REBORN TO RUIN THEM ALL

Chapter Three — The Man Who Knew I Died

I couldn't move.

The man sitting behind me was staring directly at me.

He wasn't smiling anymore.

His expression was calm, almost emotionless, but there was something unsettling about the way he watched me.

Like he had been waiting for this exact moment.

Like he knew me.

Not the woman I was now.

The woman I had been.

The woman who had died.

I slowly stood from my chair.

The man didn't move.

I walked toward him.

One step.

Then another.

My heart was pounding.

When I reached his table, he looked up.

"You're staring."

His voice.

I knew that voice.

It was the same voice from the phone.

"Who are you?"

He leaned back.

"Sit down."

"I'm not sitting anywhere until you tell me your name."

A faint smile appeared.

"Still stubborn."

My eyes narrowed.

"You know me."

"I know more about you than you think."

"Then tell me who you are."

He looked around the café.

"We shouldn't talk here."

"Why?"

"Because your family has people everywhere."

I froze.

He stood.

"Follow me."

I didn't move.

He looked at me.

"Unless you'd rather let your stepmother know we're talking."

My blood ran cold.

"How do you know she's watching me?"

"Because she is."

I glanced toward the window.

A dark sedan was parked across the street.

My heart dropped.

The same car.

The same tinted windows.

The man walked toward the back exit.

I followed.

Not because I trusted him.

Because I needed answers.

---

We stepped into a narrow alley behind the café.

He stopped beside a black car.

I remained several feet away.

"Now talk."

He looked at me.

"My name is Adrian Vale."

My entire body went still.

"Vale?"

"Yes."

"You're related to Marcus Vale?"

"He's my older brother."

My mind raced.

Marcus.

The man I had planned to contact.

The man who had warned me in my first life.

The man my family had called a monster.

And this man was his brother.

"What do you want from me?"

"To keep you alive."

I almost laughed.

"That's ironic."

His eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

"Because I'm already dead."

Silence.

His expression changed.

For the first time, he looked genuinely shocked.

"What did you say?"

I stared at him.

Then I realized.

He didn't know.

I had said too much.

I turned away.

"Forget it."

He caught my wrist.

"Wait."

I pulled away immediately.

"Don't touch me."

He released me.

"You're hiding something."

"So are you."

He nodded slowly.

"Fair."

He reached inside his jacket.

I stepped backward.

But instead of a weapon, he pulled out a photograph.

He handed it to me.

I looked down.

My heart stopped.

It was a photograph of me.

Five years earlier.

Standing outside my family's company.

I turned it over.

There was writing on the back.

June 12, 2021.

Today's date.

I looked at him.

"Where did you get this?"

"I took it this morning."

"Why?"

"Because I needed to confirm something."

"What?"

"That you were really alive."

My breath caught.

"What does that mean?"

He stared at me.

"Five years ago, my brother received information that your family was planning to destroy you."

I swallowed.

"And?"

"He tried to warn you."

"I know."

"No."

He shook his head.

"You don't."

He took another photograph from his pocket.

This one was older.

It showed Marcus standing outside my family's mansion.

I remembered that day.

I had seen him.

He had approached me.

He had tried to speak to me.

And I had ignored him because Elena had told me he wanted to ruin our family.

"You believed them," Adrian said.

"I was wrong."

"Very wrong."

I looked at the photograph.

"Why didn't Marcus stop them?"

"He tried."

"Then why did I die?"

He was silent.

I looked up.

"Answer me."

His expression became serious.

"Because by the time Marcus discovered what they were planning, it was too late."

My hands trembled.

"What exactly happened?"

He looked directly into my eyes.

"You were never supposed to die."

I frowned.

"What?"

"The original plan was to destroy your reputation, take control of your shares, and force you out of the company."

"Then why—"

"Someone changed the plan."

My stomach tightened.

"Who?"

"We don't know."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"No."

He stepped closer.

"I expect you to investigate."

I stared at him.

"Why help me?"

He hesitated.

Then he said something that made my blood run cold.

"Because my brother blamed himself for your death."

---

I couldn't speak.

Marcus Vale.

The ruthless businessman everyone feared.

He had blamed himself for my death?

"Why?"

"Because he was supposed to protect you."

I shook my head.

"That doesn't make sense."

"It will."

