Chapter 03: Rewinding fate

/-Miray-/

“Young miss, breakfast is ready.”

I groaned, burying my face deeper into my soft pillows. “I will be there, I need to sleep…”

Midway through my statement, I suddenly froze.

I sat up with a start, eyes wide as I glanced around, taking in the sight of the decor in the room, the worn-out teddy bear on the sofa, the stack of romance books on the shelf, and the vanity table by the window where I’d always spent my mornings.

My room…

But how?

How did I manage to survive so many silver bullets?

I flung the covers away quickly and stumbled to the mirror, hoping to check for the signs of scars in my body, but as my reflection stared back at me, I blanked.

My skin was flawless, just like it had been before I was kidnapped by Clarissa and Royce. There were no wounds on my body or on my wrist.

W...what's going on?

"Young miss? Is everything alright?" A skeptical voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I spun around to see Ava, my personal maid staring at me with concern in her large doe eyes.

“Ava, what’s today’s date?” I asked with a slight tremble to my voice, and she stared back at me, baffled.

“Young miss, it is the twenty-third of August.” She replied softly. 

"Year?”

“Year 2029. Is everything alright? You look pale.”

When I heard that, my thought process slowed.

“You can leave, I will be right there.” I told her, struggling to keep my voice steady.

August 23, 2029.

One year before my engagement with Royce. One year before his betrayal. One year before my father’s death. One year before I lost everything.

A laugh escaped my throat, half-laugh, half-sob. 

I laughed until tears slipped from my eyes and I laughed until my stomach ached and my knees buckled. I laughed until I was reduced to gasping for breath. 

The moon goddess was finally fair for once.

I had gone back in time.

This time, I would not make the same mistake again.

...

“Where's my father?” That was the first question I asked the instant I got downstairs.

"There's an issue in the company, so he left very early this morning." Ava replied politely and I nodded, furrowing my brows while trying to recollect what had happened that year.

I had been too focused on getting together with Royce in my past life, but I seem to remember that my father began having issues with his company around this period. 

It was mainly the shareholders, some of them just started backing out all of a sudden.

Thinking back to it now, it was probably Clarissa’s doing.

"Miray, you are up. You were sleeping so deeply, I told the maids not to wake you." A gentle voice entered my ears, followed by the person herself.

Talk of the devil.

Clarissa approached me slowly, still wearing that tender smile on her face. I had always loved that smile in my past life, but now, all I felt was spite and disgust.

"Come, come. Eat, I made breakfast myself today, I remember how much you love my meals." She said, reaching for my hand as usual.

I forced myself to remain still, allowing her to grab my hands gently when every fiber of my being screamed to pull away.

I managed a grateful, soft smile, “Thank you, step-mother.”

She beamed at me, clearly pleased by my compliance. “Of course dear, you know I only want what’s best for you.”

I resisted the urge to sneer right at her face. Saying such words, does she not feel even an ounce of guilt?

I bet not.

But I said nothing and just sat at the dining table to eat, nodding along as she began her chanters that seemed like the buzzing of mosquitos in my ears.

“Are you still angry about last night?” She began, the same thing she had said in my past life. “You know how old-fashioned and outdated your father can be, he doesn’t understand what young love looks like. He never even tried to understand you.”

Trying to sow discord between me and my father as usual.

In her dreams!

I lowered my gaze, pretending to be upset, “I…I know. It just hurts that he doesn’t support me.”

Yes. To have my revenge, I would catch both Clarissa and Royce off guard, savoring every moment of their downfall.

She reached out to pat the back of my hand, “Don’t worry, dear. I’ll talk to him.”

I nodded meekly, keeping my expressions tailored.

“Speaking of young love, Royce is coming over today to discuss the date of your engagement with your father and I. Oh, I got you a new dress for the occasion, so you should try it on and see if it fits."

My grip on the fork tightened.

In the past, when I heard this news, I had been extremely thrilled, but all I felt now was numbness and a simmering rage.

I forced a shy smile, “You don’t have to go through all that trouble for me.”

She chuckled, “Nonsense! It’s my responsibility to make you look good for your future husband. Any woman would be thrilled to be with him.”

Any woman like you?

Just as I was about to reply, a bellow sounded from the entrance. 

“Nonsense! I have just said that I will never support this engagement and you want me to meet with that scheming bastard?”

Hearing that familiar voice, I stood up instantly. The moment I caught sight of my father, exhaustion and anger marring his features, my eyes burned with unshed tears

“Father…”

“Brandon, why do you keep…”

“I told you, that kid is power-hungry and cunning. How could I possibly let my daughter marry someone like him? Over my dead body!”

Clarissa quickly stood, placing myself between my father and me as though protecting me, "She's already twenty for goddess' sake. She’s old enough to decide for herself, why can’t you let her pursue her happiness?"

"Rubbish, he is…”

I watched the familiar argument unfold. The same words I’d heard a thousand times already. The same manipulation I had been blind to see.

In my past life, I had yelled at my father, accused him of trying to control my life, then ran straight into Royce’s arms.

What a fool I had been.

But this time, I kept quiet. Keeping my head downcast and my fingers fidgeting in front of me, the picture of an obedient, but conflicted daughter.

My father finally turned to me, a frown on his face, “Do you really want to marry that boy?”

I looked up at them, letting them see the hesitation in my eyes.

Seeing that her control was already slipping, Clarissa quickly spoke up. “Oh, sweetheart. Don’t let your father’s negativity cloud your judgement. You clearly love him.”

“I…” I bit my lip. “I know, step-mother. But I just want to be sure.”

Her smile faltered and a hint of gloom flashed in her eyes.

But she still forced a smile, “Of course dear. Whatever makes you happy.”

I raised my head and gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you so much, step-mother. You’ve always been so good to me.”

Her smile widened immediately, probably thinking she still had me under her control. 

Good.

Let her think that.

Since Royce wants that Alpha seat more than anything, I would make sure it slips right through his fingers.

And my first move- finding Leonard Moretti.

I was once their pawn, but now, I will be the one moving the pieces.