Chapter 1: Return to Despair

Emma Roberts opened her eyes and was immediately confronted by a pair of eyes that sent chills down her spine, a terror that shook her very soul.

"Ah—"

Her pale fingers clutched the quilt tightly beneath her.

The searing pain in her body surged once again as if she was reliving the torment.

Could this be hell?

Why, despite being dead, had she returned here, back to this man’s side?

Her mind was a haze, heated by the man's fervent touch. Instinctively, she resisted, "Don't touch me!!!"

The man's movements paused, then his face, twisted with bloodlust, darkened ominously. His thin, cold lips descended with destructive intent, as if he wanted to devour her entirely.

Emma Roberts was in so much pain that she couldn't think clearly, muttering unconsciously, "Why... why me... Logan Black... why must it be me..."

"Because, it can only be you."

The man's deep, hoarse voice echoed in her ears like chains, imprisoning even her soul.

Hearing the same response from her past life, Emma Roberts slipped into unconsciousness.

...

When she opened her eyes again, it was daylight.

The air was filled with the refreshing scent of flowers, and the morning sunlight streaming through the window brought a sense of relaxation.

However, in the next moment, Emma Roberts tensed up.

A powerful oppressive aura spread throughout the room as the man woke up.

An arm tightened around her waist, holding her like a pillow in his embrace.

"Still trying to escape?"

The chilling voice whispered in her ear.

Driven by survival instinct, Emma Roberts instinctively nodded.

The man gazed at her for a moment, then lowered his head, kissing her lips, chin, and neck...

His hot, heavy breaths buried in her neck emitted a constant signal of danger.

Emma Roberts lay still like a deer caught in headlights, not daring to move.

Eventually, the man released her.

In the next moment, Emma Roberts’s eyes took in an extremely alluring scene.

The man, half-naked, got out of bed, his tall and slender figure outlined against the light.

This view lasted only a moment as he quickly picked up his clothes and meticulously buttoned his shirt up to the collar.

Moments ago, he had been as fierce as a beast, yet now, his handsome face was cold and devoid of any warmth.

When the sound of the door closing echoed, Emma Roberts finally relaxed her tensed nerves.

She could finally assess her current situation.

Slowly, she took in her surroundings and the familiar yet strange reflection in the mirror opposite her.

The girl in the mirror had remnants of black lipstick on her lips, the smokey makeup on her face smeared by tears and sweat, and her body was covered in bruises and kisses, with large, bloody tattoos.

To avoid Logan Black, she had deliberately made herself look disgusting.

She had really been reborn...

A wave of fear and despair nearly suffocated her.

She had returned to the night when she was forcibly taken by an enraged Logan Black for trying to escape!

Why...

Why had she returned to seven years ago!

Even if she died, she didn't want to come back here, to this man’s side.

Because of him, she lost her lover, her family, her dignity, and her entire life was ruined!

Would she have to go through all of it again?

No, since heaven had given her a second chance, she would change everything!

But how was she supposed to change things?

Logan Black could crush her like an ant. He always got what he wanted.

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Emma Roberts took a deep breath, pushing back the fear of that man embedded in her bones.

There had to be a way!

At least she wasn't the foolish, impulsive girl she was seven years ago.

"God! Emma Roberts..." Suddenly, an excited exclamation came from the doorway.

Hearing this familiar voice, Emma Roberts’s back stiffened, and her cold gaze shot towards the door.

There stood a girl she would never forget, with a delicate and disarming face.

Her best friend from her previous life, Olivia Montgomery!

"Emma Roberts, how could Logan Black do this to you!" Olivia Montgomery rushed over, grabbing her hand, her eyes falling in shock on the messy bed and her bruised body.

Emma Roberts quietly watched the girl opposite her, who seemed full of concern. This time, she didn't miss the flash of jealousy and gloating in her eyes.

"Emma Roberts, what’s wrong? Are you okay? Emma Roberts, don’t scare me!" Olivia Montgomery, seeing her strange expression, assumed she was in shock and asked anxiously.

Emma Roberts withdrew her hand and shook her head, "I’m fine."

In her previous life, Olivia Montgomery had played a significant role in her suffering at Logan Black's hands.

During her lowest points, Olivia Montgomery had always stayed by her side, even repeating a year with her. Emma Roberts had believed Olivia Montgomery was genuinely kind, even considering her as her future sister-in-law. Little did she know, Olivia Montgomery's true goal was to get close to Logan Black.

