After my older sister, Cecilia, and I hit adulthood, our parents dropped a bomb: one of us had to run the family business, the other had to marry into the Spencer family in Norwick City.

Cecilia, blinded by greed, called dibs on the company without blinking.

Problem was, she was all talk. Spent her days jet-setting and partying while the business tanked. Within a year, she'd burned it all to the ground.

Me? I got the Spencer name and popped out two boys, locking in my spot as the rich wife.

Cecilia couldn't handle it. Jealousy made her snapshe straight-up stabbed me at a family party.

Next thing I knew, I was back on the day we had to choose.

Cecilia didn't even pause.

"I'll marry into the Spencer family. The business can go to Demi."

I laughed. My poor, clueless sistershe had no idea she was walking straight into hell.
Chapter 1
"I fell for Mike Spencer the second I saw him! I wanna be with him! Demi's way smartershe'll totally crush it running the company!"
Our parents looked ready to hand me over to the Spencers, but Cecilia freaked. Her face turned bright red, like she was about to combust.
Girl was desperate to snag Mike and seal her spot as the wife of some rich heir.
Funny thing? Just a few days ago, she was out here flexing about being a boss babe. Now she'd flipped the script completely.
Mom and Dad were too stunned to say anything, totally thrown off by how fast she switched up.
Me? I stayed quiet on the couch, flipping through the company's financials with a smirk. Even with a second shot at life, Cecilia couldn't help crashing headfirst into the same mess.
Mom kept quiet, but Dad had thoughtsas usual.
"Cecilia, it's better to count on yourself. Sure, he might like you now, but people change. I've heard things about Mike... not exactly glowing. Just think about it. I don't want you getting hurt."
He wasn't wrong. Banking your whole life on some guy? Dumbest move ever.
Dad had seen it too many timesmen ditching their day-one wives the second they got rich. The women who stuck around got left in the dust.
No surprise he didn't want that fate for us.
But Cecilia wasn't having it.
Maybe she remembered how good I had it in my last lifechauffeured in luxury cars, stacked bank account, and two picture-perfect sons everyone envied.
She clung to the idea that marrying Mike beat running the company and watching it crash.
Dad's warning went in one ear, out the other. She even poked her ear, annoyed.
"Oh, Dad! That's just 'cause those women were useless! I'm gorgeous and charminghe'd be lucky to have me! Why would he leave? You've met him. He's a total gentleman. Those rumors are trash!"
She looked like she already had the trophy in hand, eyes glowing with pure delusion.
To her, this was a dream path.
Why hustle through endless meetings and travel when you could sip wine and hit parties as a pampered housewife?
I dropped my head, biting back a laugh.
Mike might play the polished prince in public, but behind closed doors? Full-on monster.
He clawed his way up as an illegitimate son in the Spencer fam, and trust mewhatever it took to get there wasn't pretty.
He made me schmooze nonstop, forced drinks down my throat till I puked blood, and couldn't care less.
If something didn't go his way? He'd hit me. I was rocking long sleeves in the middle of July just to hide the bruises.
And the Spencers? Total snake pitpower games, fake smiles, nonstop backstabbing.
That house didn't just ruin you. It swallowed you whole.
How could that even compare to peacefully running the family business?
But she was set. Our parents just sighed and retreated to their room, done arguing.
On her way out, Cecilia tossed me a smug little smirk.
"Demi, when the company crashes and you're broke, hit me up. Maybe I'll let you carry my purse."
I grinned. "We'll see who ends up begging."
Poor thingso lucky she gets to be smacked around by her doting husband and trashed by her lovely in-laws.
Meanwhile, I'm stuck crying in my billion-dollar office.
Oh, and occasionally hiring a few hot guys for fun.

Chapter 2
Cecilia and Mike's wedding was straight out of a magazineheld at the iconic Centennial Hotel, packed with industry elites.
Dressed in a custom gown, Cecilia was glowing with pride, arrogance practically dripping off her as she made her rounds.
She dragged Mike over to toast me, clearly just to flex.
"Demi, first time meeting your brother-in-law, huh? When your business tanks, maybe he'll toss you a lifeline. Women shouldn't have to work so hard anyway. You should've found a mantoo bad luck skipped you."
She really thought she'd finally won. That look on her face? Pure victory.
Mike gave me a polite nod, playing the part.
But the second her tone turned smug, I caught the flicker in his eyeshis brow twitching.
I knew that look. I'd lived it. He was already sick of her.
Cecilia was a walking disaster. Once Mike's interest fizzled, she was toast.
When I didn't react, she figured I was just bitter. Threw a few more jabs, then strutted off clinging to Mike like she'd bagged a prize.
I didn't have time for her drama anyway. I'd just taken over the companynetworking was the real win tonight.
With half the city's power players here, I grabbed a drink and got to work.
In my past life, Cecilia thought she was some business queen who didn't need to respect anyone. She blew off potential partners and acted like the rules didn't apply to her.
That arrogance got her blacklisted by the powerful Felton family before dessert was even served.
Not me. I played it smartcards out, smile on. Left the right kind of impression on all the right people.
Just as I was finally catching my breath, chaos popped off in the middle of the hall.
"You bumped into me on purpose! What, you think I'm blind? Trying to ruin my wedding day? Do you even know who my husband is?!"
Cecilia, all sweet and glowy five seconds ago, now had fire in her eyes, snapping at some poor girl.
The girl looked like she was about to cry, clearly not built for this kind of public meltdown.
"I didn't mean to! I was looking for my brother and accidentally bumped into you... I already apologized..."
She stood frozen, cheeks flushed, eyes wide, everyone staring like she was some villain.
It was barely a thingdefinitely not worth a meltdown.