Chapter 1️⃣

The tragic dim of the shining star

0"And the best actress award goes to…" the man on the stage paused, and scanned the stars occupying the seats before him. Everyone held their breaths, anticipation brimming in their eyes, waiting patiently for the announcement of the best actress of the year in this prestigious gathering of stars.

"Heaven Liu!!"

A round of applause exploded in the venue as soon as the man announced the name of who won the award. Some audiences turned their heads in Heaven Liu's direction, a rising star who had been making headlines in the past months.

Heaven Liu, the woman sitting at the far back, covered her lips in surprise. Her heart was racing, overwhelmed by this win. Her phoenix eyes shone beautifully as a layer of tears instantly coated her eyes.

Heaven looked around her, only to see people in the industry clapping for her. The host continued to speak his piece while the screen showed the film Heaven starred.

'This is…' Heaven mustered her courage to stand despite the overwhelming feeling that had filled her chest. The applause continued while she marched to the stage to receive the award.

Heaven was a rookie star. She competed against veteran actresses who have been in the industry for decades. Therefore, being nominated in the same category as them was already an honor. Who would have thought she would win?

"Congratulations, Miss Heaven." The host congratulated her with a big smile, handing her the acrylic trophy before giving the stage to her.

Standing in the middle of the stage with the spotlight on her, her beauty stood out. Everyone could tell she looked overwhelmed, but a beauty like her, bearing such a reaction, melted many hearts.

"I…" her lips quivered and her voice cracked. "I want to thank everyone who believed in me and congratulations to those who got nominated. Honoring me with a nomination and putting me in the same category as those I look up to and idolize, I am truly thankful."

The smiles in the crowd widened, especially those who lost the category. Although most of the nominated candidates were established artists, they accepted the fact that they lost to a rookie without any bitterness.

Why would they?

This young actress who just recently rose to fame with the first film she starred in was not only a talented actress but also a humble young lady. The film she did had a low budget, but it became a blockbuster.

"Lastly, I want to…" Heaven shifted her gaze to the camera and lifted her trophy. "... thank my dad for his support. He is surely watching right now, so Dad, your daughter won an award!"

A drop of tears escaped her eyes as she laughed at her last sentence. The crowd also laughed with her before another round of applause exploded in the air. Following that award, Heaven received a series of congratulations from her fellow artists, other companies, agencies, and from fans.

Everyone was expecting her career to take off — to skyrocket to another higher level than the one she had. Heaven was also hopeful.

However, receiving that award was the first and last good thing that happened to her.

*

*

*

*

*

FIVE YEARS LATER…

"Dad…" Heaven sat on the edge of the bed, holding a photo frame under the dimness of the room. Unlike the beautiful eyes she had carried five years ago that brimmed with life, they were now a pair of empty eyes.

Heaven caressed the portrait with her fingertips, gulping down the tension that was building in her throat. She had this urge to cry — to sob, but alas, she couldn't. She couldn't shed another tear because she had been crying in her heart for the past five years.

"I missed you so much, Dad," came out a quiet voice.

Five years ago, Heaven won the best actress award. She celebrated this milestone with everyone attending the after-party. Little did she know, while she was partying, her father was fighting for his life.

That was only one of the worst because the next morning, she woke up in the arms of a man she never met in her life. She didn't have time to think about it because the news about her father's passing reached her.

That was the start of how her life spiraled out of control, and now, here she was.

Five years later, Heaven was married to a man she didn't love just because they have a child she didn't also want. She left her career to become a housewife. Housewife… something she never dreamed of being.

"I am… a failure, am I, Dad?" a ridiculing dry laugh slipped past her lips, placing down the frame to her side. Heaven bent over to reach for the drawer on the bedside table, taking out a bottle of pills she purchased a week ago.

When she straightened her back, her eyes remained on the bottle pill in her hand. They said taking enough of these pills in one go was an instant kill.

"I've endured five years," she whispered, gripping the bottle even tighter. "I cannot anymore."

Heaven opened the lid and poured as much pill into her other hand. She gulped, eyes brimming with determination. She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she reopened them, she raised her hand to her lips.

However, just as her lips parted, and was about to shove the pills into her mouth, she threw them away. Her face crumpled in dismay, eyes bloodshot in anger. Despite the darkness of her room, she could see the pills scattered on the floor.

She couldn't do it.

