Chapter 2

Nyx pov

A tear trickled down my cheek as I clutched my abdomen, the harrowing memory of the metal rod impaling my stomach resurfacing with brutal clarity. The excruciating pain, the suffocating water, and the sight of Zac and Jeent kissing behind the reinforced glass flashed through my mind, reigniting the hatred buried deep within me.

I had been reborn!

Heaven had granted me a second chance, an opportunity to rewrite my fate and make those two treacherous bastards pay for their betrayal.

This time, I'll make you crawl at my feet and beg for mercy.

“You damn bastard, I swear I'll make you grovel on your knees!” I hissed through clenched teeth, my fingers digging into the hospital sheets as my entire body trembled with indignation. I had entrusted Zac with everything, my company, my fortune, and my unwavering devotion, only for him to repay me by abandoning me to a gruesome death.

The bastard had taken everything I offered him and still found the audacity to betray me.

Suddenly, the door swung open, interrupting my thoughts as a nurse stepped inside, clutching a file against her chest with a pen tucked neatly into her pocket.

My gaze settled on her face, and recognition dawned almost immediately. I remembered her vividly from my previous life; she was the same nurse who had attended to me after my accident.

I could still recall how I'd awakened in this very hospital, frantically demanding that she summon Zac, desperate to see his face and receive his comfort.

Fuck, what a pathetic fool I'd been.

I'd practically worshipped that man, placing him on a pedestal while remaining oblivious to the treachery unfolding right under my nose.

“Nyx George, I see you're finally awake. How are you feeling?” the nurse asked, approaching my bedside as she examined the medical monitor and scribbled a few notes in her file.

“Miserable!” I answered curtly.

Before she could respond, the door opened again, revealing the two people I despised most in the world.

Zac and Jeent.

The sight of them immediately provoked a visceral reaction, my skin crawling with disgust as the memories of their betrayal resurfaced. These two despicable creatures had deceived me so thoroughly that I'd sacrificed everything for them without ever suspecting their duplicity.

How had I been so blind?

Zac strode toward my bed, wearing the concerned expression I'd once found so reassuring. He reached for my hands, gently enveloping them in his own.

“Nyx, I was terribly worried about you. How are you feeling?”

I stared into his eyes, those same eyes that had once captivated me and made my heart flutter with the slightest affection. I used to believe there was something sincere behind that gaze, something genuine that made me feel cherished.

Now, all I could see was a calculating bastard who had watched me drown without lifting a finger to save me.

Disgust churned in my stomach.

I slowly withdrew my hands from his grasp, forcing myself to maintain a composed expression despite the resentment threatening to consume me.

“I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me,” I replied indifferently.

A flicker of bewilderment crossed his face before he hastily concealed it behind a smile. My unexpected reaction had clearly caught him off guard. In my previous life, I would have clung to him affectionately, showering him with attention and basking in every scrap of tenderness he offered.

But that foolish, lovesick woman was gone.

“Nyx, I'm so relieved you're okay. I was worried sick about you,” Jeent interjected, her voice dripping with feigned concern.

I turned toward her, studying the face of the woman who had shamelessly kissed my boyfriend while I struggled against the merciless flood.

“Oh, really?” I murmured, forcing a bitter smile.

If only she knew how much I wanted to tear that pretentious expression from her face.

“Nyx, the man who struck you with his car is currently in police custody. I'll make sure he pays dearly for what he did to you,” Zac declared, his voice laced with indignation.

I nearly scoffed.

“Hmm, good,” I replied, offering nothing more.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Zac and Jeent exchanging a furtive glance. Their brief interaction didn't escape my attention, but I deliberately ignored it.

I had more pressing matters to attend to.

The apocalypse was sixty days away, and every second I spent in this hospital was time I couldn't afford to squander. I needed to secure resources, acquire a suitable shelter, and make adequate preparations for the impending catastrophe. This time, I would ensure that I possessed everything necessary to survive, regardless of what happened to the rest of the world.

I threw the sheets aside and attempted to get out of bed, but Zac immediately stepped forward to support me.

“Careful, Nyx. You shouldn't push yourself.”

“No, it's fine. I can manage,” I replied, waving him away.

His expression tightened as he scrutinized me, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

“Nyx, what's going on? You're acting strangely. This isn't like you.”

I lowered my gaze, concealing the fury simmering beneath my composed exterior.

