Introduction

Chloe Sterling was crying again, the 'Live Feed' above her head branding her 'Heartbroken_And_Clueless.'

She was my ticket out of the Rust Belt, but her secret pregnancy with a powerful senator made her a liability. My jaw tightened.

Poverty taught me to cut away anything that dragged me back down. I didn't hesitate.

I dealt with the senator, making it look like a tragic accident.

I manipulated the scandal, stepped into Chloe's shoes, married Liam Vance, and turned him into my puppet. I thought I'd won, untouchable in my new empire.

My naive project, Chloe, found a new 'friend,' Ben. I warned her.

But when I found her bruised, a rage unlike any calculation took over. This was personal.

I tracked Ben down. It was brutal, quick.

But as I stood over his body, Grandma Esther and Liam appeared. They knew everything, had evidence.

My empire teetered. Their solution: frame Chloe, the fragile heiress, for Ben's death.

My Chloe – the girl I'd used, yet somehow cared for.

Before I could process the monstrous demand, Chloe stepped in. She'd heard.

'Don' t. Not for me.' Then, in a heartbreaking act of self-sacrifice, she jumped.

But as grief threatened to consume me, a chilling message flashed across my 'Live Feed': 'Welcome, Ava, to the Next Level.'

My life, this rise to power – all a 'narrative,' a 'test.' They offered a reset.

All memories, all experiences, retained.

Clutching Chloe's worn worry stone, I chose to go back.

I'm twelve again, in the Rust Belt.

But this time, I know the game. I'm ready to play it differently.