Chapter 4 She Will Rise Again
“What did you just say to me?” She asked sharply, her eyes dark, “who did you say I was getting married to?”
Selena was startled by Aria’s cold tone and glare.
This was the first time in years that Aria had actually looked at her fully in the face.
Previously, she was always acting like a coward, covering her face with her hair and her eyes down in subservience.
What was giving her the guts now to speak to her, Selena, that way?
Selena swallowed hard.
She could see Aria’s face clearly now, and was startled by her beauty.
Thank goodness they had sent her to the country early on. If Aria had grown up in society with her, she would definitely surpass Selena.
But now, Aria was not acting like a naive country girl.
Selena had to admit, looking now into Aria’s striking green eyes was sending a chill down her back.
What the hell? Why was she acting so bold and scary?
She quickly cleared her throat, trying to act unaffected.
She scoffed, “Don’t look so happy, Aria. You are only marrying him in my place, remember that! You are having my leftovers!”
Aria was silent with eyes wide and Selena smiled in triumph, thinking she had rendered her speechless.
“Marrying into the Graves family will benefit our Beaumont family and strengthen it even more,” She continued, “Better behave yourself when you get to the Graves family. Drop your country girl antics, now!”
“But why the hell am I marrying Lucian Graves!” Elara yelled suddenly, startling Selena, and making her almost lose control of the car, “I am Elara Vaughn, not your step-sister, you bitch! I can’t marry Lucian! He…he…”
He was her biggest rival.
Lucian Graves was the eldest son and heir to the Graves Empire, the most powerful family in Crestmont.
She had always been at loggerheads with him, because he was as ruthless in business as she was. They were always snagging deals from under each other’s noses, and bagging awards that the other wanted.
Elara had won in their little competition though, rising to the position and title of “Queen Midas” in the business world, as an angel investor. She had such influence that she could decide the fate of any business or company due to her prowess.
She was able to reach this height because Lucian suddenly disappeared from society. He was involved in a ghastly accident three years ago and had barely escaped death.
There were rumors that he was paralyzed but she had not thought that to be true. Not only was he paralyzed as Selena had just confirmed, he was also comatose!
Elara scoffed in disbelief, her heart tightening with pity.
“Aria Beaumont! You!…” Selena was sputtering, trembling with fear, “You dare to yell at me?! Wait till I tell mother! She won’t let you off!”
Elara turned to glare at her, disgust rising in her.
She had always disliked Selena and her pretentious ways, and this situation was only confirming that.
“How could you and your mother push your naive, step-sister into such a marriage?” She thought in anger, “Do you really care about her feelings at all?!”
She was about to say something when the car radio cackled to life in front of them.
“Breaking News, we interrupt this program to bring you the news of the death of Elara Vaughn and Family. The bodies of the twenty eight year old heiress and her family, was retrieved just this afternoon in an abandoned warehouse in the outskirts of the city. The police have launched an investigation into their death which is highly suspicious…”
“Oh my god!” Selena yelped at the news, her mouth hanging open, “Elara Vaughn is dead?! Oh my god! That’s freaking crazy!”
Everyone knew the Queen of the business world with the ‘Midas touch’. Selena had been trying to get into Elara’s good graces and circle for as long as she could remember but now she was dead?!
She scoffed in disbelief, dissatisfaction settling on her features.
Why did the bitch have to die suddenly without her ever making good use of her influence?
“Why is everything not going according to my plan, for Christ’s sake?” Selena muttered angrily, “First, Lucian Graves gets paralyzed and now Elara Vaughn is dead?! Tsk! What bad luck!”
Suddenly, she realized that Aria had been quiet and turned to look at her, blinking at the sight before her.
Aria had gone pale, tears spilling down her face. She pressed the heel of her hand to her chest and was breathing hard, like someone who was dying.
Selena rolled her eyes impatiently.
Now, what was wrong with this bitch again?
“Stop the car,” Aria muttered.
“What?!” Selena was furious.
“I said, STOP THE CAR!”
Frightened out of her wits, Selena slammed on the brakes and maneuvered the car to the side of the road.
She had wanted to argue with Aria but those green eyes were terrifying as hell, as well as the look on Aria’s face.
As soon as the car rolled to a stop, Aria tumbled out. She ran to the side of the road and threw up.
She retched painfully and her entire body racked with pain. She was on her knees on the sidewalk , tears pouring out of her eyes as her stomach flipped painfully.
After a few minutes, the retching stopped and she crouched on the ground, trembling slightly.
It wasn’t a dream.
No, everything that was happening now was real.
The news from the radio had confirmed it. She had died. Elara Vaughn was dead.
Then, what was going on right now?
Slowly, she stretched out her palms and looked at them. The next moment, she slapped her cheeks hard, wincing at the intense pain.
Even Selena flinched from where she sat in the car.
This Aria Beaumont is crazy!
“Ouch,” Elara said softly, tears pooling in her eyes once more.
Yes, this was real.
She was not just alive, she was in someone else’s body.
Fate had given her a second chance, even though it was a cruel one.
But she would make good use of it.
She inhaled deeply, blinking back the annoying tears in her eyes, filling her lungs with air.
She would make good use of anything at this moment.
A vicious family, a paralyzed husband, a timid body…
Anything to get revenge on those bastards who had cruelly ended her and her parents lives.
Elara Vaughn would rise again.
And she would rise as Aria Beaumont.