Thunder rumbled ominously overhead as rain began to pour, drenching Tiffany Kelley. She collapsed onto the muddy ground, her body battered and covered in blood.

A woman loomed over Tiffany, pressing her foot against her back with a triumphant smirk. “Tiffany Kelley, always too proud to back down. Fine, I’ll break every bone!” she sneered, signaling the two men behind her.

Despite the relentless torture and her weakened state, Tiffany stubbornly lifted her head, hér eyes blazing with defiance as she met the woman’s gaze.

Though Tiffany was covered in blood and grime, her eyes burned with fierce intensity. They were vibrant and alive with anger and hatred, and the sheer force of her glare sent a shiver down the woman’s spine.

The woman hesitated for a moment, startled, but quickly recovered. “What are you waiting for? Throw her in! I want to see how a dead woman can still oppose me!” she snapped viciously.

“Yes, ma’am,” the men responded in unison, moving swiftly toward Tiffany. They kicked her into the nearby swamp as if she were nothing more than a discarded sack.

Tiffany felt the cold grip of doom tightening around her. Though unwilling to surrender, she could only curse herself for falling into such a dire situation.

As her consciousness began to slip away, memories from her past flashed before her eyes.

Tiffany was the cherished daughter of the esteemed Kelley family, adored by all who knew her. But her life unraveled when she made the mistake of trusting the wrong person

She had been engaged to her fiancé for five years, and out of blind loyalty, she took the blame for a crime she didn’t commit. This fateful decision severed her ties with her family, triggering a cascade of tragedies: her father’s death from grief, her mother’s suicide in a fiery blaze, and her brother’s poisoning, which left him mute and mentally impaired.

Instead of the love and recognition for which she had sacrificed everything, Tiffany was met with cold disdain from her fiancé. “Do you think you deserve it?”

The words cut deep, a cruel mockery of her sacrifices. ‘Deserve it? What a twisted joke, Tiffany thought.

As the suffocating mud closed in around her, she felt no fear. Instead, a bitter laugh welled within her, a final act of defiance against the absurdity of her life. But the woman standing nearby wasn’t done.

With a triumphant smirk, she delivered one last, merciless blow.

“Oh, Tiffany, I forgot to tell you,” the woman sneered, her voice dripping with malice. “It was me who pulled the plug on your father’s oxygen supply. It was me who burned your house to the ground. And your brother? I poisoned him. As for that fiancé you loved so much, we’ve been together for years.”

She leaned in closer, her eyes gleaming with triumph. “You can only blame yourself for being so naive, making it so easy for me to take everything your family had.”

As those words pierced her, Tiffany’s body trembled violently, sinking deeper into the swamp. Her eyes,

Her eyes, wide with fury, blazed with unquenchable rage. A guttural roar tore from her throat, “Sandra Olson, you’ll die a miserable death!”

But her words were devoured by the swamp, emerging as nothing more than garbled gibberish as mud and water filled her nose and mouth. The suffocation became overwhelming, pulling her under until she was completely submerged.

Everything went dark. Yet, the boundless hatred within Tiffany refused to be extinguished.

Another clap of thunder echoed ominously through the sky.

Tiffany felt a scream tearing from her throat, and then, suddenly, her eyes snapped open. Bright sunlight filtered through the leaves above, casting harsh rays on Tiffany's face. She found herself sprawled in a field on the outskirts of town, soaked and disheveled.

"Wait, this scene... Tiffany froze as the memory rushed back. She realized this was the day of her eighteenth birthday when she had carefully planned an outing to confess her feelings to Kenneth Harper, surrounded by her classmates and friends.

Tiffany vividly remembered how Kenneth had cruelly d her sincere confession. In front of everyone, he had coldly said, "Tiffany, give up already. Even if you yet awkward were the last woman on earth, I would never want to be with you!"

His harsh, humiliating words had shattered her heart. Devastated, she had run off alone, getting lost in the rain. Eventually, she slipped, sprained her ankle, and passed out in the very spot where she now found herself.

'How could I have been so pathetic?'

Tiffany thought, a wave of self-loathing rising within her as she felt the urge to slap her past self. But as she raised her hand, she noticed something strange. Her hands were fair and smooth, unmarked by the scars or excruciating pain from torture.

Wasn't I... dead? Didn't I die in that swamp on that stormy night? Or did I just...?' Tiffany's heart raced as she hesitantly moved to pinch herself, trying to make sense of the impossible.

"Ouch!" Tiffany yelped as a sharp pain shot through her. 'It's not a dream, she realized with shock and disbelief as she felt the pain. I've gone back in time to the day of my eighteenth birthday!'

