Chapter 1-2

“Peng!”

Ava lifted her head from where she was laying in the cold prison and glanced towards the guard who had thrown a plate of cold rice on the floor. She did not move to sit up.

“Acting aloof? You love to eat, and yet you’re not eating!”

The prison guard reached his foot in and cruelly crushed the rice under his feet.

He had heard that this Ava dared to attempt to murder Miss Yun from the Yun family, who had specially ordered him to torture her well in prison.

Ava sat in the corner; her eyes fixed blankly on the dirtied food on the floor.

Outside the cell, the sound of the television could suddenly be heard from the prison guard’s room.

“Shine Group’s CEO Antonio Sylvester has returned to the country today. Right now, he has arrived at Hai Sydney-”

“Shine Group is Asia and Australia's largest banking enterprise. Antonio Sylvester officially took over the company seven years ago. Today his position as a corporate tycoon is unshakable…”

Ava’s silent expression froze in an instant. She rushed up to the door, trying her best to look out of it.

The prison guard turned around to see her sorry figure kneeling by the door with a frantic expression. Her hands held tightly on to the cold cell door; her red eyes fixed towards the television.

“What are you looking at? Do you even know whom the news is speaking about? A woman like you doesn’t even have the right to help such a person adjust his shoes.”

Ava lowered her head and smiled bitterly.

Indeed, the person that she was today was not even worthy of tying Antonio’s shoes.

It did not matter if this person who had become Shine Group’s CEO was once her husband ten years ago.

She was once ambitious, proud, and stubborn. All she wanted was a divorce, to completely push away this man who spoiled her and always protected her within the palm of his hand.

For a whole ten years, he never once showed up again.

But what did the television say earlier?

Antonio Sylvester returned? He came back from America?

From the television came the voice of the reporter struggling to ask his question: “Mr. Sylvester! Rumors say that the two of you married two months ago in America. Is this trip back to the country meant to bring your beloved wife-”

Ava’s eyes widened.

He… got married?

That is true. Not mentioning his status today, even ten years ago he was an influential figure. With his good looks, no one could match up to him. Countless rich ladies had lined up dreaming to one day marry him.

Right now, he must be very happy.

“Sir, you don’t often speak in front of the media, but since this is a rare occasion when you’ve returned to the country, could you speak about Shine Group’s current…”

“Is the lady following behind you Mrs. Sylvester? Mrs. Sylvester is indeed very beautiful.”

A sweet female voice then spoke up. “I apologize, Mr. Sylvester won’t be accepting any media interviews. Everyone, please move back.”

Hearing that voice, Ava felt as though lightning struck her.

That voice… is her sister Stella Clifford!

The Stella who suddenly disappeared right before the Clifford Family went bankrupt!

At that time, when she insisted on a divorce, it was this sister who encouraged her to try all sorts of incredulous methods including cutting her wrist to suicide, causing Antonio to distance from her gradually before eventually divorcing her.

Ava began to laugh. She laughed till the point where her lungs hurt.

“Since Mr. Sylvester won’t be giving any interviews, will Mrs. Sylvester be willing to say a few words?”

The reporters remained persistent in their questioning. Stella followed behind Antonio; her face brightened up with a smile.

Yet, at this moment, Antonio spoke up. His voice was apathetic with no warmth whatsoever. “She is not Mrs. Sylvester.”

Stella’s smile stiffened. Uncomfortably, she licked her lips to hide her embarrassment.

Indeed, she is not…

The surrounding reporters fell into a weird silence until suddenly a voice rang up, “Rumours say that since Mr. Sylvester divorced ten years ago, there has not been another woman…”

Ava suddenly could not hear the sound from the television anymore.

A sharp pain suddenly came from her abdomen, causing her to fall against the floor as blood rose up from within her chest, spurting out of her throat.

It seemed that these people had been slowly feeding her poison in the past three months.

Finally, was her life going to end here?

——–

Hot…

So hot …

Ava slowly regained consciousness and experienced a sharp pain coming from her lower body.

It was as though she was being roughly intruded upon in an instant.

“Uu…”

It hurt to the point where her body stiffened. A whimper escaped from her lips, but was instantly quietened by the man on top of her who sealed her lips with a kiss.

The next time she regained consciousness, Ava found herself looking at an expensive chandelier hanging above her.

She laid upon silk sheets that were soft and expensive. It was as though she was laying upon a cloud—it was unbelievably comfortable.

