All Chapters of New Life: Never a Simp Again: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Why are you just standing there? Get over here and grab these."A familiar voice came from right beside me, and my heart lurched. The terror of being dragged under by the ocean still had its claws in me.I snapped my eyes open and found my hands weighed down with shopping bags, a familiar figure standing right in front of me.Rosalie Burke.In that moment, I realized I'd been reborn, back in the year the Burkes finally found her.Right then, I was basically her gofer, small enough for her to crush without thinking twice. I used to be the one on top, the golden child everyone looked up to.Rosalie had always thought I was an orphan, totally unaware that Dad was a legendary business tycoon in Jorvessa.Ever since I was a kid, I'd had an insane talent for business, and Dad had been grooming me for years to take over Swain Group.Mom killed herself when I was 14, the moment she found out Dad was cheating and had a kid on the side. It was more than I could handle, so I ran away fro

Chapter 2

Back when Burke Group was falling apart, I even helped Rosalie in secret. Eventually, Edward, who'd never thought much of her, started to value her."Rosalie, how did you turn into this?"Whatever fondness I'd once had for her was long gone. I didn't speak to her gently anymore.She went still, then her voice rose in a sharp rush."Mark, what I become has nothing to do with you. You're just some orphan nobody wanted. If I hadn't taken you in, you'd have starved to death long ago."Rosalie was about to go on when her phone rang, and her expression flipped the second she saw who was calling.Her tone suddenly turned light and sweet as she answered, "Romy, I'll be right there."The moment that name left her mouth, my fists tightened, and a hot wave of anger hit me.So, in my past life, they'd already been involved at this point. Back then, Rosalie told me she was just meeting an old classmate, and I actually believed her.Now that things were completely out between us, she laid i

Chapter 3

Once everyone found out I'd bought this crappy little company, even the people who used to believe in me started giving me that look, like they didn't trust me anymore."A digital media company on its last legs is supposed to beat real estate? Especially on a project we've sunk nine figures into? Please. Looks like this newly returned Mr. Mark is all show and no substance.""I'm still Team Mr. Jerome. Mr. Mark's been gone for ten years. How is he supposed to compete with Mr. Jerome, who's been studying business the right way since he was a kid?"I tuned out the gossip and gave Jerome's cheek a light, confident pat. "My dear Jerome, I'm expecting great things from you, so don't let me down.""Of course…"The words died in his throat as the message landed. He was on the edge of losing it when Rosalie walked in, dressed head to toe in Chanel.She froze when she saw me. "W-Why are you here? Don't tell me you knew I was coming and waited on purpose."I gave a dry laugh. "Miss, do we

Chapter 4

"Shut up!" Rosalie snapped, totally losing it.Just like I'd thought, Burke Group was already on its last legs, and now the only person who could still save it was the fake Burke heiress, Janet Burke.After all, I'd gone up against her for Rosalie's sake in my past life. I knew better than anyone that Janet had what it took.With that in mind, I decided to give Rosalie a heads-up. "For old times' sake, listen to me. Quit trying to drive Janet out. She's the only one who can still save Burke Group."To my surprise, Rosalie only got angrier. "A fake heiress like her has no business staying at Burke Group!"Before I could get another word out, she hung up.Whatever. She'd dug her own grave.Even so, I was honestly excited to see what Janet would do in this life. She was, after all, an opponent worth taking seriously.…By the next day, news that I'd temporarily taken over Swain Group was already trending online.Someone had filmed what happened at the office yesterday and upload

Chapter 5

When the crew dug down, they hit a layer of green soil that was obviously contaminated.Jerome tried to cover it up and push the project ahead anyway, but workers started getting poisoned one after another.The media pounced, my platform helped blow it up, and the story was everywhere by the next morning.Rosalie dragged Burke Group down with her, and they both went bankrupt almost overnight.I pulled off a massive comeback.All the money Jerome had poured in turned into a black hole for Swain Group, and Dad went ballistic. He yanked every title and every credit card Jerome had.Inside Swain Group, the tide finally turned my way. People started calling me a business prodigy, and the executives, one by one, began to put their faith in me.On the day I was officially named heir to Swain Group, Rosalie burst into the room in a wedding dress."Mark, do you remember what we promised each other when we were kids? You said you were going to marry me. Now it's time to make good on that

Chapter 6

"Then sell that car sitting out front," Rosalie said."It's a rental. It's not even mine," I said."Then I'll just move in with you. I'm not staying here anyway.""My place is getting sold to pay off the debt. We have to move out in a couple of days."Rosalie went still as if she couldn't believe I was serious.I told her to get some sleep and walked out without looking back, feeling pretty great.An hour later, Rosalie called, completely losing it. I hung up. She kept blowing up my phone, so I turned it off.I'd never paid a dime for that place. I'd only told the agent I was "interested in renting".Right before I left, I gave him a heads-up, so he definitely went upstairs to ask Rosalie for the rent. She probably couldn't even scrape together a hundred bucks.Later, she went crawling back to Jerome. I honestly couldn't believe he took her back after everything she'd done. But he wasn't going to last much longer either.…"Any interest in teaming up?" Janet asked coolly, ho

Chapter 7

I snorted.Laura really had some nerve. That digital media company was the biggest thing I was working on, and she figured one casual line from her would be enough to make me pass it to Jerome for free?I glanced at Dad. The way he looked totally fine with it sent a dark ripple through me. So yeah, he was basically signing off on it.When he finally noticed I wouldn't stop staring at him, he said, "Mark, don't throw away what you and Jerome have over some woman. You were gone for ten years, and he was the one doing a lot for Swain Group in the meantime."Laura's face lit up, smug and sure, as if the deal were already in the bag.I chuckled. "If you still feel that way after you go through this, then yeah, I'll consider it."About ten minutes later, Dad set the documents and photos down. He looked wrecked, swinging from pale to flushed, wearing the kind of expression that only came from being betrayed."Your lovely wife was having an affair. She got pregnant by her first love and

Chapter 8

I shot Mr. Cobb a hard look. "Didn't I tell you not to bring women to my business dinners? You did it anyway, and she turns out to be some lunatic hanging all over me. What the hell were you thinking?""Wait, Mr. Swain, please, just listen. I... I only brought her because she said you knew her..."He stumbled over his words, then strode straight up to Rosalie and drove his boot into her stomach again and again."You lying bitch. Whatever you cost me today, I'm taking it out on you!"Rosalie sobbed and screamed, "Stop kicking me! Mark, please, help me!"I headed for the door, jaw tight, done listening to her for even one more second. On my way out, I heard Mr. Cobb say, "Sorry you all had to see that. Tonight's on me."Janet was waiting for me outside, her eyes flicking past me toward the room behind me."Thinking about going in to save her?" I asked."No. I was just wondering what's going on.""I see."She handed me a file. "Laura jumped into a river trying to get away from s

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