It was the tenth year since Chloe, my best friend, and I transmigrated to this world. She told me that if she died, she could return to our original world. With those words, she jumped from the top of a skyscraper. Blood splattered all over her husband. The man who’d been cursing her as shameless just moments before let out a guttural wail. I, on the other hand, watched impassively as my husband, the Godfather of this mafia empire, stood next to his first love. I think it’s time for me to go home too. When Chloe plunged to her death in front of me, I had actually prepared myself. But the sheer amount of blood still stung my eyes. That night, Chloe’s face haunted my dreams. She smiled beautifully, then tears of blood streamed down her face. I woke up with a gasp, my shirt drenched in cold sweat, clinging uncomfortably to my skin. A maid waiting outside the bedroom stepped forward to help me change, but I waved her off. “Get me some hot water. I need a bath.” I remembered when we first arrived in this world, Chloe always complained about how primitive bathing was here. Not like back home, where a quick shower got you clean in minutes. Now, she was gone clean, too. Chloe and I were childhood best friends, so close our parents once suspected we were a couple. Little did they know, we both had our own crushes and often shared dating tips. One day after work, we met up to go to a bar. We got into a car accident on the way and woke up here. We had been chosen by some mysterious force, thrown into this trial of fate. The rules of this world told us that as long as we fulfilled the mission given to us, we could go home. It even gave us a chance to choose our destiny. Chloe, at the time, was so charmed by Arthur, dressed in his crisp white suit, that she insisted on making him her target. I was left with no choice but to pursue Dante, the struggling second young master. We went through countless hardships, Chloe and I nearly died several times. Fortunately, Arthur and Dante were best friends, and our goals aligned. When we finally helped Dante seize control of the family, I gave up my title as chief operative, content to assist him by his side. Chloe also married Arthur. They opened the most popular dessert shop in the main district, becoming the financial backbone of the entire organization. We both thought our mission was accomplished. But that mysterious force simply said, “The trial continues.” As Chloe and I wondered what was next, Dante’s and Arthur’s idealized first love, Seraphina, returned to the main district. Neither Chloe nor I had ever heard of this Seraphina. We asked that force, and only then did we learn she was a childhood playmate of our partners. Apparently, Seraphina had been gravely injured saving Dante, almost dying, and was sent abroad by her family to recuperate. She hadn’t appeared in the main district since. That force didn’t know why Seraphina suddenly returned either. “The trajectories of fate hold deep meaning. The chosen need only follow the natural course. When all debts are paid, and all fates resolved, then, and only then, will you return.” That cold, emotionless voice immediately grabbed my attention. Even then, I felt Seraphina’s appearance would turn our lives upside down. Chloe, however, naively thought it was no big deal. She continued to revolve around Arthur every day, paying no mind to Seraphina. I remembered Chloe’s agonizing eyes at the end. She hated pain more than anything since she was a child. The moment she jumped without hesitation, I was genuinely terrified. I never expected her to choose such a desperate path. In truth, I had no idea if Chloe’s method could actually return us to our original world. That voice had never told me that death was an escape from this trial. If Chloe couldn’t go back, I didn’t even want to think about it. But I knew one thing: this score, I would settle it, sooner or later.
