The house began to tremble abruptly. Devices rolled to one side with a clattering sound.
Large amounts of mud and sand were washed down by the rain, like a raging river.
Adrian took off his coat and draped it over Lina's head, protectively cradling her.
The two had barely left the Control Room when rolling stones smashed through the window.
Outside, the cacophony of rain, rushing water, and howling wind became indistinguishable.
"Put me down… we still have a chance to escape!"
Lina pushed weakly against the man's chest.
Adrian remained silent, only gently patting the hand that clutched his shirt.
Blood soaked through the back of his dark shirt, yet he showed no sign of discomfort or hesitation.
All the attackers had been desperate men, and Adrian's physical strength was nearly exhausted.
The temporary building trembled more violently. Walls cracked, chandeliers fell, yet the man continued forward with his head held high.
Falling debris and thick dust surrounded them, but nothing could conceal the regal aura emanating from him.
Boom!
A crossbeam in the corridor collapsed, landing directly on Adrian and Lina.
Lina's head buzzed violently. After a moment, she forced herself to push at the man above her.
"Adrian, don't mind me. Crawl out quickly."
After a brief darkness, light slowly returned to her vision.
She looked up and saw Adrian supporting the crossbeam with his back.
His stern face was coated in dust. He looked at Lina and said solemnly, "You go out first."
"Adrian!" Lina exclaimed in shock, staring at him.
She had no relationship with him. They couldn't even stand each other.
Why, at this moment of life and death, was he giving her a chance to live?
"Listen to me." Adrian was stubborn as always, but this time his voice carried a trace of helplessness.
Dust mixed with a strong metallic smell filled the air, making Lina realize that Adrian had been injured.
If she wanted both of them to survive, she couldn't waste any time.
Lina bit her lip, turned with great effort, and crawled out from beneath the man's arm.
"I'm holding up the slab… come out quickly!" Lina grabbed the corner of the collapsed structure.
But her strength was too weak. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't lift it even an inch.
The ground continued to shake. The place could collapse at any moment.
"Hold on, I'll find something to pry it open—" As Lina stood up, she suddenly saw a horrifying scene.
A steel bar had sprung from the concrete, piercing Adrian's body and pinning him firmly to the ground.
He couldn't escape.
Blood flowed down the rusted steel bar, dripping onto the floor.
Lina couldn't imagine how much pain Adrian had endured, using his own body to carve out a path for her.
The man looked up at her, seemingly oblivious to the pain, and flashed a faint, charming smile.
"Lina… promise me. Survive."
Lina shook her head, tears streaming down her face.
She couldn't understand why the person who despised and disliked her the most was the only one trying to protect her.
Boom!
Another deafening explosion echoed, and everything around them collapsed.
As darkness swallowed Lina, the last thing she saw was his pitch-black eyes, gleaming as he smiled at her.
Lina ached all over, her elbows and back throbbing with pain.
"Why did you have to do this?!" A somewhat familiar voice rang in her ears.
She raised her hand with great effort, rubbed her eyes, and focused on the face before her.
Tia?
Her face was rosy, her skin full of collagen. She looked no older than twenty-two.
Tia clutched Lina's hand, her eyes filled with pain and confusion. Fresh blood seeped from between her fingers.
Her delicate features knitted together, stirring pity in anyone who saw her.
At that moment, Lina lay on the ground, her elbow hitting the steps. A carbon pen was clenched tightly in her hand.
Had she caused the wound on Tia's hand?
"I already agreed to help you write a proposal—what else do you want?!"
Proposal?
Lina froze.
The pain throughout her body left her unable to respond immediately.
She looked around.
They were on the staircase, and the sales director stood not far away, glaring at them.
The scene was both familiar and unfamiliar.
She had already died, crushed beneath a collapsing building.
So how had she returned to her internship workplace?
Lina pressed the pen in her hand several times. Her consciousness gradually cleared, and her eyes grew cold.