Heaven tried to take her life countless times in the past five years. But alas, she always stopped at the last second — just when she thought her determination wouldn't wane.

"I hate you…" she muttered through her gritted teeth. "I hate you, Heaven. I hate you."

Tears brimmed her eyes as she covered her face with her palms. She hated herself. She hated herself after that after-party five years ago. Heaven could've stayed beside her father that night, but she chose to celebrate and party.

If only she came home that night, she wouldn't be married now and she probably wouldn't have regrets. However, no amount of regrets could change the past. What was done was done, and she should move on, but Heaven couldn't move on.

Thus, she was stuck in regret for the past five years, hating herself, her life, her family, and everything.

Heaven sobbed quietly as she crawled onto the bed, hugging her father's photo. She lay on her side, curling herself into a ball.

This had been a habit she picked up five years ago. She would try to kill herself, only to stop, and then cry herself to sleep.

Heaven was miserable.

It took her hours to stop the tears, still hiccuping. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her eyes sore and heavy.

'I really should get myself together,' she told herself, gazing at the wall. Usually, she would sleep right after crying. But for some reason, her brain wouldn't let her.

'It was already past midnight,' she thought, feeling the dryness of her throat. Heaven didn't like seeing anyone in this house. At this time, everyone was already sleeping so she could freely get a glass of water to quench her thirst.

But just as Heaven rolled on her back to get out of bed, her eyes went wide. Someone was standing on the other side of the bed. Her room was dark, but she could feel the intense, murderous gaze cast upon her.

"Who —" The rest of her words rolled back to her throat as the person's hand suddenly covered her mouth, jumping on top of her. Heaven tried to scream, but her voice was muffled. Her breath hitched when the person's other hand wrapped around her neck.

"Mhmm!!" Her eyes popped open, feeling the hand tighten around her neck. She struggled as much as she could — something that surprised her since she had always wished for death, but now that death came to her, she was struggling to live.

"Mhm!!" Let me go was what she wanted to say, but everything sounded muffled. Soon, her head felt heavy as the blood circulation stopped. Her struggle grew stronger until they turned weaker and weaker.

'Dad…' her eyes dropped heavily as her grip on the person's arm lost strength. '... Basti, I'm sorry.'

Her consciousness slowly waned until darkness enveloped her.

*

*

*

*

The next day, Heaven was blankly staring at the ceiling. She touched the side of her neck, still feeling the sensation of strangulation last night.

"This woman was strangled to death last night…" Heaven muttered, furrowing her brows. "... and I'm sure I died some time ago. So how in the world am I in this body?"

A woman let out a series of deep coughs, covering her lips with the back of her hand. She was sitting in the back seat of the black sedan.     

"Boss." She glanced to her side, only to see a middle-aged man with a stern expression handing her a handkerchief. She said nothing, snatching the handkerchief to wipe the blood on her lips.     

"Boss, why don't you stay here?" suggested the man in a black suit. Despite his stern countenance, his worry about her condition peeked in his silver eyes.     

"I waited for years," she said, glancing at the blood in the handkerchief. "There's no way in hell I will stay here."     

The man frowned slightly but didn't argue. He only gazed at her side profile, catching how her phoenix eyes burned with determination. Even if the world ended now, no one would be able to stop her.     

Her name was Hera.     

Though not many knew her name, anyone in the underground and crime world would flee if they heard the name she was known of: Hell. The woman at the helm of the most infamous and mysterious assassin organization.     

Many stories came along with the nickname she earned for the past ten years, but not many knew the story of this woman. All they knew was that she was an heiress of the previous don of the organization; that she got into her position because of her origins. Only a few truly acknowledge this woman's excellence in all aspects of life.     

Sadly, this woman was counting her last days.     

"Boss," called the man quietly, but Hera simply cast him a quick side-eye. "Was it worth it? Ever since becoming the head of the organization, you've dedicated your life to finding the late madam's murderer. Although this goal of yours was within your reach, don't you have regrets?"     

Regrets?     

Hera smirked, facing the man squarely. This man had become her father; he was her mother's most loyal retainer. Thus, she understood he cared for her like she was his own.     

"Regrets?" Hera leaned back, her leg was resting over the other. She glanced at the window on her side, watching some men in black approach the mansion in the middle of nowhere. "The only regret I have is I spent ten years hunting down that motherfucker."     

"I could've done it in a year, but considering he was one of the valued members of the organization, it was understandable it took me a while. I could've married, had a kid, and played the role of a good housewife before I died."     

