Chapter 2 Reborn

Bernice

"Bernie, wake up!"

Someone was vigorously shaking me, and I struggled to pry my eyes open. My hair, damp with sweat, clung to my cheeks, and the yellow light from the ceiling overhead was jarring to my senses. Where was I?

"Damn it, I thought you'd passed out! You scared the hell out of me!" A familiar face loomed into view. Cathy?!

I sat up abruptly, the scent of perfume in the air a stark contrast to the acrid smell of blood I had half-expected. "What? But... didn't I die?" I muttered, confusion clouding my features.

"Are you kidding?" Cathy laughed, "You're just sleepy! Now get up and get out of here before everyone starts wondering where you are!" Without another word, she pulled me up and pushed me out of the lounge.

I stepped out of the lounge, the scene of the banquet hall spinning before my eyes. The ornate chandeliers, the flickering candlelight, and the guests in their finery – it all seemed so real, yet unreal.

I stood there, bewildered, unsure of what was happening.

That was until a figure brushed past me, her arm knocking into mine with calculated precision. A splash of red wine cascaded down my dress, staining the pristine fabric of my white chiffon dress.

"Oh, my God. I'm so sorry," came a familiar voice, always soft and seemingly innocent.

My head snapped up, and there she was—Melissa. Seeing that face, once filled with malice but now appearing as harmless as a lamb, my body stiffened.

Could it be possible? Did I not die, but instead returned to a year ago, to the day when Melissa began to destroy my life?

"Bernice, are you angry?" Melissa pressed, as my silence stretched on, prompting her to intensify her act. Large, round tears streamed down her face, as if she were the one who'd been doused in red wine. "I'm really sorry. I brought an extra dress, let me take you to the dressing room..."

"No, I'm not going with you," I said before she could finish. Because I was well aware that she had no extra dress at all.

It was a trap.

I remember this day vividly. The Miller Corporation's annual fundraising gala, where I was supposed to co-host with Fed. But before the gala began, Melissa "accidentally" spilled wine on my dress. To make up for it, she said she'd take me to change, only to "accidentally" lock me in the changing room again.

I missed the gala. Melissa took my place as Fed's partner. She was praised for "saving the day" and even became Fed's new executive assistant.

I was a fool then, naively believing that my kind-hearted sister really didn't mean it, covering for her and taking all the blame.

But in the end, she ruthlessly betrayed me and watched me die in front of her.

The heart-wrenching pain still seemed to linger in my body.

I took a deep breath, a wave of determination rising within me. Regardless of the reason that brought me back to the past, the fact that I was here, at this very moment, meant that I would not allow things to follow the same path they once did.

"Melissa," I drawled, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "It's interesting how accidents seem to follow you around, isn't it? How is it that you, a grown woman, cannot manage to hold a glass of wine without spilling it everywhere?"

Melissa froze, her eyes flickering with a hint of panic, surely not expecting me to speak in such a way. "What are you saying, Bernice? It‘s an accident," she said, attempting to mask her reaction as she grasped my arm, then swiftly changed the subject, "You really need to get changed. We're running out of time."

"No," I shook my head, pulling my hand free from her grip. "I'll handle this myself."

Her expression soured, with a thinly veiled annoyance. "You're joking, right? How will you clean that dress in such a short time? It's not proper to host the gala in a dirty dress, Bernice," she scolded, her voice rising a notch.

I merely raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on my lips. "I have my own way."

I turned to Cathy and asked for a lipstick. As I uncapped the vibrant red tube, the guests around us began to murmur in confusion.

The lipstick glided smoothly over the fabric, outlining the petals of the rose with precision. I added depth with gentle shading, my artistry bringing the flower to life. The wine stain became the heart of the rose, a perfect circle at the center, giving the illusion of depth and dimension. It was as if the dress had always been adorned with this beautiful, crimson bloom.

The guests around me gasped in admiration, their whispers of awe a sweet melody to my ears. I glanced at Melissa, who stood frozen, her face a picture of shock and fury. Her plan had backfired, and she knew it.

"Thank you for the inspiration, Melissa," I said, my voice dripping with mock gratitude as I turned to leave. "I must go now. You know, I need to host the gala with Fed."

"Wait! Bernice." When I was about to leave, Melissa stopped me.

"I am really sorry...,"she offered, her voice sweet but her eyes filled with venom. I seemed to see the wheels turning in her head as she approached me again.

Sure enough, as she neared, I sensed a subtle shift in her gait and balance. Behind me was the dessert table, laden with cakes and fruits. Clearly, she intended to ruin my dress once more.

Maintaining my smile, I deftly sidestepped just as she was about to touch me, skillfully avoiding her push.

Melissa, clearly unprepared for my reaction, stumbled, her arm swinging through empty air.

"Watch out!" I reached out as if to help, but deliberately slowed my motion.

Melissa tripped over the hem of her dress, pitching forward and crashing into the dessert table.

"Oh no!" She cried, her voice a mix of terror and fury, but it was too late. Her face plowed into the centerpiece cake, sending decorations flying.

The sound of her scream and shattering plates echoed through the hall, drawing the attention of all the guests. A collective gasp followed by stifled laughter rippled through the crowd.

Melissa struggled to her feet, her hair and face covered in cream, her image utterly destroyed. The perpetual mask of gentle kindness that she wore had finally cracked, and her eyes were burning with unmistakable anger and hatred as she looked at me.

"Oh, Melissa, are you alright?" With a hint of irony, I asked.

A thrill lingered in my chest, it seemed I was truly reborn, everything could change. Stephen Corporation will not go bankrupt, the nightmare Melissa brought would be broken, and my marriage with Fed...

"What happened here?"

At that moment, a deep male voice cut through the silence.

The room fell quiet, and I froze before slowly turning around. My heart clenched. Fed, my husband, the man who had betrayed me and treated our marriage as a mere transaction, was standing before me.