"Oh my goodness! Thank God!" Tiffany burst out laughing, tears streaming down her face.

''It wasn't a dream. Everything that happened is still vividly etched in my mind!" Tiffany thought, reflecting on her past folly. She recalled letting her cruel uncle, Stan Olson, and his family get close, which had allowed her cousin Sandra to exploit the situation.

Tiffany had come to understand the depths of human cruelty and deceit. But now, none of the tragedies had yet to unfold, giving her a chance to make things right.

"An eye for an eye! I'll make sure those who wronged me pay double!" Tiffany muttered as she wiped her tears.

Feeling her phone buzzing in her pocket, she pulled it out and saw it was a call from Kenneth.

Tiffany and Kenneth had been childhood friends, but her affection for him was one-sided. She made several foolish attempts to win his heart over the years. Eventually, Kenneth's attitude shifted, promising to marry her, but only if she took the blame and went to prison. for his lover's crime.

Desperate to win his love, Tiffany agreed, even severing ties with her parents, which led to her father collapsing in anger. After five years in prison, her only reward was Kenneth's cold dismissal: "Do you think you deserve me?"

Recalling her past naivety, Tiffany smiled grimly and casually answered the call.

Kenneth's cold, irritated voice immediately cut through the air.

"Tiffany, can you stop being so willful? Do we really have to come and fetch you? If it weren't for your father, I wouldn't even bother calling you," Kenneth said. "And stop dreaming because I will never like you"

The words were exactly as she remembered, and she could see Kenneth's disdainful expression through the phone.

Tiffany stroked her chin, replaying how she had responded before. She saw her former self, tearfully pleading, "I'll change for you however you want me to be. Please, accept me once. It really can't live without you..."

Thinking about how desperate and pitiful she had once been, a smirk slowly spread across Tiffany's face. She then replied, enunciating each word with icy clarity, "Go to hell!"

Tiffany felt a surge of exhilaration after ending the call with such decisiveness.

Meanwhile, Kenneth was left dumbfounded. Tiffany always reacted with meekness and caution, no matter how harshly he spoke. But this time, she had actually cursed at him and hung up.

Looking at his phone, Kenneth sneered, “Playing hard to get, aren’t you?”

On the other side, Tiffany felt satisfied, thinking. This is just the beginning, Kenneth Harper! Soon, I’ll break off this ridiculous engagement between us!

After cutting off the call with that scoundrel, Tiffany immediately dialed home. The sound of her mother’s worried voice nearly brought her to tears. In her previous life, her family home had burned to the ground while she was still in prison. By the time she was released, all that awaited her was a lonely gravestone.

Everyone had said her mother died by suicide, setting the house on fire, and Tiffany had naively believed it-until she later discovered her uncle had cruelly murdered her mother. Tiffany choked back her tears. “Mom, I’m fine. I miss you and want to come home.”

Her mother, assuming her daughter had been bullied, quickly replied, “Alright, come home now. If anything is bothering you, we’ll discuss it when you return. Where are you? I’ll come and pick you up right away.”

Tiffany gave her mother the address, but her water-damaged phone became unusable as soon as the call ended.

Determined to make it easier for her mother to find her, Tiffany stood up and limped forward. However, after only a few steps, she heard a mu**d groan from a nearby grove, accompanied by a thick, metallic scent of blood.

Having endured countless hardships, especially the years of abuse while in prison, Tiffany had transformed from a helpless young lady into someone tough and formidable. Her senses were sharp, and her instincts were honed.

Tiffany hesitated after hearing the noise. She wasn’t one to meddle in others’ affairs, but a memory flashed before her eyes.

While hesitating, Tiffany recalled a news story about Richard Hampton from the powerful Hampton family. She remembered reading about how he had been ambushed and how he collapsed from severe blood loss after escaping. Although he was later rescued, the Hampton family had kept the details of the incident tightly under wraps.

‘Could it be… Tiffany thought, her heart racing. Could the person in the grove really be Richard Hampton?'

The Hampton family was with power and prestige throughout the city. It was an ancient clan that commanded immense respect and fear.

Richard Hampton was the aging patriarch’s youngest son, the backbone of the family. A prodigy with extraordinary talent, Richard was a prominent figure in the business world, holding the Hampton family together with his sharp insight and unyielding resolve.

Tiffany’s mind raced as she weighed her options. Making a good impression on Richard might prove invaluable if she ever needed the Hampton family’s assistance in the future.

Guided by the faint sounds she had heard earlier, Tiffany began a lengthy search. Though she didn’t find anyone at first, she eventually stumbled upon a large pool of fresh blood beneath a tree. The amount of blood indicated that the person was seriously injured.

