Rebirth of the Billionaire's Abandoned Wife

The sound of a slap resounded through the spacious room. Alana froze, her heart shattered like the pieces of a vase Albert had thrown on the floor.

"You hit me?!" There was disbelief on her face. Tears gathered in her eyes, not sure because of the swelling on her cheek or Albert's actions.

"Yes, I hit you." Albert's fist clenched at his sides. His face was red and veins popped on his temples as he suppressed his anger. He said through gritted teeth, "You betrayed me."

Alana winced. Her heart felt as though someone ripped it apart from her chest and stomped on it. She tried to control her breathing and pointed at Cecil, who had a pale face, watching the show in front of her in silence. "Is it because of her? You believed her words just like that?"

"If not because of Cecil, I wouldn't have known that you are actually hiding a man behind my back!" Albert snarled those words at her. His hand moved and was about to hit her again to vent his fury.

Alana didn't move. She stood there, not even flinching as his hand came down to her cheek the second time. However, Albert stopped right a few centimeters away, and he retracted his hands.

"Don't point your finger at Cecil. She is not an easy woman like you." Albert pulled out something from his pocket and threw it at her. Photos scattered on the floor. There were many and Alana's figure was on each of them.

It was a picture taken in a hotel, painting an ambiguous posture of her and a man. Alana recognized this person, as well as what had happened during that time.

Albert took a few steps back until he stood beside Cecil, rubbing her back to comfort the woman. Alana still had her eyes fixated on the photos on the floor. He watched her ever changing expressions coldly.

"Just a few photos and you believed everything she says?!" Alana snapped her head at him all of a sudden. The despair on her face replaced by a sudden laugh, making her look like a crazy woman.

Indeed, she was probably crazy. She had been crazy enough to stay with this man for ten years of marriage. She had done everything to help him with his company, sacrificing her career and her happiness. Now she realized this man had never looked at her even once.

"The proof is clear and you still want to deny it?" He looked at her with disgust.

Alana already felt numb at this point, but that look of disgust still stabbed her severely. For this man, who believed none of her words, she had even thrown away the last thing she had: her dignity. Still, he wouldn't deign to look at her.

"It's possible that the photos might just be a misunderstanding, just like-" Albert cut Cecil's whisper-like voice off, who then assured her that she didn't need to be afraid and that he would protect her.

The voices of the two then fade away, though the intimate actions of the two were still as clear as a day in Alana's eyes. She watched with a blank gaze as the background of the two people in front of her gradually changed into something else.

The round of applause awakened Alana from the memories of her previous life, but the two main protagonists reflected in her eyes were still the same.

The bride was absolutely stunning. A smile and the slight flush of her cheeks betrayed her happiness. On top of that, the gaze of the man, tender and full of doting, was the source of jealousy for the other women in the room.

Or perhaps, there were more than two people who were receiving too much attention from others today: Cecilia Hart the bride, Albert Harris the groom, and the last person was Alana Wilson, the woman who had received much public scorn due to her infidelity.

She was currently sitting alone at a table, seemingly lost in her own world. None talked to her, and she didn't bother any attempt at starting a conversation either.

"It's such a wonder how she got the nerve to come here and attend her ex-boyfriend's wedding."

"She's embarrassing the Wilson family."

"Coming to her ex-boyfriend's wedding after she cheated on him." One of them shook her head and continued to whisper. "Good thing that Mr Harris found true love at the end."

"Luckily, Mr Harris hadn't married her, or it would have been too late."

All the topics of the conversation revolve around those ideas. Their gazes were discreet and voices whispered, but only limited to their tables.

"Miss Alana, thank you for coming to our wedding." The voice pulled her from reminiscence, sweet and lovely. The small face, decorated with a smile, greeted Alana.

In contrast to Cecil's happy expression, Albert's head snapped in Alana's direction in surprise, then he frowned. It was as if he didn't realize she was there the entire time during the wedding procession until the bride called her out. However, her seat was indeed quite far from the altar.

"What are you doing here?" He had a taut face and scrunched eyebrows, his tone aggressive with glaring eyes. The expression that Alana had been so familiar with, both in the current and previous life.

