Chapter 1: Raine Evans to… Raine El Greco?!

Raine's POV

As I gaze at the picture in front of me, a sinking feeling hits me. My heart shatters as I realize that the man in the portrait, my beloved idol and actor, has taken his own life due to a scandal.

Tears stream down my cheeks uncontrollably. I walk away, not stopping until I reach the road, oblivious to the honking car as I cross.

My vision blurs from the tears, and I wonder if he truly ended his own life or if he had no one to support him during his darkest moments.

"I returned home with the intention of repaying you for your kindness, but I never imagined that you would unjustly lose your life because of that scandal. Aahhh!" I scream in sadness because of the fact that he's gone.

I worked hard to prove myself worthy of his assistance, but just as I was about to express how he had changed my life, his death affects me in overwhelming sadness.

I stop in my tracks and clench my teeth. It's all because of that woman! It's her fault! I don't care about her deceitful lies. If Emma Harper is responsible for this, she will face the consequences of her actions.

She will never find happiness, and I will ensure that. I will uncover the truth and expose her. "Miss, watch outttt!" a woman screams. I turn around and my eyes widen in shock as I see a truck speeding towards me.

I felt the impact of the truck on my body, my bones cracking. My lips were sealed and I didn’t even dare to scream. As dusk fell, I could only see the orange sky in this country.

Landing a few feet away, I felt the impact, my head hitting the ground first and breaking my neck. The pain in my body was nothing compared to the grief in my heart.

My hearing turned fuzzy and my vision became blurry. I never imagined I would die like him. "I wonder if I'll meet you again, Kai... even in the afterlife.

If only I could turn back time, I would save you and avenge your death," I whispered, tears falling on my cheeks. Slowly, I closed my eyes and wished it was all just a dream, hoping to wake up in this sad reality.

…

"Ma'am Raine, may I request your permission to bring back Raine El Greco?" a woman's voice and snapping sound caught my attention.

I opened my eyes to see a sharply dressed woman standing before me, clearly the one who had been snapping her fingers. She crossed her arms and gave me a stern look.

"I noticed you fell asleep again while reading, but these papers are important. You should be signing and reviewing them. The HR and advertising departments need them by 5 p.m.," she said. Confused, I looked around and rubbed my head. Who was this woman, and where was I?

"HR? What are you talking about, and who are you?" I asked.

Her brow furrowed, indicating her frustration. "Ma'am Raine, I don't care if you had a strange dream, but snap out of it! You are the owner and chairwoman of El Greco Group. You shouldn't take things lightly, okay?" she commented.

My forehead furrowed when I heard her words. El Greco, what?! I had never heard of such a thing. Confusion washed over me.

I noticed a phone on my right and picked it up, only to see my own face reflected back at me. My eyes widened in shock as I saw the date - it was 2020!

How could this be? I distinctly remember going to pay my respects to my mentor and idol, Kai Montefalcon, who passed away on May 17, 2024.

I stood up and looked around, noticing my name on the plate in front of the table: Raine El Greco. "Ma'am Raine! What's wrong with you?" she bellowed.

I glanced around and saw a large portrait of myself at the back of the room. My name is Raine Evans, not El Greco. What on earth is happening?

Suddenly, my head throbbed and felt heavy. Images began to flash in my mind, like a movie playing in fast forward. I pressed my hand against the table and touched my head. What was that?

"Ma'am Raine, are you okay? I will call the company doctor. Please wait here," the woman said.

I raised my hand and shook my head. It felt like the things I saw were memories. I was the daughter of a multibillionaire tycoon who had passed away from cancer.

My dad was 35 years old when he married my mom. She died when I was ten years old due to an unsolved ambush. My dad remained single and raised me to be a strong, independent woman who could protect herself.

He knew that people would try to take advantage of and deceive her. Had I somehow gone back in time and been reborn as an heiress? Was this even real or just a figment of my imagination? I punched my face and groaned. "Ahhh! It's painful," I blurted out.

"Why did you punch your face?!" the woman exclaimed. It hurt! This was no dream at all. I looked at the woman.

"How could you do that?! You have an important dinner meeting later on! Ma'am Raine, you're being reckless!" she scolded.

I didn't respond and let her scold me. She called the company's doctor, who treated my bruise. Suddenly, I remembered what I had murmured before passing out. Could someone have heard that selfish wish I made?

As soon as the doctor leaves, I glance at the woman before me. I recognize her as Macey, my secretary and bodyguard. "What kind of dinner meeting is this?" I inquire as I reach for a folder.

I wonder if I can comprehend the contents of these papers. I graduated from culinary arts and worked at a five-star hotel before returning to the city. I had intended to express my gratitude to Kai Montefalcon, but it's too late now.

"It's an important meeting. We've been attempting to schedule it for months, and it seems to be aligning with your schedule. Don't tell me you forgot about it, especially since you were the one who insisted on it being beneficial for El Greco Entertainment," Macey replied.

I lean back in my chair and finish reading the two-page reports before signing them. To my surprise, it wasn't as challenging as I had anticipated.

I believe my instincts and memories made it easier for me. As far as I recall, not long ago, El Greco Empire had seven successful companies that dominated the market.

I review three more folders and then look at Macey. "Okay then. Here are the papers for the advertising department. Please send them, and I’ll take care of the rest," I said.

She nodded and took the folders. I worked hard, and later, when I got home, I planned to start investigating Kai's life at that time. I'll be looking for Emma.

This time, I will make her suffer for what she did! After finishing all the papers on the table, we left the office at six in the evening. She insisted that I change my clothes.

I was wearing a revealing black dress with slits on both sides, paired with an elegant blazer jacket. We arrived at a fancy restaurant, and the staff entertained us right away. As soon as the door opened, my world stopped.

"Eh? K-Kai Montefalcon?" I murmured. Our eyes met.