“Valerie! Valerie! Tell me, what did Chloe say to you in the end?” Arthur burst in while I was changing after my bath. His usually handsome and gentle face was now as pale as a ghost. His eyes, fixed on me, looked as if they could weep blood. I adjusted my shirt, a cold sneer playing on my lips. I had no intention of responding to him. “Valerie! Say something!” Arthur actually dared to step forward and grab me. I shoved him away, but unfortunately, he didn’t fall. Seraphina followed close behind, catching him. “Valerie, I know you’re upset about Chloe’s death, but don’t take it out on Arthur. What kind of power is it to bully someone like this?” I glanced at Seraphina. Her eyes weren’t exactly friendly. If you looked closely, you could even see a hint of provocation. “What are you, a nobody? Talking to me like that? Get lost.” “You!” “Valerie! Are you insane!” Before Seraphina could say anything more, Godfather Dante strode in. What a lively morning in my apartment. This was the first time since Seraphina came back. “Dante, don’t be angry. Valerie must be too heartbroken.” Seraphina put on her usual act of helpless vulnerability, which made my stomach churn. “Valerie, please, I’m begging you, just tell me, okay?” I had forgotten Arthur was still there. He tugged at my sleeve, filling me with disgust. “Chloe said her biggest regret in this life was choosing you.” With that, I ignored Arthur’s reaction and prepared to leave this hateful room. Arthur, upon hearing my words, started muttering “Impossible, impossible” like a madman and rushed out. I, meanwhile, was grabbed by the arm by Dante. “Valerie, you haven’t apologized to Seraphina yet.” I was too stunned. He must have lost his damn mind. “Godfather, it’s fine. Valerie is so powerful, your chief operative, a woman of such high standing. I’m just… nothing compared to her.” Seraphina’s words, feigning humility, flowed out again. And Dante, of course, fell for it every time. “I am the master of this family, and Seraphina, you are my savior. Naturally, you are far nobler than anyone else.” Dante’s icy words struck my heart. How utterly heartless. I looked at Dante’s handsome face and remembered the first time I met him. I had been in this world for a month then, and Chloe had already crossed paths with Arthur. Guided by that voice, I approached Dante. At the time, he was an unfavored second young master. Although he was the previous Godfather’s son, his father didn’t like him. In the family, an unfavored son was worse off than a regular subordinate. I met Dante in the garden, being bullied by other henchmen, during a family gathering with my father. His face was bruised and scarred, but his eyes were like those of a bloodthirsty wolf. At that moment, I was quite pleased with the destiny that voice had arranged for me. I saved him, taking him under my protection. I used the family’s influence to push him, step by step, to the position of Godfather. For him, I fought countless battles. Even Chloe once suffered a severe injury saving him, nearly dying. Arthur, for once, even had a furious argument with Dante over it. That was when I thought Arthur truly cared for Chloe. But I was wrong. Dante’s attitude now… it really made it hard not to go after him. “The Godfather speaks truly. Since Seraphina saved your life, she’s naturally beyond compare. Unlike Chloe, who nearly died blocking a bullet for you, and now… well, her death was a fitting end, wasn’t it?” I finished coldly,甩開Dante’s hand, no longer caring about their reactions, and left the apartment.
I returned to my stronghold. Chloe and I had come to this place together. This was our home. I had arranged for her body to be brought here. I would hold her funeral in the stronghold. I absolutely would not allow Arthur to defile her again. I stood by Chloe’s coffin, a chilling sadness in my heart. Chloe had always been my sunshine since she was a child. Lively, cheerful, pure of heart. She always preferred mature, strong men. Arthur happened to be that kind of man — outwardly gentle, but with a forceful personality. Chloe truly fell in love with him later on. Chloe once even giggled and told me she didn’t want to go back. She wanted me to stay with her too. But even such a pure Chloe was now forced into an uncertain fate between life and death. How could I not hate them? Chloe and I had vastly different personalities. I had always been one to hold grudges, to exact an eye for an eye. If someone even dirtied my shoes, I’d make sure to ruin something of theirs. How much more so now, when I’d been humiliated and trampled on? I just wondered if they could truly withstand my wrath. “Chief Operative, Arthur is at the gate, insisting on coming in.” My subordinate came in to report. I had already guessed Arthur wouldn’t give up easily. But his belated affection meant less than dirt. Arthur had long since lost his chance. “Arthur, I won’t let you disturb Chloe again. And you don’t need to cause a scene here.” I stood in the main hall, coldly looking at the disheveled Arthur. “Valerie! Chloe was my wife, you can’t stop me!” Arthur cried out, his voice hoarse. The corner of my mouth turned up in a half-smile, half-sneer. “If