"Attending a wedding." She said the obvious, and it managed to get under his skin.

"Let's find somewhere to talk." Albert gritted his teeth as he began to walk towards Alana's table. At the same time, Cecil suddenly wrapped her arm around his in an attempt to pull him back. The position where they were standing wasn't far from Alana.

Cecil's face instantly changed, from happy to one that was akin to an abandoned puppy. "Albert..."

Albert stopped in his tracks and glanced at Cecil. That kind of expression always made him not have a heart to do anything against her wishes, but he needed to talk to Alana right now.

"Wait for a bit, baby. I need to have a talk with her right now." Albert assured her and steeled his heart not to look at her again, then continued to walk to Alana. Once he arrived at her table, he tried to grasp her arm roughly and drag her somewhere, but she avoided him.

"Just talk here." She muttered flatly, then said sarcastically, "Look at your princess' unwilling expression. She is still waiting for her prince charming to come back. Lest she thinks we have something going on."

"Fine, if that's what you want." Albert's tone wasn't good. He took a few steps back.

At this point, Cecil already arrived at their table. One of her arms already went back wrapped around Albert in an affectionate manner, not minding the previous small scene at all.

"What are you doing here? How do you manage to get in?" Albert started his interrogating questions. He didn't deliberately suppress his voice anymore this time, so some nearby people still heard his words. They seemed shocked upon hearing the horrific news.

Cecil's free hand covered her slightly opened mouth, and she gasped.

"Darling, I thought you were the one who invited her."

"I didn't invite her. I would never let anything destroy our wedding." Albert rubbed Cecil's back in an attempt to assure her. He frowned, then directed his sharp gaze back at Alana. "Answer the question."

Some people speculated that she bribed the security and wanted to make trouble at the wedding. After all, with her family's influence, it was possible.

"It is concerning that although you are still young..." Alana frowned in response and rolled her eyes. "But you already forgot that you sent me an invitation?"

At the entrance, nobody had stopped her. If anything, they made a wide pathway for her to walk on, all gazing at her as if she was some animal in the zoo. She had also confirmed her name on the guest list.

"Why would I invite you?" Albert nearly couldn't hold in his anger anymore. "For you to ruin our most important day?"

"I also would like to know that. I also never said that it has to be you who sent it to me, Mr Harris." She retorted back fearlessly. What a cheap trick pulled in order to antagonize her. Even if they confirmed the guest list again, she was sure her name would no longer be there.

Alana stood up and pulled something from her small bag. With a quick move, she threw the object in her hand to them and it landed near their feet.

In everyone's eyes, the woman had her attention somewhere else that she didn't realize a new character was entering. Lilah Adams-an actress, just like Cecil-raised a glass of water in her hand and a moment later, the figure of drenched Alana could be seen in everyone's eyes amidst their shock.

The originally red billowy dress now stuck to her skin and the wavy black hair cling to each side of her face to her neck. It kinda gave her an alluring look. Despite the rumors surrounding her, she has a stunning appearance.

If Cecil had this pure and innocent aura about her that made her look attractive, Alana had the innocent but also glamorous look that seemed contradictory, yet didn't make her look out of place.

"Oh, sorry, Miss. My hand slipped." Lilah raised her eyebrow, not looking guilty at all despite her words.

Some even began to feel bad for her, thinking that she was too shocked to react. The speculation that the pair of groom and bride did this deliberately to take revenge emerged, but they quickly erased the thought when they saw the expression on the couple's face.

"My clothes are dirty now. Sorry I can't continue to attend your wedding." The tone was flat, but the emotions swirling in those eyes stunned everyone.

Alana grabbed her bag, then walked away without even looking back. They could see the thin back getting smaller and finally disappeared from their sight as she passed a door.

"You two should have kicked her out the moment she made trouble. Don't let her ruin your wedding." Lilah rolled her eyes, every word dripping with sarcasm. Her eyes were meaningful as she glanced at the pair of groom and bride.

