Rebirth: A Second chance at life-Chapter 33: Intruder

The flames had burned an eerie shade of blue, an unsettling anomaly in the chaos of the explosion. Their high-tech lab had been meticulously designed to withstand disasters, equipped with fail-safes for every conceivable mishap. After all, in a place where cutting-edge experiments blurred the line between science and danger, precautions were paramount.

Yet, on that fateful day, everything had gone wrong. The security system had malfunctioned, the emergency protocols had failed, and the doors had sealed shut—trapping them inside a death trap of their own making. No matter how desperately they had tried to escape, there had been no way out. The fire had swallowed them whole.

This wasn’t a tragic accident. It was a calculated move—executed by someone who knew the lab’s secrets, someone who had ensured there would be no survivors.

Luna’s eyes darkened as she sank into deep thought. This betrayal ran deeper than she had imagined. But no matter how long it took, she would uncover the truth.

"Well, finish the tasks I gave you as soon as possible," Luna ordered. As she walked past Bishop, she muttered, "I have an early appointment tomorrow, so I’m off to sleep," yawning as she spoke.

Sleep had always been important to Luna, and that hadn’t changed even after waking up as Aurora.

She paused at the door. "Also, don’t mention me to the others for now. There are things I need to take care of regarding the original owner of this body." Her voice was calm but firm. "Her name was Aurora, so from now on, you can call me that."

With a final glance, she added, "I’ll fill you in on the rest later." Then, without another word, she disappeared into the night.

After Aurora left, Bishop remained rooted in place, his gaze drifting toward the tranquil moonlit sea. The silvery glow danced across the waves, mirroring the storm of emotions within him. He stood there, silently absorbing the impossible truth—Luna and Aurora, two souls intertwined in a way beyond reason.

For a fleeting moment, he wondered if he was dreaming. And if he was... he never wanted to wake up.

"She’s alive..." he whispered, the words barely leaving his lips. A lone tear traced down his cheek, but a smile soon followed.

Whatever this phenomenon was, it didn’t matter.

From this moment on, he would protect her with his life.

Luna had always been the strongest pillar of their team—the Devil in the underworld, feared by enemies and respected by allies. But what most didn’t know was that beneath that ruthless exterior, she was also the most loving and warm-hearted person. She had saved countless lives, rescued children from horrors unknown, and stood as the leader everyone looked up to.

Well... except when it came to money.

That was one thing no one could admire about her. This crazy woman was downright stingy. If someone dared to take something precious from her, she would leave no stone unturned—and no soul unscathed—in making them regret it.

A faint chuckle escaped his lips as a distant memory flickered in his mind, warming the cold edges of his heart for a brief moment. Shaking his head, he turned to leave, his steps lighter than before.

Aurora stepped into her room, shutting the door behind her as she pushed the weight of the day’s revelations to the back of her mind. The mansion was as silent as ever, saving for the soft crackling of the fire in the hearth. Shadows flickered across the walls, dancing with the golden glow of the flames. She took a deep breath, staring into the flames, letting the crackle and pop settle her thoughts. It had been ten months since the explosion that claimed her life, and two month since Aurora Smith gone from the world. Where she should have been dead, she now found herself in this body, with a new identity as Aurora Smith, carrying with her the memories of a life that was no longer hers.

She sank into the plush couch, her gaze drifting toward the flickering fireplace. For the past two month she had pieced together the memories of the original Aurora, the young woman whose body she now inhabited. Aurora didn’t particularly admire the original host; her obsession with Alexander Smith had clouded her judgment. But pity? That was an understatement.

"No one deserved the torment you endured, Aurora," she murmured aloud, her voice laced with an icy edge. Her mind replayed the haunting memories of the host’s life.

One instance burned brighter than the others: a cold winter day when Aurora had been lured into a trap by her classmate Veronica and her cronies. Drenched in icy water, she had been locked in a dark storage room overnight. The frigid air, combined with the dampness, had almost claimed her life. The next morning, a passing security guard had found her unconscious and feverish, her lips blue from the cold.

She had spent weeks in the hospital battling pneumonia; the medical bills paid using the last of her late grandmother’s savings. Yet, when she returned home, there was no solace waiting for her. Instead, she found her mother, Lily, fawning over Veronica and her friends as though they were cherished guests.

Aurora, her frail body still recovering, had confronted Lily, her voice trembling with anger. "Mom, if you didn’t want me, why did you even have me?" she had demanded, her voice trembling with the weight of years of neglect. "For the sake of wealth, you remarried, and now you treat me worse than a servant."

The memory of what followed was seared into her mind. Lily’s cold eyes, her sharp words laced with disdain, and the stinging slaps that left Aurora unconscious. When she awoke, she found herself locked in the damp, musty basement storeroom. For a week, she survived on stale bread and water, her health deteriorating further. It took months for her to recover, and the scars—both physical and emotional—remained.

Snapping back to the present, Aurora clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "They will pay," she whispered, her voice a vow etched in steel. "A hundredfold for what you endured. Lily, Veronica, Alexander—they will all taste the torment they inflicted."

Her thoughts shifted, sharp as a blade, and clarity settled over her like a storm ready to break. She needed answers—the truth about her origins. Was Lily truly her mother? Could a mother truly possess the heartlessness to torment her own child in such a way?

"I will get to the bottom of this," she said quietly, the firelight dancing in her eyes.

Also the thing Lily said over the call, what is that Aurora’s grandmother kept for her. As Luna she didn’t care much but she could feel her chest tightened by the mention of it and from her memories it was the first time to feel a familial love so she would get what she wants and make the smiths pay to blackmail her.

The next morning, after returning from her morning run and exercise, Aurora was caught off guard by the lavish breakfast spread before her. The mouthwatering aroma of freshly prepared dishes filled the air, tempting her senses. Without wasting another thought, she took her seat and eagerly indulged in the feast.

Bishop, watching from the side, chuckled as his voice echoed through the dining hall. "It really is you," he muttered under his breath. A smirk played on his lips as he added, "I got you your favorites, Boss."

Aurora glanced up at him, her amber eyes glinting with warmth. She gave a small nod of appreciation. "Thanks," she murmured before motioning for him to join her. Without hesitation, she returned to savoring the delicious food before her.

Once they had finished their meal, Aurora leaned back and wiped her lips. "Well, I’ll be having a guest soon," she said casually, though there was a knowing glint in her eyes. "Don’t be too surprised. I’ll be treating his sister."

Soon, Zoey began rumbling, her voice sharp and mechanical. "Intruder spotted! Intruder spotted!"

Aurora rolled her eyes and sighed. "Shut up, JoJo! Keep it down," she muttered, rubbing her temples.

"Tell me that one more time, Human... I will choose my next master.... Humph!"

"You wouldn’t dare," Aurora shot back, unfazed. Then, with a flick of her hand, she ordered, "Now open the door and let the guest in."