Worried the smell of cooking oil clung to me, I stood a careful distance away from him. "You mentioned before that I should find something to do, to keep me from embarrassing you when I'm out, right?" I watched his expression for any change. Seeing none, I continued, "Since you think my cooking is decent, what if I opened a restaurant? It's really the only skill I have that's worth anything." I didn't want to waste this second chance. I wanted to build something for myself, to prepare for a life after Donovan. He began to eat his breakfast, quietly, not saying a word. I took the hint and didn't press him. Donovan was a better man than the ones my peers were with, but he had the same flaw most of them did: a severe case of male chauvinism. Once, I was at a spa with another girl and missed his text. He froze my credit cards and confined me to the penthouse for three days as punishment for ignoring him. Knowing him as I did, I knew he wouldn't accept me doing anything that wasn't under his control. I couldn't just start a business without his permission. That's why I'd woken up at dawn, why I'd cooked this feast. It was all a calculated plea for his approval to go out and make my own money. Donovan was generous, and in this new life, I hadn't asked him for anything yet. If he agreed to the restaura- nt, his support would come with funding and connections. That was my real goal. Even though I knew my death in the last life was my own doing, Donovan was the catalyst. He was the one who had warped me into someone I wasn't. His pockets were deep. Making him shoulder some of the resp- onsibility for my early demise didn't seem unreasonable, did it? Fleecing him for a little startup capital while I was still under his roof... surely that was understandable. Donovan left for work without giving any opinion on my "sudden" ambition. I wasn't worried. Camilla wasn't due back for another month. If once didn't work, I'd just have to try again. 317 13.53 13.53 Chapter 1 After he left, I went out too. First, I went to the bank to check the balance of the "salary" I'd accumulated from him over the years. Then I split the money, seventy-thirty. The larger portion went into a new, separate account. The rest I designated as my operating capital. I hadn't gotten any smarter. But my past life had taught me one thing: trust no one. I was eighty percent sure Donovan would help me, but you can never account for that last twenty percent. From the bank, I went to a restaurant I used to frequent. In the past, I'd always gone to try their new dishes Today, I studied the prices on the menu, the decor, the thousand little details most customers overlook. The owner recognized me. Seeing me sitting alone for so long, he came over to say hello. Thinking of all the mistakes I might make without Donovan's help, I summoned my courage and started asking him for advice, to "learn from the master." He was surprisingly kind, not at all bothered that I was trying to steal his secrets. He shared story after story of the pitfalls he'd encountered since opening his owr place. I went home with a phone that had died from taking so many notes. When I plugged it in, a message popped up on the screen, identical to the one from my last life: Nancy, how did it go? Did you ask Mr. Black if he loves you like I told you to? Nancy. That was the name he'd given me. I didn't reply. I just deleted Tiffany's contact and blocked her num ber. Truthfully, I didn't hate her that much. She was instrumental in my early death, yes, but ultimately, it was my own stupidity that sealed my fate. If I had been just a little bit smarter, a little less easily swayed by others my life wouldn't have ended that way. Besides, I vaguely remembered a voice, just before I came back, whispering to me: Everything has a cause and effect. Don't seek revenge. Those who harmed you will face their own consequences. Don't waste the precious chance you've been given on a moment's satisfaction. Because of that, my heart had remained peaceful. I kept reminding myself: I came back to live a long, full life for myself. No one was going to derail that plan. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!