Before I got married, I was blinded by love, completely trusting Adrian Jones and letting him manipulate me effortlessly. After our wedding, I endured endless mind games from him and his mother.

In the sixth year of our marriage, Adrian tricked me into taking a trip to the Caribbean, promising a magical experience of seeing the starlit ocean from underwater. Instead, he left me to die in a shark cage, hoping to inherit my fortune, marry his mistress, and seize control of my businesses. Tragically, my five-year-old daughter, Chana, would end up abused to death. And my dear friend, who vowed to seek justice for me, would ruin her future in the process.

But now, as I sit in my office, staring at the land rights transfer agreement in my hand, I realize I have been given a second chance. My daughter is alive, my company is still under my control, and my loyal friend Novah hasn't ended up in prison. I have a fresh start.

Reflecting on my past naivety, mistaking a wolf in sheep's clothing for a lifelong partner while enduring the duo's manipulative games, fills me with regret. This time, I will not let history repeat itself.

Just as I reach for the phone to call my daughter, my husband barges in with his mother, Itzel, and Carla Gibson. Carla picks up the cologne on my desk and sprays it, twice.

"Riley, have you transferred that plot of land in West End to me yet?" Carla asks casually, slipping my cologne into her pocket. "My friends are waiting to see it."

Five years ago, Adrian brought a visibly pregnant Carla home, introducing her as his cousin, though in reality, she was his mistress. Their deceit, expecting me to accept sharing my life with her and support her, makes me sick.

"I'm not planning to transfer that land to your name," I say firmly, tearing up the transfer document and tossing it into the trash.

Itzel jumps up, incensed. "How can you go back on your word? You agreed it was mine. I never wanted Adrian to marry you in the first place, and now the truth is out!"

Adrian tries to calm his mother down. "Mom, be nicer with your words. Riley isn't like that." Yet he turns to apply pressure on me. "Riley, you know Mom's health isn't great. You agreed to transfer the land today. I’ve even set up a meeting with the lawyer later."

I calmly send a message from my phone. Carla also chimes in, trying to sweet-talk me. "Come on, sis, you don't really need that land. Why cause trouble with Auntie over nothing?"

I give them a cold smile. "If not giving you my assets makes you unhappy, should I hand over my life too?"

Itzel was seething with anger.

"Riley, what's gotten into you? You used to follow me everywhere, saying you'd do anything to make me happy."

In my previous life, I had indeed given that piece of land to Itzel. But she had promptly handed it over to Adrian, who made quite a bit of money from it, only to lose everything at the poker table later.

I spoke calmly, "I have plans to develop luxury homes on this property now. I can't just give it away."

Adrian's façade slipped, his expression turning sour.

"Money, money, money. Is that all that matters to you now? Is money more important than our happiness? When did you become so distant? Are you still my Riley?"

This jerk was trying to manipulate me again. Thankfully, I no longer fell for his lies.

I brushed his hand away. "Without money, how am I supposed to support you and your mother? You both do nothing but demand cash from me. Where do you think I get it?"

Adrian hadn't anticipated my response, standing there momentarily stunned.

Just then, the manager from our development department entered with the project proposal for the luxury homes.

I laid out a choice for Adrian: "The estimated revenue for this project is about $20 billion, excluding the cost of the land. If you can come up with that money, I'll let you take it over."

The manager couldn't help but chuckle.

Adrian's face turned a series of livid shades.

Itzel declared she felt faint, calling me a curse and claiming I only brought her misery. Adrian and Carla helped her to the couch.

"Riley, I'm begging you, she's my only mom. Can't you just agree with her for once?" Adrian pleaded, his head hanging low.

"Sure, we could stop the project, but then we'd have to pay tens of millions in penalties. How about we sell all the properties to cover those costs, hmm?"

The mere mention of selling the house left Adrian speechless, not a sound from him or his supposedly fainting mother. She recovered quickly enough, back on her feet in no time.

To prevent Adrian Jones from harboring any lingering schemes, I organized a press conference and publicly announced the launch of our upscale real estate project. Once the event wrapped up, Carla Gibson invited me to visit a jewelry store with her. She had her eye on a piece created by a famous jeweler, carrying a price tag in the seven figures.

"Cousin, isn't this jewelry gorgeous? Does it look good on me?" Over the years, she had not only comfortably settled into my private estate but also secured a notable position in my company's finance department. Along with Adrian, they had siphoned off a considerable amount of money from the company.

"This piece is fairly average. I'm aware there are far more exquisite ones here," I remarked, motioning to the store manager. He promptly unveiled a new collection, with prices that had doubled. Carla couldn't stop comparing the jewelry, looking thoroughly pleased.

"Cousin, I need a favor from you. I'm an illegitimate child without proper documentation, and now Jabari is about to start preschool. Could you let him use your records for enrollment?" She had made this request in my previous life as well. At that time, I thought her situation was unfortunate, being a single mother with a complex background, and I agreed to help.

But later, when I faced trouble, Carla—driven by her desire to inherit my entire estate—neglected my daughter Chana during a severe fever. In the end, my daughter was left to die in the fire.