CHAPTER SEVEN:THE WOMAN WHO WALKED OUT OF HER GRAVE
1028 Words
The city woke beneath a blanket of gray clouds.
Traffic crawled through the streets, coffee shops filled with hurried executives, and the morning news replayed the same headline that had dominated the media for weeks.
"Business Heiress Ariana Vale Ashford Remembered as Family Prepares to Continue Her Legacy."
The anchor smiled politely before moving on to the next story.
To everyone watching, it was just another news report.
To Ariana, it was another reminder that the world had accepted her death.
She switched off the television.
The silence inside the mountain estate settled around her.
Dr. Evelyn placed a warm cup of tea in front of her.
"You don't have to watch it."
"I know."
Ariana wrapped both hands around the cup.
"It still hurts."
"It will."
Evelyn sat beside her.
"But pain has a purpose."
Ariana looked toward the passport lying on the table.
Aurora Blake.
A stranger's name.
A stranger's face.
A stranger's life.
Ethan had already arranged everything—bank accounts, business records, educational certificates, and a history that could withstand the closest scrutiny.
If someone investigated Aurora Blake, they would find a successful financial consultant who had spent years working in Europe before returning to the country.
No one would connect Aurora to Ariana.
That was the point.
"You have one chance," Ethan said as he entered the room.
"If anyone suspects who you are, everything we've built disappears."
Ariana nodded.
"I understand."
He handed her a sleek black folder.
"Your first assignment."
She opened it.
Inside were documents related to Vale Biotech's emergency board meeting.
"The meeting starts in three hours."
"My sister will officially take control today."
"Only if we allow her to."
Ariana frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Ethan smiled for the first time since she'd met him.
"Because today..."
"...we're crashing the meeting."
Across the city, the headquarters of Vale Biotech buzzed with excitement.
Luxury cars lined the entrance.
Journalists gathered outside the glass building, hoping to capture photographs of the company's new chairperson.
Inside, Selena stood before a mirror in the executive lounge.
She wore an elegant cream-colored suit, a diamond necklace glittering around her neck.
She looked every bit the successful businesswoman.
Yet beneath the polished appearance, her nerves were beginning to unravel.
She couldn't forget the phone call.
"Did you enjoy my funeral?"
The words echoed inside her head.
She had barely slept.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
Her lawyer stepped inside.
"The board members have arrived."
"And the inheritance documents?"
"They've accepted the death certificate."
Selena released a slow breath.
"Good."
"Today ends everything."
Meanwhile...
Damien Ashford adjusted the cuffs of his charcoal-gray suit as Noah parked outside Vale Biotech.
"You really think we should be here?" Noah asked.
Damien stared at the towering building.
"Ariana died because of this company."
"If there's even a chance someone inside was involved..."
"...I intend to find out."
They entered through the main lobby.
Conversations stopped.
Employees whispered.
No one expected the billionaire CEO of Ashford Group to attend a board meeting that had nothing to do with his own company.
Selena noticed him immediately.
Surprise flashed across her face before she forced a smile.
"Damien."
"I didn't know you were coming."
"I decided at the last minute."
He kissed her cheek politely.
"I wanted to pay my respects to Ariana."
Something in his voice made Selena uneasy.
At the same moment...
A black luxury sedan stopped across the street.
Ariana sat in the back seat.
Her dark hair had been cut to shoulder length.
Soft caramel highlights framed her face.
Colored contact lenses transformed her familiar emerald eyes into a striking shade of hazel.
The subtle scar near her temple disappeared beneath flawless makeup.
Even her posture had changed.
The grieving widow was gone.
In her place sat a confident businesswoman dressed in a navy pantsuit.
Ethan glanced at her.
"Nervous?"
She smiled faintly.
"A little."
"Good."
"Overconfidence gets people killed."
He handed her an access card.
"Ready?"
Ariana looked at the massive glass building where she'd once worked beside her father.
Memories flooded her mind.
Her first internship.
Late-night meetings.
Birthday celebrations.
The office her father had proudly shown her.
Everything inside those walls had been stolen from her.
Not anymore.
She stepped out of the car.
For the first time since her funeral...
Ariana walked back into her own company.
Only now...
She entered as someone else.
Inside the boardroom, the directors took their seats.
Selena stood at the head of the polished conference table.
"Ladies and gentlemen."
"Thank you for attending."
She paused dramatically.
"As you all know, the tragic passing of my beloved sister has left this company without its rightful leader."
She lowered her eyes, pretending to fight back tears.
"It is my duty to continue her father's legacy."
Several board members nodded sympathetically.
Just as Selena reached for the official transfer documents—
The conference room doors opened.
Every head turned.
A woman walked in with effortless confidence.
Her heels echoed against the marble floor.
She carried a slim leather portfolio.
Behind her came Ethan.
The room fell silent.
Selena frowned.
"I believe this meeting is private."
The woman smiled politely.
"It is."
She placed a sealed envelope on the table.
"Which is why I'm here on behalf of a shareholder."
Selena's smile faded.
"What shareholder?"
The woman met her gaze.
"My name is Aurora Blake."
"I represent interests that cannot be ignored."
Damien looked up.
For a brief second...
Something about the stranger felt strangely familiar.
He couldn't explain it.
It wasn't her face.
It wasn't her voice.
It was the calm determination in her eyes.
The same determination Ariana had shown whenever she refused to back down from a challenge.
His heart skipped.
Aurora glanced at him for only a moment before turning back to the board.
"I apologize for the interruption."
"But before this meeting continues..."
"...there is evidence that the proposed transfer of ownership may be legally invalid."
The room erupted into shocked whispers.
Selena's face turned deathly pale.
She stared at Aurora as if she'd seen a ghost.
And for the first time since Ariana's funeral...
She wondered if the dead had truly come back for revenge.
- Writer
