Rebirth Snatching Back My Stolen Luck novel Chapter 104

Chapter 104

LILITH

“How’s that possible?!” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

In my previous lifetime, even at the cost of my life, the bond between those two families had been unshakable–solid as stone.

So how could the alliance crumble now, suddenly and without reason?

Not once did it occur to me that Brandon’s scandalous actions might be the cause. After all, my mom had tried to smooth things over for him, insisting it wouldn’t look good for either family if

matters escalated…

“Is it really that hard to believe?” Marissa tilted her head, frowning slightly.

Of course it was. I’d sooner believe the Scotts went bankrupt.

But when I glanced at her and Julian, their calm expressions told me this wasn’t a joke. It was the truth.

My brows furrowed. “What exactly happened?”

Marissa and Julian exchanged a look before she turned back to me.

“I suppose,” she said at last, “we could say it started with you.”

“Me?” I stared at her. “How so?”

Instead of answering, she clasped her hands together and leaned forward. “Do you know why your engagement was suddenly pushed forward?”

I shook my head. In both lifetimes, I’d never understood it.

For as long as I could remember, I had always known I had a fiancé.

Yet, deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that neither family ever truly took the engagement seriously.

Then, about a month ago–out of nowhere—my mother announced she would be hosting a banquet. Not only to celebrate my college graduation, but also to formally announce my

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engagement to him.

At the time, had been happy?

Perhaps.

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But not because I loved him–only because I thought it meant one step closer to freedom.

I used to think the decision to formally announce it was because both families simply thought it

was time

But now…

Was it because you were collaborating on a project?” I asked slowly.

Marissa gave a small nod. “Somewhat right, but not exactly.”

“Can you just get to the point?” I said, irritation prickling at her confusing words.

She didn’t take offense, and only smiled faintly. “Two years ago, your brother and I came up with a proposal–a massive mixed–use urban development. We planned for it to be our company’s flagship project.”

“But the land we chose was undervalued and unfavorable..Everyone said it was a mistake. But we saw potential in it, so against all odds, we stubbornly pressed forward.”

Her smile vanished. “Since our families had always partnered with the Scotts for major projects like this, naturally we approached them first to handle construction.”

She paused, her eyes turning cold.

“But they turned us down, and chose a flashier high–rise project near an established district instead. Which… fine, I could have understood. Self–preservation always comes first.”

“But then they went around mocking us. Telling others Julian and I were ‘too eager to make a name.”

A derisive laugh escaped her. “That’s when I began to see the true colors of this so–called family friend.”

I frowned. I’ve never heard about this before.

But that was exactly the kind of move the Scotts would make. They were experts at stepping on others while smiling to their faces.

Chapter 104

But wait…

In my last life. I clearly remember they did work together on a project like that

Unless… this wasn’t the same one?

“So… what happened?” I asked aloud. “Did you proceed without them?”

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“No” Marissa shook her head. “With the Scotts turning us down, the board–and even our parents, who’d always thought it was too risky–finally had an excuse to shelve the project.”

So the venture they later worked on together must have been a different one after all, I concluded.

“But how does that explain cutting ties with the Scotts now?” I pressed.

There was an old saying in the business world: no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. As long as there was profit to be made, they’d always find their way back to the same table.

It had been two years already. I doubt that one refusal that hadn’t ended their alliance back then was hardly enough to shatter it now.

“Because the matter didn’t end there.” Marissa’s voice chilled, enough to make goosebumps pop

out on my arms.

“Two months ago, the government suddenly announced an integrated transit expansion plan. A central subway hub, connecting three metro lines and linking to the high–speed rail. And guess what? That ‘worthless‘ land we chose for our project sat right in the middle of it.”

My heart skipped. I already knew where this was going.

“Overnight, the land value skyrocketed,” she continued, her lips curling up with contempt. “Suddenly, everyone who had mocked us came crawling back, desperate for a share.”

“The Scotts included?” I asked knowingly.

She nodded. “But unlike the others, they probably found begging humiliating, so they went about it another way.”

I drew in a sharp breath, my stomach sinking. “And what did they do?”

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

“They used their influence to quietly block our final development permit–through a protégé they‘ d groomed. Then, when we were cornered, they approached us. Claimed they could ‘mediate‘ with the official on our behalf.”

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My eyes widened. “What?!”

Disgust twisted in my stomach.

Manipulative, hypocritical… that was the Scotts in a nutshell.

“And the price?” I asked, though I already had a sinking guess.

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