Chapter 3

As Maisie listened to that familiar anger, whatever lingering sting of family ties she felt faded away completely, replaced by a serene clarity, the kind that came when one finally stopped caring.

"Mr. Spears, you've got it wrong," Maisie said. "I paid for the lab management system myself; the rights belong to me. Now that I'm no longer part of the Spears family, I'm reclaiming what's mine. It's reasonable and legal."

"That was developed with the Spears family's money," Shane shot back.

"Mr. Spears, I showed you the ledger and left the pieces for you last night." Maisie sneered, her gaze sharpening. "Check the bank records if you want. Every cent spent on that system came from my scholarships and side gigs.

"The money the Spears family gave me wasn't even enough for the spare change Mrs. Spears drops on a limited-edition bag for Victoria, right?"

Shane was momentarily speechless, then his tone softened with a kind of condescending authority, as if he was granting her a favor. "Maisie, stop making trouble. Tonight is Victoria's moment. All the elites in Jalvenor will be there.

"Come back now, apologize to Victoria, and return what you took from the company. Then you'll still be one of the Spears family. I'll still take care of you."

That same trick again. Back in her first time here, he'd said the same thing. Yet he traded her off to a nearly sixty-year-old businessman with a history of violence, all for a bit of investment in the family business.

"I'll come to the party," Maisie said, glancing at her nails, speaking slowly. "But not as the Spears family's heiress. I'll be there as the top creditor of Spears Capital."

Before Shane could start yelling again, Maisie hung up and sent his number straight to the blacklist.

Tyler closed the financial report in his hands and stared at her with amusement. "A creditor? Are you planning to call in your debt right at the party? Shane values his pride above all. That will be a big disgrace to him."

"He brought it on himself," Maisie replied as she stood up and walked over, looking down at the most dangerous man in Jalvenor. "Mr. Norris, have you thought about the deal I mentioned last night?"

Tyler raised a hand, letting his cool fingers brush her wrist, almost like a subtle claim over her life.

He said, "Those patents from the Spears family are worth a fortune, but profit means nothing to me. I want—"

He shifted his tone, his eyes flickering with emotions no one could read. "I'd love to see a new ruler in Jalvenor. I'll come to the party with you tonight."

Maisie's heart skipped a beat. In her previous lives, Tyler had been untouchable to the Spears family, and in the end, he destroyed them. This time, she willingly allied herself with him.

*****

At three in the afternoon, Camila was at Jalvenor's most exclusive styling studio, helping Victoria pick out a dress for the party.

Victoria twirled in front of the mirror, wearing a pink dress, her face glowing with a sweet, innocent smile.

"Mom, isn't this one a bit too expensive? Maybe we should let Maisie pick first. She'd look way better in it than I would," Victoria said, biting her lips.

Her voice was soft and hesitant, but her eyes greedily lingered on the million-dollar dress reflected in the mirror.

Camila stroked her hair tenderly. "Sweetheart, she's not part of the Spears family anymore. You've endured twenty years of hardship. You deserve something better.

"Since Maisie wants to leave, let her go out there and make a fool of herself in some cheap outfits."

Just then, the door to the studio swung open.

Maisie strode in. She was dressed in a sleek black tailored dress, topped with a matching cashmere coat, and her crystal-studded high heels clicked sharply against the floor.

Behind her, four suited bodyguards followed, each carrying an identical black security case.

Victoria's smile froze, and Camila's expression darkened instantly.

"What are you doing here? You can't afford anything in this place," Camila snapped, instinctively shielding Victoria behind her, as if Maisie was going to hit them.

Maisie didn't spare them a single glance. She strode straight toward Riley, the manager.

"Ms. Spears, your order is ready," Riley said, bowing as she led Maisie toward the VIP section.

On display was a set of jewelry named Nocturne. Shane had bought it at an auction last month for Victoria, worth 10 million, but the first payment hadn't cleared because of the Spears family's cash problems.

"Mr. Spears still hasn't finished paying for the balance, right?" Maisie asked, her fingers gliding over the chilled glass of the display case.

Riley looked embarrassed. "Yeah. Mr. Spears said he'd pay after the party, but our policy doesn't allow guests to take items that haven't been paid in full."

"I'm taking it," Maisie said, placing a credit card on the counter with a snap. "Paid in full. Register it under my name; this has nothing to do with the Spears family."

Camila shrieked, "Maisie, where did you get the money? That's supposed to be a gift for Victoria. You're stealing. I'm calling the police."

Maisie turned around slowly, her gaze sharp enough to cut right through Camila's perfectly maintained face.

She said, "Mrs. Spears, before you call the cops, I suggest you take a look at Shane's account. That 10 million was actually last year's dividend from my three patents. He's been withholding it from me this whole time.

"Now I'm taking back what's mine and buying whatever I want. Any problem with that?"

Maisie walked right up to Victoria, catching the jealousy written all over her face. A mocking smile appeared on her lips.

She reached out, smoothing Victoria's dress with gentle movements.

Then she leaned in, whispering, "Taking what belongs to someone else might feel great, but you'd better be able to hold onto it. This dress? Bought with my card. Since the Spears family can't pay up, I guess I'll cut it."

Maisie grabbed a pair of scissors from her bodyguard. The next second, a massive gash tore right through Victoria's expensive dress.

Victoria screamed in terror, clutching her chest as she collapsed to the floor.

"Maisie, stop!" Camila tried to rush at her, but Maisie's bodyguards blocked her, not letting her get anywhere near.

Maisie dropped the scissors, took the jewelry box from Riley, and strode out without so much as a glance back.

"See you at the party, my dear family," Maisie muttered.