Reborn, the first thing I did was resign from my position as Chief Art Restorer at Sterling Antiques, earning the scandalous label of an industry pariah. In fact, when Sterling Antiques was raided and sealed off for fraud, I couldn’t help but gloat. Because in my previous life, Serena Hayes, the woman Julian Sterling had always pined for, had met an untimely end. And I, bound by a debt to the Sterling family for clearing my adoptive father’s name, married Julian as Serena’s stand-in, becoming Mrs. Sterling. For three years, I stood by him through thick and thin, expanding Sterling Antiques into a thriving empire. My innovative restoration techniques allowed a near-bankrupt Sterling Antiques to dominate the authentication market, becoming an official partner of the government’s heritage preservation bureau. I genuinely believed that our shared dedication would eventually earn his heart. But at the celebration party on the penthouse floor, he publicly played a video, accusing me of swapping Serena Hayes’s restoration report. “Stella Sterling, you didn’t just switch Serena’s report, you stole her entire life!” My own apprentice, Amber Evans, even held up an evidence bag, her voice sharp with accusation: “Professor Sterling, fragments of Serena’s report were found right in your office!” In the chaos, I was shoved, lost my footing, and plummeted to my death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day the Sterling family was deciding on my engagement. Grandpa Sterling excitedly announced. “Stella, my dear, you and Julian have the best rapport. I think this marriage is settled.”
I looked up at Julian Sterling, his gaze as cold as winter frost. In that instant, I realized he had been reborn too. Since his heart only held Serena Hayes, I would grant them their wish and, in turn, save myself some dignity. The Sterling family had an unspoken rule: only the Chief Restorer of Sterling Antiques could marry the family heir. I calmly rose, sweeping my gaze across the room filled with Sterling relatives, then bowed deeply and steadily to Grandpa Sterling. “Grandpa Sterling, I’m deeply grateful for your kindness.” “However, I’m just an orphan, brought up by the Sterling family. With my background, how could I possibly be worthy of the Chief Restorer title?” Julian Sterling’s expression shifted as he stared at me. He must have thought I’d still be meek and subservient, collapsing in gratitude for any scrap of kindness, ready to go to hell and back for the Sterling family? How laughable. I curled my lips into a smile, looking at Julian Sterling. “I have someone I’d like to recommend.” “Serena Hayes is incredibly talented at a young age in the restoration field. If she could be posthumously appointed Chief Restorer of Sterling Auction House, it would be a huge asset to the Sterling name.” Julian Sterling’s face drained of all color. The next second, he abruptly slammed down the water glass on the conference table, throwing all etiquette to the wind, and stormed out. I knew exactly where he was going. In the previous life, Serena Hayes had gone overseas to auction artifacts but died tragically there, becoming a lifelong nightmare of regret for Julian Sterling. At this moment, Julian Sterling must have believed he could stop that tragedy. “Nonsense, Stella, what are you blabbering about!” Grandpa Sterling’s face flushed crimson with rage, and his teacup smashed to pieces. “Sterling Antiques invested in you for ten years, and you dare to decline the Chief position in front of everyone, publicly handing such a critical role to an unknown?” “Is this how you repay the Sterling family’s generosity?” I walked up to Grandpa Sterling, handing him the resignation I had prepared long ago. My voice was calm: “Grandpa Sterling, I’ve never forgotten the opportunity Sterling Antiques gave me, but a century-old legacy shouldn’t rest on a foundation of one-sided gratitude. Serena Hayes has risked her life tracking down black market artifacts for years; she undoubtedly deserves the title of Sterling’s Chief.” Grandpa Sterling was visibly shaken by my words. I bowed my head, then turned and left the room. Stepping out of the conference hall, I headed back to the lab I had personally built. I opened the safe and took out the evidence I’d gathered overseas of Serena Hayes’s artifact smuggling. In my previous life, I had risked my life to protect that crucial Renaissance ceramic restoration report, only for Julian Sterling to turn on me, accusing me of plagiarizing Serena Hayes’s work and tampering with her report! My fingertip traced the broken fragments, and I murmured: “Julian Sterling, in this life, I will not give another ounce of my effort to the Sterling family!” The next morning, the area outside the building was buzzing with people. Sterling Antiques officially announced Serena Hayes as the Chief Restorer, stating she had defended cultural heritage and protected national treasures with her life. Julian Sterling helped Serena Hayes, whose demeanor was cool and detached, wearing a forced smile. Media swarmed in, and I listened to the applause outside, my eyes calm and indifferent. In the afternoon, the frantic click of high heels echoed from outside the lab building. I walked over and pulled the door open, only to see Julian Sterling bringing Serena Hayes, heading straight for the boardroom. Soon after, barely suppressed shouting erupted from the main hall. “Father! You clearly promised that Sterling Antiques’ Chief would lead the artifact repatriation and major restoration projects! This order belongs to Serena!”
