Chapter 1

In a remote warehouse, Emma Wilson was engulfed in a raging inferno, drugged and bound, unable to move. Through the deadly flames, she saw her stepsister, Aria Wilson, and her new husband, Elijah—whom she'd married that morning at city hall—standing unharmed. In despair, she screamed, "Why are you doing this to me?"

From a safe distance, Aria spoke with chilling contempt. "Emma, really? Haven't you figured it out yet? Elijah didn't cheat—he never loved you! He only pursued you for your shares. Now that he has them, and you've been his wife for a day, it's time for you to die!"

Reeling from the betrayal, Emma struggled to comprehend the cruelty of the man she'd trusted for years. Her eyes filled with rage as Aria continued, "You understand why we did this, right? So Elijah can leave you without splitting assets. The entire Wilson fortune will be mine! Oh, and that two million dollars your mother left you? I used it to fund my studies three years ago, thanks to your naiveté. She'd be turning in her grave knowing her husband was stolen, her daughter murdered, and her life savings squandered by me!" She burst into cruel laughter.

As the fire roared, Emma watched Aria and Elijah walk away hand in hand, laughing. Blinded by grief and fury, her eyes burned with hatred. She wasn't ready to die—not like this.

Suddenly, an explosion rocked the warehouse, and a concrete beam plummeted towards her. Emma tried to dodge, but her strength was gone. Then, she heard rapid footsteps. A man rushed to her, shielding her with his body. The beam crushed his back.

Amidst the flames, Emma saw the man's face and froze. "Liam… What is he doing here?"

"Don't be scared, Emma," Liam Hall murmured, his eyes bloodshot. He'd come as soon as he heard, but it was too late.

"No—run!" Emma screamed as the ceiling threatened to collapse. But Liam stayed, fiercely protecting her as flames and debris fell around them, the smell of burning flesh heavy in the air.

"Why… why are you doing this?" Emma cried, tears streaming down her face.

"Don't worry, Emma," Liam's voice was calm, almost serene. "I won't let you face this alone. Not even in death. I'll always be with you…" His face disappeared into the flames.

Despair washed over Emma as she closed her eyes, swearing, "Elijah! Aria! In another life, I swear I won't let you off!" "Liam… next time, it's my turn to protect you," she whispered, her words lost in the surging fire that engulfed them.

Emma's eyes snapped open. Instead of the inferno, she was in a warm, cozy room. She checked her hands; they were unharmed, free of the calluses from her martial arts training and any burns. What was happening?

Scanning the room, Emma realized this wasn't an ordinary hotel. It was equipped with medical equipment and smelled faintly of disinfectant, resembling a luxury hospital suite. It felt disturbingly familiar. Then it hit her. 'This is the day I was taken back to the Wilsons when I turned eighteen! I've been reborn on the day I returned to Troln City!'

A wave of ecstatic relief washed over her. With this second chance, she vowed to destroy those who had ruined her life.

"Emma, your blood has been sent for testing. Now, take off your coat so I can check you over," a voice announced. A man in a white coat entered. He was strikingly handsome, a tear-shaped mole accentuating his eyes. It was Elijah Taylor. Rage boiled within Emma as she faced the man responsible for so much pain.

In her past life, she'd removed her coat without hesitation, precisely when reporters, alerted by Aria and her stepmother, Nora Wilson, had stormed in. They'd smeared her reputation, portraying her as a seductress for supposedly trying to entice a doctor. Her father, grandmother, and the entire Wilson family had shunned her.

'Of course, this was all a setup by Elijah and Aria,' Emma realized. Fueled by rage, she grabbed a vase and hurled it at Elijah's head, shattering it.

Elijah staggered, blood gushing from his head. He hadn't expected Emma to lash out.

"What the hell, Emma?" Elijah bellowed, clutching his head.

"Elijah, you think you can kidnap me and get away with it? I'll beat you up!" Emma yelled, her voice thick with fury.

Elijah was taken aback. Moments before, Emma had meekly followed him, and now she was accusing him of abduction. 'Has she figured something out?' he wondered.

"Emma, what are you talking about? Kidnapping? You came here on your own—" His words were cut short as she struck him again.

Panic set in. He shouted for help. Seven or eight burly men rushed in.

"So you had your goons waiting?" Emma sneered. "Ready to force me if I didn't comply?"

Elijah's face contorted with fury. "I was just trying to give you a medical check-up, and you spin it into a kidnapping! Grab this crazy woman!" he ordered.

Emma scoffed. 'If I play nice, they'll subdue me. Fight back, and I'm the nation's madwoman. Well, if they're going to call me crazy, I might as well own it.'

"If I'm guilty, let the law punish me, not you bullies!" She cracked her knuckles and charged.

Thanks to these thugs, her return to the Wilson family had been a nightmare. They showered Aria with everything, leaving Emma with crumbs and insults. Driven to desperation, she'd fled and joined a mysterious organization, dedicating herself to self-defense. Now, it was time for revenge.

The thugs were initially stunned, but her swift kicks and punches quickly turned their surprise into screams. Moments later, they were defeated.

In the hospital's security room, bodyguards watched the monitor silently. Even these hardened protectors were wary of Emma's fierce skills. Among them, a man in a wheelchair watched intently. They had to admit Elijah's men were no match.