The corner of her red lips curled up into a subtle smile. "Back then, I thought I was lucky to have supportive parents who never pressured me to inherit this organization our family sustained for many generations. However, now that I've grown, it's not that they were supportive. They simply knew those dreams of mine were nothing but dreams because there is no way out in this world. They just didn't want to hurt my feelings."     

"You could still do it!" the man exclaimed, hoping she would listen to him just this once. "Once this is over, you can just retire! No one knew about your condition. We can say you left for a mission and —"     

"Thank you, Bear." Hera faced the man with a smile, cutting him off mid-sentence. "I know you want the best for me, but I am the Don in this family now. Maybe if I was lucky enough to get reborn, I'll pursue that dream. But now, I already pledge to spend my last breath being the head of this organization."     

Hera took a deliberate pause, snapping her eyes at the window upon noticing a person approaching the vehicle. "There's no way out of this world. Even if I retire, my enemies will not stop. They will try to take my head for revenge or honor — I already pity my poor future husband."     

"That is why I'd rather die as Hell and wish I'd get reborn in a normal family," she added, flashing Bear a bright smile she usually wore before the incident ten years ago. "Although it sounds ridiculous, having that thought comforted me in a way. So don't dare pop my bubble."     

Knock Knock.     

A man outside knocked on the window, but Hera and Bear just stared at each other. The latter sighed deeply, forcing a meek smile.     

"Whatever makes you happy," said Bear, nodding in understanding. "I'll pray that the blessings your family has received will fulfill the wish you have."     

Hera chuckled whilst shaking her head. She then rolled down the window to listen to the man's report.     

"We already contained the traitor, Boss," said the man outside the vehicle, giving more details of the place and what went down.     

"I see…" Hera rocked her head in understanding before looking back at Bear. "... I guess it's time to skin him alive."     

The man outside bowed, and then cautiously opened the door. Bear didn't need assistance as he also hitched outside. As soon as he did, he gazed over the roof of the vehicle, only to see the other man handing over his rifle to the boss.     

"A bomb is planted somewhere in the mansion." The side of Hera's lips stretched from ear to ear, lifting the rifle and resting it over her shoulder. "Twenty minutes… that's enough. That pig will have the most agonizing twenty minutes of his life."     

A sinister grin turned up on her face, which many people feared. "Men, let's go!"     

*     

*     

*     

[ PRESENT TIME ]     

Hera, now in Heaven's body, laid on her back with her eyes fixed on the ceiling as she reminisced about the last moments of her life. After that night, Hera's health gradually declined. Although her health issues were kept a top secret and only a selected few in the organization knew about it, her death was no secret.     

Hera lived for a few months to settle everything before she passed away.     

"Five years since my death…" she murmured, still baffled at the phenomenon that struck her life. "... is it because of our name?"     

Hera, now Heaven, mulled over it in silence for minutes. Her lips slowly stretched after a moment as her eyes sparkled.     

"Whatever!" Heaven sat upright, full of energy. "Whatever the reason, I don't care!"     

Heaven clasped her hand, only to gaze at it upon feeling the coldness in them. Her eyes brimmed with sentiments, remembering the agonizing months before she took her last breath as Hera.     

"I'm alive…" she whispered in a shaky voice. "... I'm alive."     

"I'm… alive!!" Heaven spread her arms wide open, cocking her head back, welcoming this new life wholeheartedly without any questions or qualms.     

"Madam!"     

Heaven jumped and her spread arms instantly folded to her chest. She turned her head at the door where she heard the panicked voice.     

There, at the entrance of her bedroom, was a middle-aged woman in a maid's uniform. The woman had an aghast expression, looking at her as if she had seen a ghost.     

"Young Madam! What are these pills scattered on the floor?!" yelled the woman while clasping her chest, as if she already had an idea what had happened.     

Her name was Miriam.     

Miriam, the middle-aged maid, hurriedly picked up the pills from the floor. Heaven rubbed her chin. Heaven kept her gaze on Miriam, rummaging through the memories the real Heaven left for her.     

Miriam was a maid serving the Zhu Family for decades. She had dedicated her life to the young master Dominic Zhu, Heaven's husband. Even now that Dominic had grown into a fine man and had a family of his own, she still served him. But now, Heaven and Dominic's son's nanny.     

