CHAPTER 2- A SECOND CHANCE AT REVENGE

I sat on the cold floor, my eyes locked on the painting staring back at me. I wanted to believe this was a hallucination my dying mind created—a final illusion before death claimed me, tricking me into believing I had a second chance. But with every tick of the clock behind me, reality refused to change and the truth sank in.

This wasn’t a game. I was back three years in the past. Three years before my murder.

I stayed in that spot for nearly thirty minutes, my thoughts racing faster than my bleeding heart. Why was I given this chance? How was any of this possible? But after agonizing in memories of my final moments, I realized the why and how didn’t matter.

Only the what.

I forced myself up, using the wall to steady my trembling body. What I did with this second chance was all that mattered. I knew how the story ended, and I’d never let history repeat itself. I had begged for another chance, bled for one, and now it was mine. I couldn’t waste time moping—not when my real child was out there somewhere in the world.

I gave the canvas one last look. If this painting was destined to become a symbol of his betrayal, I’d destroy it with my own hands before he could give it away.

A dark, bitter chuckle escaped my lips. I grabbed both sides of the frame and ripped it off the wall, letting it crash violently onto the floor.

I took a shaky step back as glass shattered across the floor. Before I could stop myself, my hand flew to my chest. The sight of broken glass triggered a flashback of the poisoned wine glass slipping from my fingers, sending panic through my lungs. My chest burned, but I didn't let a single tear fall.

I had wept enough in 2026.

“Oh my goodness, honey, what happened in here?”

That grating voice cut through the air, laced with fake concern. Gale.

“Just stay right where you are, alright? I’ll get someone to clean this up immediately,” he called out, stepping into view.

The moment my eyes met his, I backed away. The only thing I pictured on his face was the cold, murderous glare he wore as he watched me bleed out. I took another involuntary step back, letting out a sharp hiss as a stray shard dug into my foot.

“Evelyn!” Gale called, panic filling his voice as he hurried across the room until he stood directly in front of me.

Anyone watching would think he loved me enough to lose his mind over a cut foot. I knew better. Three years from now… those same hands would hand me poison.

“You’re bleeding already.” He exhaled, shaking his head, but I just stared at him, numb. “Let’s get you taken care of, love,” he added, scooping me into his arms and carrying me out of the room.

My skin crawled. Every nerve ending screamed at me to pull away, but I couldn't. Revenge wouldn't work if I blew my cover now. I had to play the long game.

“What happened to Mom?”

That small, innocent voice called out the moment Gale set me down on the sofa. My eyes snapped up to the boy I had loved as my own. Ronald.

The little boy who had unknowingly stolen another child’s place. None of this was his fault. Yet every time he called me “Mom,” all I heard was him calling Chloe by the same name while they stood over my dying body.

I forced back the tears, holding onto the thought of my real child to stay strong. I had to face them if I wanted any chance at making things right.

“I’m fine, sweetheart. I just stepped on a piece of glass,” I choked out, my voice raspy as if poison still lingered in my lungs. “Go back to your room. Daddy will take care of it.”

I offered a tight smile, watching him nod before running off.

“I didn’t know you were this clumsy, Evelyn,” Gale said softly, kneeling to clean the cut on my foot. “You know how expensive that painting was when you bought it. How could you let it get ruined like that? It’s a shame really,” he sighed. “You loved that painting.”

“Accidents happen,” I muttered, my tone colder than intended. But it was too late to take it back.

Looking at him now, I saw the snake clearly. I had just ruined his pathetic plan to gift his mistress an exquisite piece of art.

“You should get some rest now. I’ve patched up your leg,” he said, standing up. “I’ll be in the study catching up on work.”

I gave a small nod.

“Oh, here’s your phone, love. You dropped it back there,” he added, extending the device.

“Thank you,” I whispered, forcing a smile.

He nodded and walked away.

The moment he disappeared down the hall, I unlocked my phone, the fire of vengeance burning hot in my chest. I needed to get away from this family fast. I wouldn't survive living through this nightmare twice.

I scrolled through my contacts until I found my personal attorney, Daniel. I dialed, and he picked up after a few rings.

“Let’s meet at the café near my house in five minutes. I have something urgent to discuss,” I said, hanging up as soon as he confirmed.

“Honey!” I called out toward the study, the title tasting like poison on my tongue. “I’m stepping out for a few minutes to meet a friend nearby!”

“Don’t stay out too long because of your foot!” his voice echoed back.

Past me would have giggled at his sweetness, but present me just wanted him destroyed. This divorce would be the first phase of my revenge.

Less than fifteen minutes later, Daniel sat across from me in the corner of the café.

“Mrs. Ashford… before you make this decision, there are several documents you need to see,” Daniel said carefully. “I don’t think a divorce is in your best interest right now, ma’am.”

I walked back into the house with my head spinning, Daniel’s words echoing in my mind.

“Your postnuptial agreement is highly disadvantageous to you. Ninety percent of your personal assets are tied directly to Mr. Ashford and the Ashford Group. Filing for divorce now without concrete evidence of fraud, deceit, or infidelity means you’ll lose almost everything. I strongly suggest you reconsider.”

I wasn't surprised by his warning. Gale had clearly been plotting this takeover for years. What truly stunned me was that I had never signed a postnuptial agreement. At least… not knowingly.

Yet the signature at the bottom of the page was unmistakably mine. Which meant there was only one possibility: Gale had buried it inside another stack of documents and manipulated me into signing away my assets without ever telling me what it truly was.

I walked straight to his study the moment I was home and pushed the door open.

“Honey?” I called softly, stepping toward his desk.

“I’ve been thinking,” I said smoothly. “I’ve always depended on you too much.”

“Maybe it’s time I learned more about the company. What do you say I start accompanying you to the office sometimes? As a way to apologize for the broken painting... and I could help lighten your workload, too.”

I ignored the sudden flash of shock on his face.

“Are you sure you don’t mind doing that?” he asked, eyeing me closely.

I nodded sharply, forcing a sweet, supportive expression. “As long as it helps shoulder your burden, that’s all I care about.”

A wide grin spread across his face. “I’d love that, then. We can start going in together on Monday.”

“Good,” I smiled back.

His massive ego and desperate need to show off his dutiful wife would be the blind spot that brought him down. What better way to gather evidence to invalidate that illegal contract than from inside the company itself?

My divorce might be postponed for now, but as long as it gave me time to dismantle everything he owned, I could endure it.

He thought he had invited his devoted wife into his company, but in reality, he had just opened the gates of his empire to the woman who would destroy it from the inside.