The Scripted Villain's Second Chance

attered bones, his torn flesh. He lay on a cold, damp flo

ed. Her eyes were cold, empty of the warmth he remembered

ng, her hair like sunshine, as the

er family' s business collapsed, and his f

ing new, something fierce, when she me

his family's legacy, crumbling und

er the stress, the ruin. His father'

chestrated Daniel Chen's "accidental death

estions. The torture. He tried to speak, to t

ying. He

ced through the agony. This was never your story, Ethan. You were just a

sabella and Daniel, the true hero and heroine. He was t

han the physical pain. He closed his eyes, a single tear

end. A disp

avenly, but harsh,

He was in a plush leather chair, in a familiar conference r

ance, Isabella' s lawyer. Vance looked

papers lay

ght?" Vance asked, his vo

round. The calendar on the wall. The

live. He

his moment. This was when Isabell

is prepared to offer one hundred million dollars to

rgued, tried to hold on. He' d loved her. He' d believed

fool he

of pain and betrayal, were branded onto his

s voice, when he spoke

acc

nked. "Ex

is gaze steady. "One hundred million. D

a fight, negotiations, emotional outbursts. Ethan Miller

once. He knew the script. And

ly. "Excellent. I'll have the final

han called his parents. H

something for me. No quest

n his mother' s voice.

y. And you need to leave New York. Go to Switzerla

about?" his father asked,

re, their ruin, their deaths. He couldn't tell

erious threat I' ve become aware of

d them. After a tense silence, his father agree

mmediate, washed ov

herself called. Her voice

epted the buyout. Just like th

g her office, her mind racing,

said, his tone flat. "Yo

ve you. This i

le ch

ulated shift. "Ethan, I... I need this. For Daniel.

evotion was absolute. In his first life, he' d seen her sacrifice eve

grave, weeping, swearing vengeance on whoever w

y was a c

o witness it again, this raw, unwavering devotion. It was a

Daniel was the hero

still sounded unsure. "I' l

hung

was already in motion. But this time

ned role. He would burn the scr

elf. For a chance at a life that was