They wanted to take all her money. They thought they could finally get rid of her, that she would take the secret to her grave. But they underestimated her. Jenna Holt opened her eyes in the back of the car, expecting to be dead.
The last thing she remembered was the pain. The betrayal. The men her own cousin had sent to destroy her on her wedding night. Instead, she was alive.
The air smelled of flowers, and her body felt light, untouched. She was back. Reborn at the exact moment before everything had gone wrong. She knew this story.
In her last life, she had followed her mother’s advice to act like a fool. She had played the simple-minded heiress, married the disfigured eldest son of the Gordon family, and tried to survive. It hadn’t worked. They had drugged her, framed her, and when she was no longer useful, they had killed her.
Her mother had vanished when Jenna was a child, and in the end, Jenna had died alone, stripped of everything. This time, she was done pretending. “Jenna, get in the car. We have a surprise for you,” Daisy had said, the sweet smile hiding nothing but venom.
Jenna stepped out of the car and saw them all waiting for her—Daisy, her cousin Emily, the sneering faces of the Holts. They expected her to be weak, confused, manageable. They expected the bumpkin who had been raised in the countryside and didn’t know how to fight back. She stood in the driveway, straightening her dress, and walked straight past them.
“What do you think you’re doing? ” Daisy snapped. “Making it clear that I’m not playing your games anymore,” Jenna said, her voice calm and cold. She remembered everything now.
The Gordon family’s disfigured and supposedly downtrodden eldest son who was supposed to be her husband? He was just as dangerous as the rest of them. But she wasn’t afraid of him. She had a plan.
Trevor’s mansion was quiet when she arrived. The staff looked at her with pity, expecting her to be some broken little country girl. She didn’t give them the chance to pity her. “Mrs.
Gordon,” the head maid said, “your room is prepared. Mr. Gordon is—“
“There’s my husband,” Jenna said, pushing past her. Trevor was sitting in the main hall, the black mask covering half his face.
Scars were visible beneath it, but his eyes were sharp, calculating. He didn’t get up when she entered. “So, you’re back,” he said, voice flat. “I’m not here to play the broken wife,” Jenna said, sitting down across from him.
“You know those are lies. I know you’ve been pretending for a decade, playing the crippled heir so no one would suspect you. So let’s cut the act and make a deal. ”
Trevor’s eyes flickered with interest.
For a moment, he studied her, and then he chuckled, a low, dark sound. “You’re not what I expected at all,” he said. “I’ll play your wife. I’ll help you take control of the Gordon family.
We both want the same thing. Once you succeed, I’ll divorce you and leave. Deal? ”
“Deal.
”
And just like that, they were allies. It wasn’t love, but it was a partnership. A ruthless one. The first thing Jenna had to do was get rid of the rumors.
Gossip spread fast in the Gordon family, and she had been accused of being unchaste, of running around with other men. Daisy had made sure everyone believed it the last time. Jenna wasn’t about to let that happen again. Trevor pulled her into his bedroom and closed the door.
The staff heard what sounded like intense fighting—moans, thuds, the bed breaking. The next morning, the entire household was whispering about how passionate the crippled master had been, how he had broken his bed. The rumors about Jenna died that same day. “You’re welcome,” Trevor said, smirking.
“I’ll pay you back,” Jenna said. “You already have. ”
After that, Jenna stopped hiding. She went shopping, spending wildly.
Her grandfather had left her hundreds of millions, and she made sure everyone knew it. When Emily, the Gordon cousin, mocked her for being a country bumpkin in fancy clothes, Jenna didn’t back down. “My mom gave me this money,” Jenna said, flashing a bright smile. “Yours didn’t.
So run along before I remind you of your place. ”
Emily left furious, vowing to make her pay. But Jenna wasn’t afraid of threats. She was the woman who had been killed in her last life for being too weak.
Now she was done with weakness. Even the family head, Grandma Gordon, began to see her differently. “Jenna, you’re too straightforward,” she said. “My husband is very strict about rules.
If you keep causing trouble, he’ll have you kicked out. ”
“Maybe,” Jenna said. “But I plan on having a baby. Once I do, I’m safe.
”
Grandma Gordon’s eyes brightened. “A baby! Yes! That will solidify your position.
Trevor! Take better care of your wife. I want to be a great-grandmother soon. ”
Trevor, who was standing nearby, didn’t miss a beat.
He nodded. “Of course, Grandma. ”
Later that night, with the door closed and the mask pulled off his face, Trevor looked at her. “Faking a pregnancy is risky.
Are you sure about this? ”
“I’m sure,” Jenna said. “I’ll just tell them I’m pregnant. You don’t actually have to touch me.
”
“That’s good,” he said dryly. “Because I don’t want to. ”
But the act wasn’t easy. Everyone was suddenly in her business.
Sharon, a woman from the Yates family who had grown up with Trevor, showed up demanding that Jenna divorce him. Sharon was one of those love-struck fools, desperate to be with Trevor even though he was “disfigured. ” Jenna saw an opportunity. “You love him?
” Jenna asked. “Yes! I’ll do anything to be with him! ” Sharon insisted.