At the same time, Albert, who was curious about the object laying on the floor, crouched down to take it. Seeing the thin paper, Lilah suddenly said in a surprised voice.

"Is that a wedding invitation?" She blinked. "I remember receiving the same one. Then..." She clasped her mouth and gasped, at a loss for words. Everyone also wondered whether it was really a wedding invitation.

Cecil's pupils constricted and her mind spun. This actress named Lilah, who was less popular than her, had caused such a scene at their wedding and now had even said such words that made them might be misunderstood. No matter what they say right now-whether it was a wedding invitation or not-it would be unfavorable to their situation. Who would expect someone to bring a wedding invitation around like this?

If Alana made trouble, by taking a few subtle actions, they could better guide the opinions of the public in favor of their side. Now, she experienced such disrespectful treatment at their wedding-it might even cause the public to feel sorry for her, thereby reducing the public's sympathy for her and Albert.

Alana didn't know what kind of inner turmoil Cecil was going through, and honestly, she didn't care. She was currently in a car and had changed from the dress to a more comfortable attire.

"Woman, look, I am sacrificing my reputation for you." The door of the car snapped open and a glamorous woman in a grey dress got in and threw her heels away, replacing them with comfortable shoes. She added, "You should be thankful to me."

Lilah lifted her chin proudly. "I hope it can really wreck their wedding party. What a revolting couple."

Alana only shook her head. She leaned her body on the seat to relax her tense muscles. Then she turned her head to Lilah and asked with concern. "It will affect you a lot, right? I can also make a clarification later if you wish me to. I don't want to affect your career."

Lilah began to drive the car. She shrugged her shoulders and said in a joking manner. "As long as your family doesn't go after me, I am fine."

The Wilson family's inclusion in the list of top rich families was not without reason. They had a lot of business in various industries, and one of them was the entertainment industry. It wouldn't take much to ban an emerging actress like Lilah. Of course, they wouldn't do such a thing.

As for Cecil, she had her own reason for not obstructing her path in the entertainment industry.

In her previous life, her marriage with Albert began to fall apart the moment he met Cecil. It was during the second year of the marriage. Every time they faced problems, he was always the first to run away, going some days without any word.

"Your phone is ringing." Lilah glanced at the name on her phone, then scoffed.

"Oh?" She knew without looking at the phone who would be calling her just by Lilah's expression.

It must be Albert.

"Are you going to pick that up?"

There were already several missed calls from him, showing how furious he was. Just as she hesitated, Lilah suddenly sped up their car, and the inertia almost made her phone jump out of her hand.

"Hold on tight, I noticed there's this car that has been following us ever since we left the hotel."

Alana glanced at the car behind them, and Lilah was right. Every time they turned into an intersection, the car would trail behind them and take the same path. There seemed to be several figures inside the car.

As Lilah struggled with maneuvering their car, Alana rejected the call from Albert in annoyance and began to call for the police for help. She reported their situation and the route they took before ending the call.

After Lilah sped up the car, they seemed to have noticed it too and even tried to overtake their car. At one point, they even successfully run their car beside the two girls.

There was a man with a face and hand full of tattoos rolling the car window down and sticking his head out slightly. He said in a gruff voice full of irritation. "You two, stop the car right now!"

"Don't make us mad or you will face severe consequences!"

Lilah's face had gone paler. She, who was in the steering wheel, cursed as she hit the gas pedal. The car was suddenly in front of theirs again.

"The police might take a while. Are you able to hold on, Lilah?" Alana asked in a concerned tone.

"They are really hard to shake off." Lilah gritted her teeth. These people didn't look like random criminals who wanted to rob people. If anything, this whole thing seemed like a deliberate plan constructed just for them.

"They are trying to ram their car on us now." Alana kept looking at the car while updating the situation to Lilah.

Lilah had managed to evade some of their reckless actions of ramming the car with theirs. However, she wasn't fast enough to evade the last one. The people in the car following them seemed to have no regard for the importance of their own lives.

She cursed. "They are really going all out to get us."

