Chapter 3

Andrew was the only one who kept staring at me, his eyes searching and probing. That gaze was so deep and piercing, it felt like he could see right through me, straight into my soul.

I instinctively avoided his gaze.

This guy was way tougher to handle than Richard and Helen.

At dinner, the long table was covered with exquisite dishes.

I sat quietly at the very end, eating in silence, as if I was invisible.

Helen kept piling food onto Olivia's plate, fussing over her. "Liv, eat up. You're getting so skinny."

Richard was deep in conversation with Andrew about business, occasionally casting a cold, appraising glance my way, like he was sizing me up from a distance.

It felt as if I wasn't his daughter at all, but some possession he'd recently recovered and was now trying to assess its value.

Halfway through dinner, Olivia suddenly set down her fork and said quietly, "Dad, Mom, I want to give my shares to Em. I've felt guilty all these years for taking her place. All of this should've been hers from the start."

My hand holding the fork froze for a second.

There it was, her second move.

She was pulling the selfless act, making a show of her generosity and kindness, all while testing how Mom and Dad would respond.

Sure enough, Helen frowned right away. "Don't be ridiculous. You're a Carter, those shares belong to you. What does this have to do with Em anyway?"

Richard spoke up, his voice serious. "Liv, drop it. You don't really get how the company works. Passing shares back and forth will cause market volatility."

They backed each other up so smoothly, shutting down Olivia's gesture in a heartbeat. And just like that, any hope I had of inheriting those shares was gone.

Olivia lowered her head, biting her lip, looking all pitiful. "But..."

"No buts," Helen said, patting Olivia's hand, then turned to me with a warning in her voice. "Emily, you just got back. There's a lot you don't understand yet.

She continued, "The Carter Family isn't about to let you starve, but you need to remember your place. Don't go reaching for things that aren't yours, and don't get any ideas."

I looked up, meeting her sharp gaze, and nodded obediently. "I get it, Mom. I don't want anything. As long as I can stay with you guys, that's all I need."

My words made Helen's face look a lot more pleased. She gave a satisfied "Mm," clearly thinking I finally knew how to behave.

But then, out of nowhere, Andrew spoke up.

"Em just got back, and she's not feeling well. After dinner, she should go back to her room and rest up." His voice was deep, giving nothing away.

My heart skipped a beat.

How did he know I wasn't well?

I'd come straight to the Carter residence from the hospital. No one should've known about that.

I glanced up at him. He was taking his time wiping his hands with a wet wipe, as if it were a casual remark.

But I knew better.

He'd been watching me ever since I stepped through the door.

I forced myself to swallow the uneasy feeling inside me and replied obediently, "Okay, Andrew."

Back in my cramped room on the third floor, I locked the door, leaned against it, and let out a long sigh.

Fatigue washed over me, leaving even my bones feeling sore and limp.

These were the signs of leukemia.

I had to hurry.

I pulled out my phone and started digging up everything I could find about Carter Holdings.

In my previous life, hatred clouded my vision. I rushed in blindly, and ended up shattered, broken beyond repair.

This time, I would be a viper, lurking in the shadows, silent and deadly, biding my time for the perfect moment to strike and finish them off for good.

Carter Holdings was Richard's life's work, the foundation that kept the whole Carter Family living in luxury.

If I wanted to destroy it, I had to understand it first.

As the night deepened, I lost myself in business reports and financial statements, my brain racing nonstop.

Suddenly, I heard light footsteps outside. They stopped right at my door.

I quickly turned off my phone, plunging the room into darkness.

My heart was in my throat.

Someone tried the doorknob, but it wouldn't budge. It was locked tight.

The figure outside didn't leave. They stood there, silent and unmoving, like a statue.

I held my breath, not daring to move a muscle.

I knew who it was.

It was Andrew.

In this house, only he watched me with such intense suspicion and curiosity.

We stood there, separated by a door, locked in a silent standoff.

After what felt like forever, the footsteps finally started up again, fading away into the distance.

I finally let out a breath, only then realizing my back was drenched in cold sweat.

Andrew’s second chance at life was a massive wild card.

He knew all about how crazy and obsessed I'd been in my previous life, so this time, he'd never let his guard down around me.

The path to revenge was going to be way harder than I ever expected.

The next morning, when I came downstairs, the Carter Family was already gathered around the dining table.

Like yesterday, I quietly took my seat.

Helen glanced at me, acting like it was no big deal. "Oh, by the way, Liv's got a charity gala next week and needs a plus-one. Em, why don't you go with her? It'll be good for you to meet some people and broaden your horizons."

I sneered inwardly.