Where was she?

She sat up, staring in disbelief at her surroundings.

This was clearly the room that she once shared with Antonio in Sydney’s Bellevue Hill!

How did she return here?

Wasn’t the Bellevue Hill sealed away a few years ago due to being unoccupied for too long?

The aching pain of her lower body reminded her that this was not a dream. She glanced down at herself; the young body’s skin was soft and white as though it had not experienced the past ten years of pain and suffering. Instead, her shoulder and collarbone were littered with love bites.

She quickly pushed the blanket off herself, rushing into the bathroom to look at her reflection.

Ten years ago, Ava was Sydney’s most prominent lady. With a face praised by all, she was beautiful to the point where no one could match up. Every man who met her would instantly soften deep in their bones. As long as she smiled, numerous men would offer their lives to her.

Ava could not believe the face staring back at herself in the mirror.

Had she undergone… rebirth?

Before she could recover from her shock, the room door was suddenly pushed open. A sweet voice called out, “Big sister, last night did you and Brother Antonio…”

Seeing the love bites on her body, that voice instantly became sharp. “You slept together?!”

Shock ran through Ava’s body. Turning around, she saw the sour face of Stella.

This scene was so familiar…

Not only had she reborn, but she had returned to ten years ago! The very month before Antonio divorced her!

Last night was the first time she shared a bed with Antonio after half a year of marriage.

She was always against this so-called family marriage alliance, willfully insisting on a divorce.

Antonio was always considerate of her feelings and had never forced her.

During the month before their divorce, he endured all of her temper outbursts, and because she said that she didn’t want to see him, he would even work at the office till late, choosing to only return when she was asleep or not at all.

Yet, everything that happened last night… was Stella’s idea.

She said that so long as Ava placed some medicine in his wine and found some woman for him, it would be sufficient evidence that he was having an affair. She could then apply for a divorce.

What kind of man was Antonio? Even if he had no defense in his own home, the moment he realized there was a problem with his wine, he instantly refused anyone from touching him and tossed Ava—who was about to escape—into their room in a fit of rage.

It was also this night that Ava saw Antonio’s other side for the first time in her life.

He was not as calm and gentle as he seemed, and he was not capable of enduring her behaviour forever. He had pressed her down on the bed, ignoring her cries and slaps, fulfilling his role as a husband without a care for anything else in the world for the entire night.

Everything that happened last night felt so clear in her memories… which meant that she had really reborn!

“Big sister, didn’t we promise that after Brother Antonio drank that cup of wine, I would drive him out of the Bellevue Hill?” Stella walked toward her, her voice hiding her unhappiness.

Ava woke up from her daze, staring at her sister who often visited her at Bellevue Hill ever since her marriage.

Without taking notice of the coldness that flashed by Ava’s eyes, Stella grumbled, “How did you end up sleeping in his bed instead?”

Hearing this, Ava smiled and asked, “His bed? Isn’t this our wedding room?”

“I’m just anxious for you! Now that the plan is messed up, god knows for how long your divorce will be delayed for!” Stella knitted her brows.

Ava walked towards her, looking at the suspicious transparent silk outerwear and the intricate makeup she wore.

Ava asked indifferently, “Stella, why did you wear so little? Thank god I didn’t have you send him home last night. If anything had happened, how would I be able to face our family?”

“Ah? I…” Stella carefully hid the guilt in her eyes. “It was too hot last night, so I changed into a thinner set of clothes.”

“It’s the beginning of spring, is it that hot?”

“It’s not especially hot… Big sister, since the plan didn’t work, I think if this goes on you should just pretend to suicide!” Stella felt that something was off and quickly changed the topic.

“Oh? Suicide…” Ava dragged out the word.

Thinking back, from the moment Antonio and she had gotten engaged, it was as though Stella had become a different person. She often spoke of marriage failures in rich families, bringing up all sorts of examples, causing Ava who did not want to get married to become even more scared and to stay away from Antonio.

“How about cutting your wrist? If he sees that you would rather die than stay by his side, perhaps he would agree to your wish,” Stella suggested innocently.

“Doing so will have risks, what if I lose too much blood and no one comes to save me?” Ava smiled, yet her smile held no warmth whatsoever.

“Aiya, what are you worrying for! Regardless of whether Brother Antonio rushes back, the moment it becomes dangerous I will immediately call for a doctor!”