Even though Lilah was good at driving, she wasn't a professional driver who could handle so many obstacles and control the car with such an extremely fast speed for a long time. After engaging in an arduous chasing game, she had no choice but to stop the car, or they would truly be in big trouble.

"I am going to stop the car. Prepare yourself." Lilah said gravely.

Alana nodded. If they continue to drive the car, something worse might happen because the car has already sustained significant damage. They had already smelled a suspicious scent that was akin to gasoline. The tank fuel might have leaked because of the constant collision.

If this continued, the car would explode.

As Lilah hit the brake pedal, the car stopped all of a sudden. Their hearts nearly jumped out of their chests when the car nearly bounced due to the sudden stop. The two hurriedly got out of the car.

They were in the middle of nowhere right now, just their bad luck because there were no people or even another car in sight besides the one that had been chasing them. Towering trees on each side of the road worsened the atmosphere of hopelessness.

"You are in this situation because of me, Lilah. You go first. I will hold them back." Alana said, gasping for breath. Her hand already shoved Lilah's shoulder toward the road ahead, forcing her to go.

"What do you mean? Do you think I am a coward?" Lilah slapped her hand away, her face red with anger.

"Just go," Alana urged her. "I will be fine. If they know I am a Wilson, they won't dare to kill me."

"Shut up. I won't believe your nonsense." Lilah snarled, and she snatched Alana's hand and pulled her roughly. "We should run now."

The car following them also stopped, and four rough-looking men came out. For sure, they seemed to be hired thugs.

It wasn't the first time Alana had experienced people plotting against her. Alana had experienced people plotting against her before. Most of these attempts occurred during her previous life, and even though she was saved for the most part, she still suffered many injuries. She just didn't want Lilah to suffer together with her; those people only wanted her.

"Catch them!" One of them yelled, and they immediately followed behind the two girls. The strength between the two parties was vastly so different that in no time, the men managed to catch up to them.

A burly man suddenly jumped in front of them and blocked their way. He raised the knife in his hand and threw it at Alana.

Alana swiftly evaded the knife, which then fell somewhere in the bushes. Her heart was pounding deeply. The two girls come to a halt when they see more men blocking their way. She stood in front of Lilah, shielding her.

"Who sent you here?" She met the eyes of each man while they stared at her condescendingly.

"Why are you assuming someone ordered us? Can't we do things out of our own volition?" A man with a scar on his left eye sneered at her.

"You have been following us since we left the hotel." Lilah tried to step forward, but Alana blocked her. "Out of anyone you can choose, it happened to be us?"

"Oh? That means you have been making trouble with someone you shouldn't."

Alana narrowed her eyes. "Who paid you to do this? I can pay you triple times the money they gave you."

One of the men suddenly stepped forward. His hand moved so fast to grab Alana's hand that she hid behind her body. Alana, who was trying to use her phone to contact someone, jerked forward roughly. Her finger accidentally pressed the wrong button that a call suddenly connected.

"Alana!" It was Albert's voice. The phone fell to the ground and its screen broke, but it was still functioning well.

"Are you deliberately humiliating Cecil and me on our wedding day? You are going to pay for this." The man's voice was loud, full of anger.

The situation on her side was like this. Since they were in the middle of nowhere, the men also didn't seem to be in much of a hurry to do whatever they had been ordered to do. However, Albert's voice had provoked her anger.

"Shut up." Alana snarled. "When did I fudging ruin your wedding? It was you who did it yourself. Now you tried to fudging kill me because of it?"

"Who is it? Your boy toy?" One of the men said, and the rest laughed.

"What do you mean?" Albert was confused, and also seemed to notice something was wrong after he heard an unknown man's voice.

"Didn't you send them to go after me? Don't pretend that you didn't do it."

Alana continued in an angry voice. She shushed Lilah, who had been trying to open her mouth since earlier. Her hand felt so painful because of the man's tight grip and she never allowed any of them to touch Lilah.

"They are stalling for time." The burly man with a scar on his left eye suddenly spoke, as if a realization dawned on him. "They must have called for the police when they were inside the car. Don't waste time anymore."

