Semua Bab New Life: Never a Simp Again: Bab 1 - Bab 8

"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

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

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

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