“…Abigail… how could it be you…“>
I stood, calmly putting on my clothes and shoes. My gaze swept past them like ice.
“Only fools waste a second life chasing love.“}
“So when I said I wouldn’t ma
I turned toward him.
“I meant it.“}
His teeth clenched. His eyes darkened as he read the professor’s words again.§
The technology had passed initial application testing.
He recognized that field at a glance. It was the same research I had devoted my last life to.”
He had expected me to beg, to cling, to maneuver through soft schemes.
But never once did it cross his mind that he had never been my goal.
As I walked past him, I said quietly, “Heaven handed us such a rare opportunity, and all you could think about was petty love.”}
I tossed a thick report file onto the table.
It landed with a heavy thud, and inside it was the damning video footage of them deleting my application by force.
Ever since my rebirth, I had feared this group would never let me go.”
So I came prepared, carrying a voice recorder with me at all times.
Not just the moment they tampered with my form, even the scenes of them laying hands on me.”
Every last second had been captured in secret.
The footage of me being pushed down the stairs and strung up for a beating had also been sent to Roosevelt University’s admissions office.
When Emily rushed over, Michael had just received the official notice.
[Due to Mr. Hernandez’s abhorrent conduct; Roosevelt University has revoked his admission. He will not be enrolled.] “Brother Michael!”
Emily threw herself at him in excitement.
“Now we can go to that private university together! We’ll be even closer!“>
But Michael said nothing.
Emily lifted her head, only to find his eyes weren’t on her at all.
She turned and saw him staring at me with a conflicted expression.
“Brother Michael?” Her voice faltered.
The Michael who once adored her above all else had actually pushed her aside.
“Abigail, I can get engaged to you right now.”
I thought I had misheard.
But his eyes were serious.
“This way, you won’t have to worry about me proposing to Emily behind your back. We can even have the engagement notarized.“}
I let out a sharp and laughed aloud.
o step
Just as I was about to step out of the Hernandez Residence, I turned around and walked slowly toward Michael.
Emily bit her lip nervously.
Michael, as always, wore that smug, self–assured smile as if he still had everything in the palm of his hand.§
My hand struck his face without warning.
Emily gasped and darted forward.
“Sister, what are you doing?!“}
“Michael!”
I stood tall, voice cold–and clear.
“You think I clawed my way back from the edge of death, burned through countless sleepless nights doing research, all just to make you look at me?”
“What do you take me for? And what do you think you are?”
“Abigail!”
Althea charged at me like a storm. Hand raised high.”
“How dare you hit my son!“>
I met her glare with my chin lifted, unshaken.
“Go ahead. Try it.”
raised the recorder in my hand.§
iRefused Love and Chose Power Instead
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9:19 AM U
“You think just because I exposed you once, I wouldn’t do it again?“>
Her hand froze midair.
“All of this is being transmitted in real–time to my best friend. Even if you lock me up again, she’ll reveal every single crime you’ve committed.“@
“You…”
Althea gritted her teeth so hard it seemed they might shatter.}
“Don’t forget, the Davis family still relies on the Hernandez family!“}]
“And don’t you forget, you need the Davis family just as much.“}
The Hernandez clan had always been calculating, carefully weighing their alliances like business deals.
Even with their century–old legacy, the fact they chose us, a nouveau riche family, meant they had something to gain.§ “Mom, let her go.”
Michael’s voice cut through the tension. Althea and Emily both turned toward him.”
Emily clung to his sleeve.
“Son…”
“I said, let her go.“>
“Son!”
Althea looked like she was ready to explode, but Michael didn’t budge.”
“It’s fine. She’ll come back.”
I let out a cold laugh:
Then turned and walked away without hesitation.
Althea panicked.
“After everything she’s done to us, how could she possibly come back?!”
“She will,” Michael replied.
I glanced back, curious.
He was staring at me with an unreadable gaze. “I have my ways.“} “Ridiculous…”
I scoffed and left without looking back again.D
But not long after, I learned exactly what his “way” was.
Michael never went to university.
Meanwhile, I used the profits from my new tech to build my own company.
! had thought the war between us was over. With our fates so clearly split, the victor and loser were already written.”
But soon, I realized that no matter what new product we launched, there was always another company that shadowed us, copying everything, slashing prices to steal the market.!
9:19 AM
