Reborn To Bankrupt Them
In my first life, when the real heiress Savannah Stone attended this auction, she had been determined to make a No-Limit Bid for this same antique jewelry set. I had recognized the malicious inflation of the price and stepped in immediately, desperate to protect her. I told her the piece was a cheap replica and that I could buy her something genuinely exquisite.
Savannah had taken my concern as a deliberate, humiliating lecture on her lack of taste. She ran out of the venue in a rage and was killed instantly by a car.
My foster parents, Richard and Veronica Stone, and my fianc, Preston Shaw, had held me and consoled me. It was just bad luck. It wasn't my fault.
Later, I spearheaded the Stone & Co. IPO, turning Richard and Veronica into the areas most powerful moguls. On the day of my wedding, they and Preston kidnapped me and threw me onto a train track.
My final, desperate question: Why?
Their final answer, as they kicked my body toward the oncoming locomotive: "If you hadn't deliberately humiliated Savvy that day, she wouldn't have died. This is what you owe her."
The train crushed me.
I opened my eyes and found myself back on the day of Savannahs reckless No-Limit Bid.
1
Im bidding thirty million for this tiara, and I dare any of you to try and beat me.
Hearing the familiar, entitled pitch in Savannahs voice, I looked around the opulent auction hall. The realization hit me like a physical punch. I had been reborn.
An auction is determined by the highest bidder, Savannah. Why cant we try? A mocking voice cut through the air. Youve only been back with the Stones for a month. Do you even have that kind of money? Maybe give up now.
Fifty million. Ive decided I want this headdress.
A wealthy socialite peered down her nose at Savannah, baiting her.
Savannahs face flushed scarlet. She surged to her feet and made the dramatic, recognized gesture of a No-Limit Bida declaration that she would pay any price to win.
The whole room erupted into a murmur of shock and excitement.
Veronica, my foster mother, tugged at Savannahs arm, trying to look concerned. Savvy, darling, dont be impulsive. There are plenty of other pieces. Maybe youll like something else more.
Then, Veronicas hand came down hard on my arm. Anya Reed, are you mute? Say something! Dont you know you should be talking sense into your sister?
The memory of the last lifeof that same slap, that same condemnationflashed in my mind.
Last time, I had seen the malicious intent and the cheap replica. I had begged Savannah to stop, only to have her assume I was attacking her taste. She died. The Stones and Preston had comforted me, only to later kill me for my perceived sin. I remembered the agonizing crush of the train, the bone-deep hatred.
My fists clenched, then slowly relaxed. I turned to Savannah and offered a small, cold smile.
Mom, Dad, I said smoothly. Youre the ones who said you wanted to compensate Savannah. You brought her here to treat her. Shes finally found something she loves. Why should we stop her?
Richard and Veronicas faces froze in a sudden, awkward silence.
Savvy, a No-Limit Bid isnt something you just throw around, Veronica stammered, panicking slightly. Let Mom buy you something else, alright?
Savannah pouted, tears welling up in a practiced, pathetic display. Mom, its not for me. Its a birthday gift for Mrs. Lewis, the head of Lewis Global.
Richard and Veronicas eyes widened immediately.
Savvy, you you know Vivian Lewis?
Savannah shot a triumphant, contemptuous look my way before answering.
I got an invitation to Mrs. Lewiss birthday gala yesterday. I heard she absolutely adores this particular Ming Dynasty design. I want to give it to her to cement our relationship with the Lewis family.
Richard clapped Savannah on the shoulder, his eyes alight with avarice. Savvy, I had no idea you had an in with Lewis Global! If they give us even a few projects, Stone & Co. will go stratospheric. Savvy, your father supports you. Make that No-Limit Bid!
Savannah's voice had been loud, deliberately so. When word spread that Stone & Co. was trying to cozy up to Lewis Global, their corporate rivals reacted instantly. They couldn't let the Stones gain such a massive, unassailable advantage.
The price shot up. Thirty million. Fifty million. One hundred million dollars.
