Greta's lips twisted into a sinister smile, and before anyone could react, she pulled a knife from the folds of her tattered clothing.
Time seemed to freeze as the blade plunged into Layla's chest, its cold steel piercing her heart.
Layla's aqua eyes widened in shock as the pain seared through her. She staggered backward, clutching the wound, her fingers slick with blood.
Gasps and screams filled the room as chaos erupted.
The bodyguards rushed forward, but Greta leaped to her feet, brandishing the bloodied knife.
"If I can't have the life I dreamed of, then neither can you!" Greta shrieked, her voice unhinged. Her laughter echoed through the hall, chilling the blood of everyone present.
"You think you're better than me, Layla? Without me, you're nothing. You always were!"
Layla collapsed to the floor, her strength draining away as her blood pooled beneath her.
She gazed up at Greta, her vision blurring.
She had always known her sister was evil, but this... this was beyond anything she had imagined.
The bodyguards lunged toward Greta, but before they could reach her, she turned the knife on herself.
"If I can't win," Greta cried, tears streaming down her face, "then we both lose!"
The blade plunged into her own chest with brutal force.
Greta crumpled to the floor beside Layla, her laughter dissolving into ragged breaths.
The crowd, frozen in horror, watched as the two sisters lay in stark contrast.
The banquet hall was a cacophony of panic.
Guests scrambled for their phones, calling for ambulances and security.
Layla's closest associates rushed to her side, trying to staunch the bleeding as tears streamed down their faces.
"Stay with us, Miss Ainsworth!" one of them pleaded. "Help is on the way!"
Layla's gaze flickered toward Greta, who lay motionless, her once-beautiful face twisted in pain.
Despite everything, a single tear slid down Layla's cheek.
She whispered, her voice barely audible, "I can finally reunite with you..."
Compared to what others thought she wasn't fond of the life she had. She lost too many people in the process of amassing wealth.
Her brothers.
Her friends.
And him...
Layla's eyes were filled with bitterness.
Her life was never easy. Kicked out at the age of 17, had to work hard, faced injustice in the hiring process just because she wasn't beautiful enough, got her project stolen, and was betrayed.
What fairness? Her life was always unfair toward her. Yet she put on a smile and worked toward a bright life.
She succeeded but lost too much.
If god gave her a second chance she would save them all and not fall into all those petty schemes.
If she had the second chance she would confess her love to the man whom she never dared to confess.
'What are you wishing for? Didn't you pray every single time for the time to turn back, but did the god listen?' Her inner voice mocked as darkness enveloped her.
They say the universe gives one what they manifest.
Faint voices echoed near Layla's ears.
"What are you saying? Have you lost your mind? What voices? What system?" An unpleasant yet slightly familiar voice echoed as Layla slowly opened her eyes.
Was she in the hospital? Who is talking? System? Did the system return?
In a daze, Layla sat up and looked around.
A tattered sofa, a creaky old table, a leaky ceiling, molds on the wall, and an uncleaned floor.
Layla's heart skipped a beat. With excitement coursing her veins, Layla looked at the two figures looking at her with concern.
A young boy around 11 years old, he had black hair and aqua colored eyes like Layla. Blaine. The youngest son of the Ainsworth family.
Another young boy around 13 years old, had blond hair and black eyes. Aaron.
"Sister Layla? Are you alright?" Aaron asked.
"Why are you sitting on the floor? Come one get up." Blaine berated as he extended his hand in Layla's direction. Disdain was etched on his face, however the momentary glints of concern flashing in his eyes told a different story.
Without a word, Layla lunged at them hugging them tightly,
"Oh my god! Oh my god! You are both alive! Aaron! Blaine! I missed both so much!"
Baffled by her reaction, both brothers were stunned. They exchanged glances as if asking whether either of them knew about Layla's strange behavior.
As a result, both of them shook their heads at the same time.
'Thank god! Thank you so much for letting me them for once! That too even my old house...wait...'
Layla's eyes opened and she looked around again, and her eyes widened in disbelief. She pulled away from her brothers and dashed to a mirror nearby.
Looking at her younger self, Layla's leg gave away and she fell on the floor.
'What the f*ck? Did I...did I truly travel back in time?'
Layla touched her soft face and sat there in a daze. Finally, when her brain processed all the information, she searched for her phone. It was 10 years before she achieved success.
Not to mention she was back on the day they were given a choice...
Just as she thought so, a childish voice echoed in her mind.
[Congratulations Miss Ainsworth, you have received a chance to change your fate. Our package has a Beauty System and a Scholar System. Which one would you like? ]
Layla's eyes brightened.
All the memories of her past life surfaced in her mind. The injustice she suffered, the hardships she faced.
And the man who had to suffer with her because of her luck...
But in this life with the knowledge she had acquired, she will not let anyone suffer. She will save everyone!
Her thought process was broken by the system's voice,
[So tell me, what do you want? Beauty System, who will make you one of the world's most drop-dead gorgeous women at the end...or Scholar System, who will make you one of the world's smartest people.]
"I choose Scholar System!" Before Layla can answer, an excited voice interrupts her.