Chapter 2: A Different Path

The schoolyard was frozen in silence after Jenny’s rejection.

Students exchanged wide-eyed glances. No one dared to breathe too loudly. Andrew Justin—charming, popular Andrew—stood dumbfounded, roses dangling uselessly in his trembling hands.

“No?” he repeated, his voice cracking slightly. The confident mask slipped, replaced with disbelief. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

Jenny, calm and collected, simply turned away. “I said no. That’s my answer.”

The murmurs swelled like waves. Some boys snickered, while girls gasped. Everyone in that courtyard knew what Jenny’s words meant. She had humiliated him.

Andrew reached out, desperation flashing in his eyes. “Jenny, wait! You can’t just—”

Jenny sidestepped him neatly, her gaze cold, untouchable. “Don’t touch me.”

And with that, she walked past him. Her steps were steady, unhurried, but inside her chest burned with the memory of tires screeching, of her parents’ mangled bodies, of betrayal clothed in roses and lies.

She heard his footsteps behind her, but she didn’t stop. She entered her classroom, sat down, and opened her book.

Moments later, the teacher walked in, announcing, “Alright, everyone, settle down. Today’s our last day before the final exam break. Focus—two weeks until your university entrance exams.”

The class buzzed, but Jenny was silent. She sat by the window, sunlight spilling across her desk, staring at the same walls she once left behind years ago. She remembered too well: in her first life, she had chosen City A University because Andrew begged her to. She had abandoned her own dream, her own ambitions, just to follow him.

This time, she vowed, things would be different.

Andrew spent the entire class glancing her way, trying to catch her eye. Jenny ignored him. Every time their gazes almost met, she looked past him, like he was nothing but air.

Even Willie Adam—sweet-faced, pretending to be innocent—walked over during break. “Jenny,” she said softly, voice dripping with honey. “Don’t be upset with Andrew. He didn’t mean to embarrass you. We’re friends, right?”

Jenny turned slowly, her eyes sharp. “Willie. I don’t want to talk to you. Not today. Not ever.”

The words fell like ice. Willie blinked, stunned, her lips parting as if she’d been slapped. The surrounding students stiffened, sensing the tension. They didn’t know what had happened, but they understood one thing: Jenny Wilson was no longer the sweet, pliant girl she had always been.

The rest of the school day passed in heavy silence. Andrew tried twice to pass her notes. Jenny ripped them without reading. Willie attempted a smile across the classroom. Jenny looked away.

The atmosphere was suffocating. By the time the final bell rang, every student knew—something irreversible had broken between them.

Jenny walked toward the parking lot calmly, her schoolbag on her shoulder. The family chauffeur was already waiting beside the sleek black car.

Andrew rushed behind her, voice low but urgent. “Jenny, wait! Don’t be like this. I was serious earlier. I really like you—”

She didn’t even glance at him. “Driver, open the door.”

The chauffeur obeyed immediately, ignoring Andrew hovering nearby. Jenny slipped into the back seat, her face serene.

Andrew stepped closer, hand outstretched. “Jenny! At least listen to me once—”

The car door shut between them with a satisfying thunk. The engine purred to life, and as the vehicle pulled away, Jenny looked out the window to see Andrew’s face pale with frustration.

This is only the beginning, she thought coldly.

When the car rolled up to the Wilson estate, Jenny’s throat tightened. The mansion stood tall and beautiful, bathed in evening sunlight. For the first time in years—no, in lifetimes—she saw it alive.

Her father, James Wilson, was in the garden trimming roses, his sturdy frame bent slightly, his face lined with kindness. Her mother, Mary Wilson, emerged from the house with a tray of tea, calling to him with her usual warmth.

Jenny’s eyes stung. She had seen this garden soaked in blood and grief, her parents’ laughter replaced with silence. But here they were—smiling, alive, real.

She stepped out of the car, her legs trembling.

“Jenny?” Mary’s gentle voice carried across the courtyard. “You’re home early. How was the last day of school?”

Jenny couldn’t speak. She ran forward, throwing herself into her mother’s arms. “Mom…” Her voice cracked. Tears spilled down her cheeks, soaking Mary’s shoulder.

Mary was startled, but she patted her daughter’s back, concerned. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? Did something happen at school?”

James hurried over, wiping his hands. “Jenny, what’s the matter? Did someone bully you?”

Jenny shook her head, clinging to them both as if they might vanish at any moment. “No. Nothing happened. I just… I missed you both.”

James chuckled warmly, though worry lingered in his eyes. “Silly girl. We’re right here. We’re not going anywhere.”

Jenny swallowed hard. Not this time, she vowed silently. I’ll never let you go again.

At dinner, Mary brought up the topic Jenny knew was coming. “So, Jenny, your final exams are in two weeks. Have you thought more about your university choice?”

In her first life, she had smiled shyly and said, ‘I want to follow Andrew to City A University.’ And that one choice had cost her everything.

This time, her answer was clear.

“Yes,” she said firmly. “I want to apply to HS University.”

James raised his brows. “HS University? That’s one of the most competitive schools in the country.”

Jenny nodded, her eyes shining with determination. “I’ve made up my mind. I don’t want to follow anyone else’s dream anymore. I want to build my own path. I’ll work hard and get into HS University. And… I want to study business.”

Her parents exchanged a glance—surprised, but proud.

Mary smiled. “Business, hmm? You’ve never mentioned that before.”

Jenny squeezed her hands together under the table. In my past life, I let Andrew steal everything Father built. This time, I’ll master it myself. I’ll protect our empire. I’ll make it stronger than ever.

James clapped his hands once, his face breaking into a wide grin. “That’s my girl! If that’s your dream, then we’ll support you all the way.”

Mary reached across the table to squeeze Jenny’s hand. “We believe in you.”

Jenny’s chest warmed with a fierce, aching joy. In her first life, she had lost this encouragement, this unconditional love. She had traded it all for Andrew’s lies. Never again.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city…

Andrew sat in his room, staring at his silent phone. He had called Jenny three times, sent her two messages. No reply.

His frustration grew when he tried to use the platinum credit card Jenny had given him months ago, only to be met with the humiliating words: Transaction declined.

“What the hell…?” he muttered, dialing the bank. The answer made his blood run cold: the account had been blocked under Jenny’s instruction.

Willie called him soon after, her voice strained. “Andrew, my card isn’t working either. Did Jenny…”

Andrew slammed his fist on the table. “She did this on purpose. But why? Just because she rejected me today?”

Willie bit her lip. “Andrew… do you think she knows something?”

His eyes narrowed. Jenny’s cold gaze replayed in his mind, sharp and calculating, nothing like the lovestruck girl who used to hang on his every word.

“No,” he said slowly, though uncertainty gnawed at him. “She can’t know. She’s just throwing a tantrum. I’ll talk to her tomorrow. She can’t escape me.”

But deep down, unease crept into his chest. Jenny Wilson had changed—and he didn’t know why.

Jenny, sitting at her desk late that night, looked over her exam prep books. She tapped her pen against the page, her mind not just on university, but on the empire she would one day build.

In her previous life, her innocence had been her downfall.

This time, innocence had died with her broken body on that rainy road.

What had returned was something else entirely.

A devil in silk, cloaked in beauty and sharpened by vengeance.

Jenny Wilson smiled faintly to herself.

Andrew. Willie. Every debt will be paid in full.