Rebirth to take revenge
Chapter 144: Confusing

Chapter 144: Confusing

"Lucy, I’m warning you—be careful with your actions. Don’t make me regret this engagement any more than I already do."

His words hit Lucy like a slap.

She forced a smile, though her heart burned with anger. "Of course, Josh. I understand."

But behind her polite exterior, her mind was working furiously. She needed a plan, and she needed it fast.It’s getting late, Josh," Lucy said with a forced sweetness. "I should head home now."

Without waiting for his response, she turned and hurried out of his office.

Josh watched her retreating figure with a faint smirk, his eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and suspicion.

As soon as Lucy stepped out of the Greg family’s estate, she pulled out her phone and quickly dialed Anna’s number.

"Anna, we have a problem," Lucy said, her voice low and urgent. "We need to talk—now."

---

Lucy ended the call and took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

She couldn’t let her plans unravel, not when she had come so far. She clenched her fists, her determination hardening.

If Claire thinks she’s won, she’s wrong. I’ll find a way to protect myself—

and get what I want.

The phone rang a few times before it was answered.

"Hello, Lucy. What’s up?" came Anna’s sweet voice from the other end of the line.

"Anna, it’s me. I’ve encountered a tricky situation today, and I need your help," Lucy suppressed her excitement and tried to keep her voice calm.

"Oh? What kind of tricky situation? Lucy, are you in trouble?" Anna asked with concern.

Lucy pursed her lips, hesitating about whether to tell Anna about her reckless actions. If she didn’t, her plan would surely fail. But if she did, she feared Anna might reveal her identity, which would make Josh suspicious.

After a brief pause, Lucy gritted her teeth. "Can we meet?"

Anna’s eyes flickered for a moment, then she agreed. "Sure."

After hanging up the phone, Lucy drove to the agreed location, a quaint coffee shop. Through the large windows, she spotted Anna sitting by the window, sipping her drink.

The sight of Anna gave Lucy a sense of relief. As soon as Anna saw Lucy, she waved her over with a warm smile. Lucy joined her at the table.

"Lucy, what’s the matter?" Anna asked, her tone filled with genuine concern.

Lucy’s lips curved into a bitter smile. "Anna, I need to ask you something," she said bluntly.

"Go ahead," Anna replied, nodding.

Lucy took a deep breath and slowly asked, "Have you been causing trouble for Claire recently, aside from the tasks I arranged for you?"

Her heart raced as she awaited Anna’s response, dreading the possibility of an unexpected answer. Anna hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. "No. Why?"

Lucy exhaled in relief and smiled faintly. "It’s nothing, just a casual question."

Anna grinned. "Don’t worry, Lucy. I’ve handled things well with Mr. Miller. Just give me Claire’s information, and I’ll take care of the rest."

At the mention of Claire, Lucy’s heart tightened. She hesitated but ultimately decided to keep her thoughts to herself. "Never mind," she said softly, shaking her head.

Lucy looked Anna in the eyes and said firmly, "Let’s end our arrangement. I’m done with this game. I don’t want to deal with Claire anymore."

Anna’s expression froze, her brows furrowing in confusion. "Why? Things were going smoothly. Why stop now?"

Lucy turned her gaze toward the window, her expression conflicted. "I don’t owe you an explanation, Anna. Let’s just say this partnership is over."

"Lucy, are you serious? Have you lost your mind?" Anna asked, her voice rising in frustration. "We were working so well together."

Lucy sighed heavily. "You know who I am. I’m the daughter of the Smith family. I can’t afford to let this go on."

Anna fell silent and glanced out the window. The day was beautiful, yet her heart felt heavy with gloom. She had always liked Josh, but her rational nature and upbringing had kept her from acting recklessly. That’s why she initially agreed to help Lucy. But now, seeing Lucy’s selfishness, she couldn’t hide her disappointment.

"Lucy, don’t you think what you’re doing is despicable?" Anna’s voice was icy cold.

Lucy was taken aback, not expecting such harsh words from Anna. Before she could respond, Anna continued.

"I’m not a fool, Lucy. You don’t need to waste your breath trying to explain. Just give me Claire’s information."

Lucy closed her eyes, her heart sinking. She never imagined things would spiral to this point. Taking a deep breath, she replied, "Anna, I didn’t mean to deceive you. I had no other choice."

