[{"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-61":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},1266502,1695,"Chapter 61 - The Depths of the Game","the-reborn-heiress-strike-back-chapter-61",61,"\u003Cp>Chloe Carter’s hands trembled as she slammed Marcus’s office door behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was dim, city lights bleeding through the floor-to-ceiling windows like fractured stars. Marcus sat with a glass of whiskey in his hand, legs crossed, as if he’d been waiting for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Marcus. We need to talk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe’s voice cracked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t look surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only... entertained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chloe,\" he drawled, swirling his drink. \"You look terrified. Something happen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She marched closer, fury and fear tangled in her expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t play games with me. The shooting at Samantha’s penthouse—someone almost died. This isn’t part of our deal!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus finally looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his expression hardened—just enough to remind her who he truly was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A deal?\" Marcus repeated softly. \"You mean the one where you stole company funds, lied to your family, and funneled information to me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe paled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re already too deep,\" Marcus continued, rising slowly from his seat. \"Cross me, and you’ll end up like Lynn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe’s knees nearly buckled. \"You— You did that to her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus didn’t blink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not denial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not confirmation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a smile that said he didn’t need to answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice dropped to a whisper. \"Marcus, I don’t want any part of this anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Want?\" Marcus tilted his head. \"Chloe, people like you don’t get to want. You get to survive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shivered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And right now,\" he said softly, \"your best chance of survival...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—is standing in front of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe swallowed a sob.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus placed a hand on her cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Be useful,\" he murmured. \"And I’ll protect you from what’s coming.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded stiffly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because she had no choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake Begins to Unravel Marcus’s Web\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the city, Elevate’s main operations floor buzzed quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake sat in a glass-walled conference room with two monitors glowing before him, sleeves rolled up, tie long discarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d been digging for hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empty accounts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shadow transfers routed through shell companies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake muttered under his breath, typing rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Marcus Reed... you arrogant bastard. You left footprints.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A knock sounded at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the cyber-security analysts stepped in nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir—these patterns you flagged... they match transactions hitting Carter Group’s internal accounts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake’s eyes sharpened. \"Someone inside the Carter family is helping him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, sir.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake leaned back in his chair, mind racing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too paranoid to be precise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nick?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His jaw clenched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youngest Carter was good with numbers. Smart. Reckless. Easily manipulated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake dismissed the analyst with a nod and continued typing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Chloe was Marcus’s internal mole...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the Carter family was already drowning—they just didn’t know it yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Business Summit\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The annual Global Growth Summit hosted the biggest names in international finance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Politicians. CEOs. Innovators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sea of flashing cameras, glittering gowns, and predatory smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Samantha arrived in a midnight-black tailored dress—a vision of quiet power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake walked beside her in a sleek suit, radiating protective tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd parted instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People whispered her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sam Bradley...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elevate’s powerhouse...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unstoppable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A mystery.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She walked with poise, expression cool, but Jake caught the exhaustion behind her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They mingled with investors, answered questions, shook hands—until Jake finally murmured,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You haven’t eaten.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She raised a brow. \"Neither have you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smirked. \"I’m not the one who hasn’t slept in days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Samantha didn’t argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they stepped aside into a private balcony overlooking the city, Samantha leaned slightly against the railing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind was cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Refreshing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t have to follow me everywhere,\" she said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake stepped beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone tried to kill you last night, Sam.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you think I’m going to let you walk around alone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips pressed into a thin, grateful line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, neither spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city lights shimmered below like a thousand burning secrets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Jake exhaled shakily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Samantha,\" he said, voice lower, \"I need to tell you something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned toward him, curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake ran a hand through his hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can’t protect you,\" he said painfully. \"Not from Marcus. Not from your enemies. Not from... everything you’re trying to burn alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Samantha’s eyes softened. She opened her mouth to speak, but he lifted a hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me finish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at her with raw honesty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can’t keep pretending this is only business. I tried. God knows I tried, but—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice broke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Every time you push people away, I’m the idiot who keeps coming back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Samantha stared at him—stunned, unguarded for the briefest second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re ice and fire and steel, Sam... but when you trust someone, you give them everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swallowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You gave that to the wrong man once. And I’ve been fighting myself every day to not become the next man who hurts you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Samantha felt something warm twist painfully inside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jake...\" she whispered. \"Don’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, Sam. I’m done holding it in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re the one who stayed when the world left me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Jake was rebuilding his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now they came back to her—soft and devastating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long silence stretched between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake leaned forward, forehead gently brushing hers, breath trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t kiss her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t dare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But their closeness burned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally Samantha whispered—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are... the only person who ever saw me without armor. And still stayed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake closed his eyes as if the words physically hurt him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intimate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not lovers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a line had been crossed—emotionally, irrevocably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they finally pulled apart, both were breathing unevenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake cleared his throat. \"We should get back before the board starts rumors.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Samantha nodded, steadying herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as she turned, Jake gently clasped her wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sam.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked back, eyes questioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake’s voice dropped to a whisper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whatever Marcus is planning... I won’t let him take you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus Tightens His Grip\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later that night, Marcus stood before the window of his penthouse, a glass of wine in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chloe had left in tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kate had sent another encrypted file.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And one of his men reported something interesting:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake was tracing financial trails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let him look,\" he murmured to himself. \"Everything he finds will lead him exactly where I want Samantha to go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Marcus didn’t just want to destroy Elevate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted Samantha Bradley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And her downfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of his men entered quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir, the Carter transactions you set up—they’re active. They won’t see it coming.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus swirled his wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, they will,\" he said softly. \"Just too late.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*******\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The summit ended with applause and flashing cameras.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Samantha handled interviews with poise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake stayed close, silent but steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time they arrived at her penthouse, it was nearly midnight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Samantha stopped before her door, exhaustion washing over her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake reached out, touching her elbow gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Try to sleep tonight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jake...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you,\" she said simply. \"For being here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake’s expression softened. \"Always.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They lingered for a second too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Samantha stepped inside, closing the door quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake remained in the hallway, exhaling shakily—as if holding onto control took everything he had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside her penthouse, Samantha walked toward her window, staring out at the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her heart felt too full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jake’s words replayed in her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re the one who stayed when the world left me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fingers curled against the cold glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time in a long time, Samantha Bradley let herself feel something that wasn’t revenge, or grief, or anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something like...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hope.\u003C\u002Fp>",1264,"2026-06-05T16:26:33.786Z",1,"novelbin.me","9d48e84c4f7d5082294bb37daad26ad1606de50b4d0718686662a748379f5a21","the-reborn-heiress-strike-back-chapter-62","the-reborn-heiress-strike-back-chapter-60",88,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-heiress-strike-back-cover.jpg"]