Revenge, From CEO to Ruin... and Back

The day I turned twenty-eight was the day my entire world collapsed. My company went bankrupt, and my husband Alex chose that exact moment to publicly announce our divorce. He had the nerve to call it my birthday present.

As if that wasn't enough, his precious Tiffany sent her own special gifts—a funeral shroud and a wreath. She sneered right in my face, "So Sarah, how does it feel to fall from hotshot CEO to a beggar on the street?" She didn't stop there. "Honestly, if I were you, I wouldn't even have the shame to keep living. Do everyone a favor—die early, be reborn early, and stop making a fool of yourself."

Watching them drive off laughing, my heart shattered completely. Lost and hopeless, I walked to the river and jumped.

Then—I woke up.

I was back in college, right after graduation.

For a moment, I just stared, completely disoriented, at the laughing, celebrating faces around me. It took a while to wrap my head around it—I had been reborn.

My classmates were buzzing, looking at me with excitement and envy. "Sarah, it's your birthday tonight! Cheer up! Alex said he's bringing a special gift—he'll be here any minute!"

"Ugh, I'm so jealous. You've got a guy who adores you, and I heard your family's backing your startup. I mean, career and love? You've literally got it all."

"Hey, since we're graduating soon… any chance you and Alex could hook us up with jobs once your company takes off?"

"Don't forget to invite us to the wedding!"

I forced a polite smile and stayed quiet. Last time around, I was so naive.

After graduation, I started the company with my family's support and brought several of my classmates on board. Little did I know, they were already scheming with Alex—embezzling funds, betraying me at every turn. After my parents passed away, they grew even bolder, helping Alex and Tiffany drain my accounts, bankrupt me, and bury me in debt.

But not this time.

Since I've been given a second chance, I'm not making the same mistakes again.

Noticing my silence, Alex's buddy Mark piped up, "Hey Sarah, cat got your tongue? So… can we count on those jobs after graduation?"

Before I could respond, my so-called best friend Chloe jumped in. "Oh, Sarah's already promised all of us positions! She said the benefits will be amazing!" She flashed a wide grin. "We're her closest friends—she'd never let us down!"

Watching them tag-team like that, I almost lost it. I had the strongest urge to smash a beer bottle over both their heads.

Chloe was my college roommate—the one I told everything. Mark was Alex's right-hand man. I trusted them. I put them in charge of finance and HR when the company was just getting off the ground.

But when my guard was down after losing my parents, Chloe cooked the books and Mark rigged the payroll. They didn't just bankrupt me—they buried me in debt. Alex and Tiffany had bought them off, and they sold me out without a second thought.

As much as I wanted to scream, I kept my cool and smiled.

Just then, Alex showed up.

He walked in with that familiar loving look, got down on one knee, and said, "Sarah, today marks three years together." His voice was soft, convincing. "People say graduation season is breakup season, but I don't believe that. I want to be with you for life—grow old with you. I'll never let you down. Marry me?"

He held out a ring, eyes full of hope.