He reached into his pocket again.

This time, he pulled out a small envelope.

"Don't open it until you're alone."

"What is it?"

"Proof."

"Proof of what?"

"That your death wasn't the end of the plan."

I stared at him.

"What does that mean?"

He stepped toward his car.

"You'll understand."

"Wait."

He stopped.

"Where can I find Marcus?"

"Don't."

"Why?"

"Because if your family discovers you're working with him, they'll accelerate their plans."

"What plans?"

He looked at me.

"Your father isn't preparing for the partnership."

My heart skipped.

"Then what is he preparing for?"

"A takeover."

He entered the car.

I stepped forward.

"Whose takeover?"

He looked through the window.

"Yours."

Then he drove away.

---

I returned home just before midnight.

The mansion was quiet.

Too quiet.

I walked upstairs without turning on the lights.

When I reached my room, I locked the door.

Only then did I open the envelope.

Inside was a single flash drive.

And a handwritten note.

Watch this alone.

I connected the drive to my laptop.

One video appeared.

I clicked it.

The screen showed my father's office.

The date was three months before my death.

My father was sitting behind his desk.

Elena stood beside him.

And Adrian was there too.

I leaned closer.

My father's voice came through the speakers.

"Once she signs the transfer documents, everything becomes ours."

Elena smiled.

"What if she refuses?"

Adrian answered.

"She won't."

I felt sick.

My father looked at him.

"You're certain?"

Adrian nodded.

"She trusts me completely."

My hands clenched.

Then Elena asked:

"And the other problem?"

My father frowned.

"Marcus?"

"Yes."

"We'll handle him."

The video continued.

Adrian leaned forward.

"There is one thing you should know."

My father looked at him.

"What?"

"She has started asking questions."

Elena's smile disappeared.

"What kind of questions?"

"About the company accounts."

My father slammed his hand on the desk.

"Then we need to move faster."

I stopped the video.

My breathing became uneven.

I already knew they had betrayed me.

But seeing it—

Seeing them planning everything while I was still trusting them—

felt different.

I pressed play again.

The conversation continued.

Elena spoke.

"Maybe we should tell her the truth."

My father looked at her.

"Absolutely not."

"But she's going to find out."

"Not if Adrian does his job."

Adrian nodded.

Then he said:

"I'll make sure she never reaches the truth."

The screen went black.

I sat frozen.

He had lied to me.

For years.

Every smile.

Every promise.

Every "I love you."

All of it had been part of the plan.

I closed the laptop.

Then I laughed.

Quietly at first.

Then harder.

I covered my mouth.

Tears filled my eyes.

Not because I missed him.

Because I finally understood how foolish I had been.

In my first life, I had spent years blaming myself.

I had wondered what I had done wrong.

Now I knew.

I hadn't been weak.

I had simply been surrounded by people who had mastered deception.

That mistake would not happen twice.

I wiped my tears.

"No more."

I stood.

"From now on, I decide who gets hurt."

---

The next morning, I woke up before sunrise.

I didn't sleep much.

Instead, I made a list.

At the top:

Elena.

Second:

Adrian.

Third:

My stepmother.

Fourth:

My father.

Then everyone else.

But revenge wasn't about destroying them immediately.

That would be too easy.

I wanted them to lose everything the way I had.

Slowly.

Piece by piece.

I opened my laptop.

The first thing I needed was money.

In my first life, I had depended entirely on the family company.

That had been my biggest weakness.

If they controlled the money, they controlled me.

Not anymore.

I searched through my old documents.

I found something I had completely forgotten.

A small investment account my biological mother had opened for me before she died.

In my first life, I had ignored it.

Now I checked the balance.

My eyes widened.

It wasn't enormous.

But it was enough to start.

I smiled.

"Thank you, Mom."

Then I noticed something strange.

The account had received a transfer three weeks earlier.

From an unknown company.

I opened the transaction details.

The sender was listed as:

V. HOLDINGS.

My heart skipped.

Vale Holdings.

Marcus.

Why would he send money to an account belonging to me?

And why hadn't he done it in my first life?

Unless—

This wasn't part of my old timeline.

Someone had already changed something.

My phone buzzed.

A message.

Unknown: You found it.

I stared at the screen.

Me: Did you send the money?

No answer.

Then:

Unknown: No.

Another message appeared.