According to Heaven's memories, Miriam was the only person who truly cared for her in this household. Not that Heaven was able to open up her heart to Miriam, but unlike everybody else, Heaven tolerated this nanny.     

"Madam! Are you trying to kill yourself again?" Heaven's thoughts halted when Miriam sat on the edge of the bed with mixed emotions plastered on Miriam's face. "What are these pills?"     

Heaven glanced down at Miriam's open palms and then cleared her throat.     

"Madam…" Miriam frowned, hiding the pills in the pocket of her apron. She then reached for Heaven's hands, squeezing them slightly. Her lips parted, but no words came out. She could only look at the young madam with worry.     

At this point, Miriam didn't know what to say anymore. She already tried her best, giving the young madam advice, and creating opportunities for her. But alas, Heaven just kept relapsing. Even though there were days Heaven would try out some hobbies, she would still succumb to her intrusive, negative thoughts.     

"Miriam." Heaven pressed her lips into a thin line.     

It was true Heaven attempted to kill herself last night, only to change her mind at the last second. However, death still came because an intruder strangled the original Heaven to death.     

How would she explain that without causing panic?     

Would they even believe her in the first place?     

Deep lines appeared between Heaven's brows as the original Heaven's demise sank into her. She woke up with the original's memory intact. Therefore, the soul inside the host already knew what real Heaven's life was like.    

It was hell.     

"Madam, don't you have an ounce of affection for the young master?" Heaven was pulled back to the current lapse at Miriam's inquiry. "I know you are unhappy, but the young master was having problems in school."     

Heaven slowly set her eyes back on Miriam. This was the first time this lady spoke such words because she knew Heaven didn't want this marriage, let alone 'that' child. For the original Heaven, Dominic Zhu was the man who took away everything from her.     

"Madam, I know I am stepping out of bounds, but please." Miriam squeezed Heaven's hand mildly, almost begging the latter. "Can you at least try?"     

Miriam braced herself for an unpleasant reaction from Heaven. Heaven's son and husband were almost like a taboo for her. No one could mention them if she was present; that was no secret for all the servants in the household.     

Mentioning their names would instantly put Heaven in a terrible mood. For Miriam to have such courage, the current Heaven was certain Miriam had enough. Or rather, Miriam was worried about something and was trying out a different approach this time.     

'I can't blame her. After all, this isn't the first time Heaven tried to kill herself.' Heaven mentally shrugged. 'Though this time, she died. Or rather, murdered.'     

"I know Madam didn't like the master and the young master, but the young master is still your child. The young master fought his classmate yesterday, which he doesn't usually do. I'm not blaming you, Madam, but a child still needs a mother's affection and guidance," Miriam continued her lecture with a deep sigh. "Now, the school sent a letter to Madam and Master to settle this matter. Madam, maybe if you try… you will learn how to love the young master and the master."     

'Huh… this woman…' Heaven mentally chuckled in amusement. '... she's probably ready to die for her to step out of her bounds.' — or maybe, Miriam was just fed up trying her best to push Heaven to open up to her husband and son.     

'Heaven… you are a terrible mother and an awful wife,' thought Heaven to herself. 'Though I understand where you are coming from, you shouldn't just blame your husband for your misery. Blame yourself for not trying, even just a tiny bit.'     

'Don't worry. I will cherish this life you didn't,' Heaven added inwardly, grabbing Miriam's hands this time.     

"Sure." Heaven smiled, catching Miriam off guard.     

"Su – sure?"     

"Mhm. Sure." Heaven nodded. "I'll try my best to fix this family instead of finding ways to kill myself."     

Miriam blinked, almost in disbelief at the reaction she didn't expect to receive.     

"Madam, you're saying…?"     

"I'm saying I'm done with deaths, dangers, and whatever I had dealt with in the past." Heaven let Miriam's hands go, combing her jet-black hair back. "And I'm very much willing to embrace the life I have now."     

Heaven winked. "In other words, prepare me breakfast while I doll myself. Didn't you say my son got into a fight? I'd like to see who hurt my baby."     

Miriam looked at the dazzling woman, who was smiling confidently at her. Ever since Heaven stepped foot in this household, Heaven was always gloomy. She liked keeping things to herself, enjoying her own company and solitude.     

This was the first time Miriam had seen Heaven with such vigor. But what was even more surprising was how Heaven called the young master her son. Heaven never once held her son or even acknowledged the young master's existence. Never.     

...ToS - ...