Reborn Before Doomsday: The Ruthless CEO's Regret

per and dust filled

ic library. Her body jerked upright, a violent motion that sent her lukewarm coffee slosh

ables looked up, their fa

ignore

ul bursts. She fumbled for her phone, her fingers clumsy and slick with sweat.

ber

s one day befor

ht a cold, suffocating dread that was horribly

top of the screen. National Weather Service: A severe

called it a storm. She knew it was th

nd through the thick glass. The peaceful, idyllic scene was a brutal contrast to the images seared into her memory: Ne

o her palms, the sharp

a plastic smile was joking about the coming weather. "Looks l

ted Chloe's lips. The ignoranc

uin their weekend plans. The chasm between their reality and hers was so vast

the pa

past. The severe ulcer she'd developed from years of starvation felt like it had tr

nd of what was once Central Park, gnawing on tree bark so rotten it tur

ding through her entire frame. She bit down hard on her lower lip, the coppery tast

ag

allow to happen. She would never be hungry again. She would never be weak aga

system. "Attention. The library will be closing in

didn't join in. She straightened up, her movements s

ewing reports. Late nights. Stress. A life that no longer existed. Without a moment o

was the sound of her

stood up and slung her ba

g variables and probabilities. She mentally tallied her assets: the trust fund her parents

would be worth less than the paper it was printed on. Every ce

d, a procurement document that would soon span hund

ow, embarrassing growl. It was her body's primal scream for energy. The sens

ree people dead. Now, just outside these doors, supermarkets were ove

ung open, and a blast of cool, damp wi

ont hallway, but in her mind, she was already separate. They

the cart in the cooling air. The rich, greasy smell of grilled meat and onions hit her l

as garbage was now the most beautiful si

e first step of her plan was si

And then, she was go

s away. Her stride became purposeful, infused with the grim determinat

of autumn leaves from the entryway. She zipped up her jacket, the s