Rebirth: A Second chance at life-Chapter 48: A new rival!!

His grip on the pen tightened until his knuckles turned white. Aurora had always been timid, a woman who blended into the background, too weak to stand up for herself. She had been nothing more than a fragile shadow, cowering under the weight of others’ words and actions. A woman who wouldn’t dare raise her voice, let alone fight back.

Yet today, she had walked into the Smith residence with an air of authority, as if she owned the place. She hadn’t just spoken up—she had acted. She had beaten Veronica, the family’s precious daughter, leaving them stunned and humiliated. And then, with no hesitation, she had severed ties with them completely, as if they meant nothing to her.

It was as if she had become an entirely different person overnight.

And now, the Smith Group was suddenly under attack from an unknown force.

He had always disdained Aurora, dismissing her as insignificant, a mere shadow in his life unworthy of his attention. To him, she had been nothing more than a burden, a woman he was forced to acknowledge due to circumstances beyond his control. He never spared her a second glance, never considered her as anything more than a nuisance.

But now, the mere thought of her belonging to another man, of her finding solace in someone else’s arms, ignited a fury so intense it threatened to consume him. His grip tightened, his jaw clenched. She was his wife—even if only in name. How dare she tarnish his reputation, drag his name through the mud as if he were nothing? How dare she show such blatant defiance, as if she no longer feared him?

Then, suddenly, an image of her surfaced in his mind. But it wasn’t the Aurora he had grown accustomed to—the timid, spineless girl who barely spoke above a whisper, who flinched under his cold gaze. No, this Aurora was different. Her eyes gleamed with an unshakable confidence, her posture radiated strength, and there was an undeniable allure in the way she carried herself. The transformation was staggering, the stark contrast between the past and present sending an unsettling ripple through him.

His jaw clenched, his grip tightening around the pen until it almost snapped.

"I will make you pay for this, Aurora," he muttered darkly. "How dare you betray me... and my grandfather."

He turned to Liam, his voice sharp and commanding. freёnovelkiss.com

"Find out where Aurora is. Bring her to me."

Meanwhile, Aurora took a short break from her work to check on Jenny, ensuring she took her medicine before returning to her room. Sitting back in front of her laptop, she resumed what she was doing.

Destroying the Smith Family wasn’t an easy task, especially with their ties to the Brown Group. She had considered taking them down together, but the old man had once shown kindness to the original Aurora. That single act was enough to spare them—for now.

Aurora had already paid with her life.

But if Alexander dared to humiliate her again, she would drag him down without hesitation.

With precise calculations, she manipulated the Smith Group’s stocks, planting the seeds of their downfall. The damage had been done. Now, all she had to do was sit back and watch them collapse.

A low chuckle escaped her lips.

As she idly scrolled through a website, her mind half-distracted, a particular headline caught her eye, halting her movements. Her fingers stilled over the mouse, and her gaze sharpened, narrowing as she absorbed the details of the article.

The more she read, the more intrigue flickered in her eyes. A slow, almost predatory smirk curled at the corners of her lips, a glint of amusement and challenge flashing in her expression. This wasn’t just ordinary news—it was something that piqued her interest, something that stirred a dangerous excitement within her.

Leaning back in her chair, she tapped her fingers against the desk, her mind already whirring with possibilities.

"It seems," she murmured, tilting her head, "I have a rival now."

Her fingers flew across the keyboard, swift and precise, and within moments, the screen displayed a video. She clicked on it, watching intently as the scene unfolded. A soft tsk tsk tsk escaped her lips. "They died too easily," she mused, a hint of disappointment lacing her tone.

Leaning back in her chair, she tapped her fingers against the desk, her thoughts drifting. "Well, well... I never expected Mr. Harper to be this ruthless. Seems like he’ll be my competition now. Let’s see who’s truly the cruelest between the two of us."

But as she thought about the Dongli Clan and the atrocities they had committed, the cold amusement in her gaze dimmed, replaced by a piercing chill. Her expression darkened, and a slow, deadly smile curved her lips. She had dismantled them more times than she could count, yet their elusive leader remained just beyond her grasp. That slippery bastard was always a step ahead, hiding behind a wall of imposters and deceit.

"Not anymore," she muttered, her voice laced with quiet menace. "This time, he got exactly what he deserved."

With that, she shut her laptop and stretched, letting out a soft sigh. Tomorrow would be another long day, and there were many more things left to do. But first, a little rest. Even the devil needed to recharge.

In the Smith family villa, chaos reigned. The once-proud household was now in disarray, tension crackling in the air like a brewing storm.

Stephen Smith, the current head of the family and Veronica’s father, sat in his study, his face twisted with frustration as he shuffled through stacks of reports. His grip on the documents tightened, veins bulging against his skin as he struggled to keep his composure.

Lily, sensing his turmoil, stepped forward, her voice laced with false sweetness. "Honey, is something troubling you?" she cooed, placing a delicate hand on his arm.

But her attempt at comfort only fueled his rage. With a furious growl, Stephen shoved her away, sending her sprawling onto the cold, hard floor. The sharp sound of her fall echoed through the study, but before she could react, his palm cracked across her cheek, leaving a burning red imprint.

"You useless bitch!" he roared, his eyes blazing with fury. "You couldn’t even get your bastard daughter delivered to the Harrisons today! I gave you one simple task, and you failed me!"

Lily clutched her stinging cheek, eyes wide with fear, but Stephen wasn’t finished. He slammed his fist onto the desk, sending papers flying.

"Now look what you’ve done! The Harrisons are turning against us, our stocks have plummeted, and we’re on the brink of disaster! If you don’t bring that wretched girl here right now—" his voice dropped to a deadly whisper, "I will kill you both."

Lily trembled, her heart pounding as she scrambled to her feet. There was no mercy in his gaze, no room for negotiation. She had to act fast—before Stephen’s threats became reality.

Stephen’s mind raced, his fury boiling over as he struggled to make sense of the chaos unfolding around him. In his eyes, there was only one possible explanation—the Harrisons.

"They’re behind this," he muttered under his breath, pacing the length of his study like a caged beast. His fingers raked through his graying hair, frustration mounting. "Those damn Harrisons... they’re retaliating."

His gaze snapped to Lily, still trembling on the floor. His lips curled in disgust. "This is all your fault!" he spat. "If you had done your job and delivered that girl to them, none of this would be happening!"

He slammed his fist onto the desk, rattling the glass of whiskey perched on the edge. "First, Aurora humiliates us by severing ties, and now the Harrisons are making their move? Our stocks are plummeting, our assets are being investigated—it’s too much of a coincidence!"

His chest heaved as he turned back to Lily, eyes burning with rage. "Get her back. Now. If the Harrisons want her, then they’ll have her. And if she resists..." His voice dropped into a deadly whisper. "You know what to do."