Unknown: Marcus did.

I immediately called.

The number didn't connect.

I typed:

Why?

The response came seconds later.

Because he knew you would need it.

My heart raced.

I typed:

Who are you?

This time, the answer took longer.

Then:

Someone who watched you die.

I stared at the message.

That sentence again.

I typed:

Were you at the rooftop?

No answer.

Then the phone went silent.

---

At breakfast, Elena sat beside me.

She was smiling.

"So," she said casually, "how was your evening?"

"Fine."

"Did you meet anyone?"

I looked at her.

"Why?"

"You were out late."

"I have a life."

She laughed.

"Of course."

My father entered the room.

He looked at me.

"We need to discuss the partnership again."

I continued eating.

"I already said no."

"This isn't optional."

I put down my fork.

"Then find someone else."

My father stared at me.

"You've become disrespectful."

"No."

I smiled.

"I've become independent."

Elena immediately interrupted.

"Dad, don't fight with her."

I looked at her.

She was pretending to be the peaceful sister again.

I almost admired her acting skills.

Almost.

My father sighed.

"Fine."

He sat down.

"But you're attending the business dinner tonight."

I frowned.

"What dinner?"

"With the Vale family."

My heart stopped.

The Vale family.

Marcus.

I looked at Elena.

She seemed nervous.

Interesting.

"What time?"

"Seven."

"I'll be there."

My father nodded.

Elena looked at me suspiciously.

"You seem excited."

"I'm not."

"Then why did you agree so quickly?"

I smiled.

"Maybe I like dinners."

She stared at me.

I stood.

"I'll see you tonight."

As I walked away, I heard Elena whisper:

"She's hiding something."

My father replied:

"Then find out what."

I smiled to myself.

Perfect.

Let them investigate.

They would only find what I wanted them to find.

---

At seven that evening, I arrived at the hotel.

The dinner was being held in a private room.

My father and stepmother were already there.

Elena sat beside Adrian.

I paused when I saw him.

He looked at me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he smiled.

"You're beautiful."

In my first life, those words would have made me blush.

Now they made me want to laugh.

"Thank you."

I sat across from him.

He watched me carefully.

"You've been avoiding me."

"I've been busy."

"With what?"

"Life."

He smiled.

"You've changed."

I raised my glass.

"People change."

Before he could respond, the door opened.

Everyone turned.

Marcus Vale entered.

The room became silent.

He was taller than I remembered.

Calm.

Confident.

His expression gave nothing away.

His eyes moved across the room.

Then stopped on me.

For one second, something flashed in his eyes.

Recognition.

Not surprise.

Recognition.

He knew.

I stood.

"Mr. Vale."

He nodded.

"Miss..."

He paused.

Then said my name.

My heart skipped.

In my first life, Marcus had always called me by my surname.

Tonight, he used my first name.

"Good evening."

I smiled.

"Good evening."

He took the empty seat beside me.

Elena's eyes widened.

My father's expression tightened.

Adrian looked uncomfortable.

Interesting.

Marcus glanced at me.

"You look well."

I smiled.

"I feel better than ever."

His eyes remained on mine.

"Good."

Dinner began.

For the first twenty minutes, everyone discussed business.

Numbers.

Contracts.

Shares.

Partnerships.

I listened.

Then my father pushed a document toward me.

"Sign this."

I looked at it.

It was the same kind of agreement they had used in my first life.

I didn't touch it.

"What is it?"

"Routine paperwork."

I smiled.

"Then you won't mind if I take it home and have a lawyer review it."

Silence.

Elena's face changed.

Adrian stared at me.

My father frowned.

"Why would you need a lawyer?"

"Because I'm not stupid."

Marcus almost smiled.

I saw it.

My father reached for the document.

"There's no reason to complicate things."

"I disagree."

Elena leaned toward me.

"You're making Dad feel like you don't trust him."

I looked at her.

"Should I?"

She froze.

My father slammed his glass onto the table.

"Enough."

I remained calm.

Then Marcus spoke.

"She's right."

Everyone looked at him.

My father frowned.

"Excuse me?"

Marcus leaned back.

"Anyone signing a financial agreement should understand it first."

My father stared at him.

"This is a family matter."

Marcus smiled.

"And yet you invited my family."

The tension became unbearable.