Emma Roberts had confided in Olivia Montgomery about the horrors with Logan Black, trusting her alone. Yet, Olivia Montgomery had pretended to help her while actually driving a wedge between her and Logan Black, leading to his violent reprisals.

And Emma Roberts, in her ignorance, had been grateful to Olivia Montgomery for her "help".

Looking at herself in the mirror, Emma Roberts smiled bitterly.

Olivia Montgomery’s "disguise" idea, she had agreed to. No matter how others saw her, as long as it made Logan Black hate her.

But she hadn't expected even in this guise, Logan Black could still want her.

"Emma Roberts, you can’t be fine! Don’t worry, I’ll help you!" Olivia Montgomery declared with righteous indignation.

Emma Roberts’s heart turned cold. Of course, Olivia Montgomery was making her move.

In her previous life, Olivia Montgomery had done the same, gallantly offering to help her escape and even getting Christopher Harris involved.

The result was Olivia Montgomery selling her out, telling Logan Black about her "elopement" with Christopher Harris.

This had made Logan Black even more violent and possessive...

With her current capabilities, going head-to-head with Logan Black was suicide.

In her previous life, she had been stubborn and blindly trusted Olivia Montgomery, repeatedly crashing into the same wall.

She had so much to do: avenge her family, rescue her parents, bring her brother back from his dark path.

She needed to keep Logan Black calm and avoid provoking him further, making him an even more formidable enemy.

"Emma Roberts, wait for me!" Olivia Montgomery said more empty words and then eagerly left.

After Olivia Montgomery was gone, Emma Roberts’s helpless, fragile expression turned cold and numb.

Olivia Montgomery had repeatedly pushed her towards death, determined to see her destroyed.

Well, this time, let's see who ends up destroyed!

Three days passed.

In these three days, Emma Roberts did not go to school, spending most of her time sleeping and organizing memories from her past life.

Logan Black, just as in her past, didn’t appear for three days. The servants in the house did their tasks silently, avoiding eye contact with her.

The mansion felt like a tomb.

Emma Roberts changed out of her pajamas, glanced at the clock, and headed downstairs into the garden.

The moonlight tonight was beautiful, and the cool breeze made this golden cage, which she had loathed so much, seem less hateful.

In fact, the garden’s scenery was superb. Logan Black had personally designed it, hiring a top architectural team, and it took five years to complete on the best piece of feng shui land in the Imperial Capital.

But in her previous life, she had hated it, seeing it only as a prison and wanting to destroy it.

Everywhere she looked, there were burnt plants, intentionally clipped flower beds, and a murky pond... all her handiwork.

"Emma Roberts—"

A familiar voice suddenly broke the night’s silence.

Emma Roberts looked away from the withered roses and towards the direction of the voice.

In the dim light, a man in an expensive, luxurious custom suit stood, with deep, handsome features.

She had to admit, Christopher Harris did have the charisma to make her fall for him.

But compared to the demonic Logan Black, he seemed bland.

Christopher Harris stood a few steps away, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly as he looked at her.

Emma Roberts noticed his subtle reaction and looked down at her outfit.

She was still dressed in her non-mainstream heavy metal attire, with makeup that could scare people.

Because her wardrobe had no normal clothes, she kept her previous appearance to avoid suspicion from a sudden drastic change.

Christopher Harris’s cold gaze held disappointment, "Emma Roberts! How could you degrade yourself like this, letting anyone ruin you!"

Degrade herself?

Emma Roberts savored the words, full of self-mockery.

In her previous life, she had devoted her heart to him, even turning herself into this ghostly figure to protect her chastity.

In return, she got accused of degrading herself.

She knew Olivia Montgomery hadn’t spoken well of her to Christopher Harris, but if he had any feelings for her, he wouldn't believe just Olivia Montgomery’s words.

Because Olivia Montgomery was her best friend and often visited her, she could freely enter and leave. Christopher Harris had clearly been brought in by her.

Thinking this, Emma Roberts was about to speak when a chill ran down her spine.

Logan Black...

He was nearby!

She instinctively sensed his presence.

In her previous life, she hadn't known Olivia Montgomery had sold her out, leading Logan Black to witness everything and becoming the start of her nightmares...

Emma Roberts exhaled lightly, forcing herself to ignore Logan Black’s presence. She looked coldly at the self-righteous Christopher Harris, and laughed, "What identity are you using to question me? My ex-fiancé? Or... my cousin-in-law?"

Hearing the obvious sarcasm in her voice, Christopher Harris’s face darkened, "Emma Roberts, I know you blame me, but I had no choice. No matter what, I have a responsibility for what happened to you. Come with me now, I’ll take you away from the Imperial Capital!"

