Rebirth: Love me Again

[EVE]

I couldn't help but glance over at Sinclair. In my eyes, he was cool right now, a force of nature standing tall amidst the chaos.

I hadn't known what to expect coming here, standing in debt to a man like Sinclair.

It was reckless showing up in public like this, a target painted on my back, but I had no choice. Sinclair's protection was the only thing shielding me from the wolves that lurked in the shadows.

His offer came with a price, of course, but being under his wing, as his

adopted

daughter

no less, would make the others think twice before coming after me openly. They'd hesitate.

But the downside? The danger was now constant, relentless—though honestly, that wasn't new. My life had always been on a knife's edge right now.

At least Sinclair promised me one thing—he would hire the best bodyguard in the world to protect me. The thought gave me a small measure of relief, something to hold onto in the storm.

I couldn't afford to be reckless anymore, not with this new role hanging over me. It was better than being alone, than refusing the deal. Now, I'd have someone by my side, a powerful man like Sinclair and a bodyguard of my own.

The scene unfolding before me was both a spectacle and a nightmare. I watched the shocked faces of the people around us, their disbelief on their face.

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I wanted to get away, to disappear from the chaos, but there was no escaping this circus. The gunshot wound in my side throbbed with every breath, and I wanted nothing more than to rest.

But just as I was preparing to slip away, Sophie's voice cut through the room like a knife.

"

Grandfather

!" she cried out, rushing down the stairs, her steps hurried and clumsy. She nearly stumbled in her haste, desperate to reach Sinclair.

When she finally did, she grabbed at his sleeve, her voice trembling pitifully.

"Please don't do this, Grandfather! Are you really going to ruin my birthday like this?" Her words dripped with desperation, her grip tightening on his clothes as if that alone could sway him.

Sinclair barely looked at her, his cold eyes flickering toward her briefly before he turned away, dismissive. His face was a mask of indifference, his voice like ice. "Let go."

The moment he spoke, Sophie's hand dropped from his sleeve, and she took a shaky step back, her face paling in disbelief.

Sinclair sighed, his frustration visible as he rubbed the spot where she had touched him, as though ridding himself of something distasteful.

The room shifted with silent tension, people exchanging glances, the unspoken truth clear to everyone watching—Sinclair didn't favor Sophie at all.

"Who said I was here to ruin your birthday?" His voice was low, dangerous, and Sophie shrank back further, retreating into the protective arms of her mother, Sophia.

The venom in Sinclair's words hit her like a slap. "If I wanted to ruin it, tell me, then. Just where do you think the money came from to pay for this extravagant party?"

Sophie's face flushed crimson with embarrassment, her lips quivering.

Sullivan, standing nearby, clenched his fists in silent fury, his face contorted with anger, while Sophia glared at Sinclair, her eyes sharp with rage.

"

Father

!" Sullivan finally spoke, his voice low but furious. "Are you really going to humiliate us like this? In front of all these people?"

Sinclair let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Humiliate you? I haven't even started. I'm merely announcing what needs to be said. After all," he gestured toward the crowd, "all of our

Enjoy new tales from empire

friends

are here. What better audience could I ask for to announce what I have to say?"

Without waiting for a response, Sinclair grabbed a champagne bottle from a nearby waiter and raised it high above his head.

"Still this is a party. Enjoy it everyone!" he shouted, raising his glass into the crowd with a grin that didn't reach his eyes.

I couldn't help but smirk at the absurdity of it all. Continue the party? After

this

?

The room was thick with tension, the guests barely managing to keep up the pretense of normalcy. And the truth was for everyone to see—the cracks in the Rosette family were now visible to all.

No amount of champagne could mask the seismic shift that had just occurred. The media vultures in the room were surely dying to get to their keyboards, to break the news to the world.

This was no mere family drama—it was the beginning of a power struggle that would be whispered about.

And I was going to help Sinclair and Victor tear down Sullivan and Stefan, ensuring that Sinclair's empire remained unshaken. His son would never get the chance to siphon all that money into their greedy hands, fueling their private companies and extravagant lifestyles.

The tension in the room was almost unbearable.

"Ah, well now, dear guests," the host stammered, desperate to redirect attention. "Let us all enjoy the night and the food, shall we?"

But it was useless. The damage was done, and no one cared about the food. Guests surrounded us, their gazes darting between Sinclair, Victor, and myself like vultures circling fresh prey.

Some tried to ask Sinclair about his health, others eagerly sought to ingratiate themselves with Victor—the new President. Everyone wanted a piece of the power.

I stood back, watching it all unfold, and then I saw her—Sophie. The rage on her face was unmistakable. Her perfect little day had been shattered, stolen right from under her. She thought she was the center of the universe tonight, but Sinclair had turned her celebration into a nightmare.

Her expression twisted with barely-contained fury as I beamed sweetly at her, waggling my fingers in a mock wave. The small, taunting gesture only deepened her fury.

I had to admit, seeing her like this—helpless and seething—brought a rare, wicked satisfaction. Sophie had spent so long basking in the light, so convinced of her own importance. But now, her spotlight had been stolen, and there was nothing she could do about it.

The one who had exiled me, who thought they could erase me from this world, now stood powerless before me.

I smiled wider, savoring the moment. The sweet taste of revenge coated my tongue, and I licked my lips, my gaze never leaving hers. She wanted me gone? She wanted to destroy me?

Let her try.

But I would burn them all down first. If they wanted war, I would give them one.