A Second Chance For Revenge

The alarm clock startled me awake, its shrill beeping pulling me from the haze of sleep. My eyes flew open, and for a moment, I just stared at the ceiling, my heart pounding as if I'd been running a race. Something felt… strange.

I sat up slowly, looking around. The pale blue walls of my bedroom, the familiar soft white curtains swaying with the breeze, the cluttered desk in the corner—it was all the same.

Too much the same.

I grabbed my phone from the bedside table, my hands shaking. When the screen lit up, my breath caught in my throat. The date stared back at me like a ghost from my past.

It was exactly one year ago—the day I was supposed to go wedding dress shopping.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head. It couldn't be. I remembered everything too clearly. The betrayal. The lies and shattered dreams. And before that, I had died—I remembered that pain, the coldness creeping into my body as Josey, my stepmother, unplugged my ventilator in the hospital.

"I… I'm back?" I whispered to myself, my voice shaky. My mind raced as I tried to make sense of it all. I had died. I was sure of it. But now, I had been given another chance—a chance to rewrite everything, to stop the lies, to protect myself, and to get even with those who had betrayed me.

I stood up from the bed, my legs wobbling slightly as I walked toward the mirror on my wardrobe door. My reflection stared back at me, looking exactly as I remembered. The same long, dark hair, the same weary eyes. But there was something else in that reflection now—something stronger, fiercer.

This time, I wouldn't be a victim.

I sat at my desk, trying to piece everything together. Memories of my last moments flooded back like a tidal wave. Josey's cold, detached face as she stood by my hospital bed, her fingers pulling the plug as if it was just another chore for her. The numbness that spread through my body, the suffocating darkness that followed.

But then there was light—a blinding, surreal light that surrounded me, filling me with warmth and a strange sense of peace. And now… this.

I clenched my fists. "I won't let them win again," I said quietly, the words steady despite the storm inside me.

I thought of Desmond—his lies, his betrayal. I had loved him, trusted him, and believed we were building a life together. But it had all been a farce, a cruel game he had played to get close to Tila, my stepsister.

And Tila—always so confident, so sure that everything in the world revolved around her. She had stood by, watching my pain, knowing full well that Desmond's heart belonged to her.

Not this time.

I got up, got dressed, and headed to the wedding dress shop with a clear purpose in mind. This was my chance to do the right thing, to take control of my life. The first step was to end my engagement with Desmond. It had to be done, no matter what.

*********************

Back To Present Time

The next morning, after Josey tried to persuade me to reconcile with Desmond and I firmly refused, I found myself wandering through the house. The walls, the furniture, the little details I had grown up with—they all felt different now. Familiar, yes, but also suffocating, as if they were holding me back from the freedom I now craved.

It was a strange feeling, knowing what the future could hold if I allowed it to unfold the same way. But I wouldn't let that happen. Not this time.

As I passed by the living room, the sound of voices caught my attention. I froze mid-step, Josey's sharp tone unmistakable. Then, I heard Tila's laughter, that smug, self-assured laugh that always set my nerves on edge.

Curiosity piqued, I crept closer, staying out of sight but positioning myself where I could hear every word.

"I'm telling you, Mother," Tila said, her voice dripping with confidence. "Phillip Becker is perfect. He's the second son of the Becker Group. Do you know what that means? Wealth. Power. Influence."

My heart skipped a beat. Phillip? She was talking about Phillip?

Josey's voice softened into a chuckle. "And you think you can win him over, just like that?"

"Of course," Tila replied, laughing lightly. "Why wouldn't I? I've never failed at anything, have I? From childhood to now, I've always gotten what I wanted."

Her words felt like a slap. That certainty in her tone, the way she dismissed the possibility of failure, made my stomach churn.

"And you're sure Phillip will fall for you?" Josey asked, though the tone in her voice revealed she already believed in Tila's infallibility.

Tila scoffed. "He'd be a fool not to. I'm Tila, after all. Who could resist me?"

Her arrogance was like a fire, igniting something deep inside me. My chest burned with anger, a slow, simmering rage at her entitlement, her utter disregard for anyone else's feelings. I stepped back from the doorway, the walls of the house suddenly feeling too close, too oppressive.

I turned on my heel and walked away, the sound of their laughter echoing behind me. My mind raced, hurt and determination intertwined in a way that felt both heavy and empowering.

Tila thought she could take everything, claim anything she wanted without question. But this time, she wouldn't. Not with Phillip. Not while I had the chance to stop her.

With my mind made up, I knew I had to act quickly. I would no longer allow Tila to get everything she wanted without consequences. She had always been the favorite, the one who could do no wrong in Josey's eyes, but that wouldn't protect her this time. I had learned too much from my past mistakes to let her win without a fight. I could feel the resolve building inside me.

There was no more room for fear. No more waiting for something to happen. I would take control now. The game h

ad changed, and I wasn't going to be the one left behind. Not again.