The CEO's Reborn Love

Pain.

That was all Adriana felt as she slowly opened her eyes. The excruciating agony coursed through her entire body and penetrated deep into her bones, sending cold sweat dripping down her back.

Both her legs were badly injured, with bones visibly protruding from the depths of her wounds.

She tried to open her mouth to ask for help, but all that escaped were painful groans.

A few steps away, a beautiful girl dressed in a pure white wedding gown adorned with diamonds could be seen sitting on a vintage parlor chair. Her makeup was exquisite and flawless, making her look like a royal princess.

And this woman was none other than her own stepsister, Olivia.

Behind her stood the grand Kingsley manor, rivaling the splendor of a royal garden palace. Its towering walls kept out the noise and concealed everything that transpired within the grounds.

"Oh, you're awake?" Olivia raised her eyes and chuckled softly when she saw that Adriana had regained consciousness. She stood up from her chair and slowly approached Adriana, who was lying on the grass in a miserable state.

"Riana, today is my wedding day with Sebastian. You're the first one to see me in my wedding gown. Aren't you happy?" She asked and twirled around playfully as she flaunted her beautiful gown.

Adriana's eyes turned red with hatred. She wanted to attack Olivia, but she had no strength left in her body. Behind her was the terrifying alligator pond at the Kingsley manor. The reason her legs were so badly injured was because they had been bitten by alligators!

Olivia had finally gotten Sebastian and was about to marry him. Why couldn't she just let her go?

"Every alligator here is Sebastian's prized possession, but they're all dead because of you." Olivia laughed charmingly. "As compensation, I'll give you to the remaining alligators. That way, your five years of loving him won't be in vain."

Hearing rustling from the bushes behind her, Adriana's body immediately trembled. "Olivia, you're insane! I curse you to never live happily with Sebastian and to die a horrible death!"

Olivia laughed coldly. "Sebastian himself said that the alligators here haven't been fed fresh meat in a long time. If you want to hate someone, then hate him."

The fear of death and Olivia's words crushed Adriana's chest like a heavy stone. It felt like her heart was being gripped by someone, the pain was so intense she could barely breathe.

Sebastian's decision...

Even at the end, he had no intention of letting her body go.

To such an extent he hated her.

Adriana laughed bitterly.

"It hurts, doesn't it? You shouldn't have betrayed him, Adriana. This is his punishment for you."

"I didn't!" Adriana screamed at the top of her lungs. Her throat was broken, and when she screamed, her voice sounded like sand scraping against the earth. "You're the one who killed his grandmother, not me!"

"Eh, you're not that stupid, but unfortunately, you won't get the chance to tell him. Oh, and there's one more piece of news I have to share with you. Adriana, guess what? You're pregnant!" Olivia laughed cheerfully and raised her hands. "Adriana, goodbye."

As soon as she clapped her hands, the bodyguards standing behind her immediately pulled Adriana up and forcefully threw her into the grass next to the alligator pond. "Even if I become a ghost, I won't let you go!" She screamed in grief and indignation. "Even if I die, I will make you pay for my death with your blood!"

The rustling sound from the bushes grew louder and clearer as the alligators quickly gathered around with their mouths wide open.

A desperate will to live forced Adriana to keep crawling forward. Tears and blood fell to the ground as she continued to drag herself through the pain. She had a baby, she couldn't die.

Just as she was about to climb out, the iron gate slammed shut. One of the alligators bit into her left leg, and a heart-wrenching scream quickly escaped her mouth. "Help!"

Within no time, her body was dragged into the water, and waves like a tsunami began crashing against her skin and flesh as the alligators bit into her. The water began to dye red.

In her semi-conscious state, she heard the sound of gunshots before something heavy fell into the water and pulled her into a warm embrace.

Adriana struggled to open her eyes, and when she saw the familiar face of the man holding her, she cried in sadness.

Sebastian?

How could he be here?

Wasn't the woman he loved Olivia?

'Why? Why are you doing this to me?' These were the questions Adriana wanted to ask him, but her consciousness was beginning to fade, and the strength that remained had already left her.

She missed his embrace so much, but it was too late.

If there were an afterlife, she never wanted to fall in love with him again.