Ava kept silent, staring suspiciously at Stella who was only a year younger than her.

She could not forget that back when she slit her wrists, lying in that tub filled with hot water, she lost so much blood she could not even move. Even so, Stella did not inform the doctor or even Antonio.

Had Antonio not suddenly returned and suspected something was wrong, kicking the door down and carrying her out from that blood-filled tub, she probably would not have lived to obtain the divorce papers.

Ava's smile had some degree of coldness; it showed both laziness and lack of care. “I’ll think about it. However, since I didn’t sleep at all last night, right now I want to get some rest.”

Hearing her say that she did not sleep at all last night, Stella hid the jealousy revealed in her eyes and bit her lip. “Then… you must consider it through. I’ll come to find you again tomorrow.”

“All right, I won’t send you off.”

Ava stood unmoving, watching Stella disappear from her line of sight.

The room was silent.

She turned to look at the room that was once deep within her memories. Her hands touched the soft blanket; it was warm as though it still retained the heat left behind by Antonio.

Everything could restart again.

Did she still want a divorce?

Of course not!

In her past life, she was naive and trusting. Her relatives bullied her, her marriage was ruined, and her father passed away tragically. She had lost everything and was even wrongly imprisoned.

In this life, not only would she be Antonio’s wife for the rest of his life, but she would also take back her pride and everything else she once lost. She would not allow herself to be used by anyone again!

But right now, the biggest difficulty was…

She remembered that in her past life, after last night, Antonio rarely returned to the Bellevue Hill. The last time she saw him was the day she woke up after attempting suicide. As she wished, he left the divorce papers by her bedside and completely disappeared from her life.

That cold and distant expression of his, till this day, remains in her mind.

Ava raised her hand to hold her temple.

Antonio, that man, when he spoiled her, he was limitless with his love; and when he was cold, he was completely untouchable like an ice mountain.

How would she coax him back?

—-

In the evening, the CEO’s assistant stared in surprise at Ava who suddenly showed up and rushed forward to receive her.

“Miss Clifford, why are you here?”

Ava did not bother to correct his way of addressing. After all, she once prevented anyone from addressing her as Mrs. Sylvester.

She glanced around, asking, “Is he in the office?”

Shaun understood that she was asking for Mr. Sylvester but could not tell if she came to cause trouble for him.

“Mr. Sylvester is currently in a meeting. He will probably need an hour or so before he finishes.”

“That’s fine. I’ll go up and wait for him.”

After being brought to the CEO office, Ava thanked Assistant Shaun and walked in alone.

It was a modern office space, both large and comfortable. The design was simple yet had the effect of seeming luxurious. The most attention-grabbing portion was the 270 degrees floor-to-ceiling window. It was clear and bright.

Today’s Antonio had yet to take over the family business and was not Shine’s CEO.

A few years ago, he set up this technology company and within a short span of three years, he managed to monopolize most of the country’s technological resources. The company that was initially worth 500 thousand yuan was now worth 20 billion yuan.

Now that Antonio was already the prominent SLV Group’s CEO, four years from now when he becomes Shine International Group’s CEO, he would surely become a legend in the corporate world.

Ava waited for nearly an hour yet never once caught sight of him.

She barely rested at all last night, and the whole of today was consumed with ruminating about her rebirth. By now, her eyes could no longer remain open for long.

When Antonio returned to his office space, this was the scene he saw:

Ava—who wore a thin long dress—laying upon his dark leather sofa with her eyes closed. Her peaceful expression made her seem even more attractive under the warm office light.

Feeling someone’s eyes on her, Ava opened her eyes in alarm but quickly became lost in his dark eyes that seemed to stare deeply into hers.

She immediately sat up, gazing up at that man who stood silently in the office.

Just as she remembered he stood tall, dressed in a clean pair of suit. His figure was perfect to the point that no one could find faults, and his features were equally attractive.

“You’re back…” Ava stood up.

“En.” Antonio made a sound of agreement as he walked toward his desk.

Ava did not think through her actions and subconsciously rushed forward to grab onto his elbow.

This action not only surprised Antonio but caused Ava to feel embarrassed. It would be weird to remove her hand at this point, but keeping it there was strange as well…

She could not recall herself ever being the one to initiate contact with him.

Antonio glanced at her snow-white hand around his elbow, and then slowly and firmly removed his arm from her touch. He asked, sounding cold and light, “Do you need anything?”

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