Reborn to Reclaim: Tear Down the White Lotus and Take My Fortune

The freezing rain mixed with blood, dripping down Evelyn's cheeks. She lay face-down in the mud behind the Carter mansion. Her legs were completely numb—Dylan had shoved her down the stairs three hours ago. And her dear sister, Claire, just stood there watching. Those big, teary eyes of hers? Cold as ice. “Oh, don't blame me, sis,” Claire crouched down. Her innocent-looking face twisted in the rain, all wrong and creepy. “I mean… you really should've seen it coming. You handed everything over to other people. How dumb is that?” Evelyn wanted to scream. Wanted to demand answers. But all that came out was a broken, breathy rasp. Then she saw Dylan walking toward her. The man who'd once dropped to one knee with a ring. Now he held a document. “The Carter Group equity transfer agreement.” He smiled. That same smile she'd once fallen for. “Your father signed it in his hospital room—right after his little ‘accidental’ car crash. So now… all we need is your fingerprint.” He grabbed her bloody, mangled hand and pressed it against the sensor. Beep— A searing pain shot through Evelyn's eyes. And then she remembered. Everything. Her parents' car accident three months ago? Never an accident. That bowl of “calming soup” Claire brought Dad every day? Poison. The “sanatorium” Dylan so thoughtfully arranged for Mom? A prison. It was all a setup. And her—the love-blind fool—she'd personally handed over the company's confidential files to Dylan. She'd even nodded along when he hinted that her parents were too old-fashioned, holding the business back. “You… you'll die a horrible death,” she forced out, her last bit of strength. Claire let out a soft laugh. Sweet. Nauseating. “Don't worry, sis. Rest in peace, okay? I'll take really good care of everything. After all… I am Mom and Dad's most devoted daughter. Aren't I?” Dylan straightened his cuffs. “Clean this up. No traces.” He turned and walked away. Didn't even glance back. Evelyn felt her life slipping—fast. Regret bit into her heart like a snake. If only I could do it all over again… go back to before any of this happened… She stared at Claire's fake, hypocritical face. Burned it into her soul. If there was another life, she'd make those two pay. Blood for blood. She'd protect her parents. Defend the family legacy. And drag every last one of them straight to hell. Right before her consciousness faded—a blinding white light flashed through Evelyn's mind. Then she smelled it. Rose perfume. The exact same scent she'd worn at her twentieth birthday banquet. Evelyn's eyes flew open. Above her, the familiar champagne-colored ceiling. She was in her own bed. Sunlight streamed through lace curtains—warm, almost unreal. The digital calendar on her nightstand showed the date. Three full years before her death in the previous life. She sat up slowly. Stared at the mirror—young, innocent face. No suffering. No scars. A cold smile curled her lips. “Claire… Dylan.” Her voice was soft, eerily calm. “This life? I make the rules.” Outside the window, the rose garden of Carter Manor bloomed bright. And Evelyn knew—under that sea of flowers, a carefully planned hunt was just beginning.