Cendy stared at Ella, bewildered. She couldn't understand what had gone wrong between Ella and Lucien. Before she could ask, a ringing filled the air in the limo. The ringing went on for a long time, and Cendy couldn't bear it any longer.

"Ella, your phone!" Cendy whined.

Lucien was calling.

Ella narrowed her eyes, struggling to control herself, and answered the call in a very suppressed voice, "Lucien."

"Did you have fun at the shrine today?" Lucien's warm voice came from the other side.

Ella smiled sarcastically.

Lucien had a contest coming up for “Most Outstanding Young Adults” in a few days, so she had come over to wish him success in winning all the awards.

Once upon a time, Ella prioritized Lucien above everything else. Although she had the ability to excel and reach the top on her own, she chose to give up everything for him!

"Ella?" He spoke up when she didn't respond.

"Yes. It was fine." Ella said in a light tone, "I prayed for you to finally get that promotion."

"Oh? Not a child?" He joked.

The implication was clear, and before, she would've thought it was sweet.

But now, as she looked at that once blessed language in front of her, it disgusted her. It wasn't until he stabbed her that he revealed that he was the reason she never became pregnant: he had been sneaking birth control pills into her food for the ten years she'd been with him.

All of those disappointed stares from the Williams family… All of those comments on her not being a mother yet…

It was all his fault.

"What's wrong? Are you tired?" Lucien sounded concerned over her unusual behavior.

"Yeah. Cindy and I drove up here early this morning, so I'm a little sleepy. We're driving back now."

"Ugh, that's my fault. If I didn't have something come up at work, I would've gone with you. Sorry you had to drive." Lucien took the blame like he always did.

Ella was getting tired of sneering. Once, she really did believe he was busy with work, but this entire time, he was sleeping with other women.

"Drive safe," he adds.

Ella immediately hung up.

Cendy observed Ella's cold expression and held back the words that were about to escape her lips. She felt that Ella seemed like a completely different person at that moment. She hoped that after getting some rest, Ella would return to her usual self tomorrow.

The limo headed back to the city, and Ella dropped off Cendy at the Summer Family villa.

"Cendy," Ella suddenly called.

Cendy turned back, looking at Ella with a furrowed brow and suspicious eyes.

The truth was that Ella was just making sure Cendy was actually alive and well.

Cendy felt a bit creeped out by Ella's expression and asked, "Are you alright today? I've heard that the forests around the shrine are haunted… You're not possessed, are you?!"

Cendy remained her usual teasing and straightforward self. Thankfully, none of those dreadful things had happened to her. Ella's lips curved into a smile, her first genuine and heartfelt smile after being reborn.

"I'm just glad you're alive."

"You're being weird!" Cendy scoffed. "Of course I'm alive! My dad said a demon like me could probably live another thousand years! One little car accident isn't gonna take me out, Ella!"

Before, Ella had believed that Cendy, with her carefree and lively nature, would live a long, happy life. Instead, she'd committed suicide. In her past life, Cendy jumped from the 28th floor of a hotel, leaving a shadow that Ella could never shake off for the rest of her life. Now that Ella was back in a time where everything was alright, she felt grateful.

But that didn't mean she couldn't seek justice for the mistakes of the past...

She composed herself and changed the subject, "Don't tell anyone about today."

"Which part?"

"Eden."

Cendy rolled her eyes, "I won't. Besides, you'll forget about him tomorrow anyway."

Tomorrow, Ella would only be more determined.

"I'm off then."

"Drive carefully," Cendy said uneasily.

Ella nodded and drove the car steadily back home, heading to the Ford Family cottage from ten years ago. It was a place both familiar and unfamiliar to her, and emotions overwhelmed Ella's heart. As she entered the hall and saw her parents, her eyes quickly welled up with tears.

In her past life, her parents died because of her. If Ella hadn't met a bad person, they never would've gotten in a car accident. Ella was the only one to survive, cushioned by her parents' own flesh and blood.

Those bloody images, those tragic endings – she didn't want to remember them, and she vowed she'd never experience them again!

"Ella, didn't you say you went to the shrine on the mountain to pray for Lucien? You're back sooner than I expected." Ella's mother, Daisy Taylor Ford, greeted her gently.

Ella blinked the tears from her eyes and smiled as she walked over to them.

From now on, everything would be different.

From now on, she would be the one to kill Lucien Williams and destroy his family. No one would hurt the Fords again.

"Why the red eyes?" Daisy asked worriedly as Ella drew closer.

"They're just a little dry. I've been rubbing them a lot."

"The Williams Family just called. They wanted to talk to us about the details of your wedding…" Daisy said.

Ella took a deep breath, "Mom, I'm not going to marry Lucien."

"What?" Daisy said, surprised.

Jack Ford, Ella's father, looked at his wife beside him and then up from his newspaper, "Did you two fight?"

"Lucien is not a good man. He only married me to steal our family fortune and use us as a stepping stone." Ella, clearly sensing her parents' disbelief, continued, "I have no proof right now, but give me some time, and I can convince you!"

Her parents were both silent as they watched their daughter speak with such conviction.

Growing up, Ella was never a worrisome child.

When she was a child, Ella's grandfather had arranged a marriage for her. Surprisingly, Ella didn't object and remained committed to that arrangement. Throughout her life, she never dated any other male friends apart from Lucien, and she devoted herself entirely to him.

The two of them have stayed close ever since, so why was she suddenly against him now?

Ella attempted to reassure her parents and said, "Dad, I have never done anything to cause trouble for our family. I understand the advantages of uniting our families, but despite that, I must stand by my decision."

"You are my daughter. Of course I trust you," Jack reluctantly agreed. "But if we break off the marriage now, it won't just cost us the benefits of uniting our families, but it will also ruin our reputation. How can the Ford Group keep its foothold in the city after this?"

Emotions were running high.

"No," Ella declared. "I may be the one calling off the marriage, but the Williams family will be the one left to deal with the consequences!"

Jack was shocked.

His daughter's assertions were surprising. She was different from her usual, gentle self.

"Next month, at the wedding, the Williams family will be the only one to blame!"

Ella’s words was firm and resolute.