Lights, Camera, Rebirth!
Mr. Unknown
Emcee
Welcome, welcome to the Empire Excellence Gala Night!
Emcee
An exclusive yearly ceremony to honour our rising stars from each niche!
Marie Valente (FL)
*applying her lipstick, using the vanity mirror
Marie Valente (FL)
*presses her lips and checks herself on the mirror*
Emcee
now that you are all looking forward to the awards, let me list out the nominees for the Top Rising CEO of the year!
Marie Valente (FL)
*turns towards her secretary* Alistair.
Alistair Jenkins
yes, Madam?
Marie Valente (FL)
how do I look?
Marie Valente (FL)
*smiles*
Alistair Jenkins
fabulous as always, Madam
Marie Valente (FL)
*satisfied*
Marie Valente (FL)
mhm, thanks
Marie turned her attention back on the Emcee, obviously bored
she was looking down at her nails while listening to the nominees list
Emcee
*announcing with a large smile*
the crowd stayed quiet, eager to hear the results
you could hear some of them holding in their breaths, afraid to breathe even for a second.
Emcee
now, who would be the winner?
Emcee
who is the person most deserving of the TOP RISING CEO AWARD?
the Emcee tore out the envelope slowly, deliberately dragging out the announcement
Emcee
and our winner is...
Marie Valente (FL)
*murmured to her secretary* I don't think it is me
Marie Valente (FL)
our revenues weren't as good as last year
Marie Valente (FL)
*shaking her head dismissively*
Marie Valente (FL)
(oh, okay...never mind)
Emcee
Marie Valente, please go on the stage to receive your award *smiled
the crowd oozed in a big round of applause while Marie stood up and walked to the stage, all the time smiling politely...
yet her eyes always stayed mysterious and cunning, like a fox
Marie Valente (FL)
*got the trophy from the Emcee, smiling in gratitude
Marie Valente (FL)
thank you
Marie faced the crowd, about to give a motivational speech
Marie Valente (FL)
(okay, let me make crocodile tears real fast...)
Marie Valente (FL)
thank you, thank you so much for voting for me
Marie Valente (FL)
I never expected this from you 🤧
Marie Valente (FL)
*had a sudden flashback and stopped in her tracks for a second*
Marie Valente (FL)
(I...I saw his face)
her sudden stop led the crowd to worry and the Emcee stepped in to ask her
Emcee
Miss, is everything alright?
Marie Valente (FL)
*nodding*
Marie Valente (FL)
(I saw his face)
Marie Valente (FL)
*still dazed*
Marie tried to grasp onto the last bits of his face, but when she looked down at the crowd...
she realized she hadn't spoken for too long
Marie Valente (FL)
uhh...I...
Marie Valente (FL)
*got herself together*
Marie Valente (FL)
i am sorry, I just remembered the struggles and difficulties I went through as the CEO in the entertainment industry
Marie Valente (FL)
*laughed it off*
when she laughed, the crowd began to laugh with her
and seeing that they didn't suspect anything, she got relieved
Marie Valente (FL)
(okay, time for me to get down the stage now...)
on the way down, she received bouquets from her fans and she thanked them with a big smile
then, she sat back down on her seat
Alistair Jenkins
Madam, is everything okay with you?
Marie Valente (FL)
mhm *nodded*
Marie had that unusual big smile and her secretary thought that she was very, very happy with the prize
but, in reality, she was happy that she could see that man's smile.
The smile that felt like sunshine and exuded warmth all around him.
Marie Valente (FL)
(I will not forget your face, Mr. Unknown)
I am sorry
Zaclun (Authy)
I have my final tmrw, so I will not update too much today
after the ceremony, Marie got out of the building with her secretary beside her
but once she got out, she saw a huge crowd of reporters and they all looked like they were going after her
Marie Valente (FL)
*tensed and held onto her secretary's wrist*
Marie Valente (FL)
are those...reporters?
Alistair Jenkins
yes, Madam *nodded, pulling her close by her waist*
Alistair Jenkins
(she is afraid of crowds...)
Marie held onto his wrist, and let Alistair lead the way to the car
Marie could feel the reporters all swarming in after her while Alistair tried to pull them away
Marie Valente (FL)
*keeping her gaze fixed on his wrist*
Marie Valente (FL)
(don't pull away from me)
Marie Valente (FL)
(don't pull away from me)
Reporters
Miss Valente, how did you get the prize? *speaking through the mic*
Marie Valente (FL)
uhm...I... *not knowing where to look at*
Alistair Jenkins
she will answer all of your questions later!
Alistair Jenkins
move aside!
Alistair removed his hand away from Marie to push away the reporters
but it was in vain and even the bodyguards came in to remove the reporters from her side
but it all got confusing to Marie
she didn't know where to look, where to go...
so, she pushed through the throng of people and escaped
Alistair Jenkins
*noticed her running and got anxious*
Alistair Jenkins
Madam, don't go running alone!
Alistair Jenkins
*trying to go to her*
Reporters
sir, what is your relationship with Miss Valente?
