The Rebirth Of A Ruthless Heiress

Unfamiliar Yet Familiar

Diana just sat there, staring at the screen like a statue.

The news anchor's voice continued, but her eyes remained fixed on one thing: the date.

Saturday, October 15th, 2024.

She blinked. Once. Twice. The numbers didn't change.

"This... this doesn't make sense," she whispered.

Her fingers gently touched the TV screen as if the date might disappear like a dream.

But it didn't.

The news was still playing. The weather forecast was still being announced. Everything felt so normal.

Too normal.

Diana slowly stood up and walked back to her room like a sleepwalker. Her legs felt light, almost as if they weren't hers.

She opened the door and stepped into her bathroom. The air smelled of her usual lavender bath salts. Her favorite ones. The ones she hadn't used in years.

She didn't question it.

She turned on the tap and filled her Jacuzzi. Warm water swirled with bubbles, and the gentle sound filled the silence around her. She slid in slowly and leaned her head back.

"What a weird dream..." she muttered. "That felt... too real."

She closed her eyes, but her mind wouldn't rest. Instead, flashes of the hospital returned.

The sound of the monitor beeping. The doctor's cold voice. Jessica screaming. Her grandfather's tears.

"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "It was just a nightmare. Just a very bad dream."

After a long soak, she stepped out of the bath, dried herself, and changed into a clean outfit. She dried her hair and brushed it into a quick bun. She just wanted to feel grounded, to convince herself that this was real.

She made her way to the sitting room.

It was huge.

A large white leather sofa with a gold frame sat in the middle. The walls were lined with gold-framed paintings. A tall glass cabinet displayed awards and photographs. A wide chandelier hung above, sparkling in the sunlight pouring through the massive windows.

Everything was just as she remembered.

Or was it?

She paused at the entrance.

There he was.

Her grandfather, Chairman William Brooks, sat on the couch with his legs crossed and a bright smile on his face.

No wheelchair. No nurse beside him. Just him, sitting tall, like the man she remembered from her childhood.

"Diana!" he called excitedly, turning toward her. "You're awake! Come, come! Look at this!"

She walked toward him slowly, still staring at him as though she'd seen a ghost.

He patted the spot beside him. "Did you see the news? Brooks Empire Group has risen to number two in the country in real estate! Number two, Diana!"

She forced a smile and sat beside him, still watching him closely.

For some reason, she already knew this.

He chuckled proudly, his eyes fixed on the television. "Just in time, too! The company's seventieth anniversary is coming up in a few days. We'll have a grand celebration. All these years of hard work are finally paying off!"

His laughter filled the room, loud and hearty. It was the kind of laughter she hadn't heard in a long time.

Then a maid walked in carrying a tray of medicine and water. She hurried forward without watching her step.

Diana's eyes widened.

There it was.

A mopstick lay directly in the maid's path.

In Diana's mind, the scene played out in an instant. The maid tripped, screamed, and fell to the floor. A loud thud. Blood. Screams. Pain.

Diana jumped to her feet without thinking.

She rushed forward and kicked the mopstick aside just in time. The maid stepped forward without noticing what had almost happened.

"Thank you, Miss Diana," she said with a small bow before walking over to the chairman.

Diana stood frozen, breathing heavily.

Her hands trembled.

"How... how did I know that?"

She hadn't noticed the mopstick before. Yet the memory felt familiar, like something she had already experienced.

She sat down again, trying to calm her racing heart.

William glanced at her. "Are you all right, dear? You look pale."

She forced a small laugh. "I'm fine, Grandpa. Just... tired. I didn't sleep well."

"Hmm." He nodded. "Get some rest, then. You young people never sleep early these days."

She nodded and stood up. "I'll go lie down for a bit."

As she walked back to her room, her mind spun with questions. None of this made sense.

Then her phone buzzed.

It was Daniel.

She stared at his name on the screen.

They weren't married yet. Back in October 2024, they were still dating.

She answered hesitantly. "Hello?"

"Hey, babe." His cheerful voice came through the phone. "You sound sleepy. Did I wake you?"

"No, I was awake."

"Good. I wanted to see you today. Let's go on that aquarium date we talked about. Afterward, we can try that new barbecue place near the river. I've heard great things about it."

Diana froze.

Her eyes widened.

She had heard this before.

Not similar words. The exact same words.

The tone. The pauses. Even the little laugh he gave after mentioning the barbecue.

"I... I have to go," she stammered before quickly ending the call.

She sat on her bed, her mind spinning.

What's going on?

Was this all really a dream?

Or was it something else?

Her chest rose and fell rapidly.

Everything felt too familiar.

Too planned.

Too real.