Beside her, Tia leaned against the railing, sobbing softly, the sound disrupting her thoughts.
"Shut up," Lina said in a low voice.
Tia was stunned by the murderous intent in her eyes.
"Lina! You assaulted a colleague and now you're threatening her?" Sales Director Lucas Reed said as he walked over.
Tia glanced at Lina quietly, a cold smile curling at the corner of her lips.
Do it. Hurry up and push me down the stairs.
If that happened, Lina would have no way to defend herself. She would be fired and would never receive her university diploma.
Lina blinked slowly as memories she had long forgotten resurfaced.
She had obtained this internship through Tia's recommendation, supposedly an act of care toward her rebellious younger sister who had just returned.
But Tia had taken advantage of Lina going to the restroom, wedged the door shut with a mop, and stole the business deal Lina had just secured.
Afterward, Tia openly provoked her, saying that if the media hadn't reported on the missing children, their parents wouldn't even bother to recognize her.
She mocked Lina's history of misconduct and poor academic performance, saying she wouldn't pass the internship even if given a proper job, and would ultimately end up as a street thug.
Overwhelmed with anger, Lina had viciously scratched the back of Tia's hand with the carbon pen.
Tia then turned around and told the sales director that Lina had forced her to hand over the deal to meet her quotas.
Naturally furious, the sales director used Lina as a negative example throughout the company and even demanded a public apology.
How could Lina accept being wronged in silence?
She kicked Tia down the stairs.
Tia rolled down. Although the injuries weren't severe, the incident escalated drastically.
Lina was dismissed and blacklisted throughout the industry.
Her mother's disgust for her deepened, paving the way for Tia's plan to steal her heart.
Everything had begun today, catching her completely unprepared.
He had a powerful backup who could easily clean up any mess he made.
He often exaggerated situations. Once, a friend who had gotten into trouble but didn't dare mention it finally confessed to him, begging him to introduce the expert he knew.
Noah was a shrewd businessman who wouldn't lift a finger without profit.
So he proposed a business deal worth one hundred million to help resolve the issue.
Leaning back on the couch with her legs crossed, Lina chuckled.
"What if I can't handle it?"
"That's impossible. You're definitely capable."
Sitting across from her at the coffee table, Noah handed her a cigarette.
Lina sniffed it. She hadn't smoked in a long time, but she could tell it was different from what Noah usually smoked. It was probably from his friend.
Noah flicked his lighter, but Lina waved him off.
"First, tell me what happened."
"My buddy's been financially supporting a college student on the side," Noah said, lighting his cigarette and taking a deep drag. "He told his wife he was helping the poor. Then he brought the girl home."
Noah smirked. "She's pregnant—and she wants to keep the child."
Lina raised her eyebrows. "Your friend is…?"
Noah exhaled slowly. "Julian Black."
Since fate had granted her a second chance, Lina was determined to turn her destiny around.
When Lina lifted her head again, her eyes were filled with restrained pain.
Although she didn't possess Tia's ability to cry on command, her expression still conveyed deep emotion.
"Honesty is the most important thing in life," Lina said softly. "Don't you agree, Director?"
Tia was caught completely off guard.
Given Lina's impulsive temperament, she had expected a confrontation, not such composed eloquence.
Sales Director Lucas Reed was also taken aback before nodding. "Of course. Competence matters, but character matters more."
"So you saw Tia take my folder and plan to rewrite my proposal for me," Lina continued.
Pain and disappointment filled her expression as she turned toward Tia.
"I know my performance has dragged the team down. I only have one deal. But even if you are my sister, you can't help me falsify results."
"I—" Tia tried to speak, but was cut off.
Lina clicked her pen a few times, her eyes brightening.
"But don't worry. General Manager Daniel was very satisfied with my proposal and said he would like to work with me again in the future."
"General Manager Daniel?" Director Reed froze.
Tia's name was clearly signed on the document he had just received.