The scent of freshly brewed tea filled the dining room. The Liang family sat around the grand table, the morning sun filtering through ornate curtains. Everything looked just as she remembered — her father reading the financial paper, her stepmother pretending to be warm, Tang Yuxin sipping coffee with that fake, angelic smile.
But Liang Ruoxi didn't feel the same.
Not anymore.
She sat quietly, watching them with eyes that had once been blind. She remembered how she used to crave this family's approval. How she believed being the "good daughter" would earn their love.
What a fool she'd been.
"I heard you and Zixuan are going to finalize the wedding date this weekend," her stepmother, Madam Tang, said with a gleam in her eyes. "Your father and I are so proud."
Liang Ruoxi smiled. Not the innocent smile they were used to — but a sharp one.
"Actually," she said lightly, slicing into her toast, "there's been a change in plans."
The table stilled.
Her father lowered his newspaper, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"
"I've decided to break off the engagement with Feng Zixuan," Ruoxi said clearly, dabbing her lips with a napkin. "Effective immediately."
Clang.
Tang Yuxin had dropped her fork. Her stepmother gasped.
"You… what are you saying?" Father's voice rose. "This is not a decision you can make alone, Ruoxi. Do you understand what's at stake? The Liang Group and Feng Corp—"
"—have no future together," Ruoxi interrupted smoothly. "And frankly, I'd rather marry a rock than spend another second tied to that man."
Tang Yuxin's face paled.
"You're being irrational," Madam Tang said quickly, placing a hand on her husband's arm. "She's just upset, maybe they had a fight—"
"Oh no, no fight," Ruoxi said, her tone still sweet. "Just clarity. I finally saw who he really is. And who you all are."
Her eyes flicked to Tang Yuxin.
"Especially you, sister."
Tang Yuxin flinched.
Ruoxi set down her teacup with a delicate clink. "Don't worry. You can have him. In fact, you already do, don't you?"
Gasps.
Yuxin's mouth opened and closed like a fish. "Ruoxi… I… I don't understand what you're saying."
Ruoxi stood up, smoothing the folds of her silk blouse. "Save the performance. You might need it when this family collapses — which it will, once I walk away."
Father slammed the table. "Don't be arrogant! You think you built this company? You think we need you?"
Ruoxi turned to him slowly.
"I gave up my scholarship to Harvard Business School to stay and build your precious empire. I brought in the Mo deal. I fixed the corruption scandal last year. And you… watched me die in my wedding dress."
They stared at her, confused. Of course they were. In this timeline, her death hadn't happened yet.
But she remembered. Every. Single. Detail.
"I won't be your puppet anymore," she said coldly.
Her father rose from his chair. "You ungrateful—"
"Finish that sentence, and I'll make sure the entire board hears how ungrateful I've been." Her voice had lost all warmth now. "Let's see how many directors still vote for you when I expose what you did with the Jingnan account."
His mouth snapped shut.
Ruoxi stepped back from the table. "I'll be moving out by tonight. Please forward all company documents that bear my signature to my new legal office. Any attempt to remove me illegally will be met with court action."
"You—"
"Oh, and do wish Zixuan and Yuxin all the best. I'm sure their baby will be adorable."
Yuxin gasped. "I'm not pregnant—!"
Ruoxi turned on her heel. "Yet."
Later that evening...
Ruoxi stood on the balcony of her apartment, gazing at the night skyline. Her hands trembled — not from fear, but from adrenaline.
She had done it.
She had burned the first bridge.
But this was only the beginning.
She pulled out her phone and opened her contact list. One name glowed on the screen:
Mo Zeyan.
The man she would never have dared to approach in her previous life. The rumored tyrant CEO. Cold. Untouchable. But also untouchably powerful.
And he hated her family.
She pressed call.
It rang twice before a low, gravelly voice answered.
"Who is this?"
"Liang Ruoxi," she said, her voice steady. "I have a proposal. One that will benefit both of us."
Silence.
Then, "Go on."
"I want a contract marriage. I'll be your wife on paper, attend your public events, play the role you need — in exchange, you help me destroy the Liang family and everyone tied to them."
A pause.
Then a soft chuckle.
"You have guts, Miss Liang. But what makes you think I need a wife?"
"Because your enemies are circling," she replied, "and I can offer you something they can't."
"Which is?"
"Unquestioning loyalty," she said. "And insider knowledge of your biggest rival's family."
More silence.
Then the sound of a chair creaking as he leaned forward.
"Interesting. Meet me tomorrow morning. Nine sharp. Don't be late."
The call ended.
Ruoxi exhaled, her grip loosening.
Her heart pounded. This was it. Her second life had truly begun.
And she wasn't going to play nice anymore.