As much as I yearned to expose their treachery and make them suffer for their crimes, I understood that impulsive retaliation would only jeopardize my plans. Zac was a cunning man, and if he suspected that I knew something I shouldn't, he might eliminate me before I could prepare for the apocalypse.

I needed to remain vigilant, conceal my intentions.

“I want to go home. Please arrange my discharge,” I said to the nurse, pushing the sheets aside as I prepared to get out of bed.

The moment I stood up, Zac stepped forward.

“Let me take you home.”

I shook my head, forcing myself to maintain a composed expression. “Zac, you don't have to inconvenience yourself. I'm sure you and Jeent have something important to attend to, so don't worry about me. I'll be perfectly fine on my own.”

I deliberately kept my tone casual, concealing the resentment simmering beneath my facade.

I remembered this day vividly. In my previous life, I'd practically begged Zac to take me home, but he'd insisted that he couldn't afford to miss an important meeting. Worried about him, I'd later visited his company, only to discover that he hadn't shown up at all.

The bastard had lied straight to my face!

Looking back, I couldn't believe how gullible I'd been. I'd trusted his every word without questioning his intentions, allowing him to manipulate my emotions while he carried on an affair with my childhood best friend.

How could I have been so damn stupid?

After the nurse completed the necessary discharge procedures, I collected my belongings and headed to the parking lot. I got into my car and drove off without looking back.

As expected, Zac didn't insist on accompanying me. He'd merely offered out of obligation, maintaining the facade of a devoted fiancé without any genuine intention of taking care of me.

What a fucking hypocrite!

The moment I stepped into my penthouse, a wave of overwhelming emotions washed over me.

I stood motionless for a few seconds, staring at the familiar interior before my knees gave way. I sank to the floor, covering my mouth as tears streamed down my face.

I never thought I'd see this place again.

In my previous life, Zac had secretly sold my penthouse behind my back, convincing me to move into his residence under the pretext that we needed to spend more time together. I had foolishly agreed, unaware that he intended to strip me of everything I owned.

And the money from the sale? He had squandered it on himself and Jeent.

A bitter sob escaped my lips as the memories resurfaced. I had lost everything to the very people I'd trusted most, and the realization was almost unbearable.

Jeent, Zac, and I had been childhood friends for as long as I could remember. We'd grown up together, sharing countless memories, and I'd never once imagined that either of them could deliberately hurt me.

When Zac confessed his feelings for me at eighteen, I'd been overjoyed. I'd believed that our relationship was built on genuine affection, never suspecting that the man I'd fallen in love with would eventually become my greatest nightmare.

But if he'd always wanted Jeent, why hadn't he simply pursued her?

Why confess his feelings to me, make me fall in love with him, and allow me to build my entire life around him, only to betray me so cruelly?

What had I ever done to deserve this?

Enough was enough.

I wiped my tears away, forcing myself to regain my composure. Crying over the past wouldn't change anything, and I wasn't about to squander the second chance I'd been given mourning the people who had destroyed me.

This time, revenge would be mine.

But before I could settle old scores, I needed to prepare for the impending apocalypse.

I had to secure a suitable location for my AquaVault, one capable of withstanding the catastrophic flood that would soon engulf the planet. I also needed to stockpile food, medicine, weapons, and other essential supplies before society descended into chaos.

According to the weather forecasts released before the disaster, the catastrophic flood was expected to arrive on May 27. However, it had struck on May 24, three days earlier than predicted, sweeping across the planet and destroying everything in its path.

That fatal miscalculation had cost countless people their lives, including mine.

This time, I wouldn't rely on inaccurate forecasts or leave my survival to chance. I had sixty days to prepare, and I intended to use every single one wisely.

Lost in my thoughts, I was suddenly interrupted by the vibration of my phone.

I glanced at the screen and noticed that the call was coming from my assistant, Kelly.

“Hello,” I answered.

“Good day, ma'am. I wanted to confirm whether you still intend to transfer the ten million dollars to Sir Zac's account. We discussed the transaction yesterday, but I thought it would be best to seek your final confirmation before proceeding.”

For a moment, I remained silent. Ten million dollars.

I remembered that transaction. In my previous life, I'd authorized the transfer without hesitation, believing Zac needed the money for a business investment. I hadn't questioned him or demanded any documentation because I trusted him implicitly.

Now, I understood exactly how foolish that decision had been.

A slow, sinister grin spread across my face as I leaned back against the sofa.

“Don't,” I replied coldly. “Cancel the transfer. Not a single dollar should leave my account without my explicit authorization.”