"Are you not going to take my offer? I can really pay triple times." Alana tried to pull her hand from the man's tight grip, to no avail.

"Do you think I'd fall for your scheme? You are going to send us back to prison after this." They sneered at her words, then ordered the others to tie the two, knocking Lilah unconscious first.

It was a pity that they didn't really fall to her words. Although there was a flash of greed in their eyes when she mentioned triple pay, they still knew when to stop. Her offer was more risky compared to their current employer.

They didn't know about Alana's background, but they heard that her family was pretty good. They wouldn't end well if there were more power-her family-who went after them. After all, the dead were best at keeping secrets.

"Alana?! What's happening? Are you playing a trick on me?" Albert's voice sounded from her phone, laced with annoyance. "Are you trying to make trouble and disturb my time with Cecil?"

"Noisy!" The phone completely died and cracked when one of them stepped on it.

They escorted Alana and Lilah into the car, putting Lilah in the passenger seat beside the driver, while a man sat with Alana in the backseat.

"They are so easy to be taken down. Why need so many of us?" The other two men grunted in annoyance. The car didn't fit, so they had to wait there.

From their conversation, Alana gained surprising information that they were desperado, criminals who were sentenced to death but successfully escaped. It was no wonder that they acted so recklessly. It also wouldn't be easy to live with police hot on their heels. They could die any moment. Perhaps their employer had a condition that would solve their crisis besides money.

There were only two men in the car now. One was the man with a scar on his left eye who acted as a leader, and the other was a man with a bushy beard who resembled a bear more. Shortly after, they started the car, and it flew at a fast speed.

"They want us to disfigure her face first." The man with a bushy beard pointed at Alana. "Should I do it now?"

Alana's eyes widened, and her heart gripped with slight worry. When she saw a car nearly pass by theirs, she tried to open her mouth to scream for help, but her hope was dashed when she remembered they had stuffed her mouth with a cloth.

"What are you doing? Want to scream for help? None can help you now." The man with the scar on his left eye laughed, followed by the man with a bushy beard. They had heard her intelligible muffled voice.

"We can disfigure her while we change our car. It would be bad if she struggled a lot and caused the car to break down." The other man huffed in response.

It wasn't long before their car started to have problems too, and some minutes later, it completely stopped working. The men grunted, and they tried to start their car again, to no avail.

"Let's wait, I'll just inform others to get us here." The man with a scar on his left eye said, and he exited the car. His full attention now was directed towards his phone.

Meanwhile, Alana was silent, with slightly hunched shoulders and eyes wet with tears. The man with a bushy beard seemed to be satisfied with this look. He suddenly pulled a knife from his pocket and the shiny metal was slowly getting closer to Alana's face.

The man seemed like a psychopath who liked to torture his victim. The knife was about to pierce her face when something unexpected happened. Alana had slapped the man's hand so that the knife fell down with a clang, and then she punched his face.

They had been looking down on them so much that they didn't tie their feet. Without them noticing, she had also silently solved the rope. Alana opened the car door in a hurry, then jumped down. On the other side, Lilah, who had been pretending to be unconscious, also jumped down. She grasped Lilah's hand, and the two began to run together.

"Help! They are trying to kidnap and murder us!" Lilah screamed, attracting the passerby.

The two men cursed and began to follow after them. Some brave people also tried to block their way, and some pulled their phone to call the police. However, they pulled something from their pockets that caused others to shrink back.

"Who dares to block us? We will shoot you." They pulled the trigger of their gun and the sound successfully intimidated others that they scattered away. "Pull your phone away or I will also shoot you."

The two girls' hearts dropped when they heard the sound of the gun. The two men were still chasing after them with their angry roar. "Originally we want to torture you two first before we kill you, but now we have no choice. Die!"

Alana made herself run one step behind Lilah and hugged her with her back facing these criminals. For a split second, she thought that she would die when she heard the loud sound of the gun for a second time. She also almost thought that in her last seconds of her life, she was hallucinating.

She saw that man again, the person she was last expecting to see. His presence made the memory that was long buried years ago felt as fresh as yesterday; the day she wished to desperately forget.