Chapter 1

Tags: Rebirth, Vicious Best Friend, High Society Drama, Shocking Reversal

I knew perfectly well that the city's wealthiest heir was staying at the hotel tonight.

Yet, when my best friend begged to swap shifts with me, I refused.

Because I knew better than anyone that this ruthless billionaire heir was nothing but pure poison.

In my previous life, I worked as a housekeeper at a five-star hotel to pay for my college tuition.

While cleaning the presidential suite,

I was dragged onto the bed by Ethan Hayes, the drugged-up heir to the Hayes empire.

One wild night led to an unexpected pregnancy.

Unable to afford a child, I decided to have an abortion.

On the operating table, Ethan’s mother showed up with security and forcefully dragged me back to the Hayes estate.

I never expected that when I went into labor, my best friend, Maya Vance, who was also a cleaner at the hotel, would storm into the delivery room wielding a chef's knife.

She hacked both me and my newborn to death.

"That room was supposed to be mine! I was the one who was supposed to sleep with Ethan Hayes and carry his heir! You stole my wealth and luxury! You ruined my life! You thief, I’ll kill you!"

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day Ethan Hayes was drugged.

Facing Maya's shift-swap request, I turned her down flatly.

Since you want that life so badly, go ahead and dive into the Hayes family's toxic swamp yourself.

"Chloe, my boyfriend just came to town. Cover my shift tonight, okay?"

Maya muttered to herself as she walked into the locker room, already taking off her uniform.

My mind blurred for a second, and a phantom, searing pain tore through my lower abdomen, snapping me instantly awake.

I had been reborn. Back to the exact day Ethan Hayes had his drink spiked.

Remembering my poor baby who had been slaughtered before even taking a proper breath in my past life, I lowered my head to hide the uncontrollable rage and grief burning in my eyes.

Maya, whatever you wanted so badly back then, I'm letting you have it all this time.

"Not today. I have an emergency. Find someone else."

In our past life, it was Maya who begged me to take her shift. When I went to clean the presidential suite, a drugged Ethan Hayes dragged me into bed.

That single accident utterly derailed my entire life. Now that I had a second chance, I would never repeat that nightmare.

Maya hadn’t expected me to decline. Stunned for a moment, she quickly grabbed my hand and whined,

"Chloe, please! You know Luke and I are long-distance. He barely saved enough bus fare to come see me. Just cover for me this once!"

"I really can't. My mom complained of chest pains this morning, and she didn't pick up when I called her earlier. I need to go home and check on her."

In my past life, because I didn't come home that night, my mother suffered a massive heart attack. Without timely treatment, she developed severe complications and required long-term hospitalization.

The astronomical medical bills drove us into a corner. To keep from burdening me, my mother attempted suicide and fell into a persistent vegetative state.

To pay for her life support, I had no choice but to surrender to Mrs. Hayes’s demands and keep that baby.

At that memory, I ripped my hand away from Maya and walked toward the exit.

She chased after me relentlessly.

"Chloe, your mom has always been fine! You don't have to curse your own mother just to make up a lie!

We grew up together! I’m only asking you to cover a single shift, and you’re making all these excuses! Are you even my friend?"

Noticing our coworkers glancing our way, I shook her off again and called her out loudly,

"Maya, how do you have the nerve to say that? Out of the last seven days, I worked five of your shifts! I make barely two grand a month, and you’ve already borrowed twelve hundred from me! How much more do you expect me to give you?

Your boyfriend coming over versus my mother being sick—which one do you think matters more? Let me ask you: is this how a real friend acts?"

Whispers instantly rippled through the staff room.

"No wonder I rarely see her face around here. She’s been dumping all her work on Chloe."

"Forget someone else’s boyfriend—even if it were my own date, my mother’s health would always come first. What a terrible friend."

"Just taking advantage of a nice girl until she finally snapped."

"Fine! Don't do it then! Chloe, after all these years, I finally see your true colors!"

Red-faced and humiliated, Maya spat out a threat and stormed off.

I walked out of the hotel doors smoothly, tilted my head up toward the penthouse suite where Ethan Hayes was staying, and let out a long breath.

Maya, the golden cage you yearned for—I'm returning it to you.

...

Back home, I immediately took my mother to the emergency room. Because we caught it in time, she only needed regular prescription medication to stay stable.

That night, I slept peacefully in my own bed, while Maya next door never returned home.

I didn't know whether she had skipped work to hook up with her boyfriend, or if she had successfully become Ethan Hayes's antidote.

The next afternoon, just as I changed into my uniform and got ready for work, my supervisor barked at me.

"Chloe! Skipping out on your shift yesterday, huh? Do you have any idea how many guest complaints we got? Forget about your paycheck this month!"