Reporters
you seem pretty close
Reporters
are you in a relationship?
Alistair Jenkins
she is my boss! nothing else!
Alistair Jenkins
*pushing them away*
Reporters
*coming to him even more*
Reporters
you dont look like that, according to the CIA report, you were seen together in a hotel
Alistair Jenkins
that's not WHAT IT IS!
Alistair and the bodyguards tried to pull them away but it was of no use
Marie has already disappeared from sight
Marie Valente (FL)
*hiding in the narrow space between the buildings*
Marie Valente (FL)
*looking down at the ground, shame and disgust kicking in*
Marie Valente (FL)
(why...am i like this?)
Marie Valente (FL)
(i don't want so much trouble, but I can't help it...)
Someone
*grabbed onto her shoulders tightly from behind*
Marie Valente (FL)
*flinched
Marie Valente (FL)
A-Alistair?
Someone
in a time like this...the first person who comes to your mind is...HIM?
Marie Valente (FL)
(he seems to know about me...is he...an obsessed fan?)
Marie Valente (FL)
*trying to look over her shoulder to see him*
Someone
*blocked her from turning around*
Marie Valente (FL)
I am...I am sure we can settle this down with a conversation
Marie Valente (FL)
what...what do you want?
Someone
*in tears, sniffling while hugging her from behind*
Someone
Marie, you already ruined my life.
Someone
t-there is no saving you now
Marie Valente (FL)
*eyes widened in shock*
Marie Valente (FL)
ruined...whose life?
Marie had flashbacks, trying to understand whose life she ruined...
but she didn't know any...
she doesn't remember ruining anyone's life...
Marie Valente (FL)
I am...I am sure you are exaggerating...
suddenly, the man held her more tightly and then she could see his tail wrapping around her thigh
Marie Valente (FL)
(a dog...hybrid)
Marie Valente (FL)
(this man is a Canine)
Marie Valente (FL)
(but I haven't interacted with any Canine!)
Someone
*whispered to her ear, tears falling on her shoulder*
Someone
I...I am s-sorry...
Marie Valente (FL)
what are y-
Marie Valente (FL)
*felt the blood gushing out of her belly and dripping on the ground*
Someone
you des-s-troyed me...it is only fair I ruin yours
Marie Valente (FL)
*tried tobspeak but blood dripped out of her mouth, blurring her gaze and mind*
the killer put her down on the ground, looking at her while wiping his tears
Someone
I...I...am s-sorry...
Marie Valente (FL)
*trying to keep her eyes open to see his face*
Marie Valente (FL)
(who...are you?)
Marie Valente (FL)
(i need to know before i die...)
Marie Valente (FL)
(i want to know...how I ruined your life when I haven't even met any Canine)
Marie struggled to keep her eyes open, but whatever she did, it was pointless
she couldn't identify him
so, she closed her eyes while the killer bent down on the ground beside her, still crying
he kept apologizing to her like he was reciting a mantra
in the last moments of her death, she could hear Alistair yelling
Alistair Jenkins
where are you?!
Alistair Jenkins
*running around the territory*
it wasn't long before he suddenly stopped and then saw Marie lying dead on the floor
and then he stared at the killer like he was going to burn him alive.
Alistair Jenkins
I will not spare you...
Alistair Jenkins
I WILL NOT LET YOU LIVE ANY LONGER THAN THIS!
Rebirth!
why do I have the ability to think if I am not alive?
...does that mean that I have survived the stab by...a dog hybrid?
by the way, why am I still keeping my eyes closed?
and why is there noise nearby? sounds like rich people's laughter
Marie Valente (FL)
*opened her eyes slowly*
Marie Valente (FL)
*surprised*
Marie Valente (FL)
is that...Valente company's annual ceremony?
but this looks so old a memory...
Marie Valente (FL)
*noticed a banner attached to the wall*
Marie Valente (FL)
*reading it aloud*
Marie Valente (FL)
2025, December 3
it is when I recently became the CEO of Valente Ent. Industry
Alistair Jenkins
Madam. *approached her from behind*
Alistair Jenkins
you seemed a little out of the blue...
Alistair Jenkins
is everything alright?
Marie Valente (FL)
*blinking at him in surprise*
Marie Valente (FL)
uhh, yes, yes...I am fine
does that mean that...I got reincarnated?
Marie Valente (FL)
(I don't wanna repeat this sheet all over again!)
Marie Valente (FL)
(why didn’t I just die?)
Why am I repeating my life???
is there something that I didn't resolve?
Marie Valente (FL)
*got hit by a flashback*
Marie Valente (FL)
(oh...right, the Canine)
Marie Valente (FL)
(The dog hybrid killed me saying that i ruined his life)
Marie Valente (FL)
(maybe the reason i got reincarnated is because i need to find the killer and sto-)
Cair Aldridge
good evening, Miss. *holding 2 glasses of champagne in his hands*
Cair Aldridge
would you like a drink?
Marie Valente (FL)
*eyes softened while gazing at him*
Marie Valente (FL)
(Cair...)
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