Chapter 3

Erica stood in the study, her past and present shadows melding in the dim light. The weight of her new life pressed heavily on her, every memory and emotion from her previous life was now sharper and more painful. The afternoon sun had shifted, casting long shadows across the room as she tried to focus on the papers before her. Julian’s reassuring voice still echoed in her mind, but Ophelia's ominous presence lingered like a dark cloud over her.

She needed to act, but where to start? Everything she had known, everything she had passed through, felt both obscure and terrifyingly close. The memories were raw and vivid—Julian’s lifeless body, her sister’s cold, triumphant smile, and the sharp, searing pain of betrayal. But she couldn’t afford to be the same victim in this second chance at life. She had to be the one in control.

Determined, Erica made her way to the study, a second office for Julian at home. It had always been his sanctuary, a place of quiet thought and strategic planning. Now, it would become hers as well. She closed the door behind her, sealing herself from the rest of the house, and moved to the large mahogany desk where Julian frequently worked late into the night.

As she sat in his chair, she felt a strange comfort, as if his presence lingered there. It steadied her, grounded her, and she began to go through the papers scattered across the desk. Contracts, financial reports, business correspondence—pieces of the puzzle she needed to understand if she was to protect Julian from whatever Ophelia had in store for them.

But as she skimmed the documents, frustration gnawed at her. The business language was more complex than she expected, and the details weren't adding up. She had been involved in the company’s workings but it wasn't as intractable as this; her life had revolved around social obligations, charity events, and the superficial trappings of their world. Julian had always kept her at arm’s length from the complexities of his work, not out of secrecy, but out of a misguided attempt to shield her, and she had never thought to pry.

“Not anymore,” Erica muttered to herself. She would no longer be passive and stand by as these incidents unfolded around her. If there was one thing she had learned from her previous life, ignorance was dangerous—deadly, even.

She pulled out a financial report dated just a few months back, her eyes scanning the figures. She didn’t understand all of it, but there was something off about the numbers, something she couldn’t quite place. A feeling of unease settled in her stomach as she flipped through more pages, searching for patterns, for answers.

"Surely, Julian must have noticed this", Erica thought. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Erica looked up, momentarily disoriented. “Come in,” she called, her voice steadier than she felt.

The door creaked open, and one of the maids stepped inside, her eyes downcast. “Madam, dinner will be served shortly. Mr. Julian is on his way home.”

Erica nodded, offering the maid a distracted smile. “Thank you. I’ll be down soon.”

As the maid left, Erica leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes momentarily. She needed more information and a clearer understanding of the situation. She knew she couldn’t do this alone, but she wasn’t ready to involve Julian yet. There was someone else she could turn to, someone who might know more about a company's dealings, someone she had avoided in the past out of pride.

Her grandfather.

He had always been a figure of authority, distant and demanding, more interested in molding her into the perfect socialite than nurturing familial ties. But he was also a man deeply entrenched in the business world, with connections and insights that could be invaluable.

The idea of asking for his help made her hair stand on edge. Their relationship had always been strained, fraught with misunderstandings and unspoken resentments. Despite the financial advantages it brought, he had never approved of her marriage to Julian. 

But she couldn’t let her pride or her fears stop her now. If she were to protect Julian and safeguard the future she had been given a second chance at, she would need every ally she could find—even if that meant turning to the man who had once seemed more like a dictator than a grandfather.

With a deep breath, Erica made her decision. She would visit him the next day, but she would gather her strength tonight. She pushed away the papers and left the study, her steps more assured as she headed downstairs to join Julian for dinner.

The dining room was bathed in the golden light of early evening, and the table was set with gleaming silverware and crystal glasses. Julian was already seated, his expression softening as she entered. He stood to greet her, his presence as comforting as the warm light filling the room.

“There you are,” Julian said, a gentle smile spreading across his face as he took her hand. “I wondered if you planned to hide from me all evening.”

Erica chuckled, the sound almost foreign to her ears after the day she’d had. “It will never happen again, I promise” she replied, squeezing his hand. The warmth of his touch eased the tension that had built up within her, reminding her of the good in her life, the things worth fighting for.

He pulled out her chair for her, a small but endearing gesture that made her heart flutter. As she sat down, he kissed her temple softly before taking his seat across from her.

The meal began with light conversation, Julian asking about her day and sharing a few amusing anecdotes from his own. His deep, rich voice was a balm to her frayed nerves, grounding her in the present moment. Erica smiled, her worries momentarily pushed aside.

But as the meal progressed, Julian’s expression grew more serious. He set down his fork, looking at her intently. “Erica,” he began, his tone gentle but firm, “I can’t shake the feeling that something’s troubling you. You’ve been... different today. Is everything alright?"

Erica’s heart skipped a beat. She knew he'd notice. Even the slightest change in her demeanor never went past him, but she couldn’t keep him in the dark forever. She needed to find a way to balance the truth with her need for more time.

“I’ve just been thinking a lot,” she admitted, her voice softer now, almost vulnerable. “About us, about everything that’s happened. It’s... overwhelming sometimes.”

Julian’s expression softened, his eyes filled with concern and tenderness, making her chest tighten. “You know you can talk to me, right?” he said, reaching across the table to retake her hand. His thumb brushed over her knuckles in a soothing motion. “Whatever it is, we can face it together.”

The sincerity in his voice made Erica’s throat tighten. How could she explain the impossible, the fact that she was living a second life, haunted by the specters of their past mistakes?

Instead, she squeezed his hand, offering him a reassuring smile. “I know,” she said softly. “I just need a little time to sort through my thoughts. But I promise, we’ll talk.”

Julian nodded, though his concern didn’t entirely fade. “Take all the time you need,” he said. “I’m here for you, always.”

They finished dinner in relative silence, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken words. Afterward, they retreated to the drawing room, where Julian busied himself with some paperwork, and Erica pretended to read a book, though the words blurred before her eyes.

As the evening wore on, she found herself sneaking glances at Julian, her mind drifting back to the memories of her previous life. How had she been so blind? How had she allowed herself to be consumed by resentment and bitterness, pushing away the one person who had truly cared for her?

But there was no use in dwelling on the past. She had been given a second chance and intended to make the most of it. Whatever Ophelia was planning, whatever dangers lurked in the shadows, Erica would be ready.

When the time was right, she would tell Julian everything. But for now, she would protect him however she could, gathering information, forging alliances, and keeping him out of harm’s way.

As the clock chimed the hour, Erica closed her book and stood, moving to where Julian sat. He looked up as she approached, a question in his eyes.

“I’m going to bed,” she said, kissing him. “Don’t stay up too late.”

Julian smiled, brushing a hand through her hair. “I won’t. I’ll join you soon.”

She lingered for a moment, her heart full of emotions she couldn’t quite name, before finally turning and heading upstairs. As she prepared for bed, her thoughts continued to race, but there was a clarity in them now, a sense of purpose.

Tomorrow, she would face her grandfather. And from there, she would unravel the truth, no matter how tangled it might be.

As she slipped under the covers, she made a silent vow: she would protect Julian and their future, no matter what it cost her. She had been reborn, and she would not waste this chance.

As she drifted off to sleep, an eerie thought crossed her mind: "I don't know anything about him"