Anna scoffed, her tone filled with disdain. "Lucy, I don’t want anything to do with someone as ungrateful as you."

Lucy bit her lip, remaining silent for a long moment. Finally, she looked up, her eyes slightly red. "Anna, let’s cancel our deal. Even if you want to trouble Claire, leave me out of it."

She took out a bank card and placed it on the table. "This is your hush money. It’s enough to last you a lifetime."

Anna pushed the card away with disgust. "What makes you think I want your dirty money?"

Lucy sighed. "I know you have a grudge against Claire and want to take her down. But we didn’t have a solid agreement between us."

"Then why are you acting like this?" Anna asked, her voice tinged with anger.

"Because it’s time to settle things," Lucy said coldly. "Our cooperation ends here."

With that, Lucy stood up and began walking toward the door.

Anna’s face reflected a mixture of anger and confusion. As Lucy reached the exit, Anna suddenly called out, "Wait!"

Lucy stopped but didn’t turn around.

Anna approached her, her expression serious. "Do you realize that what you’re doing could ruin your life?"

"Ruin my life?" Lucy sneered, finally turning to face Anna. "What life do I have to ruin?"

Anna was speechless, taken aback by Lucy’s words. It was clear Lucy was deeply disillusioned with her current existence.

"If you think your life is already meaningless, why not pursue happiness?" Anna said coldly before walking away.

Lucy stood there, her mind clouded with confusion. The word "happiness" echoed in her thoughts. She had never dared to think about it, let alone pursue it. Her life had always been filled with pain and regret—emotions that left no room for joy or hope.

As the coffee shop buzzed with life around her, Lucy remained motionless, lost in her own sorrow.

Lucy’s eyes brimmed with deep sadness. Her mood was heavy as she sat in the coffee shop, staring into the distance. After a while, she decided to leave, unable to shake the gloom that had enveloped her.

Wandering aimlessly through the bustling streets of City A, Lucy felt entirely out of place. The vibrant energy around her—cars rushing by, people chattering—seemed to highlight the emptiness she felt inside. Unknowingly, her steps led her to the towering headquarters of the Jiang Corporation.

She halted and looked up at the imposing building, her heart aching with bitterness. To her, this place symbolized a nightmare, a monument to everything that had gone wrong. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the glass doors and stepped inside.

As soon as Lucy entered the lobby, a man approached her with a professional smile.

"Miss Lucy, do you have an appointment?"

Lucy hesitated, then shook her head. "No, I don’t."

"Then I’m sorry, Miss Lucy, but we can’t allow you to proceed." His tone was polite yet cold, making it clear she wasn’t welcome.

Feeling a wave of frustration, Lucy pleaded, "Could you please inform my mother that I need to see her? It’s urgent."

"The CEO is currently in a meeting," he replied, his tone unwavering. "You’re welcome to wait here in the lobby."

Left with no choice, Lucy sank into one of the plush sofas. She scanned the room, her sharp memory recalling every detail of the building from her childhood. But today, nostalgia only deepened her sorrow.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp, mocking voice.

"Well, look who it is. Someone who doesn’t know when to leave."

Lucy turned to see a young woman in a sleek black dress and heels approaching with a sneer.

"Do I know you?" Lucy asked, frowning.

"Oh, you don’t recognize me?" The woman chuckled derisively. "How typical."

Lucy shook her head, exasperated. "I don’t have time for this." She rose and started to walk away.

"Hold it right there!" The woman, clearly offended, stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "Don’t you dare ignore me. Do you even know where you are? This is no longer your playground. Your mother sold the company’s shares to an investment firm. You’re just a powerless, pitiful woman now."

"That’s nonsense!" Lucy snapped, her voice trembling with disbelief.

"Is it?" The woman’s smirk widened. "Go ahead and check the records. Your mother signed the deal. This place doesn’t belong to your family anymore."

Lucy’s face turned pale. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Without another word, the woman strutted away, her heels clicking loudly against the marble floor.

Lucy sat back down, her thoughts in turmoil. Her chest tightened, and her vision blurred as despair took hold. Just then, her mother, Mrs. Phillips’s, stepped out of the elevator and spotted her.

Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m