The Princess Reclaimed Everything

Ellen Saunders woke up reborn, finding herself back at twenty-five.

At that time, she had a pair of twins and was married to Samuel Howard, a man whose wealth rivaled nations, a figure so feared that countless factions trembled at his name, the formidable boss of the underground world.

Everyone called her the ultimate winner in life.

But the first thing she did after her rebirth was to take divorce papers to meet Samuel's mistress.

...

"What do you want with me? I'm busy training with Samuel and the kids at the shooting range. Unlike you, I don't have time to sit around," Rosalyn Morris said, sipping her coffee, her eyes never once landing on Ellen's face.

Clearly, Rosalyn looked down on Ellen, despite her being Samuel's wife.

"Miss Morris, as Samuel's assistant, you should ease his burdens," Ellen replied, accustomed to such disdain. She calmly slid the divorce papers across the table. "Like fixing his less-than-respectable marriage."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rosalyn smirked mockingly. "Trying to get Samuel's attention? I don't have time for your games."

Ellen's expression remained steady. "Wouldn't you make a better mother to the twins? They already prefer you. Get Samuel to sign, and I'll leave immediately."

Rosalyn stared at Ellen in shock, unable to believe she would willingly give up her place by Samuel's side.

Her brows furrowed. "Ellen, you know every woman in the country is after your spot. What game are you playing?"

Ellen met Rosalyn's skeptical gaze, her voice calm. "I know. But I'm not playing any games. I'm just done putting up with it."

In this life, she refused to be a bird in a gilded cage or the humiliated Mrs. Howard any longer.

"You're serious about this?" Rosalyn's eyes dripped with contempt.

"Absolutely," Ellen shot back, her gaze locking onto Rosalyn's challenging stare. "Don't you want it?"

Rosalyn hesitated for a moment before snatching the divorce papers. "Don't come crying to me when you regret this."

Regret?

Impossible.

Ellen alone knew the taste of despair hidden beneath last life's glamorous facade.

Once was enough for that kind of life.

Rosalyn's phone rang, and she answered with a smug smile. "Samuel, no need to pick me up. I'm not that delicate."

A man's low voice came through, mixed with the chaotic chatter of children in the background.

Ellen's face remained composed, but her hand tightened under the table.

For years after their marriage, she was warned never to call Samuel by his name, only addressing him as Mr. Howard.

Every call she made was answered by Rosalyn, claiming Samuel was too busy.

Yet now, the ever-busy Samuel, who rarely came home, appeared at the café in just ten minutes, holding hands with their twins.

Their daughter, Belen, rushed into Rosalyn's arms, clutching a bouquet of flowers. "Rosalyn, I missed you so much! I picked these from the garden just for you. Do you like them?"

"They're my favorite daisies. Thank you, sweetheart," Rosalyn said, accepting the flowers with a pleased smile.

Ellen's heart ached, but she took a deep breath to steady herself.

Three days earlier, she had passed the garden and tried to pick a few daisies to decorate her room.

Belen had charged at her, shoving her away and kicking her out of the garden. "You thief, get out! I hate you!"

So the daisies in the Howard family's castle garden were grown for Rosalyn, and Ellen, the lady of the house, had no right to touch them.

"The kids can't wait for you to teach them shooting. Let's go," Samuel said, his usually stern face softening with a rare smile.

Rosalyn nodded and handed him the divorce papers. "I'm taking over the western business. I need your signature for authorization."

Without even glancing at the document, Samuel signed it. "I trust your abilities."

Belen clapped her hands excitedly. "Rosalyn is amazing! Are you going to Westland? Dad, can we go too? I don't want to stay with my useless mom all day!"

Samuel thought for a moment before replying, "Sure, I'll take you both to Westland for a few months."

"I want Rosalyn to teach me shooting, riding, and fighting so I can be the coolest woman ever," Belen said, bouncing with excitement as she hugged Rosalyn's neck and kissed her cheek. "All Mom does is cook. I wish Rosalyn was my mom instead. Dad, don't you agree?"

