After the incident, Hazel had spread the vicious rumor far and wide, branding me as "soiled goods."

She’d even come to me, her eyes glittering with triumph. "Carmen, care to guess who sent that man to your room?"

In that moment, the final piece clicked into place. The entire ordeal had been her doing.

The memory sent a fresh wave of anger through me, my fists clenching. I was about to retort, but Alexander spoke first.

"Is that a fact?" His voice was dangerously quiet, his gaze locked on Hazel.

Mistaking his tone for curiosity, she preened. "It's true! Carmen was defiled by some filthy old—"

She never finished the sentence.

Without another word, Alexander's foot shot out, catching her squarely in the stomach and sending her crashing to the floor.

A collective gasp rippled through the hall. All conversation ceased.

Brad's face turned a sickly gray. "Mr. Morland, my deepest apologies! This is my failure. I have been too lax in disciplining my sister."

Alexander's voice was pure ice. "If I ever hear her slander my fiancée again, I’ll make sure she can’t stand another day in this city. In fact, your entire family can pack their bags and leave with her. I suggest you teach her some respect. Immediately."

Brad bowed his head in a panic. "Yes, sir. It will be done."

He strode over and delivered three sharp, brutal strikes to Hazel's face, left and right.

"Aah! Stop! It hurts!" she wailed, her screams piercing the stunned silence.

Mrs. Morland's voice cut through the commotion, calm yet absolute. "Let this be clear to everyone. This young woman is my daughter-in-law. Her name is Carmen Bingley. If I hear of anyone mistreating her, I will return the favor tenfold."

"Feel better now?" Alexander murmured, holding me close.

"It's exhilarating," I whispered, half laughing. Felt like clearing years of smoke from my lungs.

…

Hazel's public spectacle had an unexpected benefit: it fast-tracked my relationship with Alexander. Overnight, everyone knew I was the Morlands' chosen daughter-in-law, and the respect they showed me was entirely new.

As for Hazel, Brad had dragged her away, his face thunderous with humiliation. In my last life, he'd kept his vicious nature hidden much longer, but today's events had torn the mask off prematurely. I knew her nightmare was just beginning, and I wondered if she had the strength to survive it.

For a while, she left me alone, giving me the precious time I needed to make money and plan my escape from this gilded cage. Rebirth had taught me one undeniable truth: the only person you can truly rely on is yourself.

I was in the middle of my job search when Alexander contacted me.

His text was straightforward: [Come work at my company. Starting salary: 5,000 dollars a month, plus bonuses.]

It was perfect—the high-paying job I’d been looking for. I accepted immediately.

But on my way to the interview, a cloth was suddenly clamped over my mouth, smelling sickly sweet.

I woke up disoriented in a grimy public restroom. The floor was slick with water, the air thick with a nauseating stench. And standing over me was the same man who had attacked me at the orphanage.

His yellowed teeth were bared in a lewd grin. "After I'm done with you, you can forget about being the Morlands' daughter-in-law. Oh, and don't worry, I've already sent them an invitation to the show."

A cold smile touched my lips. "It seems the flower vase last time didn't teach you a strong enough lesson."

"What did you say?" he snarled.

Ignoring the filth, I pushed myself up from the wet tiles and pulled a knife from my pocket. The blade gleamed, sharpened to a fine edge.

"You really think I'd fall for the same trap twice?"

Before he could react, I slashed the blade across my own arm. Blood welled up instantly, and I smeared it over my clothes and skin.

Right on cue, the door burst open.

"Mr. Morland, please don't hurt Carmen! She's just... lonely, that's why she's meeting a man in a place like this—"

Hazel's plea died in her throat as she saw me, standing there, and covered in blood.