Chapter 5

Amara’s POV

After we finished getting lunch, I was about to sit down when a tall, handsome man walked past me and greeted me politely.

He looked so familiar, but try as I might, I couldn’t place where I had seen him before. There was something about the way he carried himself calm, confident, yet unobtrusive—. that tugged at a memory in the back of my mind. I smiled politely and moved to sit with Lily and Damian, keeping my thoughts to myself.

Around the cafeteria, whispers floated through the air, girls leaning in to compliment him.

“He’s so handsome.”

“Is he single?”

“I heard he is.”

For a brief moment, a strange thought crossed my mind. What if I had married him instead?

I quickly shook the idea away.

No.

The reason I had been given this second chance was to live happily, not to fall in love again. Love was not part of my plan this time. Revenge… that was my goal.

Our table fell into an awkward silence. The only sound was the clinking of our cutlery as Damian picked at his food absentmindedly. I decided to break it.

“Damian, I remember you love classical music. Lily is also a fan,” I said casually, hoping to spark some small connection between them.

“Really?” he replied, glancing at Lily.

She suddenly looked shy, her cheeks turning red, and I couldn’t help but suppress a small, satisfied smile. But Damian… he didn’t seem very interested.

Now that’s the problem.

How do I make them fall in love? I’m not a matchmaker. This is going to be more difficult than I thought.

When we returned from lunch break, our manager called for a short meeting.

I remembered clearly what had happened in my previous life. I had volunteered to handle a project. Lily had stolen my idea and gained everyone’s admiration. When I had tried to explain that it was my work, people had looked at me as if I were jealous of my friend’s success. That memory made my chest tighten. Not this time.

“So, who would like to take on this project?” the manager asked after explaining the details.

“Let Lily take it,” I answered almost immediately.

Everyone turned to look at me. Shock painted their faces. This time, I refused to volunteer. I wasn’t going to give her the chance to steal my work again. Instead, I suggested Lily handle the project.

Soon, everyone agreed. I thought I saw a flicker of disappointment on Mr. Adrian’s face,( turns out he's our new manager ) but I ignored it. I had more important matters to focus on.

“Why do you suggest that?” he asked calmly. His voice. steady, soothing made me feel almost guilty for manipulating the situation.

“Well… she’s new, and she needs a project to start with. At least she can learn and get better at her job,” I replied.

I looked at Lily carefully. She seemed nervous, unsure of herself. I smiled quietly.

One thing nobody knew about Lily was that she couldn’t do anything on her own. She always relied on others or took credit for work that wasn’t hers. She forced a smile, trying to appear confident.

“I’ll try my best,” she said, voice trembling slightly.

“Sissy, you’ll help me with the project, right?” she whispered after the meeting, panic flickering across her face.

And honestly… I was enjoying it. I had no intention of helping her. I was far too busy plotting my own path.

Then an idea struck me.

“You can ask Damian for help,” I suggested casually, letting my voice be soft, almost playful. “He’s good at these things.”

Her face brightened slightly, a spark of hope glimmering in her eyes.

“But wouldn’t you feel sad if he spends time helping me until the project is done?” she asked, attempting to provoke me, no doubt.

Too bad. That was exactly what I wanted.

“Oh no, of course not. He’s my boyfriend, not my husband. I’m just lending him to you. You’re my sissy, so I trust you,” I replied sweetly, and inside, I almost laughed.

I packed my bag and prepared to leave. Closing time had already arrived.

Damian walked up to me, his expression hopeful.

“Babe, can I take you home?” he asked, voice warm and insistent.

I knew exactly what he meant. Every time he offered to take me home, it always ended with him wanting more. But I wasn’t going to let him touch me with those filthy hands.

“Oh no. I’ll be busy for a while, so I’m not going home yet. But you can take Lily home. She’s free and doesn’t have anyone to take her. You know she’s like a sister to me,” I said calmly, keeping my tone light, almost teasing.

“But I’ll feel uncomfortable,” Damian said, clearly dissatisfied, though he didn’t push.

I tiptoed slightly and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make it up to you later.”

He smiled, finally agreeing, and left with Lily. I exhaled deeply, relief washing over me like a warm wave.

I walked outside, planning to get a cab, when a sleek, black Range Rover stopped in front of me. The window rolled down, and there he was Mr. Adrian.

“Let me give you a ride,” he offered, voice polite, but with a softness that made my heart flutter unexpectedly.

I hesitated. A small pang of guilt crept into my chest, as if I were betraying Damian. But then I remembered my previous life. The lessons I had learned… the mistakes I would never repeat. Without thinking further, I opened the door and slid into the car.

“Thank you,” I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper, yet carrying the weight of the trust I had just placed in him.

As the car pulled away, I looked out the window, feeling a mix of excitement and unease. This second chance was mine to shape, and every choice I made from here on out would define not just my future but my revenge.