Samuel and the twins shared the same gentle smile, silently agreeing.

Ellen felt her throat tighten, the pressure making it hard to breathe.

She saw the faint curve of Samuel's lips, a tenderness he had never shown her in all their years together.

Unable to endure the scene any longer, Ellen grabbed her bag and walked out.

Images from her past life flooded her mind as she left.

She and Samuel had married by accident, resulting in their twins.

After the marriage, Samuel found her dull, and their children despised her for her perceived incompetence.

Ellen had watched Samuel and Rosalyn grow closer while she slaved to care for their family, only to be met with cold indifference from him and the kids.

In her past life, Samuel's enemies had stormed in, kidnapping both her and Rosalyn.

When negotiating with the kidnappers, Samuel and the twins chose to save Rosalyn without hesitation.

Ellen had died in an explosion, her final glimpse catching Belen's relieved words. "Thank goodness we saved Rosalyn first."

Samuel's eyes had mirrored that relief.

In that moment, Ellen gave up on them completely. She didn't want them anymore.

Back at the house, Ellen packed her things.

She tossed her wedding ring, took down their marriage photos, and stuffed her clothes into a suitcase.

"What are you doing packing? The kids are waiting for you to cook," Samuel's questioning voice rang out as he pushed open the door.

Ellen turned and met his displeased gaze. "Nothing. Just getting rid of things that have gone rotten."

Samuel frowned, his tone icy. "Are you still upset about the kids being close to Rosalyn? It's not their fault. You don't have the skills to teach them anything, so it's natural they don't bond with you."

His brow furrowed again, his gaze tinged with reproach. "Can't you stop picking fights with the kids?"

He glanced at his watch, letting out a frustrated sigh. "I'm extremely busy and don't have time for your nonsense. If you don't want to cook, we'll get the staff to do it. No one's counting on you anyway."

Ellen said nothing, her face expressionless as she turned and left, closing the bedroom door behind her.

She dialed her mother, whom she hadn't contacted in years. "Mother, I'm getting a divorce. As you suggested, I'm coming back to take over the queen's position."

The line went silent for three seconds before her mother let out a cold huff. "I told you. Samuel's a cold-hearted wolf. You could never warm him up."

Ellen gave a bitter smile. "Yes, I was wrong."

"Come home," her mother said, her voice softening with pity. "I've got plenty of fine young men here, all better than Samuel. He doesn't know how to value my gentle, capable daughter. Let him regret it later."

"Alright. Send someone to pick me up in seven days," Ellen said, her lips curling slightly, her voice laced with icy resolve. "Before I go, I have a big gift for them."

Ellen picked up her paintbrush again after years, locking herself in her room to create every day.

On the first day, she handed all responsibilities for Samuel and the twins to the staff, no longer preparing elaborate meals or enforcing the children's schedules.

She let the three of them turn their lives into chaos.

The Howard household quietly fell apart.

On the second day, Nathan stayed up all night gaming and missed enrollment for a prestigious school. Belen ate junk food and had an allergic reaction. Samuel's contract ended up in the trash, costing him a billion-dollar deal.

The Howard family became the laughingstock of everyone.

On the third day, Samuel, nursing a headache, pushed open Ellen's door for the first time.

The morning light framed her profile, and his breath caught for a moment.

His face quickly hardened, irritation flashing in his eyes. "What are you trying to do?"

Ellen didn't spare him a glance, continuing to wield her paintbrush. "I just want some peace."

"Are you still hung up on what happened last time?" Her indifference infuriated Samuel, and he slammed his hand on the wooden easel. "Even if you want to paint in peace, you still have to handle things at home. Don't forget, you're Mrs. Howard!"

Ellen shook her head, her voice light. "The staff can handle those meaningless tasks."

In her past life, she poured all her energy into Samuel and the twins.

She earned a nutritionist certification because they had allergies.

She prepared three meals a day and worked tirelessly to blend calming scents for Samuel's insomnia.

But in the end, she got their dismissive sneers as she lay dying.

