Reborn in Red

"Mr. Randall, Corbin just made a mistake. Please, let him off this once."

The moment I opened my eyes, I saw Senna Harlow on her knees outside the Thornwell Group building. She had always been proud to a fault, yet here she was, willing to throw away her dignity for Corbin Pryce.

Dad's assistant, Teague Johnson, could not stand to watch. He pulled me aside. "Mr. Gage, you should talk to Ms. Harlow. What Corbin did this time is far too serious. On top of that, your father already has evidence that Corbin was a mole planted by Wainwright Group. There's no way he can let this go."

I looked up at Senna, at that earnest expression on her face.

In my previous life, I was so afraid that she would get dragged down with Corbin that I knocked her unconscious and carried her away by force. No one could have predicted the nightmare that decision would bring.

Now, living this life over, I chose not to intervene.

I turned away. "That's her choice to make."

"But if she keeps kneeling out there, your father said he'll have her thrown in prison along with Corbin!"

Teague's voice had risen loud enough for Senna to hear.

She turned toward me, her eyes filled with nothing but contempt. "Gage, are you happy now?"

Her voice was ice-cold, as if I were the one responsible for all of this. I looked at her in silence and almost laughed at the absurdity of it.

"Happy about what? Corbin is the one who broke the law. What does any of this have to do with me?"

Her expression shifted. Something flickered behind her eyes, but she recovered in an instant and slipped right back into that self-righteous mask.

"What's that supposed to mean? Corbin is innocent. He was used."

"Innocent?" I let out a short laugh. "He embezzled 30 million dollars. The evidence is airtight. Where exactly is the innocence in that? Or are you saying my father conspired with the courts and the police just to frame him?"

Her expression darkened, and something vicious passed behind her eyes. "And what if he did? You think your father can keep his grip on everything forever, Gage?"

Teague panicked. "Ms. Harlow, you can't just say things like that. If the chairman hears you, he'll strip your position on the spot."

Senna's expression wavered. It finally seemed to hit her that she was nothing more than a bride the Thornwell family had arranged for. She looked as though she wanted to argue, but in the end, she only clenched her jaw, shot me one last glare, and walked away.

I knew she was going to look for Corbin.

As long as she was not out here making a scene, I could not care less about what she did. I walked into Thornwell Tower without another glance.

The moment I stepped out of Dad's office, I felt a weight lift from my chest. I had just convinced him to dissolve my engagement to Senna.

Dad had sighed, his expression heavy. "Fine by me. I only kept the engagement out of respect for your mother. She arranged it herself before she passed. I never thought that girl would turn out this way. I'll announce the dissolution in three days. Until then, get some rest."