After rebirth, I refused to be chief conservator.
Reborn, the first thing I did was resign from my position as Chief Art Restorer at Sterling Antiques, earning the scandalous label of an industry pariah.
In fact, when Sterling Antiques was raided and sealed off for fraud, I couldn’t help but gloat.
Because in my previous life, Serena Hayes, the woman Julian Sterling had always pined for, had met an untimely end.
And I, bound by a debt to the Sterling family for clearing my adoptive father’s name, married Julian as Serena’s stand–in, becoming Mrs. Sterling.
For three years, I stood by him through thick and thin, expanding Sterling Antiques into a thriving empire.
My innovative restoration techniques allowed a near–bankrupt Sterling Antiques to dominate the authentication market, becoming an official partner of the government’s heritage preservation bureau.
I genuinely believed that our shared dedication would eventually earn his heart.
But at the celebration party on the penthouse floor, he publicly played a video, accusing me of swapping Serena Hayes’s restoration report.
“Stella Sterling, you didn’t just switch Serena’s report, you stole her entire life!”
My own apprentice, Amber Evans, even held up an evidence bag, her voice sharp with accusation:
“Professor Sterling, fragments of Serena’s report were found right in your office!”
In the chaos, I was shoved, lost my footing, and plummeted to my death.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day the Sterling family was deciding on my engagement.
Grandpa Sterling excitedly announced.
“Steila, my dear, you and Julian have the best rapport. I think this marriage is settled.”
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I looked up at Julian Sterling, his gaze as cold as winter frost.
In that instant, I realized he had been reborn too.
Since his heart only held Serena Hayes, I would grant them their wish and, in turn, save myself some dignity.
The Sterling family had an unspoken rule: only the Chief Restorer of Sterling Antiques could marry the family heir.
I calmly rose, sweeping my gaze across the room filled with Sterling relatives, then bowed deeply and steadily to Grandpa Sterling.
“Grandpa Sterling, I’m deeply grateful for your kindness.”
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“However, I’m just an orphan, brought up by the Sterling family. With my background, how could I possibly be worthy of the Chief Restorer title?”
Julian Sterling’s expression shifted as he stared at me.
He must have thought I’d still be meek and subservient, collapsing in gratitude for any scrap of kindness, ready to go to hell and back for the Sterling family?
How laughable.
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I curled my lips into a smile, looking at Julian Sterling. “I have someone I’d like to recommend.”
“Serena Hayes is incredibly talented at a young age in the restoration field. If she could be posthumously appointed Chief Restorer of Sterling Auction House, it would be huge asset to the Sterling name.”
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Julian Sterling’s face drained of all color.
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The next second, he abruptly slammed down the water glass on the conference table, throwing all etiquette to the wind, and
stormed out.
I knew exactly where he was going.
In the previous life, Serena Hayes had gone overseas to auction artifacts but died tragically there, becoming a lifelong nightmare of regret for Julian Sterling.
At this moment, Julian Sterling must have believed he could stop that tragedy.
“Nonsense, Stella, what are you blabbering about!”
Grandpa Sterling’s face flushed crimson with rage, and his teacup smashed to pieces.
“Sterling Antiques invested in you for ten years, and you dare to decline the Chief position in front of everyone, publicly handing such a critical role to an unknown?”
“Is this how you repay the Sterling family’s generosity?”
I walked up to Grandpa Sterling, handing him the resignation I had prepared long ago. My voice was calm:
“Grandpa Sterling, I’ve never forgotten the opportunity Sterling Antiques gave me, but a century–old legacy shouldn’t rest on a foundation of one–sided gratitude. Serena Hayes has risked her life tracking down black market artifacts for years; she undoubtedly deserves the title of Sterling’s Chief.”
Grandpa Sterling was visibly shaken by my words.
I bowed my head, then turned and left the room.
Stepping out of the conference hall, I headed back to the lab I had personally built.
I opened the safe and took out the evidence I’d gathered overseas of Serena Hayes’s artifact smuggling.
In my previous life, I had risked my life to protect that crucial Renaissance ceramic restoration report, only for Julian Sterling to turn on me, accusing me of plagiarizing Serena Hayes’s work and tampering with her report!
My fingertip traced the broken fragments, and I murmured:
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My fingertip traced the broken fragments, and I murmured:
“Julian Sterling, in this life, I will not give another ounce of my effort to the Sterling family!”
The next morning, the area outside the building was buzzing with people.
Sterling Antiques officially announced Serena Hayes as the Chief Restorer, stating she had defended cultural heritage and protected national treasures with her life.
Julian Sterling helped Serena Hayes, whose demeanor was cool and detached, wearing a forced smile.
Media swarmed in, and I listened to the applause outside, my eyes calm and indifferent.
In the afternoon, the frantic click of high heels echoed from outside the lab building.
I walked over and pulled the door open, only to see Julian Sterling bringing Serena Hayes, heading straight for the boardroom.
Soon after, barely suppressed shouting erupted from the main hall.
“Father! You clearly promised that Sterling Antiques‘ Chief would lead the artifact repatriation and major restoration projects! This order belongs to Serena!”
