Rain poured mercilessly against the tall glass windows of the grand hotel, pattering like a thousand tiny drums. Inside the golden-lit ballroom, laughter and applause echoed, blending with the soft hum of a live orchestra.

Liya Shen stood frozen near the edge of the room, her champagne glass trembling in her hand. She had waited five long years for this night, dreaming of a perfect engagement, but reality crashed down harder than the storm outside. Every detail of the night—the lights, the music, the smell of expensive perfume—suddenly felt twisted and cruel.

On stage, her fiancé, the man she had loved with all her heart, smiled tenderly—not at her—but at her best friend, Mei Lin.

> “I never loved anyone else,” he announced into the microphone. “Mei, you’re the only woman in my heart.”

The crowd erupted into cheers. Liya’s heart splintered with each clap, each shout, each echo of betrayal. Her best friend’s face twisted into a mocking smile, as if to say: You were always the fool.

Memories of laughter and trust flooded her mind, now turned into jagged shards of pain. Tears blurred her vision, and her knees trembled. She stumbled toward the grand exit, heels clicking sharply on the marble floor, each step echoing her broken heart. Her thoughts raced: How could they do this? How could I have been so blind?

Minutes later, on the rooftop, the cold wind bit at her skin. Her phone buzzed with one last cruel message:

> Thank you for everything, Liya. You were just a stepping stone.

Lightning split the sky. The world tilted, and darkness swallowed her.

But death was not the end.

Liya opened her eyes to sunlight streaming through familiar curtains. Her hands flew to her face—soft, smooth, unscarred. She stared at the reflection in the mirror. She looked younger. Her heart raced. She could feel her pulse pounding in her ears, and every memory of her past life flooded back with sharp clarity.

Everything rushed back: the betrayal, the pain, the heartbreak. And then… a startling realization hit her. She was back. Three years in the past.

Her engagement hadn’t been announced. Her betrayal hadn’t happened. The worst was yet to come—but now, she could change it.

Her lips curled into a determined smile.

> This time, I won’t be the helpless girl I once was. I’ll rewrite my destiny.

She stepped out of her room, her mind racing with plans for revenge, for justice, for power. And then she collided with someone tall and imposing.

Xavier Mo. The untouchable CEO, rumored to be ruthless in business and life alike. His sharp eyes, cold as frost, locked onto hers.

> “Marry me,” he said quietly, yet with authority. “Sign the contract, and I’ll give you the power to destroy your enemies.”

Liya’s heartbeat stuttered. Fate had given her a second chance—but at what cost?

Her lips curved into a small, icy smile.

Liya’s eyes widened.

Had she heard correctly?

The man standing before her was Xavier Mo—the cold, untouchable CEO of Mo Enterprises, a man who made headlines daily. Some said he was ruthless in business, others whispered that women who approached him disappeared quietly from society.

And yet… he was asking her to marry him?

Liya steadied her breath, her fingers tightening at her sides.

> “Why me?” she asked coldly, trying to mask her racing heart.

Xavier’s expression didn’t change. His voice was deep, steady, as though he was merely discussing a business deal.

> “You need protection. I need a wife. It’s that simple.”

Her lips curled into a bitter smile. He was right. In her past life, she had been weak, powerless, trampled like dirt. But now… if marrying him gave her strength, maybe this was fate’s gift.

Still, she wasn’t the same naïve girl anymore.

> “What’s in the contract?” she asked, crossing her arms.

Xavier’s lips curved slightly, but his eyes remained cold.

> “Rule one: It’s only a marriage in name. We’ll keep our distance in public and private.

Rule two: When I say your role ends, you disappear from my life without complaint.

Rule three: Break any of these… and you’ll regret it.”

His words were sharp, like blades. But strangely, Liya felt no fear—only a quiet fire building inside her chest.

Because this time, she had her own rules.

> “Fine,” she said, her voice steady. “But I have one condition too.”

