hand.

My movements were poised and deliberate.

Everyone held their breath.

Even Jonathan looked surprised by my reaction.

I looked at Sophie, my gaze calm, my voice coming through the microphone with just the right touch of weariness and relief.

"Ms. Sinclair."

I paused, drawing everyone's attention.

"You're right."

"Love shouldn't be bound by status or background."

Sophie was caught off guard, a flash of shock flickering in her eyes.

Jonathan was taken aback too, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized me.

I turned slightly, facing the sea of faces in the crowd, raising my voice just enough to make sure everyone could hear.

"Since you and Jonathan are each other's... 'true love.'"

I said "true love" so lightly it was almost a whisper, but the sarcasm was thick enough to cut.

"Then I'm willing to step aside."

The whole place went dead silent.

I could even hear people gasping in shock.

Turning my head, my gaze truly fell upon Jonathan's face for the first time. The admiration had long vanished, replaced by an incredulous shock and a flicker of offended resentment.

He just couldn't accept that I'd let him go so easily, that I'd give up the title of Mrs. Rowe without a fight.