“No! This is a collaboration with the National Heritage Foundation. A last-minute change will only cause problems!” Grandpa Sterling’s voice boomed through the conference room. I paused at the doorway for a few seconds, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open. Since they want it, I’ll give them everything. I carried a file box and, under everyone’s watchful eyes, placed it in front of Grandpa Sterling. “Mr. Sterling, these are the Sterling Arts Foundation’s generational restoration reports and core documents concerning the priceless Renaissance ceramic piece.” I instinctively straightened my back, my voice unwavering: “Since the board has decided that Ms. Hayes will lead the upcoming projects, these materials naturally should be transferred.” Grandpa Sterling pressed down on the file box, opening it to quickly flip through the contents. Hundreds of high-resolution detailed comparison reports, each bearing my handwritten signature. The board members seated around us remained silent, no one attempting to ease the suffocating tension. Grandpa Sterling looked at me, his expression unreadable: “My dear, I’ve put you through too much. Julian can be so stubborn; I can’t talk any sense into him.” I forced a self-mocking smile. “Grandpa Sterling, you overstate it. I am an art restorer for Sterling Antiques; fulfilling my duties is simply part of my job.” Before I finished speaking, I glanced at Julian Sterling. His face was resolute, though I couldn’t discern his emotions. “Thank you.” I pulled my gaze away, then took an encrypted USB drive from my pocket. “There’s one more thing.” “This contains all the core customs data for the priceless cultural artifacts I’ve handled during my ten years in office. Please keep it safe yourself, Mr. Sterling.” Serena Hayes’s expression shifted subtly, her hands twitching with eagerness. Seeing this, Grandpa Sterling immediately took the USB drive, his brows furrowed, but he said nothing. “Since all restoration reports and techniques have been transferred, my work here is concluded.” I nodded to Grandpa Sterling, then to Julian Sterling, and walked straight out of the place where I had poured my heart and soul for ten years. Suddenly, someone called out behind me. “Stella Sterling, wait.” Julian Sterling’s voice was cold. He stood up from his chair. “Since you are no longer the restorer, you no longer have the right to enter the lab.” “Security, immediately revoke all of Stella’s access.” Grandpa Sterling suddenly exploded in anger, questioning: “You ungrateful brat, what are you doing?! Stella dedicated herself to Sterling Antiques for ten years. Is she someone you can just drive out?!” Julian Sterling’s face remained expressionless: “Father, I’ve said what needs to be said. Now that Serena is leading the project team, Stella’s presence here will only cause unnecessary misunderstandings.” The conference room fell into a suffocating silence. I looked around. The shareholders who used to curry favor with me now all lowered their heads, refusing to meet my gaze. The air in the room was stifling. I offered a faint smile, my voice calm: “Since Mr. Sterling has made his decision, I will comply and leave.” Just as I pulled open the conference room door, a familiar voice abruptly rang out. “Professor Sterling, please wait.” My apprentice, Amber Evans, was already standing by the door, two security guards behind her, her face grim. She stepped forward, her voice dripping with sarcasm: “Professor Sterling, please return all Sterling Antiques’ issued restoration tools, and the smart grinding equipment you signed for – they are all company property.” She pointed to my ID badge on my chest, then looked at the tool bag in my hand, her expression meticulous. “According to protocol, personal items can be taken, but company property must be registered and returned.” Serena Hayes stood by, a slight smirk playing on her lips: “Stella, you need to leave everything that belongs to Sterling Antiques, including the clothes on your back. Otherwise, if any artifacts go missing later, you’ll have a hard time explaining yourself.” Grandpa Sterling said coldly: “These tools are Stella’s personal property! I gave them to her myself years ago! Who dares to touch them?!”