I’m not mistaken, you tore up your marriage certificate a long time ago.” When Seraphina first returned, for some reason, she always seemed to be at odds with Chloe. Incidents of her provoking Chloe behind her back were endless. Chloe, furious, taught her a lesson, only for Seraphina to run and tell tales. Arthur argued with Chloe over it many times. Chloe never said much during these arguments; she just came to me to drink in silence. Once sober, she would continue to dote on Arthur, showering him with care. I fumed at her meekness, wanting to stand up for her several times, but she always refused. Until one time, Chloe accompanied Arthur to a dinner party at the main manor, and Seraphina cornered Chloe in the back garden. I don’t know the exact details of what happened then. When we arrived, Chloe and Seraphina were both being pulled out of the swimming pool. Seraphina immediately knelt before Dante. “Godfather, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have angered Ms. Chloe and argued with her. I fell in myself, Ms. Chloe didn’t push me.” Again, her feigned vulnerability. Chloe watched her coldly. It was the first time I’d seen that expression on Chloe’s face. Before Dante could speak, Arthur stepped forward and demanded to know what had happened from Chloe. I only heard Chloe’s hoarse voice ask him, “That signet ring, did you give it to her?” Arthur froze, and I was equally surprised. The signet ring was a symbol of Chloe’s family heritage; she had given it to Arthur as a token of their love. “It’s pure gold, and Seraphina’s health isn’t great. They say it can ward off the cold. Since you gave it to me, I can do with it as I please.” Chloe scoffed, “Do you even know I’m your wife? You gave the token you gave me to another woman?” In front of so many people, Dante couldn’t allow them to argue, so he ordered them to go home and sort it out. What happened after they went back, I don’t know. I only know that the next day, a distraught Chloe found me, saying Arthur had torn up their marriage certificate.
Sure enough, at the mention of the marriage certificate, Arthur instantly fell silent. His expression was pained, but I didn’t care. I was about to ask my people to escort him out when I heard Arthur mutter to me like a madman. “Let me see Chloe. Wasn’t she the chosen one? She’s not dead, is she?” At his words, my heart clenched. I almost suspected that Chloe, in her love-struck stupor, had spilled the beans about that voice to Arthur. “I know! She’s angry because I tore up the marriage certificate! She said then that she wanted to leave here and go back!” “Valerie, tell me, where did she go? I’ll go find her!” Hearing this, I was certain that Chloe, the fool, had accidentally let something slip, and Arthur had discovered some clues. But it didn’t matter; I wasn’t going to talk to him anymore. “Arthur, please leave. You are not welcome here.” With that, I gestured for my subordinates to show him out. But before they could escort him, Dante swaggered in with Seraphina. “Arthur, what’s wrong? Valerie is definitely in a bad mood right now. I told you not to provoke her, why didn’t you listen?” Seraphina’s feigned humility arrived right on cue. It made me want to plug my ears. Arthur, however, seemed to have had a switch flipped, and he stared intently at Seraphina. “It’s you! Chloe must be angry with me because of you!” Seraphina’s eyes widened, full of disbelief. “Arthur! How can you say that about me? Is Valerie biased against me again?” As she spoke, she didn’t forget to glance at me. She looked as if I had truly done something terrible to her. Dante stood there, watching me coldly, not saying a word. I didn’t even spare him a glance. Naturally, I couldn’t be bothered with Seraphina. I was just worried they would disturb Chloe’s peace. “You’ve all misunderstood me. Look, I even specially brought that signet ring, hoping it could be buried with Ms. Chloe.” Arthur looked at the ring in Seraphina’s hand, trembling as he tried to step forward. But I drew the pistol from my waistband and shot Seraphina in the hand. “AHHHHHHH! My hand!!!” My aim was precise. Seraphina’s hand, holding the ring, instantly became a bloody mess. “Valerie, are you insane!” Dante rushed forward to support Seraphina. “Quick! Call a doctor!” “Godfather, if you want to treat Seraphina, I’m afraid you’ll have to leave. You are not welcome here.” I held the gun, blocking their way. Dante’s face turned as dark as ink. “Valerie, you’ve gone too far this time! Do you really think I wouldn’t dare touch you?” “Godfather! It hurts! My hand! Why!!! Valerie, why!!!” Dante’s words were cut off by Seraphina’s wails. Watching her suffering, I only felt it wasn’t enough. “Your filthy hands don’t deserve to touch Chloe’s ring! That was her most important possession! Arthur, consider this me taking it back for her. Now, all of you, get out!” With that, I ordered my subordinates to drive them out. This stronghold was left to me by my father. No family member was allowed to force their way in. So Dante had no choice but to leave with his people. And my revenge had only just begun.
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