Watching Savannah keep bidding, a cold laugh bubbled in my throat.
She was already a fool for planning to spend over 0-000 million on a fake to impress Mrs. Lewis. But broadcasting her intentions to the entire hall? She was practically inviting every enemy Stone & Co. had to bid against her, just to deny her the connection. She was terrified of spending too little.
Four or five rival companies vying for the same IPO slot as the Stones couldnt allow them to leapfrog ahead. The bidding quickly crested the $500 million mark, with only one other competitor still holding out.
An auction attendant approached the Stones table. Ms. Stone, your collateral deposit has reached its limit. To continue, the deposit must be increased. Should you forfeit the bid now, you will be liable for a ten percent breach-of-contract penalty.
Savannahs brow furrowed. Why would I have to pay a penalty for quitting?
The attendant remained polite. Its the rule of the No-Limit Bid. Regardless of the price, you are obligated to purchase the item. If your funds are insufficient and you forfeit, you pay a ten percent fine on the highest bid.
Panic finally registered on Richard and Veronicas faces. Our total savings are five hundred million dollars at most. What are we going to do?
Richard turned to me, his voice sharp. Anya Reed! How much money do you have left? Hand it all over to your sister now.
I blinked, feigning surprise. Oh, I had a little incident earlier. I accidentally triggered a security lock on my main accounts. They wont unlock for a week. Well just have to forfeit, I guess. Wed only be out fifty million dollars.
I held up my phone, showing them a screen displaying a generic 'Account Frozen' message.
Savannahs eyes turned glassy. She abruptly knelt down in front of me. Sister, you dont have to like me, but this tiara is the key to Lewis Global for our family. It affects the entire future of Stone & Co. Please, please help me, just this once?
Seeing Savannah on her knees, Veronica completely lost it. She raised her hand and delivered a stinging slap directly across my face.
Anya Reed, you heartless snake! You know your sister made a No-Limit Bid, and you deliberately froze your own accounts? I order you to cough up the five hundred million dollars immediately, or you are out of this house and out of the company!
Preston Shaw, my fianc, stared at me with unconcealed disgust. Anya, you utterly disappoint me. You usurped Savannahs life, living in luxury for years, and now that shes finally home, you still try to sabotage her? You are a completely ungrateful viper.
Prestons loud accusation instantly drew all the attention in the immediate area. Everyone stared at me with strange, judgmental looks. I was suddenly the wicked step-sister, the ungrateful foster child, the vulture who wouldn't sacrifice five hundred million.
I let out a soft, humorless laugh.
Five hundred million? I dont have it in my personal accounts, I admitted. But there is another way.
Savannah, thinking I had yielded, looked up at me with open condescension. Then if you have a way, Sister, hurry up and use it! Dont waste everyones time.
Preston glared at me. Anya, you need to learn from Savannah. Your character makes you unworthy of being my wife. If only Savannah hadn't been lost all those years ago
I cut him off, my voice steady. Don't feel sad. I'll make it easy for you.
I reached into my bag and produced two sets of legal documents that I had prepared earlierthe severance papers, formally dissolving my ties to the Stones. I handed them to my foster parents.
Sign these two agreements, and Ill tell you the solution for the other five hundred million.
Richard and Veronica stared, momentarily stunned.
Anya Reed, you want to cut ties with us? Have you lost your mind?
I smiled, a cold, empty expression aimed only at them. A month ago, when Savannah returned, you pressured me to change my surname to make her feel secure. That was the moment you declared yourselves a complete family. Im simply making my exit. From now on, I have no connection to the Stone family.
Richard and Veronica launched into a tirade, calling me ungrateful, ruthless, and saying they wasted twenty years raising me.
Savannah, teary and pitiful, spoke up. Sister, please. Every mistake is mine. Dont be angry with Mom and Dad. If you hate me so much, Ill leave the house immediately. I wont bother you anymore.
Veronica pulled Savannah into a tight embrace. Savvy, you are my own blood daughter! You are not the one who needs to leave.
