"What's wrong? Any problem?" Lina Gray looked at Sales Director Lucas Reed, feigning confusion.
Lucas glanced at Tia Gray, hoping for a logical explanation.
"I—" Tia swallowed nervously.
"Just now, I went to the restroom and asked my sister to sign for me," Lina leaned in. "Did my sister sign it wrong because she's used to writing her own name?"
Lucas snapped the folder shut, keeping it away from Lina's sight.
Lina didn't mind. She smiled and said, "My sister even wants to give me her own achievements.There's no way she'd take the contract I worked so hard for, right, sister?"
Other colleagues in the office had gathered, drawn by the argument.
Lina didn't have a high educational background and wasn't skilled at flattering her bosses or cooperating with colleagues. Naturally, when the situation occurred, everyone assumed it was her fault.
But after hearing her words, everyone felt something was off.
Firstly, how could Tia transfer her own performance and even plan to write the proposal for her younger sister? Wouldn't that violate company regulations?
Secondly, Tia was meticulous with her work and rarely made mistakes. How could she write her own name on a contract someone else had negotiated?
Lucas looked at Tia—who had always been a strong performer—with suspicion.
"Tia, explain."
"I… Actually—" Tia started, but Lina interrupted.
"She must have written it wrong out of excitement, knowing I'd finally closed a deal."Lina pulled out her phone and scrolled through it. "Fortunately, I recorded my conversation with Mr. Hale."
"That's right!" Tia hurriedly pressed down on Lina's hand. "This order was indeed Lina's. I made a mistake because I was happy for her!"
Everyone's eyes narrowed slightly. Could Tia really do this to her own sister? If so, what else might she have stolen?
Tia felt frustration rising. The situation had completely derailed her plans.
Everything had been going according to her strategy. Lina had a bad temper and would never tolerate her contract being taken. Tia had expected a confrontation as soon as Lina returned from the bathroom.
If she provoked Lina further, Lina would attack.
And she did—using a graphite pencil to stab Tia's hand.
Everything initially seemed under control. Tia twisted the truth in front of Lucas, counting on Lina to lose her composure. Then Tia would feign a fall down the stairs, blame Lina, and get her fired.
But halfway through, the plan went off the rails.
The most infuriating part? The cooperation plan with Mr. Daniel. There were indeed more projects in the pipeline—but now all of them would go to Lina.
Seeing Tia's strained expression, Lina felt a quiet thrill. Her recorded threats had turned out to be mere bluffs.
A trace of helplessness flashed in Lucas's eyes.
Lina only had a middle school education. If it weren't for saving face for the Gray family, she would never have been allowed to intern.
But Tia was a key team member, relied upon for the year-end bonus. They couldn't scold her too harshly.
"This can't happen again," Lucas waved his hand. "Alright, everyone, return to your workstations."
Tia looked up at Lina.
Her silhouette remained casual, her strides still lazy—but something about her felt different.
Lina sat at her desk, trying to compose herself.
No signs of wrist-slashing from unbearable pain during the drug test, no needle marks riddled across her hands.
Her heart pounded strongly.
This was not an illusion. She had truly been reborn—returned to five years ago.
"Lina, you negotiated the contract. The director wants you to follow up," a colleague handed her a file.
"Okay, I'll get to it right away!"
Lina left the company, boarding a circular route bus. She watched the passing scenery, her feelings mixed.
The pungent smell of disinfectant and the painful blur of day and night were gone.
She was alive—and it felt incredible.
Suddenly, a pair of firm, impenetrable eyes emerged in her mind.
Adrian Black… the last person she had seen, etched into her heart.
She still couldn't understand why Adrian had appeared in the suburban lab, why he had let her live.
Hadn't he hated her?
Adrian wouldn't spare mercy if he had a thousand ways to punish her. Every clash had brought heavy losses—every single time.
The only time he had smiled at her… had been the moment before he died.
As the old saying goes, a man's words are most sincere when he stands at death's edge.
Could it be…
Squeak! The bus pulled into the station.
"Getting off!" Lina shouted, quickly grabbing her documents, nearly missing her stop in her thoughts.
Mr. Daniel's company occupied the thirteenth floor of the Skyline Trade Tower. Many promising startups were quietly located in that building—including the shopping website that had shaken the international market.
Lina couldn't help thinking: if she started an online store now, she might make her first fortune.
The joy of rebirth made her steps brisk, as if springs were under her feet.
Around the corner, she saw a car blocking the road. An arrogant, overbearing girl stood in front of it.
"You have to kneel and apologize to me today!"
Lina recognized her instantly: Vivian Cole, Evan Cole's younger sister.
Her head buzzed as she noticed the man trapped by Vivian.
In her previous life, Evan had bought a pair of antique vases, giving one to Lina as a token of love. Vivian, who had never liked Lina, claimed she was unworthy of her accomplished brother. She had harassed Lina, even tricking Evan into giving her the vase.
Now, Vivian called out, provoking her. She claimed that as long as she objected, Evan would never marry Lina.
Lina lost her temper. She smashed Vivian's vase and hid it in Adrian's car.
As a result, everyone misunderstood Adrian, and he fell out with the Cole family.
Adrian had eye problems at the time—but that didn't mean he'd allow anyone to shout at him.
Looking around, Lina spotted shadows behind an inconspicuous door and plants. Trained bodyguards, whom she hadn't noticed in her previous life, watched silently.
Everyone, including his family, thought Adrian was a lost cause. No one expected him to become a business tycoon.
Her gaze returned to Adrian.
He wore black sunglasses, calm despite the confrontation.
He stood tall, straight, exuding superiority that mocked the fools before him.
Vivian, further infuriated, raised a baseball bat, ready to strike.
"Stop!" Lina shouted as she rushed forward. "Picking on a blind man—have you no shame?"
Adrian's hand tightened slightly around his cane.
Seeing Lina, Vivian's expression shifted to disdain.
Her friends all knew Evan favoured the Gray family's second daughter.
They also knew Vivian opposed this, often targeting Lina.
Now, seeing them together, Vivian's group eagerly anticipated the drama.