Adrian finally spoke.

"Maybe we should take a break."

"No," I said.

Everyone looked at me.

I picked up the document.

"I'll sign it."

Elena smiled.

My father relaxed.

Adrian's expression changed.

But before anyone could celebrate, I tore the document in half.

Then in half again.

I dropped the pieces onto the table.

"I'll sign nothing tonight."

My father stood.

"What the hell are you doing?"

I stood too.

"I'm protecting myself."

Elena whispered:

"You're ruining everything."

I turned toward her.

"No."

I smiled.

"I'm just beginning."

---

After dinner, Marcus stopped me in the hallway.

"You knew."

I looked at him.

"Knew what?"

"About the document."

"I've seen something similar before."

His eyes narrowed.

"You saw the future."

My heart stopped.

"What?"

He stared at me.

"You heard me."

I took a step back.

"What do you know?"

"Enough."

"Then tell me."

He glanced toward the hallway.

"Not here."

"Where?"

"My office."

I hesitated.

He noticed.

"You don't trust me."

"Should I?"

A faint smile appeared.

"No."

That answer surprised me.

"Then why should I go?"

"Because I'm the only person in this building who wants you alive."

I studied him.

Then nodded.

"Fine."

---

His office was on the top floor.

The moment we entered, he locked the door.

I looked around.

Books.

Documents.

Photographs.

And on the wall—

A photograph of my biological mother.

I froze.

"Why do you have that?"

Marcus turned.

"She was my father's business partner."

I stared at the photograph.

"My mother knew your family?"

"Very well."

"Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Because your father didn't want you to know."

I swallowed.

"What did they know?"

Marcus walked toward his desk.

"Your mother discovered something."

"What?"

He opened a drawer.

Inside was an old file.

He handed it to me.

I opened it.

The first page contained my mother's name.

The second contained company records.

The third—

Was a birth certificate.

I stared at it.

My hands began shaking.

"That's impossible."

Marcus watched me carefully.

"What?"

I looked up.

"This isn't my birth certificate."

"No."

"It's Elena's."

Marcus nodded.

I read the document again.

Elena wasn't listed as my father's biological daughter.

She had been adopted.

I looked at Marcus.

"Why?"

"Because your mother discovered Elena's real identity."

My heart raced.

"Who is she?"

"We don't know yet."

"Then why hide it?"

"Because someone was willing to kill for the answer."

I closed the file.

"Was that why my mother died?"

Marcus didn't answer.

I already knew.

Or at least I knew enough.

My mother hadn't simply died.

She had been silenced.

I sat down.

"Everything I knew about my family was a lie."

Marcus sat across from me.

"Not everything."

"What wasn't a lie?"

He looked at me.

"You."

I frowned.

"What?"

"Your mother loved you."

My eyes burned.

"How do you know?"

"Because she asked me to protect you."

I couldn't breathe.

"When?"

"Before she died."

"Why didn't you?"

His expression hardened.

"Because I failed."

Silence filled the room.

Then I asked:

"Did you know I would die?"

"No."

"Did you know they were planning something?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you stop them?"

He looked away.

"Because your father threatened my family."

I stared at him.

"What did he threaten?"

"My younger sister."

I froze.

"There was a time when I thought protecting my family meant staying away from yours."

"And now?"

He looked at me.

"Now you're giving me another chance."

I felt a chill.

Another chance.

The words echoed inside my mind.

The same words the mysterious voice had used.

I stood.

"Marcus."

He looked at me.

"Who sent the messages?"

His expression changed.

"What messages?"

I pulled out my phone.

He read them.

His face became serious.

"Where did you get this number?"

"It called me."

"When?"

"Yesterday."

"What did the person say?"

I told him.

Marcus went silent.

Then he stood.

"You need to leave."

"Why?"

"Now."

"Tell me why."

He walked toward the door.

"Because that person should be dead."

My heart stopped.

"What?"

Marcus looked at me.

"The man who watched you die."

I stared at him.

"Who is he?"

Marcus opened the door.

Before he could answer, the lights went out.

Darkness swallowed the room.

Then—

A sound came from the hallway.

Footsteps.

Someone was running toward us.

Marcus grabbed my hand.

"Stay behind me."

The door burst open.

A shadow rushed inside.

Marcus moved quickly.

There was a brief struggle.

