Tears still flowed, but I leaned in, speaking in
<
Lears still Tlowed, but I leaned in, speaking in
a low voice only he could hear:
“The moment you pushed me off that cliff in
my last life, I started dreaming about killing
you myself.”
“Even if I can’t kill you in this life, I’ll make
damn sure your name is dragged through the
mud forever.”
His eyes widened, bulging with disbelief and
rage.
“Chloe Reynolds! I’ll fucking kill you!”
His hands shot out, closing around my neck,
squeezing.
Just as my vision started to dim, the
barricades holding back the press broke.
Reporters and cameramen surged forward.
What Damien didn’t know was that the
bodyguards, the reporters, nearly everyone in
that room… had been bought off by Caleb
Vance.
<
And every single camera?
They weren’t just recording.
They were broadcasting live.
8
Damien Thorne only realized the full extent of
his fuck–up when the police dragged him
away.
The image of him trying to strangle me had
been broadcast live to the world.
Everyone had seen him attempt murder with
their own eyes.
Mr. Thorne spent nearly half the family
fortune on lawyers, but this time, the
evidence was undeniable.
There was no justification, no loophole, no
bail.
After some time locked away, facing the
inevitable, Damien broke.
He confessed everything.
Not just about Caleb’s mother, but other dark
<
Nul just avVUL CAIEI S TULICI, DUL ULLIGI UAIN
secrets too.
The dirty dealings, the past crimes his
parents committed to build their empire – it
all came spilling out.
The internet exploded.
Public opinion turned irrevocably against
them.
The Thorne family empire crumbled into dust.
There was no coming back.
On the day Damien and his parents were
formally sentenced, all three heading to
prison for a very long time, I was helping out
at my dad’s martial arts gym.
One of the students told me two people were
outside asking for me.
I went out and saw Caleb Vance leaning
against a tree, smoking a cigarette.
Isabelle Moreau stood beside him, waving me
over with a small smile.
oup of bubbla toa
<
over with a small smile.
She handed me a cup of bubble tea.
не
“So, what are your plans now?” she asked.
I took the drink. “I think I’ll learn martial arts
properly from my dad. Taking over the gym
someday doesn’t sound too bad.”
She glanced at Caleb, then back at me.
“We’re leaving after we tie up one last loose
end. We won’t see each other again after this.
If you ever need to find us…”
“No,” I interrupted gently. “It’s better if we
don’t see each other again.”
She paused, seemed to understand, and
finally sighed.
$
“Yeah… I guess you’re right…”
Caleb straightened up, his voice neutral. “I
never properly introduced you. Isabelle is my
girlfriend. She only got close to Damien to help me get revenge for my mother.”
“That second time in the alley,” he continued,
<
“I was planning to finish him then and there.
But I suspected he might have a hidden
camera, maybe even streaming live. Had to
let him go temporarily.”
He looked me in the eye, a hint of apology
there. “Uh, sorry about… before. Everyone
said you were crazy in love with him. I figured
you were on his side.”
Isabelle offered a genuine smile this time.
I smiled back and nodded.
“How’s your ear?” I asked her, remembering
the wound from the alley.
She shrugged. “It’s fine. Trading one ear for
the downfall of the entire Thorne family?
Totally worth it.”
We only talked for a few more minutes.
Then they waved goodbye and walked away.
I watched them go, thinking about the past
life.
Caleb caught by the police in that alley,
<
sentenced to years in prison.
Isabelle dying in that plane crash.
They must have carried so many regrets.
But thankfully, in this life, they didn’t give up.
Another month went by.
I was finally moving past the darkness,
starting to feel whole again.
Then, sudden news broke: Damien Thorne
had escaped from prison.
The very same day, reports came in of a small
private plane crash.
The crash site was horrific, bodies mangled
beyond easy recognition.
The news released a list of the five victims
confirmed dead.
Damien Thorne. His father. His mother. Caleb
Vance. And Isabelle Moreau.
I stared at the list, frozen.
I remembered that in my past life, the plane
Isabelle died on… was this exact flight
く
number.
Numbly, my dad called me over to greet a
new student.
“Coming!” I called back.
As I walked past the window, I glanced
outside at the tree near the entrance of the
gym.
Two figures stood beneath it.
They wore hats and masks, but their eyes…
their eyes were achingly familiar.
My own eyes welled up.
I wanted to wave, to call out, but I was afraid
someone else might see.
After a long moment, Isabelle raised her hand
in a small, subtle wave.
I smiled through my tears and nodded back.
Caleb gently patted her shoulder.
They turned and walked away, disappearing
down the street.
They never appeared again after that day.
They never appeared again after that day.
And me? I inherited my dad’s martial arts
gym.
I stepped into my new life.