For the first time, Xavier raised an eyebrow.

> “And what’s that?”

Liya stepped closer, her eyes burning with icy determination.

> “Help me destroy the people who betrayed me.”

Silence filled the air, heavy like a storm. Then, to her shock, he smirked.

> “Deal.”

He extended his hand. She hesitated only for a moment before placing hers in his.

The handshake was brief, cold, but in that instant, Liya knew—her destiny had changed.

A strange shiver ran down her spine, not of fear but of anticipation. For the first time in years, Liya felt truly alive. The shadows of her past no longer chained her—she could almost hear them breaking apart piece by piece.

This time, she would not bow.

This time, she would rise.

That night, Liya lay awake, clutching the contract. Under the dim lamp, its white pages seemed to chain her future to his.

Her mind replayed every betrayal—her fiancé’s lies, Mei Lin’s fake smile, her family’s cold indifference. Each memory only fueled her resolve.

Her fingers tightened around the papers until her knuckles turned white.

> This time, I will not hesitate.

This time, I will rewrite my fate… with my own hands.

She inhaled deeply, her hand trembling. This was more than a contract—it was a weapon she chose to wield.

With a steady breath, Liya picked up the pen. Her heart pounded once, twice—then the ink touched the page.

Signed

The ink on the contract was barely dry when Liya’s phone buzzed.

A message flashed across the screen:

> Contract confirmed. Driver will arrive at 9 a.m. tomorrow. – Mo Enterprises

Her pulse quickened. Tomorrow… her new life would begin.

She leaned back against her pillow, staring at the ceiling. The rain outside had stopped, but inside her, storms still raged.

Liya Shen was no longer the weak woman who had once cried herself to sleep. She was reborn. And now, she had an ally—no, a weapon.

Xavier Mo.

The name itself carried power. He wasn’t just a CEO—he was a king in a ruthless empire. People who crossed him never had the chance to regret it. And now, she was stepping into his world.

A thrill ran through her. Was she ready? Could she truly handle the consequences of walking into his life?

Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was an unknown number.

> Enjoying your victory, Liya? Don’t forget… even kings can fall.

Her breath caught. That tone—she knew it.

Mei Lin.

So her so-called “best friend” was watching.

Liya’s lips curved into a cold smile. Good. Keep watching. This time, I’ll be the one pulling the strings.

---

Morning came. A sleek black car waited outside her building. The chauffeur bowed as she stepped inside.

The ride was smooth, but Liya’s heart raced. Outside the tinted windows, the city flashed by. Every street felt different now, like pieces on a chessboard she was finally ready to play.

When the car stopped, her breath caught.

Mo Enterprises towered above her, a steel giant piercing the clouds. Workers streamed in and out, their eyes lowered, their steps hurried. This was Xavier Mo’s kingdom, and soon it would become her battlefield.

Inside, crystal chandeliers glittered above polished marble floors. Security guards stood like statues, scanning every person. The moment she entered, eyes turned toward her.

Whispers followed.

“Who is she?”

“Why is Mr. Mo’s driver escorting her?”

“Could it be…?”

Liya ignored them, her heels clicking sharply across the floor.

She was taken straight to the top floor. The moment the doors opened, her eyes locked on him.

Xavier Mo sat behind a massive desk, posture straight, aura commanding. He looked up, his gaze like ice.

> “You’re late.”

His tone was cold, not angry—just absolute.

Liya lifted her chin. “I signed your contract. That doesn’t make me your servant.”

For the first time, a flicker of amusement passed through his eyes.

> “You’re bold. I’ll give you that.”

“He rose, each step heavy with authority, his presence pressing down like a storm.”

Then, he leaned close, his voice low and dangerous.

> “Remember this, Liya Shen. From today onward, your life no longer belongs to you.”

Her heart skipped a beat, not from fear, but from the thrill of stepping into a game only she and Xavier Mo could play.

---

✨ First day, Xavier’s wife-to-be!