Blood spurted out from her mouth like a burst water pipe, and Sebastian tremblingly lowered his head and kissed her forehead deeply, as if he were trying to tell her something.

Adriana weakly raised her hand to touch his face when suddenly, a loud explosion echoed in her ears, and darkness began to engulf her. Then, everything went silent.

···········

"Why?" Adriana cried out loudly and sat up on the grass with sweat dripping down her face. The bright sunlight from above almost blinded her, causing her to subconsciously close her eyes.

After a moment, as her eyes adjusted to the light, she began to tremble when she saw the familiar surroundings and the backpack beside her.

This... Wasn't this the day she was supposed to meet Sebastian for the first time?

Had she been reborn?

Adriana froze for a moment before quickly searching for her glasses and putting them on. Then she grabbed her backpack and walked away from there.

Today, Sebastian and Madam Kingsley would be coming to the Hudson residence to meet her. She had two and a half hours before their arrival, so she still had a chance to turn things around.

Rumor had it that Sebastian would face a great calamity at the age of 28, and if he wanted to live safely, he had to marry a girl whose astrology was compatible with his.

And she was the chosen one.

However, after hearing Olivia's lies that Sebastian was incomparably ugly, seriously ill, and super perverted, she decided to run away from home to defy this fate. But when she tried to jump off the 3-meter-high wall, her foot accidentally got caught on a tree branch, causing her to fall and fracture her arm. She was then saved by Sebastian, who just happened to be passing by, and was brought back to the Hudson residence in pain.

The reason Olivia spread these lies and helped her run away from home was to enter the Kingsley family in her place.

But in the end, Olivia's plan failed and she still entered the Kingsley family.

That was the reason she died with such grievance!

Everyone in Ashbourne knew that the second daughter of the Hudson family was an unwanted adopted child and very much disliked by the others.

Raymond Hudson, Adriana's father, had reminded her countless times since she was young that she was adopted, and so she had always been deeply grateful to the Hudson family for taking care of her.

But the truth was, she was actually his biological daughter, and even if that were the case, her life still wasn't worth as much as that of a servant.

Being half a month older than Olivia, Adriana had been very close to her, and they shared a good relationship. Not to mention, their appearances were so similar that everyone in the city had assumed they were twins.

That was why Adriana had never doubted a single word Olivia had said before, believing that Olivia was doing it all for her own good and out of genuine concern. But after living through two lifetimes, she now knew it had all been a lie.

As Adriana walked back to the Hudson residence, someone suddenly bumped into her, causing her backpack to fall to the ground.

"Do you even use your eyes when you walk?" Adriana muttered as she rubbed her sore shoulder. She quickly crouched down and picked up her bag.

The person who had bumped into her just stood there, casting a shadow over her. He didn't speak, nor did he seem inclined to help her, but the cold, familiar aura emanating from his body was unmistakable.

Adriana slung her bag over her shoulder and stood up. When she saw that the person in front of her was Sebastian, her entire body began to tremble uncontrollably, and she panicked for a moment.

The pain from the alligator bites felt like poison seeping into her bones and blood. She couldn't help but take a step back. Even though she had been reborn and none of this had ever happened again, her fear of him was still uncontrollable.

This 26-year-old handsome Sebastian was truly infuriating. His chiseled face was no different than before, with the sharp eyebrows, a prominent nose, and those deep gray eyes; everything was still exactly the same.

Even though he was only dressed in black slacks and a white shirt, it still couldn't conceal his noble aura and modesty. But all of this was just outward appearances; inside, he was cruel, ruthless, and selfish.

As the heir to one of the wealthiest families in the country, every step he took was built on the bones of the dead.

Adriana bit her lower lip and tried her best to remain calm. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you."

"Mm." Sebastian only uttered this one word and slowly raised his hand.

Adriana instinctively avoided his hand.

What was he doing here?

Wasn't he supposed to arrive two and a half hours later?

Seeing her reaction, the expression in Sebastian's eyes changed slightly, and his hand that had been in the air landed gently on her head. With a light movement, he removed the withered grass that was stuck in her hair.

Adriana looked at the withered grass in his hand, and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly. She silently thanked him before walking around him and jogging toward the back gate of the Hudson residence.

