Montebridge, an abandoned cement factory in the suburbs.
Kaia Malone was lying on the stinky ground, with blood continuously gushing from beneath her.
Her abdomen was swollen, seven months into her pregnancy.
Estrella Malone stepped on Kaia's belly, the sharp heel of her high heel pressing deliberately against her navel.
"My dear sister, just die in peace. I promise to pray for you, to ensure you can live lavishly even in the underworld," Estrella laughed heartily, her heavily made-up face filled with satisfaction.
Kaia's eyes were half-closed, she was in a dying state.
With the last of her strength, she stared at Rory Lloyd and asked weakly, "Rory, did you ever love me?"
Estrella laughed even more confidently. "Still thinking about love when you're dying? Rory, why don't you tell this cheap woman whether you loved her or not. Don't let her die with her eyes open."
Rory wrapped one arm around Estrella's waist and held her chin with the other hand, planting a heated kiss on her.
He licked Estrella's earlobe, moaning passionately.
"She's just a boring woman played out by a fool, how can she compare to my sweetheart?"
Estrella responded passionately, and in no time, the two entwined.
Kaia felt as if her neck was being strangled, struggling to breathe, her eyes bulging, and she panted, "He, he," like a dying beast.
The door was kicked open with a violent bang, and a ragged young man staggered in.
Owen spotted the blood-covered Kaia from a distance and dashed over, scooping her up in his arms.
Kaia, her consciousness fading, stared blankly into space, no longer able to recognize Owen's face.
"I hate! Hate! Die! Go to hell! You all deserve to die!"
Her feeble, raspy roar extracted from her very soul, was filled with undisguised hatred.
Following the direction of Kaia's finger, Owen noticed Rory and Estrella shamelessly indulging themselves. Picking up a stick, he rushed over, striking wildly at them without a moment's hesitation.
Kaia's breaths grew fainter, but her consciousness abruptly cleared.
She could sense something leaving her body, and her spirit seemed to float unsteadily upwards.
She could see her own body lying on the ground, awash with blood, her eyes wide open.
Owen and Rory tangled in a fierce fight. Owen’s head was struck by a brick wielded by Rory.
Staggering, Owen fell but made every effort to crawl towards Kaia.
Holding her, he whispered soothingly, "Don't be scared, Kaia... I am here... I will protect you..."
With a sinister grin, Rory picked up the stick and strode towards Owen.
"Well, isn't this fool really devoted?! Fine then, I'll send you on your way. You both can keep each other company in the afterlife!"
...
"No! Don't!" Kaia screamed, suddenly jolting awake, drawing rapid, frantic breaths.
Wherever she looked, she could see it was a spacious bedroom.
On the four walls, more than a dozen wedding photos of various sizes were hung.
The man in the photograph had a radiant smile. His facial features were like carved sculptures. Every contour seemed as if it had been meticulously designed by master craftsmen, devoid of any imperfections.
Yet, the eyes in those photos, they held no luster. They were hazy, as though covered by a thick layer of dust.
Kaia stared for a moment before standing up and walking towards the door.
The doorknob wouldn't turn. It was a specialty lock, locked from the outside.
Had she... been reborn?
Kaia froze, running to the window and pulling open the luxurious curtains.
Under the window was a garden of roses spanning more than ten meters wide. The leaves trimmed to appear sparse, with thick branches full of thorns.
She truly had been reincarnated, back to when she had just begun her relationship with Owen.
Owen was the only son of the Montebridge's wealthiest family, a literal prince.
However, this prince blessed with handsome features and an extraordinary family background, was a fool. His intelligence remained at the level of a four or five-year-old child. He was violent, unruly, and spoiled, a person whom people avoided, a more terrifying version of a troublemaker kid.
Kaia met Owen at an amusement park, on the one-year anniversary of her relationship with Rory.
Kaia wanted to play bumper cars. Rory found it too childish and refused to accompany her. In a fit of pique, Kaia ended up playing five games.
The bumper car area was filled mainly with children. Feeling it was not right to bully the little ones, Kaia set her sights on targeting Owen throughout the game.
The next day, the Harris family sent someone over to propose marriage.