In their eyes, her death was no different from an ant crushed on the roadside.

"Ellen," Samuel said, his displeasure growing sharper. "Don't try to provoke me. You can't afford the consequences."

Ellen's wrist moved fluidly, not sparing him a glance. "I'm just not interested in stealing the staff's work."

Suddenly, Belen and Nathan burst in, glaring at her angrily. "You won't even do basic housework. I don't want you as my mom anymore," Nathan said, looking down at Ellen, expecting her to grovel and apologize like she used to. "You're not even worth one of Rosalyn's hairs. I don't want a useless mom like you."

To his surprise, Ellen nodded in agreement. "I think Rosalyn would be a better mom for you. Let her take care of you."

The room fell silent.

Samuel's face darkened, and he grabbed Ellen's wrist tightly. "Are you playing hard to get with me?"

Ellen let out a cold laugh and shook off his hand. "You're overthinking it."

Belen's face lit up as she hugged Samuel's leg. "Dad, let's bring Rosalyn to live with us! I miss Rosalyn. She can teach me shooting and martial arts and take care of me and Nathan."

Nathan shot Ellen a provocative glare. "This house will be for the four of us. You're not welcome here. If you're smart, you'll leave."

Samuel's complex gaze landed on Ellen, noting her calm expression.

For some reason, irritation surged in his chest, and he let out a cold huff before leaving with the kids.

Soon, Rosalyn moved in.

She found fault with everything and called in a construction team to renovate the house from top to bottom.

"The smell in here is awful," Rosalyn said, covering her nose in disgust. "Samuel, doesn't it give you a headache?"

Samuel nodded in agreement. "It does feel that way after a while. Change it."

The calming incense in the house, blended by Ellen for Samuel, was quickly replaced with a cloying floral scent.

Belen and Nathan breathed it in eagerly, bouncing with excitement. "Rosalyn's taste is so much better. I love this smell!"

Rosalyn glanced casually at Ellen in the corner. "As long as you like it, I'll get you new floral scents every day."

Ellen watched Rosalyn's antics without a word.

The house's original scent was Ellen's special blend to soothe Samuel's insomnia and calm his moods.

The new floral fragrance would worsen his sleeplessness and aggravate the twins' rhinitis.

But seeing the three of them breathe it in contentedly, Ellen gave a cold smile.

On the fourth day, every trace of Ellen's presence in the house was unknowingly erased.

Even her place at the dining table was gone.

When she reached the living room, she saw Rosalyn sitting in her spot, holding Belen in her lap, coaxing her while serving food.

Samuel occasionally teased, telling her not to spoil the kids too much.

They looked every bit like a family of four.

That night on the living room couch, Rosalyn leaned into Samuel's arms without a care.

When Ellen approached, Rosalyn didn't even glance at her, treating her like a stranger.

Ellen took it all in. In the past, the house echoed with complaints about her.

The bathwater's temperature, the food's seasoning, the air freshener's scent- everything was an excuse for the three of them to criticize her.

Now, the house was filled with warm laughter.

The three of them ate Rosalyn's food, swallowing allergy pills without a single frown.

After dinner, Rosalyn made a half-hearted attempt to sweep the floor. Nathan, full of concern, stopped her. "Rosalyn, your hands aren't meant for rough work like this."

He snatched the broom and threw it at Ellen's feet, ordering her imperiously. "You, sweep the floor."

Belen nodded in agreement. "Rosalyn's not like you. She's here to enjoy herself."

"The staff aren't here for nothing. Rosalyn doesn't need to steal their jobs, especially when she can't even do them well," Ellen said, her tone flat, throwing their own words back at them.

The butler hurried forward, his attitude deferential. "Miss Morris, just let us know what you need."

Suddenly, everyone in the house seemed to know their place, eager to serve Rosalyn.

The staff's gazes toward her were filled with envy.

"I've said it before-Miss Morris and Mr. Howard are the perfect match. They're made for each other, and he only has eyes for her."

"The kids already see her as their mother. It won't be long before she's Mrs. Howard."