Sebastian watched her figure disappear around the corner, and a fleeting smile flashed in his eyes.

Jasper Quinn, who had just gotten out of the car, walked up to his side. He respectfully said, "She is the second daughter of the Hudson family, Adriana."

"I know." Sebastian pulled back his emotions, and not a single hint of feeling could be seen on his stern face as he said, "Keep an eye on her."

Jasper nodded and quickly returned to the car.

········

In the backyard of the Hudson residence.

Adriana quietly snuck into the house through the back door. As she was about to climb the servants' stairs, she suddenly heard her father's voice from the living room. "Are you sure she's gone?"

"Yes, Dad. I saw her run out with my own eyes. You don't need to worry." Olivia's voice was filled with undeniable pride. "She should have already met with the people I paid to take care of her, and let me tell you, she definitely won't be coming back!"

Adriana leaned back against the wall, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"That's good. Madam Kingsley and her grandson will be arriving soon, so make sure no one finds out about this." Raymond reminded her in a low voice. "I told them that you two are twins."

Olivia immediately laughed joyfully.

Adriana slowly closed her eyes and took a few steps back before heading upstairs.

So it was true that it wasn't just Olivia who wanted her to leave the Hudson family, but her biological father also had a part in it!

From Olivia's words, even if she managed to escape from here, she might not be able to continue her life.

Only the dead would never come back!

After closing the door behind her, Adriana hurriedly walked into the bathroom and leaned her body against the sink. She looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Although she looked a little pale, her youthfulness still couldn't be hidden. Moreover, her face hadn't been disfigured.

Adriana touched her cheek and cried with joy.

She had really returned!

She had returned to the age of 18!

········

Twenty minutes later, Adriana slipped into the backyard of her best friend's house and ducked into the living room.

Olivia had orchestrated this plan so that the Kingsley family would believe she had run away from home, rather than the Hudson family intentionally switching her out.

The Kingsley family's decision to visit today had been very sudden, and from the moment Adriana left the house until now, an hour had already passed. So, Olivia's movements could be said to be incredibly fast, or perhaps she had planned this for a long time.

At this moment, Jack Lawson, the man Olivia hired to pick her up, was likely still waiting for her at the trail down the mountain.

In her previous life, Jack and Olivia were two of the people she trusted most, apart from Isla Harrington, her best friend. Yet one of them had caused her to be expelled from school and left disfigured, while the other had driven her out of the Kingsley family and buried in the alligator pond.

She would never allow this tragedy to repeat itself again. What she would do now was make those who had betrayed her feel the pain of betrayal and be trampled on by others until they became nothing but ants!

"Oh my gosh, you really ran away from home!" Isla, who had just come downstairs in her bathrobe, stared at the backpack slung over Adriana's shoulder in shock. "I thought you were just joking."

Adriana quickly rushed to her and covered her mouth. "Isla, please lower your voice."

Adriana didn't want Isla's grandparents to hear her. It was fine if Isla's parents found out, but her grandparents had never liked her.

Isla blinked and nodded. She gestured for Adriana to move her hand away.

"My family isn't home, so you can rest assured," Isla assured her.

Adriana let out a sigh of relief. "There's something I need to do, but first, can you lend me one of your costumes?"

Isla was a cosplay fanatic. She had a huge pile of cosplay costumes in her wardrobe, most of which she had sewn herself.

Adriana was always known for her good behavior, so it was easy for her to be recognized when she went out. Therefore, if she wanted to deal with Jack and the people Olivia had hired, she needed to disguise herself to keep them from recognizing her.

"Of course!" Isla eagerly grabbed Adriana's hand and pulled her upstairs at lightning speed. She had long wanted to use Adriana as her practice doll, but she had never had the chance. No matter how hard she tried to persuade her, Adriana always refused to fall for her tricks - until now.

Forty minutes later, Adriana stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a Detective Conan costume.

"Just as you asked, I made you look exactly like a boy. No one will recognize you when you walk out of here," Isla said with a satisfied expression on her face.

The corners of Adriana's mouth curled upwards as she looked at her appearance in the mirror. "Thank you, Isla."

