Greta nervously wrung her hands. "But Nellie and Nina are both gone. Cameron won''t just let this go. He already suspects me..."

    “So what if he does?” herpanion replied, unfazed. “He''s got nothing on you. As long as you stick to your story, time''s on your side. Sooner orter, when he can''t find any proof, he''ll end up thinking he''s wronged you-his so-called savior. Won''t that just make him even more guilty? When the moment''s right, you can guilt-trip him into marrying you. He won''t be able to say no."

    A grin broke across Greta''s face. "You''re right. That makes sense."

    Listening from the shadows, Nathalie''s face went pale with fury. Balling her fists, she stormed up to the heartless director, swinging at him with all her strength.

    "So you''re the monster who killed Nina."

    "You''re the one who drugged me, kept me sick and helpless..."

    "I swear, you''ll pay for everything you''ve done!"

    But her fists just passed through him-she couldn''t touch him at all.

    The truth hit Nathalie hard: she was powerless here.

    She''d have to find another way.

    Face dark with frustration, Nathalie left the hospital and stepped into the bustling street. She nced down at her own dress-its style and fabric totally different

    from the modern clothes around her. She stuck out like a sore thumb.

    Yet in that feeling of not belonging, Nathalie found a surprising rity.

    Her hatred for Cameron, once overwhelming, suddenly felt less sharp—almost gentler. She even felt a flicker of sympathy for him.

    Sure, he''d made mistakes. He never really loved her in the beginning, which is why he let her donate her kidney to his first love. But after that, he''d kept his promises. He fell for Nellie, stayed faithful, worked hard, took care of his wife and daughter.

    He hadn''t caused their deaths-he was a victim too.

    The real viins were the director, who''d sold his conscience and used tainted

    needles on Nina, pumped her full of drugs. And Greta, pulling strings behind the curtain.

    Those were the ones she should truly hate.

    As for Cameron...

    Nathalie was honest with herself for

    once: if, aftering back to life, her memories had stayed clear-and it she''d married Cameron without always plotting to run-would have eventually drifted away from

    he

    Greta and chosen his family, just like he did in this world?

    But life rarely gives us "what ifs."

    She and Cameron had ended up as strangers, barely able to look at each other. Maybe that was just fate.

    After everything she''d been through, tasting every bitter and sweet moment life had to offer, Nathalie couldn''t hold onto old grudges anymore.

    Nowhere else to go, she looked up and spotted a skyscraper across the street. The gold letters above the entrance zed in the sunlight: Morris Corporation.

    Nathan''s face shed through her mind, making her lips curve into a smile. She headed for the building, hope fluttering in her chest.

    But before she could even reach the door, a jet of ck light shot out, hitting her square in the chest and throwing her backward.

    Clutching her aching chest, Nathalie struggled to her feet. That''s when she noticed the two fierce-looking

    stone qilins nking the em

    The ck light hade from the red gems set in the cors around their necks.

    Inside those gems, flecks of vermilion shimmered and danced, glowing hypnotically.