Rebirth: Love me Again

[LINA]

I wrestled with the thought of introducing her to other men, but deep down, I knew it wouldn't work.

Estelle's heart was a stubborn thing, and no matter who crossed her path, she would eventually find her way to Damien. Fate seemed determined to tie them together, that much I was sure.

I had tried before.

We

had tried before.

Over the years, we introduced her to countless men—wonderful men who would have moved mountains for her.

But Estelle's heart was sealed, locked away with Damien's name etched upon it. No one else stood a chance.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

And deep down, I knew the truth: no matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried to steer her away, fate would pull them together. She would meet him, whether I liked it or not.

I couldn't take that risk again—not this time.

The difference this time was

when

they met—and I had the power to control that.

It was a gamble, but it was the safer choice. A chance for her to love Damien without the pain of being his secret.

A chance to rewrite her destiny.

I took a deep breath, grabbed my phone, and sent Estelle the latest photo of Damien.

In his late twenties, Damien exuded a dangerous kind of charm. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his physique leaning toward rugged strength rather than delicate refinement. His sharp features were striking, with silver eyes that seemed to pierce through the screen. Those chilling eyes competed with his straight nose and dark brows, while tousled black hair framed his pale face like he'd walked straight out of a gothic fantasy.

Damien looked like the villain in a romance movie—the one who seduced heroines with just a glance and left a trail of panties in his wake.

I couldn't entirely blame Estelle for falling for him. Damien wasn't just attractive; he was

devastating

. Handsome to the point of absurdity.

Honestly, he was so hot I almost choked on my own saliva while staring at his picture.

"Daddy hot," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head to snap myself out of it.

Moments later, my phone rang, and I barely had time to blink before Estelle's voice came screaming through the line.

"Who is this man, Lina? Who is this devastatingly handsome, dangerously dashing,

probably-the-main-villain-but-I-don't-care

man?! Tell me right now! Is he my latest blind date? Say no more! What's the hotel room number where we're going to have sex?"

"Hotel room?!

Sex

?!" I practically choked. "Estelle, calm down! I just saw him and thought . . . er . . . you two might look good together. He's single too," I lied quickly, trying not to stammer.

There was a beat of silence before she let out an ear-piercing squeal. "Lina, you

don't

understand

! The moment I saw him, I

knew

! My heart hasn't raced like this since . . . ever! This man—he's my

soulmate

. My soulmate, Lina!"

"Estelle, it's just a picture—"

"No, no, no! I'm serious, Lina!" Her voice pitched higher. "And wait a second . . . he's in Frizkiel, isn't he? That's . . . a little too far! I'll be there in no time."

"Wait, Estelle, hold on!" I tried to reel her in, panic rising as she continued to ramble at lightning speed.

"Lina," she cut me off dramatically, her tone dripping with newfound resolve. "This Christmas, I won't be able to join you all for snow and ice because . . . I think I've just

found

my snow and ice. I'll be traveling to Frizkiel right after my exams. Don't wait for me!

Byeee

~!"

"Estelle—wait!"

The line went dead.

I stared at my phone in disbelief, then dialed again, but all I got was a busy signal. She was probably already making arrangements, calling her secretary, rescheduling her events—knowing Estelle, she was halfway to packing her bags by now.

I bit my lip, sinking back into my chair. I'd never heard Estelle so excited about anyone before, and honestly, it worried me.

Was this really okay? Had I just doomed her to heartbreak all over again?

I shook my head, trying to think positively. If there was one thing Estelle excelled at, it was her resilience.

Whatever happened, I just had to trust her to handle it—though I made a mental note to keep a very close eye on her this time.

The next name on my list was Iraya. It had been years since I last saw her in person. These days, we only crossed paths during group chats or family gatherings.

I didn't know all the details of her life, especially her love life, but I knew enough about how it would end.

Iraya was one of the smartest women I had ever known—brilliant, sharp, and always a step ahead. Yet, even geniuses could be fools when it came to matters of the heart.

Her story was a tragic one. Blinded by love for the man she called her boyfriend, Iraya had been unknowingly paving the way to her own downfall.

He was charming and clever, a master manipulator who had fooled even her sharp mind. She clung to him so tightly, so fiercely, that she was willing to burn every bridge—family, friends, even her own brothers—just to defend him.

And when they married, the real nightmare began. He used her love and trust against her, manipulating her into transferring her wealth and shares into his name.

The man rose to fame and riches on the back of everything Iraya had given him. But once he had it all, he discarded her like yesterday's news—for the person he truly loved.

I sighed, dragging my hands down my face. It still stung to think about. Iraya, the one who had always been so composed, so logical, had fallen prey to someone like him. It wasn't just heartbreaking—it was infuriating.

This time, I wasn't going to let it happen.

I tapped my pen against my notepad, brainstorming how best to handle this.

Talking to Iraya directly wouldn't work. She was too in love right now—she'd see it as an attack and dig in deeper to prove she was right about him, and it might backlash on me.

No, I needed something stronger, something irrefutable.

An idea clicked into place, and I grabbed my phone. Instead of contacting Iraya, I dialed one of our military spies.

"Got a job for you," I said. "It's a little personal."

The spy on the other end chuckled. "Personal jobs are the best kind. What's the target?"

"Not a target—evidence. I need early proof that a certain someone is exactly as shady as I know he is. Dig into his background, track his movements, whatever you can find. I need something solid, something undeniable."

There was a pause before the reply. "You've got it. Send me the details."

I hung up and exhaled deeply, leaning back in my chair. If Iraya was as smart as I believed her to be, all she'd need was the truth in black and white to see the man's true colors. Experience tales with empire

With the evidence . . . I hope Iraya would finally open her eyes to the truth.