Crouching down, Tiffany touched the blood, noting that it was still wet. Hence, she figured that the injured person couldn’t have gone far.

Just as she prepared to continue her search, Tiffany felt a rush of wind, like someone was about to strike from behind. Instinctively preparing to dodge, she suddenly reconsidered. Raising her hands in a gesture of surrender, she called out, “Wait! I’m not a bad guy!”

The attacker's movement halted mid- air. Tiffany exhaled in relief and turned slowly, only to face an extraordinarily handsome man. His features were exquisitely chiseled, exuding an ethereal grace. Despite his severe injuries, his presence remained noble and commanding, akin to a fierce, battle-hardened lone wolf.

'So, this is Richard Hampton? He looks incredibly young. Tiffany thought, while Richard scrutinized her with a piercing gaze, his expression a blend of curiosity and caution.

"Who are you?" Richard's voice carried an imposing weight, his aura radiating dominance and menace.

Tiffany blinked innocently at the man. "I heard some noise while passing by and thought I'd check it out. Are you alright? My family is coming to pick me up, and I could take you to the hospital on the way," she offered, trying to convey her good intentions, hoping to make a favorable impression on him.

But Richard's expression remained cold.

"Get lost," he replied curtly.

How rude, Tiffany thought, momentarily stunned by his response. She turned to leave, but after a few steps, she heard a heavy thud behind her. Glancing back, she saw that Richard had collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Rolling her eyes, Tiffany muttered under her breath, grumbling about his earlier attitude as she returned to check his injuries.

A large, deep wound on Richard's abdomen was bleeding profusely. Seeing no one else around to help, Tiffany tore off her thin tank top and used it as a makeshift bandage, pressing it against the wound to slow the bleeding.

In a small act of defiance, she tied the bandage into a neat bow, letting out some of her frustration.

"There, much better," she said with a hint of satisfaction, clapping her hands as she stood up and left the grove.

Not long after, a large convoy from the Hampton family arrived, and dozens of black-clad bodyguards stormed the area, frantically searching for Richard.

Minutes later, Richard was carefully loaded into a vehicle. As the car sped away, he briefly regained consciousness. Looking down, he noticed the conspicuous bow on his bandaged wound.

His eyes twitched in disbelief. Who did this?' he wondered, and the image of the delicate, beautiful girl he had met in the grove flashed through his mind, especially her bright, mischievous eyes.

Sidney Pauley, the man treating Richard's wounds, raised an eyebrow at the sight of the bow, a smirk on his lips.

"Well, well... Is this a girl's tank top?"

Richard was known for keeping women at a distance. Many had tried to win his favor, only to be swiftly and coldly dismissed. Yet now, here he was, wounded and apparently cared for by a girl.

Catching Sidney's increasingly amused and curious expression, Richard sighed and muttered, "Just focus on treating the wound. Or are you hoping I'll bleed out?"

With a confident smile, Sidney replied, "I'm here with you, so you're not going anywhere. My skills are more than enough."

Sidney was Richard's most trusted friend and the youngest heir of the Pauley family, renowned for their medical expertise. Years ago, Sidney had pulled Richard back from the brink of death with his exceptional abilities, so this wound was hardly a challenge.

With his eyes closed, Richard's thoughts drifted to the delicate, charming face of the girl.

Tiffany started sneezing the moment she stepped into the house.

Her mother, Thalia Kelley, was both angry and heartbroken at the sight of her disheveled. daughter. “Tiffany, did that Harper boy bully you again? Look at you, drenched from head to toe! How could he not care for you or at least bring you home?”

Tiffany would have defended Kenneth in the past, making excuses for him and trying to persuade her family to accept him. She even argued with them numerous times over it.

But Tiffany wouldn’t do that anymore. Not only was Kenneth not a good person, but she also felt deep guilt toward her family. Even enduring her mother’s endless chatter felt like a blessing now, a far cry from the cold gravestone she had faced before.

Feeling a sting in her nose, Tiffany hugged Thalia’s arm and nestled into her warmth. After at moment, she said, “Mom, I want to break off the engagement with Kenneth.”

“What?” Thalia was stunned. She had suggested this previously, only to be met with Tiffany’s fierce resistance. Her daughter’s infatuation with Kenneth had made her deaf to reason, But now, she was the one bringing it up.

“Are you sure?” Thalia began, her voice concerned, thinking that Kenneth must have hurt her daughter deeply. “You won’t regret it later?”

“Never,” Tiffany replied, smiling confidently, her radiant beauty now shining with newfound determination.

“There are plenty of good men out there. Why should I waste my time on him?” Tiffany said, her voice laced with a deep, unshakable pride that seemed to be etched into her very being.