“Then pay me one million a month for the privilege,” Jenna said sweetly. “I’ll let you have him. ”
Sharon, too blind to see the trick, agreed. When Trevor found out, he was exasperated.
“You’re selling me? ”
“Making money,” Jenna corrected, grinning. “You’re worthless to me otherwise. ”
She was well on her way to becoming the person the Gordon and Holt families feared.
But she hadn’t forgotten the real masterminds—the people who had orchestrated the attack on her wedding night, who had schemed for her inheritance, who had driven her mother to madness. They were still out there. The Holt family finally came to her, demanding she apologize for her behavior. Jenna only smiled.
“Apologize? ” she said, stepping into the Holt mansion. They had thrown her out years ago, called her a burden, a crazy woman. Now they wanted her to kneel and beg.
Her father Paul stood in front of her, furious. Next to him stood Daisy, the girl she had once called sister, the one who had ruined her wedding night. “You’ve mocked the Holt family long enough, Jenna,” Paul snapped. “Kneel and apologize.
”
Jenna pulled a folded paper from her pocket and held it up. “Does this look familiar to you, Dad? It’s the psychiatric certificate you used to have me declared unstable. The doctors wrote that I shouldn’t be stressed, or I might lose control.
”
Paul went pale. “So if I lose control,” Jenna said, “I’ll make sure I go straight for you. ”
Her father stumbled backward. “You—you can’t threaten me in my own home!
”
“You had no problem threatening me,” she said. “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. ”
Daisy tried to step in, but Jenna raised her hand and slapped her across the face. “This is for my wedding night,” she said.
Daisy shrieked, covering her cheek. “Dad, she hit me! ”
“I’ll do a lot worse if you don’t stay out of my way. ” Jenna turned to her father.
“I want my mother’s assets returned. All of them. You have three days. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you pay.
”
Paul was shaking, but he couldn’t refuse when his wife’s joint venture was under her control. “I’ll talk to your uncle. ”
She had them all dancing to her tune now. That night, her husband’s bodyguard, Adrian, drove her home.
He was handsome, too handsome for a simple bodyguard. He had saved her several times, and she couldn’t help but notice the way he watched her. “You’re reckless, Mrs. Holt,” he said.
“That’s the plan,” she replied. “My mom told me to strike first before others strike you. ”
“Your mother? ” he asked, eyebrows raised.
“She’s missing,” Jenna said flatly. “And I’m looking for her. ”
Adrian’s eyes softened. “I hope you find her soon.
”
She looked away. He was too kind. Too much like a shadow—always there when she needed him, but never quite at her side when she thought about it. It was suspicious.
Something about him didn’t fit. But she didn’t have time to figure it out. Not yet. The next morning, she went to the joint venture to claim her position as CEO.
But there was a problem. Emily and Carson, the Gordon cousins, had infiltrated the company and were acting like they owned the place. “Jenna, this company belongs to the Gordons. Not you,” Emily sneered.
“I’m a Gordon. By marriage,” Jenna said, taking the main desk chair. “And my husband owns the majority share. So get out.
”
“Or what? ” Carson snapped. Just then, the door opened, and Adrian walked in. He was in a sharp black suit, looking more like a business executive than a bodyguard.
“I’m the new CEO,” Adrian said, holding up a document. “Chairman Trevor Gordon has appointed me. All of you are fired. ”
Emily and Carson’s faces went red.
“You can’t do this! ”
They tried to argue, but it was no use. Security escorted them out. Jenna looked at Adrian in awe.
“So you’re the muscle and the brains? ”
He smiled. “I do what your husband asks. ”
“And what about what I ask?
”
His gaze lingered on her. “You ask me to do plenty of things. ”
She flushed and turned away. She shouldn’t be having these thoughts about her husband’s bodyguard.
It was only a matter of time before something gave. The family drama intensified when Trevor’s grandfather, old man Gordon, returned from abroad. He was a stern, unforgiving figure who saw right through people. When he heard about Jenna’s behavior, he summoned her.
“You’ve been causing chaos,” he said. “I’ve been stopping people from taking what’s mine,” she replied, unbothered. He raised an eyebrow. “You’ve got fire, I’ll give you that.
”
“Fire is better than being dead on the ground. ”
They stared at each other, a battle of wills. Finally, he nodded. “I’ll give you a chance.
Don’t disappoint me. ”
It was more than she could have hoped for. But the danger wasn’t over. She had faked her pregnancy to buy time, and now the lie was becoming harder to maintain.
The family was celebrating her, praising her, giving her gifts. Then Daisy came to her, holding a necklace. “I’m sorry for everything, Jenna. I want to make it up to you.
”
“That’s very thoughtful,” Jenna said, taking the necklace with a smile. She didn’t trust Daisy for a second, and she was right not to. Later that day, the necklace snapped, scratching her skin. Then, suddenly, blood.
A lot of it. She went limp, clutching her stomach. “My baby! ” she cried.
“Help! She’s attacking me! ”
The entire family rushed in. Daisy stood there, stunned, shaking.