Isla put her hands on Adriana's shoulders. "Go and do your thing. Don't forget to take the spare key with you. I'll be home alone tonight, so if you need a place to stay, you can sleep here."

Adriana nodded and hugged her before leaving the room.

Looking at Adriana's back, Isla couldn't help but frown slightly.

Was it just her imagination? Somehow, she felt that Adriana today was very different from her usual self. She had always been so timid and wouldn't dare leave the house dressing like that. But now, look at her.

"It's all right for her to change. Being a little white rabbit makes it far too easy for others to bully her," Isla murmured as she slowly tidied up her dressing table.

·······

Willowbrook Avenue was a residential neighborhood where many wealthy and powerful people in the city lived. There was only one road leading down the mountain, but many small pathways.

Adriana ran along the route that Olivia had shown her, and when she saw Jack's car parked by the side of the road, she immediately stopped and quickly hid behind the bushes with a mocking smile on her face.

She still remembered how Jack had gotten her expelled from school and then disfigured her face. This time, she definitely wouldn't let him get away so easily!

In order to stay by Sebastian's side, she had spent a lot of time learning self-defense techniques. Although she wasn't on his level, her skills were enough to deal with Jack and the other men who had come with him.

As Adriana approached him quietly, she overheard his conversation on the phone. "No, I haven't seen her at all. Did she take the wrong route? Don't worry, I've brought my friends with me. I promised you that we'll get rid of her completely tonight!"

She didn't guess wrong. Olivia was really going to kill her!

Adriana gritted her teeth and adjusted her glasses before charging at Jack. She kicked the phone out of his hand, followed by a swift hook punch to his chin.

Before he could make a sound, his vision went dark and he blacked out.

The brothers who had come with him were left stunned. They looked at Adriana in fear. "Who are you?!"

"Conan, that's my name. I'm here to rob you." As her voice trailed off, two men collapsed to the ground, followed by another two.

Adriana wiped her hands arrogantly and began to rummage through their pockets. Altogether, she found less than 150 in cash. She happily kissed the money and quickly left.

······

"Isla, I'm b-" Adriana cheerfully pushed open the back door and entered the living room. But when she saw the figure standing in the middle of the room, the words she had wanted to say immediately got stuck in her throat. She stared at him in disbelief.

This was her best friend's house.

What was Sebastian doing here?

"Don't come any closer!" Isla said shakily and looked nervously at Adriana. "Riana, run! This person is here to kidnap you!"

Isla could roughly guess the identity of the man who had just arrived, but she wasn't sure if he was really Sebastian.

As the heir to the prominent Kingsley family, she knew little about him. The most common rumor she had heard was that he was terminally ill and looked very ugly. But she knew that wasn't true because several years ago, she had attended an event with her parents and had caught a glimpse of him from a distance.

She hoped she was wrong, but at the same time, she also hoped she was right.

It would be better if Adriana fell into Sebastian's hands than into an inhumane place like the Hudson family.

"Isla..." Adriana swallowed hard and looked at the gun pointed at the back of Isla's head by one of Sebastian's bodyguards. She said shakily, "Young Master Kingsley, please ask your man to release my friend."

Realizing that Sebastian had come to find her and that she couldn't escape this fate, she might as well take the initiative and be with him.

She wanted to use him to take back everything that belonged to her and her mother and make Olivia pay the price for her dead child!

Sebastian tilted his head to the side and glanced at Jasper before walking straight out of the door.

Adriana watched as the bodyguard pulled the gun away from Isla's head, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Cold sweat had soaked her shirt.

"Miss Hudson, this way please," Jasper pointed the gun at her face expressionlessly and gestured toward the exit with his head.

Adriana nodded and went to hug Isla. She whispered softly to her, "I'll be fine, don't worry. Take good care of yourself, okay?"

After saying this, she picked up the backpack that had been thrown on the couch and calmly walked out.

Her plan couldn't keep up with this change. Even if she broke away from the Hudson family, she still couldn't do anything to them because she had nothing now-neither power, nor money, nor a foothold in this city.

If she wanted her revenge to succeed, choosing to go with Sebastian was a good decision. After all, he was her best backer.

But this time, she would be with him on her own terms. She no longer wanted to be the foolish and blind girl because of love like in the past.