Maya Chen died at thirty-two in a dark hospital room, alone and broken. Her "loving" husband was celebrating their anniversary—with her stepsister. The child she'd raised for ten years wasn't hers; the company she'd built was stolen; her reputation destroyed by the people she'd trusted most. Her last thought before the truck hit was pathetic: "If I had another chance, I'd choose differently."

Then she woke up. Eighteen years old again. One year before university. Every betrayal, every humiliation, every loss—she remembers it all with crystal clarity.

This time, Maya isn't the naive fool who sacrifices everything for fake love. This time, she knows exactly who she is: the disappeared daughter of the Chen Group empire, worth billions. This time, she'll reclaim her birthright, destroy every person who betrayed her, and build an empire on their ashes.

But revenge attracts dangerous attention. Especially from Ashton Xu—the ruthless billionaire CEO she'd only met once in her previous life, at her funeral. He'd stood in the rain, tears streaming, whispering: "I found you too late."

Now he's watching her with obsessive intensity, offering protection, power, and a dangerous proposition: "Marry me. Use my resources for your revenge. In return, just stay alive this time."
Maya doesn't remember him loving her. But Ashton Xu remembers everything—including the future where he lost her forever.

Two people who've lived through loss. One impossible second chance. This time, she'll burn the world down. And he'll hand her the matches.

Jennifer stands up, fully healed, immortal, and laughing.


His soldiers open fire. Bullets hit Jennifer's body. She staggers back, bleeding from a dozen wounds.


Then the wounds close. The bullets push out of her skin and fall to the floor. Within thirty seconds, she's completely healed.


"That tickles," Jennifer says with a smile.


She picks up one of the bullets and examines it. "Interesting. So this is what it feels like to be the Phoenix. I can see why The Architects wanted this power so badly."


"You don't deserve those powers," I say through gritted teeth.


"Neither did you, apparently. You gave them away so easily." Jennifer walks toward me. "All I had to do was threaten your father, and you signed away your birthright. Your mother would be so disappointed."


I lunge at her. Ashton catches me, holding me back.


"Let me go!" I scream. "I'll kill her!"


Chapter 10 - MORTAL ENEMY