[{"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-28":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},1266469,1695,"Chapter 28 - The Miscalculation","the-reborn-heiress-strike-back-chapter-28",28,"\u003Cp>\"This is your moment, babe. Go... before the crowd starts lining up to kiss her feet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kate’s voice was low but edged with urgency. Her fingers brushed Nick’s arm as Samantha descended from the stage, award in hand, heels clicking like a metronome of dominance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nick didn’t wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cut through the murmuring crowd, ignoring flashes of camera lenses and the whispers trailing behind her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked... untouchable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Samantha,\" Nick called, voice steady despite the slight dryness in his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned, slowly. A faint smile curved her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes. The award still rested in her hands like a symbol of unshakable power. She looked regal, radiant — composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Carter,\" she said, her voice smooth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nick smiled as if it were a friendly encounter, but even his charm felt like paper in her presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s just say, no one saw that coming... CEO of Elevate Strategic Group. Guess that saying’s true — never judge a book by its cover.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Samantha tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A lot of people read the wrong Chapters, Nick. But they’ll figure it out eventually.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckled under his breath. \"Touché. So tell me—why send me an invitation? Some kind of full-circle moment?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled faintly, then turned slightly, poised to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t send you an invitation, Mr. Carter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped closer. \"Nick.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighed, the smile fading into a neutral calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right. Nick. For your information, it was a global guest list. I had my PR and corporate team design the algorithmic invitation structure. Criteria-based. Tied to influence, investments, portfolios... relevance. So, if you got yours, congratulations — you simply made the cut.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned again — elegantly, deliberately. But before she could walk off, a soft voice cut between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ma’am.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lynn approached from the left, her steps deliberate. She wore a black satin gown that flowed like ink and caught the light with every movement — classic, sleek, powerful in its understatement. Her neckline dipped slightly, balanced by the subtle edge of shoulder padding. Everything about her said executive grace with just enough edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your guests are waiting in the VIP lounge,\" she said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Samantha gave a small nod, passing the award into Lynn’s hands without breaking eye contact with Nick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If there’s more you want to say,\" she said to Nick, \"you can relay it through my assistant. I’ll get back to you... when I’m free.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t wait for a response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pivoted and walked away, back straight, heels tapping like punctuation marks on marble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lynn lingered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Would you like to book an appointment this time?\" she asked sweetly, her tone polite but soaked in sarcasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nick raised a brow. \"Didn’t realize you were offering.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wasn’t. But I’m efficient — even with people who used to be important.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nick narrowed his eyes. \"Tell her I’ll be waiting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you wish, Mr. Carter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned, paused after a few steps, then looked over her shoulder. \"For the record, I’m very good at my job.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, she disappeared behind the glass-paneled doors of the VIP lounge, heels whispering confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nick stood there, torn between regret and realization. Then Kate appeared at his side, arms folded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We messed up,\" Nick muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We?\" Kate echoed, eyes fixed on him. \"No, sweetheart. Say I messed up. I was just the woman who warned you not to get distracted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to face her, irritation flaring in his jaw. \"If you hadn’t let jealousy ruin the moment, I could’ve figured her out back then. I knew she was someone when I first met her at the mall. But you—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She’s someone now, isn’t she?\" Kate snapped, her tone sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the conversation could dive deeper, Chloe’s voice rang behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, looks like that plan flopped,\" she said, approaching with her champagne glass still half-full. \"You had her in front of you and didn’t close the deal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What deal?\" Kate fired back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The one you thought you had,\" Chloe replied with a smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nick exhaled, frustration mounting. \"I’m done playing games with both of you. We need new strategies. I’m going to network — find someone worth talking to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stalked off, vanishing into the sea of suits and flashing name tags.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kate watched him go, then glanced sideways at Chloe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think he likes you,\" she said with a half-smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe raised an eyebrow. \"Carlos? Don’t be ridiculous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t have to pretend. He hasn’t taken his eyes off you all night. He looks like the kind of guy who reads spreadsheets and body language.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe rolled her eyes. \"It was business. Carter Group is hunting for new investors. That’s it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kate nudged her playfully. \"He’s tall, smart, European. What’s not to like? You’ve been single since Ryan ghosted the planet. Sweetheart, I swear, sometimes I can’t stand you with that mean attitude of yours --- but I do want you to be happy.\" Kate said, her tone softer now. \"This is the perfect moment to let go of Ryan and finally start over.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s low,\" Chloe replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kate raised her hands. \"I’m just saying... maybe you stop looking for reasons not to move on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe stared at her for a second, conflicted, then turned toward Carlos across the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine. But if this goes sideways, it’s on you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kate smirked. \"Darling, I’ve never led you wrong when it comes to men.\"Chloe arched a brow and crossed her arms. \"Is that how you landed my brother?\" Kate gave a sharp laugh. \"Oh, come on. This isn’t the time to your petty little jabs. It’s simple -- you either walk over to that fine gentleman now...or you let someone else beat you to do it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She brushed a loose strand of hair behind Chloe’s ear, adjusted her neckline slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You look perfect. Now go make him sweat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe narrowed her eyes and walked off,she saw a waiter passing by and place her glass on the trey ,straightening her posture as she moved. Carlos turned as she approached and smiled warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I almost forgot,\" he said in a soft German accent. \"My business card.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed her a sleek black card with metallic silver text.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you,\" she replied, offering hers in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carlos smiled, tucking it into his inner jacket pocket like a prized possession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dance with me?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why not,\" Chloe said softly, slipping her hand into his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they moved to the floor, the music shifted into a soft, jazzy instrumental. Carlos spun her gently, and Chloe smiled, the tension melting off her face for just a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as she glanced back at Kate from across the room, her smile faded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under her breath, she muttered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m going to kill you when I survive this mess.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kate, watching from a distance, winked. Mission accomplished.\u003C\u002Fp>",1135,"2026-06-05T16:26:33.508Z",1,"novelbin.me","adbe49403304158bfd8e5f1f6e074494f82216312a35c1a40464d0db6d3d2779","the-reborn-heiress-strike-back-chapter-29","the-reborn-heiress-strike-back-chapter-27",88,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-heiress-strike-back-cover.jpg"]