Thalia felt a wave of relief hearing Tiffany’s response. She also noticed something different about her daughter-an air of maturity that hadn’t been there before.

“Quick, have some milk and take a bath. We can’t have you catching a cold,” Thalia urged, her voice concerned. “And after your shower, I’ll tend to your injuries. Even a sprain needs proper attention.”

“Okay!” Tiffany replied sweetly, allowing one of her helpers at home to help her upstairs.

Tiffany walked straight in as she passed her younger brother Eric Kelley’s room. Upon entering, she found the eight-year-old curled up on the bed, engrossed in a video quickly hid his console and grumbled, “Why didn’t you knock? That’s so rude!”

Tiffany said nothing, simply gazing at her brother with deep affection. Before she became eighteen again, she had discovered that a poisoning incident had left her brother mute and mentally impaired for life. Now, seeing him vibrant and full of energy, scolding her with his sharp tongue yet still showing his care, Tiffany couldn’t feel anything but gratitude and warmth toward him.

Feeling uneasy under Tiffany’s affectionate gaze, Eric mumbled, “Why are you acting so weird today? Did someone bully you again?”

To Eric, Tiffany had been unusually warm and affectionate since she got home, showering everyone with hugs and kisses except their father, who hadn’t returned from work yet.

‘She’s definitely acting strange, Eric thought.

“It’s nothing! I just wanted to say I love you,” Tiffany replied, blinking playfully. She laughed heartily when her brother tossed a pillow at her, then happily skipped out of the room.

As the door clicked shut, the awkwardness on Eric’s face disappeared. He grabbed the laptop he had shoved aside and began typing furiously, muttering, “Damn you, Kenneth Harper! How dare you bully my sister? You’ll regret it!”

Within minutes, Eric hacked into Kenneth's laptop, rendering it unusable.

After a soothing hot bath, Tiffany lay on her bed, fully relaxed. A helper entered the room, ready to tend to her injuries, but Tiffany smiled and gently took the ointment from her. "I'll take care of it myself," she said.

The helper nodded and quietly left.

Tiffany applied the ointment and then moved to sit in front of her vanity mirror. Her reflection showed her eighteen- year-old self: fair skin, delicate features, red lips, and white teeth. She had inherited the best traits of her parents, making her a striking beauty who stood out in any crowd since childhood.

Tiffany to remember how, in her past life, she had wasted that beauty, lowering herself for a man who didn't deserve it.

Her smile deepened as she gazed at her reflection. Suddenly, a commotion erupted downstairs.

'Finally, they're here,' Tiffany thought, a cold laugh escaping her as she made her way downstairs you perfectly.

In the villa's living room, Sandra was draped around Thalia, her voice dripping with sweetness as she said, "Aunt Thalia, look at this scarf I bought for you.It suits. Do you like it?"

To an outsider, it might have looked like a heartwarming family scene. But the scene reeked of cold disdain to Tiffany, who stood at the top of the staircase with her arms crossed as she watched Sandra buttering up to Thalia.

The Olson family had moved to Lovell City from the countryside a year ago only because of her father's soft heart. He felt obligated to help and support them because they were family.

After endless flattery from the Olsons, he finally brought them to the city. The Kelleys provided them with everything they could need, and her father even arranged for her uncle to take on the deputy manager role at the Kelley Group.

But the comfort of their new life only fed their greed. This shameless family began treating everything that belonged to the Kelleys as their own, eventually even harboring murderous intentions to seize it all.

To Tiffany, the most absurd part was that Stan Olson and his family were nothing more than distant relatives. It all came down, she thought, to the sheer greed that drove people to such lengths.

Yet, Tiffany had to acknowledge the Olsons' skill in manipulation. They had exploited her parents' kindness so thoroughly, keeping them under their control with feigned sweetness, much like Sandra was doing now.

Tiffany descended the stairs, her footsteps drawing the attention of Thalia and Sandra.

As Tiffany made her way down in a custom-made gown, her flawless skin and slender figure were captivating. Her stunning face, untouched by makeup, radiated effortless grace. The spoiled demeanor she once carried had transformed into a languid elegance and nobility.

As their eyes followed her, Tiffany's smile appeared. It was sweet yet enigmatic, as alluring as a rose with its hidden thorns and as serene as a spring blossom. This blend of charm created a mesmerizing presence.

If the old Tiffany had been merely a pretty face, now she was breathtakingly beautiful, exuding a transcendent grace and magnetic charms that made hearts race.

Sandra was momentarily stunned, unable to shake the sense of a looming threat. When she mer Tiffany's clear almond-shaped eyes, a chilling coldness crept over her, sending shivers down her spine.