Semua Bab Second Chance At Rebirth: Beneath The Ashes: Bab 31 - Bab 40

Christine’s POVThe text glared up at me from the phone screen. My heart slammed against my ribs as I panicked, scanning the room to see if anyone was watching from where. The curtains swayed faintly in the evening breeze, but there was no one. Just me, alone in my bedroom. My fingers trembled as I clutched the phone, the words searing into my mind. I didn’t reply. Couldn’t. Instead, I tossed the phone onto the bed, where it landed with a soft thud against the comforter as I headed to my window and door and made sure I locked everywhere.Who knew about my company? I hadn’t told anyone, not Linda, not Francis, not even Grandfather but only Ashley and I don’t think she’s behind this. Someone was watching me, and I didn’t know who.Sleep didn’t come easily that night. I tossed and turned, as the text replayed in my head. Every creak of the house, every rustle of the wind outside, sent my pulse racing. By the time the first rays of dawn slipped through the curtains, my eyes were feeling h

Christine’s POVI didn’t like the sound of that. Evelyn’s voice had that sharp edge she got when she was ready to start a fight, and I wasn’t here for it. “Evelyn, it’s not necessary,” I said, keeping my tone firm. Across the street, Francis was still tangled up with that lady. “I’m not confronting him. I am not even dating anymore, okay? He might think we’re still together, but I’m done.”Evelyn’s eyes narrowed, her sunglasses perched on her head catching the late afternoon light. “Oh, come on, Christine. You’re just gonna let him flaunt some random chick like that? After acting like the perfect boyfriend?” She crossed her arms, staring intensely at me. Her blood boiling.I sighed, already turning toward my car. “I just don’t care enough to make a scene. It’s not worth my energy.” I just wanted to get out of here.Evelyn wasn’t letting it go, though. “Not worth it? Christine, he’s out here kissing some girl in broad daylight! You’re better than that. Let’s go over there and call him

Christine’s POVJust when I was distracted, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. I turned to find Mr. Vandross standing there, beside me. His eyes are soft but serious. “Christine, my child.” he said, his voice low, just loud enough to carry over the chatter. “Could I have a word with you? If you don’t mind.”I offered him a small smile. “Of course, Mr. Vandross. Don’t worry, it’s fine.”He gestured toward a quieter corner of the room, near a tall window draped in heavy velvet curtains as we stepped away from the crowd. I followed, my mind racing to guess what he wanted to say. Mr. Vandross had always been kind to me, more than kind, really. I had never listened to him in my past life whenever he tells me to leave Francis and this life, I promise to listen to his words and do them.We stopped near the window, He turned to face me. “Christine,” he began, his voice dropping even lower, “I’m going to be blunt because I care about you. You need to reconsider this… this thing with Francis.

Christine’s POVI am already frustrated at his obsessive attitude towards me. “You were smiling at Mr. Vandross. You got a thing for that old man?”My heart was pounding as I met his gaze filled with jealousy, control, or both. He could say things about other people, tear them down with his words, but he wouldn’t open his mouth and admit what he’d done, especially about Evelyn. The conversation with his parents still burned in my mind.I pulled from his grip as I turned to face him fully, stepping back just enough to create space between us. “Francis,” I said, keeping my voice low and firm, “I’ll advise you to put these energies into keeping your mouth shut and not using it to ruin people’s reputations. How you ruined Evelyn’s reputation in the presence of your parents.His jaw tightened, and for a moment, he looked caught off guard. But he recovered quickly as he leaned closer. “Christine, I did not regret it. Evelyn’s too wild for you. She’s a bad friend on so many occasions, I’ve

Christine’s POVThe dining room fell into a tense hush as Lisa’s words hung in the air.Grandfather Fredrick’s eyes burned cold as he set his fork down with deliberate force. His voice, cutting through the silence.“Why didn’t you tell me about this, Christine?”I met his gaze, keeping my expression steady. I’d known about the hate online for days, snarky comments, veiled criticisms, and a few viral threads tearing into the company’s new direction. Finally, I replied.“I am certain it was orchestrated, Grandfather,” I said, my voice calm but firm. “Some of our competitors must have paid people to criticize us online. It’s nothing we can’t manage.”Lisa smirked, sliding her phone across the table toward me with a flourish. “Oh, really? Then why don’t you take a look at this?”I caught the phone before it slid off the edge of the table, my fingers brushing the cool glass screen. The post was a scathing thread, complete with memes mocking our new logo and hashtags like #EpicFail and #Out