At that time, the Malone family was experiencing a financial crisis. Determined to make a connection with the powerful Harris family, Ethan sent Kaia to the Harris family that very night.
Kaia, deeply in love with Rory, physically refused. The Harris family locked her up to prevent her from running away, even planting roses under the windows as a precaution.
Kaia suddenly laughed.
Even the heavens felt her past life was too pitiful, hence giving her a chance to relive.
Since given a second chance at life, her blood debts must be settled!
Kaia didn’t know what time it was now, whether she has married Owen.
Thinking of Owen's indulgence towards her in her previous life, she was filled with remorse.
Owen truly loved her, although he was a fool, he gave her his real heart, awkwardly pleasing her, allowing her to trample on him.
Even when she single-handedly destroyed the entire Harris family and handed over their billions to Rory, he still sought her recklessly, ultimately dying together with her.
Kaia's heart was pained. Thinking of the scene at her death, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for Owen.
What a fool!
In her past life, he had guarded her until death, this life, it’s her turn to protect him.
This is what she owes him.
Kaia lay there bored, when suddenly, the door opened.
Estrella hurriedly rushed in, grabbing Kaia's hand with her eyes reddened and choked up, "Kaia, how are you doing? Are you alright?"
Kaia frowned slightly, a flash of disgust in her eyes as she withdrew her hand and composedly asked, "Why are you here?"
"I knew you're upset. I was afraid you'd do something rash. So, I came to see you," Estrella said, her face raised upward and about to burst into tears. Her look of concern was a perfect portrayal of sisterly love.
Kaia silently sneered inwardly.
In her previous life, it was exactly these pitiful teary eyes that fooled her. She had complete trust in her, and in the end, she was left in dismal despair.
"Kaia, Rory said that you are now Mrs. Harris. As long as you would help him, he can surely become the heir of the Lloyd family. As long as he controls the Lloyd Group, you two can always be together!"
Estrella, shaking Kaia's hand, eagerly fueling the fire.
This foolish woman, helplessly in love with Rory, would definitely pitch in.
Once Rory became the successor of the Lloyd Group, she would be Mrs. Lloyd.
And Kaia? Heh, a woman who had been deceived, still imagining herself as a competitor?
Kaia bowed her eyes, exhaling a long breath, she dejectedly asked, "What's the date today?"
"April 15th."
Kaia took a sigh of relief.
At this point, her grandfather's Wilkinson Group had not yet faced obvious decline, and her elder brother Riley had not yet run into trouble.
Thankfully, everything was still in time!
Estrella sneered secretly, relishing the thought, "Kaia must have been tormented half to death by that fool. She probably doesn't even remember what day it is."
"Kaia, you're now the Madam of the Harris family. The Harris family will definitely groom you and prepare you to take over the enormous Harris Group in the future. As long as you've entered the Harris Group, Rory will surely be able to secure a foothold in the Lloyd family."
Kaia glanced at her faintly, with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, "You seem to care quite a bit about Rory."
Estrella’s heart throbbed and her face stiffened slightly, she quickly put on a smiling face and explained, "Kaia, since you love Rory so much, I naturally hope that Rory can achieve great success, and marry you grandly! Otherwise, how could a man like Brother Rory, an illegitimate child, be worthy of you?"
"Really?" Estrella uttered thoughtfully.
Estrella suddenly felt a bit scared to look her in the eye, always feeling as if those clear eyes that seemed to see through everything had gained something extra.
But when she looked closely, she couldn't quite make out anything unusual.
"Estrella, I'm tired. I want to rest."
"Then Kaia, you should rest well." Estrella stood up, but couldn't help urging her with a heavy heart, "Kaia, don't oppose that fool. Try to appease him. That's the quickest way to be accepted by the elders of the Harris family and join the Harris Group."
Kaia waved her hand lightly, saying flatly, "I see."
Only then did Estrella walk to the door, knocking, "Open the door, it's Estrella."
A trace of malicious jealousy flashed in her pitiful eyes.
Someday, she would become the only Miss of the Malone family.
As for that slut, Kaia, humph! She should go to hell!