chapter 3

Anna’s POV

My eyes snapped open.

For a moment, I forgot where I was. Then it all came rushing back like a wave crashing over my chest.

The betrayal.

The accident.

The loss.

My baby is gone.

Tears welled up, but I blinked them away. I’d cried enough. What I felt now wasn’t just grief—it was something colder. Sharper.

Revenge.

I didn’t want sympathy.

I didn’t want comfort.

I wanted justice for the pain that had been shoved down my throat—for every sleepless night, for every lie Max whispered in my ears, and for the life I lost before it even had a chance to begin.

“You’re awake again,” a smooth voice broke into my thoughts.

I turned my head slowly. Hae-Jae stood at the doorway, the morning light behind him casting a soft glow around his frame. He looked like he’d stepped out of another world—his tailored black suit hugged his tall frame perfectly, and his dark hair fell slightly over his forehead with effortless charm.

I swallowed and let out a small groan, struggling to sit up. “Yeah… I’m awake.”

He stepped in, a smile spreading across his lips.

That smile—so warm, so sincere—looked like something I hadn’t seen in years. It reminded me of sunlight through the cracks of a dark room.

His white teeth flashed, perfect and bright, and for a split second, I forgot how broken I felt inside.

“You should rest more,” he said gently. “But I figured you’d be up soon.”

“I guess I’m not the type to stay down for long,” I muttered, forcing a small smile of my own.

He chuckled softly, then adjusted the cuffs of his sleeves. “I’ve arranged a few people in the mansion to assist you today. Anything you need—just ask. I’ll be heading to work now.” He glanced at his wristwatch. “Actually, I should’ve left ten minutes ago.”

I nodded, unsure what to say. No one had cared for me like this in so long—without expectation, without strings.

“Thank you,” I said quietly, the words feeling small compared to the weight in my chest. “For everything.”

He turned back, pausing at the door. His voice was soft but firm. “It’s no problem, Anna. You deserve a second chance.”

Then he was gone, the door clicking softly shut behind him.

I sat there in the silence, surrounded by soft sheets and sunlight.

And for the first time in forever, I felt something stir in me.

Not fear. Not sadness.

But strength.

As soon as he walked out, the silence in the room felt different now.

Not heavy.

Not suffocating.

But full of something new—possibility.

I took a deep breath, running my fingers over the silk sheets, trying to remember the last time I had touched anything this soft that wasn’t soaked in tears. The bed beneath me wasn’t mine. The room wasn’t mine. And yet, for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like I was suffocating.

I stood slowly, steadying myself on the edge of the bed. My legs still felt weak, but not useless. I made my way toward the window. Outside, the sunlight dripped over wide gardens and a long driveway that stretched beyond view.

This isn’t Max’s world.

This is mine now.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

“Come in,” I called out, voice stronger than I expected.

A young woman entered. She had a soft face, bright brown eyes, and wore a light-blue uniform with the mansion’s crest stitched near the collar.

“Good morning, Miss Anna,” she said with a gentle smile. “Mr. Hae-Jae told me to help you settle in. My name’s Mira. I’ll be your personal assistant while you recover.”

I blinked. “Personal assistant?”

She nodded, stepping closer. “He hired a full team to take care of everything you might need. Cook, doctor, stylist, even a trainer—if you’re interested. He said, and I quote, ‘make sure she never feels helpless again.’”

My chest tightened.

That man… he barely knew me. Yet he was already doing more than Max ever did in ten years.

I pushed down the lump in my throat and offered Mira a grateful smile. “Thank you. That’s... a lot to take in.”

“I understand,” she said kindly. “Would you like a tour of the house today? Or maybe some fresh air in the gardens? Or I can bring you breakfast in bed.”

“No,” I said, a bit more firmly than I meant to. “No more lying in bed. I’ve done enough of that.”

Mira nodded with pride in her eyes. “Then let’s start with the garden. It’s beautiful this time of morning.”

[An hour later – Mansion Gardens]

The sun was warm on my skin as I walked slowly through the trimmed paths, admiring the blooming roses and fountains that sparkled like crystal. The air smelled like jasmine and honey.

I sat on a stone bench, watching the butterflies float lazily around me, and Mira left me with a thermos of herbal tea.

For a moment, I let myself just exist.

Not as Anna the wife.

Not Anna the victim.

Just… Anna.

But beneath the quiet, my thoughts burned.

Max.

His mistress.

Their laughter.

My baby…

A part of me still wanted to crumble. But a louder part—the part that had risen from the darkness—wanted more.

I would not go back to beg.

I would not forgive.

I would rise, beautiful and dangerous.

I returned to the room, where a note waited for me on the dresser.

> Anna,

I’ll be home late tonight. There's a dinner tomorrow with someone important—I’d like you to join me.

Wear whatever you feel powerful in.

—Hae-Jae

My fingers traced the words slowly.

Powerful.

Not beautiful.

Not pretty.

Powerful.

I set the note down, a smile curling on my lips.

He didn’t see me as a broken woman. He didn’t see me as baggage.

He saw me as someone with fire in her bones.

And soon, the world would too.