“I didn’t—”
Jenna was placed in a medical room, and the doctor confirmed that she had suffered a “miscarriage. ” The family was livid. Daisy was expelled from the family. Once the room was empty, Jenna sat up in bed and smiled at Trevor.
“Faking tests is easy when you have the right books. ”
“You’re a monster,” he said, but he was smiling. “Thank you. ”
The truth was, she had learned a lot.
Every time they tried to hurt her, she found a way out. She had survived death, walked out of it, and now she had them all tripping over themselves to apologize. But her mother was still missing, and someone in the Gordon family had to be involved. It was the only lead she had.
As the family celebration for Grandpa’s return approached, Jenna knew that everyone was going to be there. The Holts. The Gordons. All the scheming cousins and uncles.
The perfect place to spring her trap. “Are you ready? ” Trevor asked, adjusting his mask. “I was born ready,” Jenna said.
At the banquet, Leo, Trevor’s uncle, stood up and addressed the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we should decide on the next chairman of the Gordon Group. I believe the company needs a fresh, capable leader. Someone like myself.
”
Several voices agreed. Others murmured about Trevor, but Leo cut in. “Trevor is young and still disabled. We need someone who can represent us.
He can’t. ”
Jenna stood up from her seat. “My husband’s legs are fine. ” She turned to him, and Trevor smoothly rose from his wheelchair, walking toward her with a confident stride.
Gasps filled the room. Leo’s face turned ashen. “Impossible! ” Leo shouted.
“You’ve been faking this? For a decade? ”
“I’ve been playing the game you all started,” Trevor said, his voice cold. “You forced my mother to death, tried to ruin me, and controlled the company.
You never expected me to fight back. ”
But Leo wasn’t done. “I have proof Jenna has been cheating on you! I have evidence she’s lying about her babies!
”
Jenna laughed. “Even if I were lying, you have no proof. And as for the babies,” she touched her stomach, “I’m just going to go and check. But first—”
She looked at the old man Gordon, the family patriarch.
“I don’t have to explain anything to anyone here except Grandpa. And our interactions speak for themselves. ”
She turned to her father, Paul. He had been silent the whole time.
“You should be glad I’m only here to take what’s mine, Dad. The paternity test you showed everyone was a lie. It matched Daisy, but she isn’t your real daughter. She’s Uncle Wilbur’s daughter, planted by your own brother to steal the family fortune.
”
Paul looked like he had been punched. “That—that’s impossible! ”
“Do you want to see the DNA test I have? ”
Paul looked from Jenna to Wilbur, and the truth finally seemed to dawn on him.
His face crumpled. “It’s true,” he said, his voice breaking. “I kicked out my only daughter for the sake of an imposter. ”
“You didn’t kick me out,” Jenna said, voice flat.
“I left because you let her poison you. You stood by while I was attacked on my wedding night. You cut off my mother when she went mad because of your betrayal. That’s the truth, and you know it.
”
“I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I didn’t know. ”
“Now you do. ”
The room fell silent.
Jenna’s gaze swept over the family. No one moved. No one could. Leo tried to regain control of the meeting, but Jenna had had enough of his posturing.
“Grandma’s been hospitalized, and you all know why. Leo put her there, trying to poison her to get her shares,” Jenna said. “And you let it happen. ”
“Prove it!
” Leo snapped. Jenna nodded. “I had Vincent, one of your little pawns, turn on you. He recorded everything.
He told me about the plan, about how you wanted to kill Trevor, take over the company. Do you deny it? ”
Leo’s mouth was open but no words came out. Old man Gordon stepped forward, fury radiating off him.
“Is this true, Leo? ”
Leo’s composure broke. “No, Father, I—”
“Enough! ” the old man roared.
“You’re exiled from the family. Everything you own will be seized. We’ll see you in court. ”
Leo was dragged away, screaming.
Jenna looked at Trevor. He nodded at her, a small, satisfied smile on his lips. They had won. For now.
After the party, they stood in the quiet hallway, away from the noise. “You handle things well,” Trevor said. “I learned from the best,” Jenna said. “My mom used to say, ‘Strike first, so you don’t get hit.
’ And I stopped letting them hit me. I stopped pretending. ”
“So what now? ” Trevor asked.
The family was in chaos, but the biggest threats were gone. Leo was taken away. Daisy was disowned. Wilbur was a broken man.
The rest of them had backed off. “The world is finally quiet. ” Jenna let out a long breath. It felt strange, strange to be safe, to be standing here without someone trying to stab her in the back.
“Your mom would be proud,” Adrian said from behind her. Jenna turned to look at him. He was standing there, leaning in the doorway, looking at her with an unreadable expression. “You think so?
” she asked. “I know so,” he said. Jenna felt a warmth in her chest. She had been betrayed by her family, her father, and nearly everyone she had known.
But here, with Trevor as her partner, and Adrian watching her back, she had found something. Family, maybe. Not by blood, but by choice. “Thank you, Mr.
Gordon,” she said, looking at Trevor. “Thank you, Mrs. Gordon,” he replied.
She smiled, and for the first time in two lives, she let herself breathe.
