Chapter 1
Bang!
The dull crash exploded beside us as an out-of-control truck slammed into a black Rolls-Royce.
The car door creaked open. Sebastian Montgomery, deathly pale and bleeding from his temple, tumbled onto the road.
Before I could move, Ida shot forward.
She rammed her shoulder into me, then looked back with a vicious, guarded glare, as though I might try to steal something from her.
She threw herself down beside Sebastian and asked in a trembling voice, "Sir, are you all right? Don't be afraid. I'll help you!"
Then she turned and shouted, "Delia, the interview is about to start! Hurry inside or you'll be late! A man's life is at stake. I'll handle everything here. Go!"
Her fear and concern deserved an Oscar, but I could see the barely contained delight, greed, and triumph in her eyes.
She had traveled back too. She thought that by taking credit for saving Sebastian, she could steal the coveted title of Mrs. Montgomery from me.
I gave her a faint smile. "All right. I'll leave him to you, dear Ida."
Ida stared at me in disbelief. Obviously, she hadn't expected me to surrender so easily.
Ignoring her, I strode into the headquarters of Aesgard Holdings, my heels clicking against the marble floor.
I entered the final interview feeling calmer, and more alive, than I ever had before.
At the center of the interview panel sat Ryan Walsh, the investment director known throughout the industry as the Ice King.
He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and looked me over, his gaze razor-sharp. "Delia Avery. Kingsley University's famous finance prodigy. I've heard a great deal about you."
He slid a file across the table. "This is an actual bankruptcy case. You have three minutes to analyze it."
An established retail empire was on the verge of bankruptcy after being crushed by a Redwood Corridor tech giant. The question was simple: what would I do if I were on Aesgard's strategic investment team?
I had my answer after a single look at the numbers.
"Mr. Walsh, this retailer looks doomed, but its nationwide logistics network is worth saving. Buying the whole company would mean inheriting its debt. A quiet capital injection could give us control of distribution instead. We'd gain an established route into the market without taking the rest of the business onto our books."
Ryan fell silent for a long moment. Then he smiled.
"Delia, report to my office at 9 a.m. tomorrow. You'll be my chief strategy aide, reporting directly to me."
Our eyes met, and we shared a knowing smile.
In my previous life, saving Sebastian had cost me the interview and trapped me inside a gilded cage.
This time, I would never again pass up a chance to succeed on my own terms.
As I left the building, a light rain began to fall. A black Rolls-Royce glided past me.
The window lowered. Ida sat in the luxurious back seat while Sebastian's personal assistant draped a cashmere blanket over her shoulders.
When she saw me, her eyes brimmed with contempt and triumph. The message was clear: Delia, you were born to be my stepping-stone.
I calmly looked away.
Even with a second chance, Ida still didn't understand.
Every blessing comes with a hidden cost. The magnificent Montgomery estate had never been paradise. It was a prison built on human bones.