I stared at Julian Sterling, my ID badge clicking in my hand. “Do you really think so too?” Julian Sterling merely nodded, offering no explanation. “Let’s wipe the slate clean, and then we go our separate ways.” It felt like a jagged knife had ripped through my chest, and my throat tasted of rust. “The Sterling family plays a good hand.” “The international art dealer’s Renaissance ceramic fraud case, the stolen ancient manuscripts switching case… I personally exposed the fakes and recovered the smuggled artifacts. Each and every one brought honor to Sterling Antiques, didn’t it?” “Not to mention the ‘Jade and Porcelain Masterpiece’ at that international auction, which put the auction house into the global top three. Over the years, when did the benefits ever fall to someone else?” Grandpa Sterling leaned on his cane, his expression complex. But Julian Sterling’s face remained indifferent. “You’ve come this far because you used the Sterling family’s platform, and you used Sterling Antiques’ resources.” “That was your duty.” I scoffed. “So that’s how it is. What a Sterling family indeed.” “Then you all listen up. From today on, I have no ties with the Sterling family.” In front of everyone, I raised my hands and removed everything I wore that was associated with Sterling Antiques. Finally, I took off the last remaining shirt on my body, my voice steady: “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you all these years.” Julian Sterling’s expression suddenly changed. He strode forward, as if to grab me. But I stepped back, my eyes like chips of ice. “Mr. Sterling, are you satisfied now?” Someone gasped. Some even secretly started recording with their phones. I ignored them and walked towards the main door. Countless eyes were fixed on my back. I heard someone scoff loudly: “What good is great skill if you’re just a stray dog fed by the Sterling family?” As soon as I stepped out, Sterling Antiques employees began to whisper, some snickering: “Look, that’s her! The once highly sought-after Professor Sterling, she’s in real trouble now, tsk tsk.” “I heard she stole artifacts from the company and was stripped and kicked out!” “Ungrateful wretch, she deserves it! She really thought she was something special. Let’s see who recognizes her once she leaves Sterling Antiques?” Before the words fully faded. Serena Hayes rushed forward, shouting loudly for all to hear: “This woman has always been scheming, trying to seduce my fiancé! I caught her red-handed!” “What’s worse, she stole confidential data from Sterling Antiques, attempting to sell it to other auction houses! Now with undeniable evidence, everyone, judge for yourselves!” A low murmur immediately spread through the crowd, some pointing fingers at me. “What’s going on? How could she do something like this?” “Sterling Antiques treated her well, but she turned her back on them and even dared to bite the hand that fed her?”
Reporters swarmed in. I coldly observed the gathered crowd, my voice hoarse: “Believe what you want. I did nothing wrong. The truth will come out eventually.” As soon as the words left my lips, a cup of scalding hot coffee was instantly poured over my head. My body involuntarily trembled, and I nearly slipped to the ground. “Stella Sterling, how dare you pretend to be innocent here!” Amber Evans held up her phone, live-streaming, the camera shoved directly into my face: “Stella Sterling, don’t you feel any shame? You seduced Mr. Sterling for money, and even stole Serena’s hard-earned latest research!” Her live stream chat was flooded with comments like “slut” and “get out of Sterling Antiques.” Before I could react, a male reporter next to me swung his tripod, hitting my forehead. A wave of dizziness washed over me. “Stella Sterling, people like you should be expelled from the restoration industry!” “No integrity! Still dreaming of Julian Sterling? He doesn’t even want you, wake up!” “Plagiarist, deceiver, someone who climbed by using men!” In an instant, all the curses rained down on me. The ridiculous part was that among these people was an intern I had mentored. She cried theatrically into the camera: “Professor Sterling, she made me forge restoration documents before. She said she’d ruin my future if I didn’t comply…” My secretary, whom I had saved from being laid off during company cuts, also clenched her fists and shouted: “How can someone with such bad character be called a master? She doesn’t deserve to work anywhere!” On the live stream, someone had mass-sent a photo of Julian Sterling and me attending an international exhibition, with headlines like “How Stella Sterling Seduced Mr. Sterling and Rose to High Society?” My shoes were lost in the crushing crowd, and I stood barefoot in the rain, utterly humiliated. Yet, my mind was terrifyingly clear. When Amber Evans first started, her family faced a sudden crisis. I personally sponsored her tuition and living expenses, and I taught her every word of those professional papers myself. The intern tearfully accusing me? I rushed to be with her at 3 AM to care for her until dawn. I used to believe kindness would always be rewarded, but I never imagined today it would become the very knife stabbing me. Amber Evans leaned in close, a vicious sneer on her lips: “Stella Sterling, all those artifacts you worked so hard to restore, in the end, only Serena Hayes’s name was on them. Your hard work only brought others fame and success. What’s left to hold onto?” My gaze was vacant as I stared at Sterling Antiques Tower. Through the revolving doors, Julian Sterling’s expression was utterly devoid of emotion. I stood numbly, letting the onlookers shove their live-stream cameras into my face. Suddenly, from behind the crowd, came the screech of tires. A Rolls-Royce sped through the heavy rain, pulling to a halt right in front of me. A middle-aged man quickly got out, removed his sunglasses, and bowed: “Excuse me, are you Ms. Stella Sterling?” “My boss wishes to speak with you.” I stood barefoot on the pavement as the crowd’s chatter died instantly, everyone staring dumbfounded at the car, unable to believe their eyes. Serena Hayes blocked my path, her face twisted.
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