Chapter 2 - Knock Knock

~Harriet~

I'd been an 18 year old academic intern at the Morgans’ co-operation, trying hard to prove to my own father that I was working hard to take on my late mother's business.

For years I'd been struggling while Kylie lived extravagantly–First daughter of the Anderson family. I scoffed. Her mother had birthed her out of an affair with my father when my mother couldn't have me yet.

After marrying the famous Rael Morgan, the man whom she had been pursuing for years, Miranda, my stepmother had not only made my life a living hell, but Kylie who'd been pretending to be the perfect sister had me raped and brutally murdered by hired men. At the dying minute, Kylie had revealed her true colors. Her true intention. She had done all that for what? My inheritance.

Not only had the people I called family betrayed me, but even my own Boyfriend, Jackson Hayes had been cheating on me. Pathetic, you would say, but life gave me a second chance. I had been reborn a week before my 19th birthday.

How could I let it slide? How could I forget the pain of having my dignity trampled upon by them? Was I to let them repeat the same thing they'd done? To let them murder me again this time? The answer was no. Infact, I was going to pay them back tenfold, starting with my step sister, Kylie.

Not only was I out to take whatever had belonged to me, but I will possess whatever belongs to them as well.

…

I licked my lips, my eyes glinting as I stepped into the car that had been parked for us. The cold man seated beside me had not even bothered to turn, making me bite my lip. It was as though we hadn't just engaged in something forbidden minutes ago.

“Drive.” came his cold, distant voice to the chauffeur who immediately started the car, driving off.

All the while, my gaze remained focused outside the window at the scenery of the city as it faded. Tomorrow was my nineteenth birthday, and as I thought about the events that occurred in my previous life, my gaze darkened.

I'd thought my own father would remember my birthday, but instead, he'd accused me of stealing Kylie's expensive jewelry and selling it. Back then I'd thought that she was a saint, the big sister anyone would dream of having, even apologizing for something I did not do. Who knew she was the one who framed me. What I hadn't known was how much she hated me for being the brain box while she was stagnant in the entertainment industry. While she hadn't passed in university, I had aced all my classes and became the youngest intern at the Morgan's cooperation. Not to brag, but I was simply a genius.

The car ride was a boring one. I couldn't risk touching Rael because of the chauffeur driving, I could only sit like a good sister-in-law until we arrived at the high end boutique Kylie had chosen.

“Rael, you're here,” Kylie's disgustingly pretentious voice sounded as soon as we stepped into the boutique. She ran over, throwing herself at the man who stood like a statue, making me stifle the chuckle that had threatened to tear from my lips. How pathetic. Whatever she did to be able to marry Rael Morgan before, I wanted to uncover it this time.

“Oh, Harriet. You came too?” Kylie asked, making me put on my best fake smile as I turned to her.

“Didn't you ask me to also pick out a dress? And let brother-in-law pay for it?” I asked, my lips twisting as I turned to Rael, who stared at me dead in the eye without blinking. It almost made me shiver.

“That's right. I almost forgot,” Kylie replied, forcing a stiff smile, and I could only shrug before going to scan a few dresses for myself.

After picking out a dress, I stepped into the changing room, trying it on. In my previous life, I'd never worn such an extravagant dress. All the banquets I'd attended, I had always worn the hand-me-downs from Kylie. I'd been deceived into thinking that our family was lacking, and that some expenses needed to be cut short, yet, Kylie had changed her wardrobe every week. How foolish had I been?

“Ma'am, you look amazing in that dress.” I heard the attendant praise Kylie, and my eyes rolled.

“What do you think?” I heard her ask, and I knew who she'd be talking to. My lips curled up into a smirk as I pushed the dressing room open, stepping out.

I could see the attendant’s mouth turn agape, her eyes almost bulging out of their sockets, but what I yearned for? Kylie's own reaction.

“Young miss, you look really stunning.” The attendant praised, making my face turn crimson.

I turned to see Kylie's forced smile as she walked over to me.

“You look nice in the dress, you should probably get it.” she commented. To others it might seem like a sister complementing her younger sister, but only I could see the clouded coldness in her eyes as she stared at me.

“Of course, brother-in-law will get it for me, right?” I asked, beaming innocently as I stared at the man seated gracefully on the chair in the reception.

He hummed in response, making me smile in satisfaction.

After shopping for a while, we headed for a famous restaurant to have lunch, and I found myself inching my legs closer to the man across from me.

I saw his indifferent gaze when I trailed my feet on his legs, yet how could I stop?

“Excuse me,” Rael muttered, and I smiled, watching as he left the table.

“I should probably ease myself as well. I had too much juice.” I said to Kylie who smiled, nodding her head for me to go ahead. If only she knew what I was up to.

Walking through the hallway, I pushed the men's restroom open, catching sight of the man dabbing his hands with a wipe.

“Missed me, daddy?” I whispered, wrapping my arms around his waist from behind.

“Don't test me,” He muttered, yet there was no irritation in his voice. Only warning.

He turned around, his cold eyes resting onto me. I should have shivered and cowered away. After all, this man was feared throughout the city–the number one business tycoon that got whatever he wanted through any means.

Yet, I trailed my painted nails from his chin to his Adam's apple, and down to his chest, teasing him.

“Don't you miss me? Brother-in-law?” I stood on my tippy toes, my eyes glinting as I whispered into his ear.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

The knock that reverberated pierced through our ears, making our heads turn.

“Rael, are you done yet?” Kylie's voice sounded outside, making me stiffen.