[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-reborn-heiress-strike-back":3,"chapter-the-reborn-heiress-strike-back-the-reborn-heiress-strike-back-chapter-13":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Reborn Heiress Strike Back",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1266454,1695,"Chapter 13 - Unseen Advantage","the-reborn-heiress-strike-back-chapter-13",13,"\u003Cp>The quiet hum of traffic blurred in the distance as a sleek black Rolls-Royce sat parked along the edge of a quiet New York street, its hood lifted like a wounded beast. The driver — a man in his late thirties — stood with sleeves rolled up, leaning over the engine with furrowed brows. Grease clung to his gloves, but the problem remained stubborn. The car refused to start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few feet away, another car pulled to a smooth stop. Chloe Carter stepped out, her heels tapping crisply against the concrete, the sun catching on the reflective surface of her sunglasses. Her figure was wrapped in a fitted blazer over a pearl silk blouse — casual, yet composed — with her ponytail bouncing lightly with every step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes locked onto the Rolls-Royce with faint interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She approached without a word, the corner of her mouth twitching in curiosity. With a light tap of her manicured nail, she knocked on the tinted passenger-side window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It rolled down smoothly with a quiet whirr.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, a man sat — not just handsome, but striking. His jawline sharp, his undercut blond hair effortlessly styled, and his grey eyes calm, cold, and assessing. There was something composed about him — like someone who’d spent years learning how to control every expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For just a second, Chloe’s breath paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, smoothly, she extended her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hi. I’m Chloe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He studied her hand for a second — not dismissively, just thoughtfully — before reaching out to shake it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jake,\" he replied. His voice was low, velvet smooth, but there was something elusive behind it. A flicker of charm mixed with calculation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their hands touched — warm, poised, controlled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe felt it. Whatever it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before she could speak again—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hi, guys!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe turned abruptly. Nadia had arrived, arms folded tightly, a thin smile on her lips. There was tension in her eyes — something that hadn’t been there earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe released Jake’s hand too quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh. Nadia,\" she said, clearing her throat, trying to rearrange her expression into casual indifference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can have my driver help if you’re stuck,\" Chloe offered to Jake, smoothing down her blazer, trying to recover from whatever ripple had just passed between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake smiled faintly. \"That would be great, actually.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just his words. It was the way he said them — measured, polite, like a man who never needed help but was skilled at pretending when it served him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe turned and marched back toward her own car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Michael!\" she snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her driver jumped slightly, abandoning his phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, ma’am?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want you to help that driver — now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michael blinked at the Rolls-Royce, then looked back at her nervously. \"I... don’t really know how to fix cars, ma’am.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stopped walking. Slowly turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m sorry, what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michael stood straight. \"I wasn’t trained for mechanical—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe raised a hand. \"Let me get this straight. You’re a driver. But you can’t fix a car.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can drive—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, what you can’t do is explain how you were hired. If it were my car stuck on the road, would you just stand there scratching your head?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Michael opened his mouth, then closed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I said go. Now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rushed to the trunk, grabbed the emergency tool kit, and jogged toward the other car, nearly tripping over himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe sighed dramatically and turned back — only to find Jake watching her. This time,he was out of his car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt her cheeks warm slightly and forced a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You run a tight ship,\" Jake said, amused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe smirked. \"Someone has to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes locked again for a second too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Nadia’s voice broke the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dammit,\" she whispered, pacing on the sidewalk, her phone pressed to her ear. \"Why isn’t this going through?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tried again. Same result. A voicemail prompt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Breathe, Nadia,\" Chloe said, moving closer. Her tone had shifted — quieter now, more sincere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reached out and hugged her friend gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s going on?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just— I don’t know. I can’t reach him,\" Nadia said, her voice quivering as she fought to hold herself together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across from them, Jake stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a word, he opened his car, reached into the back seat, and pulled out a sealed bottle of water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here,\" he said, handing it to Nadia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She blinked. \"Thanks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now breathe,\" Jake said. \"In through your nose... out through your mouth. Match me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He inhaled. She followed. He exhaled. She did the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Repeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It worked. The panic in her chest began to loosen. The heat in her face calmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re... good at this,\" she said, taking a slow sip of the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake shrugged. \"My parents were doctors. I picked up a few things along the way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe looked him over again, this time with curiosity laced in respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well,\" she said, \"I’d say you’re wasted talent. You might’ve missed your calling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake chuckled. \"Maybe. But hospitals were never really my thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So... what are you into, then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake was just about to answer when his driver appeared, wiping grease off his palms with a cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All set, sir. We’re ready to go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake nodded. \"Thank you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Chloe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, I guess this is it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe hesitated for a second. Then reached into her purse and pulled out a slim black card with embossed gold lettering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take this,\" she said. \"You’ve earned it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake took it with a smile, then pulled one from the inner pocket of his blazer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fair trade.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their fingers brushed — just slightly — and neither one looked away right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Chloe stepped back, lips parted as if to say something more — but didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned and walked to her car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake got into his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nadia remained quiet in the backseat, still nursing the water, her eyes glancing between the two as if trying to make sense of something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two cars pulled away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two strangers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two cards exchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One life unaware. The other fully informed. Fate didn’t just cross their paths - it opened a door Jake had been waiting to walk through\u003C\u002Fp>",1019,"2026-06-05T16:26:33.508Z",1,"novelbin.me","a1b4bbd46e44a9e0247b27e0f47a75b2df33675a8bad33956d5aa8b79f1b7019","the-reborn-heiress-strike-back-chapter-14","the-reborn-heiress-strike-back-chapter-12",88,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-heiress-strike-back-cover.jpg"]