Seeing Savannahs manipulative vulnerability, Richard, who had been wavering, snatched the severance papers from my hand. He and Veronica signed them both, one after the other.
Anya Reed, you are going to regret this day, Richard hissed.
Ignoring him, I pulled out a separate corporate bank card and passed it over.
This card has the five hundred million. Its the total liquid capital for all of Stone & Co.s ongoing projects. Use it, and the companys financial chain will break. The method is yours. Whether you use it or not is your business.
Richard had a flicker of sanity left. No! Breaking the financial chain puts the company at massive risk!
Savannah snatched the card before he could finish. Dad, its only temporary! With Lewis Globals support, the IPO will be a cinch!
She shoved the card into the attendant's hand. I bid one billion dollars! This tiara is mine.
At the doubled price, the other bidder withdrew immediately. The auctioneer slammed the gavel three times, declaring Savannah the winner.
The attendant delivered the headdress. Savannah looked at me, her eyes brimming with victorious malice.
Sister, to facilitate our upcoming partnership with Lewis Global, Im going to take over as CEO. You can be my personal secretary and assist me.
I couldnt help but laugh out loud. She spent a billion on a fake tiara and thought it was enough to usurp my entire lifes work.
Preston grabbed my arm, annoyed. Anya Reed, as Savannahs secretary, you need to take care of her. She hates onions and cilantro in her food. Her clothes must be hand-washed. You need to organize her daily schedule by 5 AM. And try not to bother her with business you can handle yourself.
I rolled my eyes, utterly exasperated. Im a secretary? Sounds more like Im supposed to be her mother.
Preston's face hardened. Anya, don't tell me youre jealous of the CEO title? Don't forget, Savannah is the real Stone heiress. Youve been squatting here for years. Are you going to keep monopolizing the company?
I scoffed. I resign. Im walking away from the company. From this moment forward, Stone & Co. and the Stone family are irrelevant to me.
Savannahs eyes lit up. Sister, the company is about to go public! Are you really going to quit?
I curved my lips into a thin smile. Ill be watching your IPO. With great interest.
Preston glowered, warning me. Anya Reed, dont try to play hard to get. Youll regret this.
I finally lost my composure. Play your mothers head, I snapped.
Preston shot to his feet, ready to argue, but a sudden commotion broke out in the room.
Mrs. Lewis is here!
Vivian Lewis looks like shes looking for someone.
My phone vibrated with a text message. Darling, I heard you were at the auction. Im passing by, Ill pick you up. Mom.
The Stones still had no idea I had reunited with my biological mother, Vivian Lewis, a year ago.
Vivian spotted me and started walking toward me.
As I stood up, Savannah suddenly lunged. She violently shoved me, sending me tumbling over the few stairs and crashing hard onto the floor.
Savannah rushed past me toward my mother. Mrs. Lewis, hello! Im Savannah Stone.
Vivian Lewiss expression was cold. She stopped and gave Savannah a sharp, head-to-toe appraisal.
The next second, Vivian raised her hand and delivered a stunning, loud slap to Savannahs face. She then roughly pushed Savannah aside and hurried toward me.
Savannah, is this the kind of manners the Stone family taught you? Laying hands on people?
Vivian helped me up from the floor.
Preston rushed to Savannahs side, his eyes full of anguish for the 'victim.'
Mrs. Lewis, there must be a misunderstanding! Savannah isnt like that. Anya Reed is always causing trouble. You should know, Anya is conniving, shallow, and
Vivian spun around, fixing him with a look so icy it stopped Preston's tirade mid-sentence.
Richard and Veronica also rushed over. They glanced at Savannah, then Richards hand shot out, slapping me across the face.
Anya Reed, you ungrateful wretch! You stole Savannahs life for so long, and now that shes home, you still sabotage her and try to slander her? Have you no shame at all?
Vivian Lewiss face went crimson with pure, hot rage.
Are you blind? Savannah clearly shoved Anya! And you stand there and completely twist the truth and abuse my daughter? Is this how youve been bullying my child all these years?
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