Then the person escaped through the emergency exit.

Marcus ran after them.

I followed.

We reached the staircase.

The stranger was already gone.

But something had fallen onto the floor.

A small silver pendant.

I picked it up.

My heart stopped.

I had seen that pendant before.

Around my mother's neck.

I stared at Marcus.

"Where did this come from?"

His face had gone pale.

"That's impossible."

"What?"

He looked at the pendant.

"Your mother was wearing that when she died."

I stared at it.

Then my phone vibrated.

One message.

Unknown: Now you know where to look.

I typed:

Who are you?

The reply came immediately.

Unknown: Ask your father what happened the night your mother died.

I looked toward Marcus.

"Take me home."

"Why?"

"I need to talk to my father."

Marcus shook his head.

"That's dangerous."

"I don't care."

"You should."

I looked at him.

"My whole life was built on a lie."

I closed my fingers around the pendant.

"I'm done being afraid."

---

When I returned home, my father was still awake.

He was sitting in his study.

He looked up.

"You came back late."

I walked inside.

"I need to ask you something."

He frowned.

"About what?"

"My mother."

His expression changed.

Only for a second.

But I saw it.

Fear.

"Why are you asking about her?"

"Because I found something."

I placed the pendant on his desk.

His face went completely white.

He stood so quickly that his chair fell backward.

"Where did you get that?"

I smiled.

"That's exactly what I want to know."

He stared at the pendant.

Then at me.

"Who gave this to you?"

"Why?"

"Answer me!"

I had never seen my father look that frightened.

I leaned forward.

"Tell me the truth."

He stepped backward.

"You don't understand."

"Then explain it."

His breathing became heavier.

"The night your mother died..."

He stopped.

"What happened?"

Before he could answer, the study door opened.

Elena stood there.

She looked from my father to the pendant.

Her face changed.

"No."

I turned toward her.

"What?"

She whispered:

"Where did you get that?"

I smiled.

"Apparently, everyone knows something except me."

Elena backed away.

My father grabbed her arm.

"Go upstairs."

"Dad—"

"NOW."

She left.

I looked at him.

"Why is she afraid of that pendant?"

He didn't answer.

"Who is Elena?"

Silence.

"Who are her real parents?"

His face became expressionless.

Then he said:

"Leave this alone."

I laughed.

"No."

I walked toward him.

"You took my life once."

He stared at me.

"What?"

I realized my mistake.

I quickly corrected myself.

"You took my future."

He remained silent.

I continued.

"But this time, I won't let you."

I walked out.

Behind me, I heard my father whisper:

"She's remembering."

I stopped.

My heart pounded.

I turned slowly.

"What did you say?"

He looked at me.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then he smiled.

A cold, terrifying smile.

"You really don't remember everything, do you?"

My blood froze.

"What are you talking about?"

He stepped closer.

"Your second chance wasn't supposed to happen."

I stared at him.

"What?"

He whispered:

"Someone brought you back."

My heart slammed against my chest.

He knew.

He actually knew.

"Who?"

He smiled.

"You'll find out."

Then the lights went out.

A scream came from upstairs.

Elena.

I ran toward the staircase.

My father didn't follow.

I reached Elena's room.

The door was open.

The window was shattered.

Elena was gone.

On the floor was another note.

I picked it up.

Only six words were written.

One sister died. One sister returns.

My hands trembled.

Then my phone rang.

Unknown number.

I answered.

A familiar voice whispered:

"Now you understand why I brought you back."

I froze.

"You."

A pause.

Then:

"Yes."

"Who are you?"

The voice became quieter.

"The person who killed you."

My heart stopped.

The call ended.

And behind me—

Someone whispered my name.

I turned.

Marcus stood at the end of the hallway.

His face was pale.

In his hand was a photograph.

He looked at me.

"There's something you need to see."

I walked toward him.

He handed me the photograph.

It showed my mother.

Elena.

My father.

And a fourth person.

A man whose face had been scratched out.

On the back of the photograph were three words:

HE IS YOUR FATHER.

I stared at the message.

Then at Marcus.

"Who is the man in this picture?"

Marcus didn't answer.

Because suddenly—

I recognized the watch on the man's wrist.

I had seen that watch before.

On the night I died.

And the person wearing it...

Was standing downstairs.

Waiting for me.