Home / She Took My Place, I Took My Life Back / Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

All Chapters of She Took My Place, I Took My Life Back: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

“Elara, have some coffee. There's no need to be nervous.” Brielle held out the cup with a gentle smile.I caught the bitter scent concealed beneath the honey, and my heart sank. It was a powerful sedative commonly used in werewolf clinics.“Is something wrong?” she asked cautiously.“Nothing. Thank you. I was just getting thirsty.” I accepted the cup. When she turned away to arrange the dress, I poured the coffee into the flowerpot by the window. Two minutes later, I closed my eyes and collapsed onto the sofa.“Elara?” Brielle called my name several times. Once she was certain I would not respond, she hurried to open the door. Her mother rushed inside, and together they stripped off my white ceremonial dress and took my identification card and mate ring.“Hurry. The vow ceremony is about to begin.”Brielle changed into my dress and adjusted the veil in front of the mirror, unable to hide the excitement in her eyes. Then she and her mother slipped out through the side door and climbed i

Chapter 2

Nolan had also returned with the memories of our previous life.Using his knowledge of future research trends, he entered the High Council Institute of Lycan Medicine in only five years, three full years earlier than he had before. But he remembered only the final conclusions, not the complete experimental process behind them.His papers appeared advanced at first glance, yet none of his data survived careful review. Many of his critical steps directly contradicted one another. Only because Dr. Marcus Hale had once recommended him publicly did the research team refrain from confronting him. Instead, they buried every application he submitted at the bottom of the review queue.Today was the Moon Summit, held once every five years. The Council would formally recognize the work on the silver-toxin regeneration inhibitor and appoint the project's new director.“Nolan, once you become chief researcher, can we move into one of those detached houses in the Central District?” Brielle linked he

Chapter 3

“If you hurt Brielle again, Elara, I will kill you.” The murderous rage in Nolan's eyes made everyone around us retreat.“She insisted on grabbing me. If she fell, she deserved it.”He raised his hand again. This time, I caught his wrist before he could strike.“Hit me again, and explain it to the Council.”Nolan tried to pull free. I held his gaze, then shoved his hand away.No one interfered. The Moon Summit would determine appointments to several important positions, and no one wanted to offend Nolan for the sake of a stranger.“I had no idea the High Council Institute allowed its researchers to assault guests whenever they pleased.”Nolan's face darkened. “I am warning you, Elara. Leave now. If you interfere with my appointment, I will stop being polite.”“Then I would love to see what you consider impolite.”Calculation flashed through his eyes. The next second, Brielle suddenly stumbled into a Council official standing nearby.“I'm sorry! This is my cousin. She came in without an

Chapter 4

They took me to an internal interrogation room beneath the Institute. It was used to hold suspects accused of stealing research or selling classified information to hostile packs.“Let me go. I am Dr. Hale's student.”The head of security sneered. “The only student Dr. Hale has ever acknowledged publicly is Nolan Hayes. A woman from a remote territory dares to impersonate his student?”The door opened abruptly. Brielle entered carrying a sealed file.“Captain, we found this hidden inside the lining of her coat.”It was an early draft of my report on the silver-toxin regeneration inhibitor, which I had brought for reference. The captain's expression grew more severe with every page he read. Though it lacked the final revisions, it contained detailed experimental data and a well-developed theoretical model. It was clearly part of a core research project that had not yet been released.Shock also flashed through Nolan's eyes. He recognized the final conclusions in the report. In our prev

Chapter 5

Nolan pushed me down when I tried to rise. The hood stayed over my face, and the tape beneath it kept me from calling out.From the lectern, Marcus could see my bleeding wrists, but he could not recognize me.With the entire Council watching, he turned to Nolan. “What is going on here?”“Professor, we caught a traitor to the packs.” Nolan held up my research report. “She was also carrying my unpublished research.”The security captain immediately recounted what had happened. I tried to speak, but my mouth had been sealed, leaving me able to make only muffled sounds.Nolan handed the report to Marcus. “I planned to submit this work tonight, but she found an opportunity to steal it.”Marcus said nothing. He knew exactly what Nolan could do. Nolan possessed a certain quick cleverness, but he was far too arrogant and lacked the patience for sustained research. Almost none of the reports he had submitted in the last five years had survived serious review. Why would a genuine spy choose his

Chapter 6

Nolan's face changed. “Professor, she is only an ordinary woman from an outlying territory. How could she possibly complete research like this? Why are you lying to protect her?”Brielle looked between Marcus and me before asking suddenly. “Or is there some shameful relationship between the two of you?”I was trembling with rage, but I stopped Marcus before he could explain. “You said this report was yours, didn't you?” I looked directly at Nolan. “Then explain every theoretical principle, the original premise of each experiment, and the derivation leading to the final result. If you can prove all of it, I will admit that the report belongs to you.”Confidence returned to Nolan's eyes. “Those are your own words. Don't regret them.”He had read the entire report in the interrogation room. As long as he repeated the steps written on the pages, he did not believe he could lose.Nolan stepped onto the stage and displayed the research report.The beginning of his presentation went smo

Chapter 7

Marcus looked at the wounds circling my wrists and sighed with guilt. “I always believed Nolan was the one who completed the mate vows with you five years ago. I should have asked what happened. Because I failed to do so, he used your recommendation to remain at the Institute for all these years.”“It doesn't matter anymore.” Medical staff were treating my injuries, and my voice remained calm. “The only thing I want now is to complete the silver-toxin regeneration inhibitor. A man like Nolan would have exposed his true nature sooner or later. At least removing him from the Institute now has eliminated a danger before he could do more harm.”“If not for you, I would never have admitted him in the first place.” Marcus shook his head.After Nolan was expelled from the Institute, he lost all access to its research facilities. The Council also repossessed the apartment it had provided him. When security arrived to clear the rooms, he planted himself in the doorway and refused to move.“I am

Chapter 8

Before Nolan could touch me, someone kicked him to the ground.Dorian Cross stepped in front of me, his golden wolf eyes fixed coldly on Nolan.Nolan struggled upright. “Dorian? So the two of you really did betray me five years ago!”“He is my fiancé.” I moved to Dorian's side. “Watch your mouth.”Nolan's face stiffened. “I need to ask you something. Tell him to leave.”I shook my head at Dorian. “He has no reason to leave.”Nolan had no choice but to lower his voice. “In our previous life, I was the chief researcher. What did you do? What kind of trick changed everything?”Even now, he could not admit his own mediocrity.“Nolan, it isn't that you don't understand your ability. You simply refuse to accept the truth. Without my recommendation, you would never have entered the High Council Institute. Without my research, you could never have become its chief researcher.”The blood slowly drained from his face. “You're only trying to humiliate me. I admit I lost this time, but your method

Chapter 9

Nolan refused to believe that I no longer loved him.“You did so much for me in our previous life. How could you feel nothing now? You're only angry. I finally see Brielle for what she is. Come back to me, and I will make everything right.”“What could you possibly use to make it right?” I looked at him coldly. “If we had not returned to this life, you would have killed both me and our child. Those were two lives. A few apologies cannot erase them.”Whatever love I had carried in our previous life had died with the final beat of my child's heart.Still, Nolan waited outside my mother's home every day.“Elara, I bought your favorite pastry. I rode to the neighboring town first thing this morning to get it.”“What exactly do you think could make me look at you again?” My gaze moved over his haggard face. “You have lost your research credentials, you have a detention record, and you are still Brielle's bonded mate. Where does this confidence come from?”Nolan's face turned ashen with rage

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