That was the dream I had last night

Sigourney's voice was cool, clipped. The reminder hit its mark.

Savannah's smile froze in place, her eyes briefly widening in disbelief.

She hadn't expected this.

The always gentle, always supportive Sigourney... had suddenly turned sharp, unyielding.

"And as for the internship position..."

Sigourney turned her gaze to Savannah and gave a faint, mocking smile.

"Weren't you the one who proudly declared you'd start your own business? That you wouldn't rely on family connections to rise to the top? What happened to all that bravado?"

Back when Savannah had just graduated, her mother, Jennifer, had been ready to beg Mark-the chairman of Nichols Corporation and also Sigourney's father-for a junior position for her daughter.

But Savannah had been dating her ex-boyfriend then-a conman with no real prospects.

Blinded by charm and empty promises, she'd poured a fortune into starting a fashion business with him.

It didn't take long for the venture to crash and burn.

And now, with that painful lesson behind her, Savannah was desperate to cling to an easier life. To beg Emma for a way back into the security and prestige of Nichols Corporation.

But she was too late.

As Sigourney brought up the past, Savannah clenched her jaw, forcing a brittle smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"That was just youthful recklessness, sister," Savannah replied with a feigned softness. "Now I'm clear-headed. I want to support you in growing the family corporation, to bring honor to the Nichols name."

Sigourney let out a quiet scoff. Beautiful words, she thought-too bad they were empty.

"But Savannah," she said coldly, "our company currently isn't hiring any interns or new staff. So coming to my mom won't get you anywhere."

"And more importantly, a child born to a mistress has no claim to the family fortune, let alone the qualifications to inherit the corporation. Stop wasting your time."

Her words sliced through all pretense, laying bare Savannah's true intentions. There was no sugarcoating, no diplomacy. 

Just brutal honesty.

Savannah's jaw tightened, though she struggled to keep her tone sweet.

"Sister, why are you being so cruel to me? Weren't we always close?"

Sigourney frowned, visibly irritated by the cloying tone.

She replied lazily, voice laced with disdain,

"When I still had a shred of respect for you, I might've entertained that nonsense. But now? Save it. Go beg your mother, Jennifer, instead."

With that, Sigourney shot Savannah a sharp glare.

Savannah's face twisted in fury. She snapped that Sigourney was heartless before storming off, indignant and unwilling to accept the rejection.

Only then did Emma speak, her expression tinged with surprise.

"Why the sudden change?" she asked. 

"Weren't you always like a fool-always defending Savannah?"

Sigourney gave a faint, dry smile.

"Of course, I'm smarter now. I'm not fooled by that harmless facade anymore."

Emma let out a subtle sigh of relief. She began gently but firmly reminding Sigourney once again-

never to engage, never to agree to anything Savannah asked for.

"Especially when it comes to your husband, Theodore," Emma said, her tone serious. 

"I can see it clearly-Savannah is always trying to drive a wedge between you two. So be careful."

Sigourney nodded repeatedly, her expression solemn.

She had been given a second chance-there was no way she'd stumble into the same traps again.

Now that it was just the two of them, Sigourney finally allowed her guard to drop.

She trembled slightly, taking a deep breath to steady herself before she began telling Emma everything.

Everything that had happened in her past life.

How Savannah had deceived her into divorcing Theodore.

How she and Emma were eventually framed, betrayed, and met a tragic end.

How Savannah had stolen the inheritance and claimed everything that once belonged to Sigourney.

By the time she finished recounting it all, her shoulders were still trembling.

She shut her eyes tightly, trying to calm the storm within, before finally turning her head toward Emma and whispering,

"That was the dream I had last night, Mommy. But... it felt so real. I can't help but feel like it was a warning-a message from the future, telling me to be more careful this time."

Emma's expression turned solemn as she listened. The moment she heard that Sigourney had been imprisoned and tortured by Savannah, forced to sign away her inheritance just to save someone else, she trembled in disbelief, her entire being shaken by the horror of it all.

When Sigourney finished recounting everything, Emma pulled her gently into a tender embrace. Her soft voice flowed like a balm, slowly soothing Sigourney's fragile heart.

"It's alright, darling. It was only a dream. Reality is still kind and intact."

"Don't worry, love. I'm here with you-I won't let any of that ever happen."

Sigourney didn't return from the Nichols estate until late in the evening. Knowing Theodore would finish work around the same time, she reluctantly bid Emma farewell.

"Come back and visit often, alright?"

Sigourney nodded, giving the house one last lingering glance before finally taking her leave.

At the Twilight Manor,

Sigourney changed out of her clothes and settled onto the sofa, leisurely nibbling on the fruits Aunt Miller had thoughtfully prepared. She watched TV with a relaxed air, and before long, Theodore stepped through the door.

"You're home? Was work busy today?"

Hearing his familiar voice, Sigourney immediately turned her head, blinking up at him as she asked. Theodore, still distracted by what had happened the day before, merely mumbled that it hadn't been too hectic and made to head upstairs.

But Sigourney quickly rose and darted after him, stepping in front to block his way. Her lips jutted out in a sulky pout.

"You just got back and didn't even spare me a glance-not even a smile?"

She lowered her gaze, biting her lip in grievance.

"You're my husband, you know. Why are you treating me like a stranger?"