The Rebirth of a Ruthless Daughter

Casually glancing around the room, Hyera's gaze inadvertently landed on an old bronze clock standing in the corner. Her eyes narrowed. Her breath caught. There-on its weathered face-engraved in bold digits, was a date and time that made her entire body stiffen. June 10th, 2:45 PM. Drawn by a sudden urgency, she moved toward it, steadying herself against a nearby cabinet. Her dark eyes locked onto the clock's numbers, refusing to look away. She whispered under her breath as she read the time aloud. "June 10th... 2:45 PM..." The moment the words left her lips, she stumbled backward. Her face turned ghostly pale. A wave of panic surged through her. Her foot caught on the edge of the carpet, and she fell hard, the side of her head slamming against the wooden foot of the bed. A red mark bloomed instantly on her forehead. But she didn't even flinch. Pain was nothing right now. What mattered-what mattered more than anything-was whether the clock's date matched reality. June 10th... 2:45 PM... Hyera sat frozen on the floor, heart pounding wildly as her mind raced through memories she hadn't dared revisit. Suddenly, she clamped a hand over her mouth, stifling the sound of her ragged breathing. 'June 10th... isn't this ten days before Mom died?' In her previous life, her mother's death had been ruled a tragic accident. But now... Now she had another chance. If her rebirth could change her fate-could it change her mother's fate too? She looked out the window, at the endless rain blanketing the world in gray, and lifted her head to the sky. "God... if you gave me this second chance... can you give my mother one too?" she pleaded in a trembling voice. "Can the past be changed? Please... I'm begging you... please just let her live..." Tears streamed down her cheeks, blurring her vision. Her knees hit the cold floor as she fell forward, hair cascading messily over her shoulders, shoulders trembling with sorrow. All the care, all the warmth her mother had shown her these last few days came rushing back in waves-and with them, an overwhelming sense of guilt and anguish. Outside, the rain kept falling-soft, persistent, never-ending. Just like the grief buried deep inside her. But if God had given her this miracle... then she, Hyera Sherwood, would never waste it. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. The sound of her knuckles cracking filled the room. Her teeth bit into her lower lip until crimson blood dotted the pale skin of her face. She didn't notice. Didn't care. She swore- That every person who had a hand in her and her mother's death... would pay. That they would burn in the lowest pits of hell, never to reincarnate. That their blood would repay her tears. Even so... No matter how fierce her determination, she was still only fifteen. A high school girl. A child in the eyes of the world. Without adult support, how much could she really accomplish? Hyera took a deep breath. 'Think, Hyera. Calm down. You need a plan. You need power.' She pulled herself back into bed, curling beneath the covers. Her eyes fluttered shut. Her soul was on fire with vengeance-but her body was still exhausted, still healing, still young. Sleep tugged at her, heavy and inescapable. She had so much to do. So much pain to unravel. So much justice to claim. But for now... She needed rest. ... Early morning light spilled gently through the windows of Hyera's bedroom, casting golden rays across the room. She was still fast asleep, curled beneath the blankets. The door creaked open. A familiar, warm voice floated in. "Miss, miss... it's time to wake up. It's getting late." It was Nanny Pia. She called out several times, but Hyera continued to bury herself deeper under the covers, refusing to get up. A moment later, a colder, more commanding voice rang out from the hallway. "Hyera, do you know what time it is? Don't tell me you're planning to skip school again today?" That voice... Hyera instantly sat bolt upright, her heart seizing in fear. Her face turned pale as her eyes darted toward the door. "Dad..." she whispered in a trembling voice. Hans Sterling. No matter the life-past or present-he was terrifying to her. His presence always felt suffocating, like a ghost lurking in the dead of night. Hans glanced at her briefly, as if she were no more than a passing thought. Seeing her standing there in a camisole, shivering slightly, he simply said, "Go get dressed. Come downstairs for breakfast. The driver will take you to school." Without another word, he turned and walked off, his footsteps steady and indifferent. Hyera remained frozen for a moment before finally moving. As she changed into her school uniform, her lips curved into a wry smile. School. Middle school, of all things. It felt ridiculous. Her body might be that of a fifteen-year-old, but her soul had lived to twenty. She wasn't the same girl anymore. ... X Elite Academy was the most prestigious private school in City B. Every student enrolled there was the child of someone powerful-whether a high-ranking official or a wealthy business magnate. Here, everyone was either rich or influential, and the school carried the unmistakable air of privilege. The butler parked the sleek black car beneath the main academic building and stepped out to open the door for her. "Miss, take your time. I'll be back this evening to pick you up." Hyera stepped down, adjusting the strap of her small schoolbag. She looked at the silver-haired man with a calm smile. "Uncle Jose," she said gently, "when there's no one else around, just call me Hyera like Nanny Pia does. You don't need to be so formal with me-it sounds strange." The butler blinked, surprised. Then he scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "You've changed, miss. You've really changed. You're not as spoiled as before. Much more... sensible." 'Of course I've changed,' she thought silently. 'After going through everything I have... how could I still act like a pampered princess?' The butler drove off. Technically, cars weren't even allowed on campus, much less parked right beneath the teaching buildings. Not even the principal could do such a thing. But Hyera wasn't just any student. She was the heiress of the Sherwood's businese empire-the Sherwood's precious daughter. Her family had donated the funds that built the entire school. Her father was the largest shareholder. Rumor had it they donated at least five million a year. Who would dare tell her no? Walking through the halls of the familiar building, she was greeted by familiar classmates, familiar teachers, familiar scents in the air. She quietly took her seat by the window, resting her arms on the desk as she gazed out at the schoolyard, where flowers were just starting to bloom. A small smile curved her lips as she whispered softly to herself, "My alma mater... it's been so long. How have you been? I'm back now... back in your arms." A loud clap of hands echoed from the podium. "Class," the teacher announced, "we'll be studying a new essay today. I want you all to listen carefully-I'll be asking questions one by one." The class groaned softly, but the teacher ignored them. Hyera didn't move. She wasn't even pretending to pay attention. In any other school, the teacher would've shouted at her by now-maybe even dragged her outside to stand as punishment. But this was X Elite Academy. And she was Hyera Sherwood. No one dared touch her. Not before. And certainly not now. ***