In her previous life, she felt guilty for losing her virginity and didn’t rebut his harsh words. Hearing he wanted to take her away, she was deeply moved, thinking he still cared for her.

How pitifully foolish she had been.

It was just his pride talking.

She had been his fiancée, now a mistress to Logan Black. How could he face such humiliation if it got out?

When he offered to take her away, Emma Roberts felt the surrounding temperature drop sharply.

In the shadows a few steps away, a man’s face blended with the night, his aura menacing and ready to erupt.

Logan Black’s aide, Matthew Parker, was sweating profusely, legs trembling.

What a life, to witness the boss's woman attempting to elope with another man at night!

Since Emma Roberts entered the boss's life, none of them had peace. Whenever the boss got angry, they all suffered.

And this woman’s specialty was enraging Logan Black.

This time, the boss’s rage level could incinerate the entire Imperial Capital!

Matthew Parker closed his eyes in despair, not needing to see to know how green his boss’s head was about to become...

Christopher Harris, seeing her immobility, grew impatient and reached out to grab her.

Emma Roberts deftly stepped back, evading his touch.

"Emma Roberts?" Christopher Harris frowned.

Emma Roberts’s expression turned cold, "Christopher Harris, did I ever say I’d go with you?"

Christopher Harris’s eyes filled with pity, "Emma Roberts, Logan Black’s just toying with you. Why degrade yourself to get back at me!"

He believed she was trying to get his attention because he thought she was deeply in love with him and always obedient.

"Degrade myself?"

Emma Roberts laughed as if hearing a joke, "Logan Black is richer, more powerful, better looking, and has a better body than you. Sleeping with him once is better than a lifetime with you! Where do you get the confidence to say such things?"

"You..." Christopher Harris hadn’t expected such words, his face darkened.

Meanwhile, the dark figure’s raging aura suddenly calmed, like a soothed beast.

Matthew Parker, feeling like he’d narrowly escaped death, looked at Emma Roberts in surprise.

What had gotten into Miss Ye today?

This wasn’t like her. She should be eager to elope with Christopher Harris!

Was this reverse psychology?

Christopher Harris was genuinely angry now, warning coldly, "Emma Roberts, don’t be childish. Logan Black’s background is unfathomable, and he’s a killer. Do you know how many lives he’s taken? Staying with him is suicidal!"

Emma Roberts yawned lazily, then her eyes glinted with mischief, "So what, better to die under a peony than to live a dull life."

In the next instant, Emma Roberts's voice softened, and she stepped closer to Christopher Harris, her tone pleading, "But, Christopher Harris, if you really care about me, why didn't you come for me earlier? Why wait until now?"

Christopher Harris seemed taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor. He hesitated, then said, "Emma Roberts, I was... preoccupied. But now I’m here to take you away from this hell."

Emma Roberts shook her head sadly, "It's too late. Logan Black won’t let me go easily. He’s... dangerous."

She cast a quick glance towards the shadows where she knew Logan Black was lurking. She needed to play this carefully. "Christopher Harris, you should leave before he finds you here. I don't want you to get hurt."

Christopher Harris's expression hardened, "I’m not leaving without you, Emma Roberts. I can't abandon you here with that monster."

Emma Roberts sighed inwardly. She had to get rid of Christopher Harris before Logan Black lost his patience. "Please, just go. If you care about me at all, you’ll leave now and stay safe."

Christopher Harris looked like he wanted to argue, but then he nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But I’ll be back for you, Emma Roberts. I promise."

He turned and walked away, casting one last glance back at her before disappearing into the night.

Emma Roberts let out a shaky breath. She knew this wasn’t over. Christopher Harris would come back, and Logan Black would only grow more possessive and dangerous.

From the shadows, Logan Black stepped forward, his eyes cold and calculating. "Are you satisfied now?" His voice was like ice, sending shivers down her spine.

Emma Roberts met his gaze, her heart pounding. "Logan Black... I didn’t..."

His hand shot out, gripping her chin harshly. "Do you think you can play games with me, Emma Roberts? Do you think I’m a fool?"

She winced but didn’t look away. "No, Logan Black. I would never..."

He cut her off, his grip tightening. "Remember this, Emma Roberts. You belong to me. There’s no escape. Not now, not ever."

With that, he released her roughly and walked away, leaving her standing there, trembling with fear and anger.

She knew she had to be more careful. One wrong move, and she could lose everything. She had to find a way to survive, to protect those she loved, and to ultimately break free from Logan Black’s grasp.