The First Move

The morning sun filtered through the heavy curtains of Selene's room, casting a soft, golden light over the elegant furniture and pastel-colored walls. It was a beautiful day outside, but Selene hardly noticed. Her mind was preoccupied, her thoughts focused on the daunting task ahead. She sat at her desk, the polished wood cool beneath her fingertips as she absently traced the grain with one hand, her other holding her phone.

She had been up for hours, her mind racing as she tried to piece together the fragments of her past life with the opportunities of her current one. Every moment since her rebirth had been a mix of disbelief and determination, but now, reality was setting in. If she wanted to succeed in her quest for revenge, she needed resources—money, to be precise. And not just any amount, but a fortune big enough to challenge the vast empire Alexander had built on the ruins of her mother's life.

Taking a deep breath, Selene finally unlocked her phone, the familiar chime echoing in the quiet room. Her fingers trembled slightly as she opened the banking app, a relic of the life she had lost and was now desperately trying to reclaim. The app loaded slowly, the spinning wheel on the screen mimicking the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind. When the balance finally appeared, a familiar, yet painful, number greeted her: three million dollars.

She stared at the figure, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions. Three million dollars was a substantial sum, but in the world of billionaires, it was almost insignificant. Yet, this money held more value to her than just its number. It was the last gift her mother had given her, a secret she had kept hidden for years.

Selene's thoughts drifted back to the day she received the bank card. She had just turned eleven, and her mother, Lisana, had taken her aside after the small, intimate birthday celebration. 

"Selene, my darling," her mother had said, her voice warm and full of love as she handed her the small, unassuming envelope. "This is a special gift, just for you. Inside is something that will help you buy whatever your heart desires. But remember, this is our secret. Don't tell your father about this, okay?"

At the time, Selene had been too young to fully understand why her mother wanted to keep the account hidden from Alexander. She had trusted her mother completely, and so she had kept the secret, just as she was told. The bank account had become a symbol of the bond they shared, a private connection between mother and daughter that no one else could touch. 

Selene had never spent a single cent of that money. It wasn't because she didn't want to—there were plenty of things a young girl could have bought with three million dollars. But every time she thought about using it, she remembered her mother's soft smile, the way she had looked at her with a mixture of sadness and love, and she couldn't bring herself to do it. That money was sacred, the last tangible reminder of her mother's love and sacrifice.

Now, sitting in her room, Selene felt a pang of guilt as she considered finally using the money. But things were different now. She was different. The innocent, trusting girl who had kept her mother's secret was gone, replaced by a woman who had been betrayed and hurt beyond measure. If her mother had left her this gift, perhaps she had known that one day Selene might need it for something more than just indulging in childhood whims.

Selene closed her eyes for a moment, steeling herself. She had no other choice. Her father had set up another account for her just a year ago, transferring $50,000 every month for her personal use. He had been so generous, telling her that she could use it to eat out, buy whatever she wanted, and treat her friends. But even then, Selene had been cautious. She rarely went out, preferring to bury herself in her studies. The butler ensured she never lacked anything, so there was little reason to spend the money.

The account had grown to almost $600,000, but Selene knew she couldn't touch it. Alexander was meticulous, always monitoring her spending with a sharp eye. Any large withdrawal would immediately raise his suspicions, and she couldn't afford that—not when she was still laying the groundwork for her plans.

Her only option was her mother's account. The thought of it made her heart ache, but she pushed the feelings aside. If she was going to succeed, she needed to be ruthless, to use every tool at her disposal. This money wasn't just a gift; it was the foundation upon which she would build her revenge.

Selene's thoughts turned to the future, her mind racing with possibilities. In her previous life, she had dabbled in investing and stock trading, and she had always had a knack for it. The stock market had been a mystery to most, but to Selene, it was a puzzle she could solve. She remembered the fluctuations of the market, the stocks that had risen and fallen, and the companies that had become giants almost overnight.

With her knowledge of the future, she could make calculated investments, turning her three million dollars into a fortune. It wouldn't be easy, but Selene was determined. She would use this money to enter the entertainment industry, to back scripts she knew would become box office hits, and to invest in rising stars who would owe their success to her.

But her plans didn't stop there. Alexander's company was already worth nearly ten billion dollars, and in the future, it would only grow larger. If she was going to bring him down, she needed to amass her own fortune, one that could rival his. She would use her investments and the money she earned to chip away at his empire, slowly but surely undermining his business until it collapsed.

Selene's lips curled into a small, determined smile. "Seems like I still have a long way to go before I can really bring them down," she murmured to herself. But she was ready. She had been given a second chance, and she wasn't going to waste it.

She opened her eyes, her gaze hardening as she looked at the balance on her phone. This was just the beginning. She would use her mother's gift to build an empire of her own—one that would surpass Alexander's in every way. And when the time came, she would take everything from them—their wealth, power, and reputation. She would make them suffer, just as how they had made her mother suffer.

Selene stood up from her desk, her resolve solidifying with every step she took. She was no longer the naive girl who had been so easily deceived. She was a woman with a plan, and she would stop at nothing to see it through. The road ahead would be long and difficult, but Selene would get there. She had time, knowledge, and a burning desire for vengeance on her side.

And when the time came, she would show them all just how dangerous and vengeful she was.