Their unfiltered gossip reached Ellen's ears.

She didn't care, focusing on packing her things.

Just then, the school called. "Mrs. Howard, your children have been rushed to the hospital with food poisoning."

Ellen arrived at the hospital immediately.

At the entrance to the emergency room, Samuel glared at her, his eyes blazing with anger. "Ellen, what kind of mother are you? How could you let this happen to the kids?"

Ellen stood dumbfounded. "What does this have to do with me?"

"They ate the lunch you prepared and started vomiting and having diarrhea. You're saying it's not your fault?" Samuel raged, veins bulging on his forehead. "Even if you're upset about them being close to Rosalyn, you can't play with their lives. That's just vicious."

Ellen shook her head in denial. "I didn't make the lunch."

After Rosalyn moved into the old house, Ellen stopped preparing lunches for the kids.

Every lunch she had made before was crafted with carefully chosen ingredients, impossible to cause food poisoning.

"Who else could it be?" Samuel scoffed coldly.

Ellen frowned, about to retort, when the emergency room door opened.

"The kids are fine now. Parents, be more careful. They can only have liquids for a while. How could you be so irresponsible?"

The two children opened their eyes weakly. Before Ellen could question them, they eagerly pointed fingers. "Mom made the lunch and forced us to eat every bit of it," they said in unison.

Ellen's body went cold, her voice trembling.

She closed her eyes tightly, and when she opened them, only clarity remained.

With a cold laugh, she stepped forward, grabbing both children's arms and questioning them sharply. "Who told you to frame me?"

Belen burst into tears, struggling to cling to Samuel's arm. "We're not lying! Mom gave us the lunch. I thought she was trying to apologize, but she wanted to hurt us! Dad, I'm so scared!"

Nathan sniffled, looking aggrieved. "Dad, how could Mom be so cruel to us?"

Ellen laughed in exasperation, clenching her fists and demanding through gritted teeth. "Belen, Nathan, who gave you that lunch? Who taught you to lie? This is slander, and I..."

Samuel's hand swung down hard, slapping her.

He glared at her viciously. "I don't care if you're losing it, but the kids are my line in the sand. Hurt them, and I won't hold back."

"I told you it wasn't me," Ellen said, biting her jaw tightly, meeting Samuel's gaze fearlessly.

With a cold laugh, she raised her hand and slapped him back just as hard.

"You dare hit me?" Samuel clutched his face, disbelief etched across it.

His voice roared with fury. "They're only five! Would they lie to frame their own mother? You're so petty you nearly killed your own flesh and blood, and now you hit me? You're asking for it!"

Murderous intent flashed in his eyes as he grabbed Ellen's neck, squeezing slightly.

The children's cries grew louder, their faces pale.

Belen wiped her tears, whimpering. "Dad, does your face hurt? How could Mom do this to us? It's too much!"

Nathan sobbed loudly. "I don't want this awful mom! I hate her!"

Samuel threw Ellen to the ground, pulling the kids into his arms and comforting them softly. "You'll be okay."

Nathan wiped his tears, turning to Ellen with accusations. "Mom, we're your own kids. If you knew how awful food poisoning feels, you wouldn't treat us so cruelly."

Ellen's heart sank at his words.

She snapped her head up to look at Samuel, the pain of her nails digging into her palms grounding her.

Samuel let out a cold huff, a cruel smirk curling his lips. "Since you don't know how wrong you are, maybe you need to experience food poisoning yourself."

He waved his hand, signaling the bodyguards to pin Ellen to the ground. "Force the rest of the food into her."

The bodyguards roughly shoved the remaining food into Ellen's mouth.

She struggled and fought, the greasy food smearing everywhere in the chaos.

When it was over, she collapsed on the floor, utterly disheveled.

A wave of intense humiliation washed over Ellen as she glared at Samuel. "Do you even know who I am? You'll regret what you've done today."

Before she could finish, her face twisted, and she clutched her stomach in pain.

She grabbed a trash can, retching violently until she was nearly vomiting bile, unable to stop.