The car moved smoothly through the city streets.
Evelyn sat quietly in the back seat, her gaze fixed on the passing skyline. Everything felt familiar, yet completely different.
In her previous life, after the divorce, she had been lost. She didn't return home. She didn't fight back. She simply disappeared from the world that had once belonged to her.
And that was her biggest mistake.
This time, she would not make the same choice.
"Miss Hart, we'll arrive in ten minutes," the driver said respectfully.
Evelyn nodded slightly.
Just then, her phone vibrated again.
Another unknown number.
Her eyes darkened.
She answered without hesitation. "Speak."
A low chuckle came from the other end.
"Straight to the point. I like that."
The same voice.
The man from earlier.
Evelyn's tone turned colder. "You have ten seconds before I hang up."
Instead of being offended, the man sounded amused.
"Relax, Miss Hart. I'm not your enemy."
Silence.
Then—
"I'm calling to offer you a deal."
Evelyn's eyes narrowed slightly.
"A deal?"
"Yes." His voice lowered. "A mutually beneficial one."
Evelyn leaned back against the seat, her fingers tapping lightly against her knee.
"Go on."
"You just divorced Damian Laurent," the man said casually, as if discussing the weather. "And from what I know, you didn't leave with much."
Evelyn let out a faint laugh.
"Are you investigating me?"
"I prefer the term… observing."
Evelyn's smile faded.
"Then you should observe better."
Her voice was calm, but sharp.
"I don't need help."
A brief pause followed.
Then the man spoke again, his tone more serious this time.
"Even if I can help you take down Selena Vale?"
The air in the car seemed to freeze.
Evelyn's fingers stopped moving.
For a moment, her expression was unreadable.
Then, slowly—
"Who are you?" she asked.
The man did not answer directly.
"Someone who knows exactly how you died in your previous life."
Evelyn's pupils shrank.
The world seemed to go silent.
Her grip on the phone tightened.
"…Say that again."
But the line went dead.
Evelyn stared at the screen, her heart pounding violently.
How did he know?
Rebirth.
Her death.
Selena.
None of this should be known by anyone else.
Unless—
He wasn't just observing.
He was part of something much bigger.
Evelyn slowly exhaled.
Good.
The game was getting interesting.
---
Meanwhile, in the Laurent Group headquarters—
Damian stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his expression unreadable.
"Mr. Laurent."
His assistant stepped forward. "We've gathered some information."
"Speak."
"Miss Hart… has returned to the Hart residence."
Damian frowned slightly.
"She went back?"
"Yes. And…" The assistant hesitated. "Chairman Hart personally received her."
Damian's eyes darkened.
That meant something.
Evelyn had always avoided her family after marrying him.
She had practically cut ties with them.
So why—
Why go back now?
"Anything else?"
"Yes." The assistant glanced at the tablet. "She rejected all financial compensation from the divorce."
Damian's brows tightened.
Rejected?
"That's impossible."
The assistant nodded carefully. "It's confirmed."
Silence fell.
Damian's gaze turned colder.
Evelyn Hart…
What are you playing at?
---
The car finally stopped in front of a grand estate.
The Hart residence.
Evelyn stepped out slowly.
The moment she saw the familiar gates, something inside her chest tightened.
In her previous life, she had stayed away from this place out of shame.
But now—
She walked forward without hesitation.
The doors opened.
An elderly man stood in the center of the hall, his posture straight despite his age.
Chairman Hart.
Her grandfather.
Evelyn's steps slowed.
For a brief moment, her vision blurred.
In her previous life, she never saw him again after leaving.
He died… without her by his side.
"Grandpa…"
Her voice was soft.
The old man froze.
Then his expression changed instantly.
"Evelyn?"
He stepped forward quickly, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"You—why are you back?"
Evelyn walked toward him.
This time, she didn't hesitate.
She wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"I'm home."
The old man stiffened for a second.
Then, slowly, he patted her back.
"…Good."
His voice was slightly hoarse.
"You should have come back a long time ago."
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Yes.
She should have.
But now, it wasn't too late.
---
That night, Evelyn stood in front of the mirror in her room.
She looked at her reflection.
Alive.
Strong.
Unbroken.
Her lips curved into a faint smile.
"Selena Vale…"
Her voice was soft.
But cold.
"This time… let's see how you win."