Phoenix Mode, Activated: Burn Me Once, Watch Me Rise

Chelsey's words left Gretchen momentarily stunned, and her gaze lingered on her daughter without focus.

Reaching out, Chelsey took Gretchen's slightly cold hand and whispered, "Mom, from now on, you need to pay closer attention to Dad."

After a brief silence, she made her point clearer. "This matters most when money is involved. You should watch the household spending and keep track of the company's accounts as well. No matter the situation, having funds that belong only to you is never a bad thing."

Gretchen had never been foolish. The meaning behind Chelsey's advice was obvious, and she understood it without needing further explanation.

As she reflected on Jorge's strange behavior earlier that day and connected it with certain moments from the past, a wave of unease washed over her, making it hard for her to steady herself.

"Chelsey, I know what you mean," she finally answered in a strained voice.

Later, once Chelsey returned to her bedroom, she shut the door and secured the lock.

According to her maternal grandfather's will, she held shares in Galaxy Ventures, and the terms were clear—until she reached the age of twenty-five, those shares would be managed jointly by her parents if she remained unmarried. If she married, she would obtain forty percent of the management authority.

In her previous life, she had been scheduled to marry Brett the very next day, which would have placed those rights firmly in her hands.

Now, however, the wedding had been called off, and Brett was no longer an option.

Because of that, she needed to find a suitable husband as soon as possible, ensuring that the inheritance stayed protected and leaving no opening for Jorge or Brett to take advantage of it.

After settling her thoughts, Chelsey reached for her phone and searched for her best friend's contact.

Moments later, she sent a short message. "Tessa, do you have time right now?"

No sooner had the message gone through than her phone rang, and Tessa Cooper's voice burst through the speaker, buzzing with excitement and gossip.

"Chelsey, I just saw someone mention in the group chat that Brett showed up at your house today to cancel the wedding. They're saying he plans to marry Lydia instead. Tell me that's not true."

Pressing her fingers to her temples, Chelsey answered calmly, "It's true."

"Are you kidding me?" Tessa shouted. "Has he completely lost his senses? He throws away someone as rare as you for a manipulative woman? Is he blind or just stupid? I warned you before. Brett always puts on a gentle front, but underneath it all, he's nothing but calculating and dishonest. He was never worthy of you, and you refused to listen!"

Without pausing, Tessa went on and on, her anger spilling freely with every word.

Quietly, Chelsey listened, and her eyes slowly filled with moisture.

If she had taken Tessa's advice seriously in her previous life, she would never have fallen so deeply into that deception.

At least this time, fate had shown mercy and given her another opportunity to make a different choice.

After Tessa's rant finally lost some of its heat, Chelsey said, "Tessa, you once mentioned your cousin..."

Caught off guard, Tessa asked, "Which cousin are you talking about?"

"The one whose family keeps pushing him to get married, but he's still single."

"So you mean him?" A sharp note of surprise entered Tessa's voice, followed quickly by excitement. "Why would you suddenly bring him up? Wait a second. Did you finally wake up?"

Without hesitation, Chelsey answered, "Yes. Is he still searching for someone to marry?"

"Obviously. Why wouldn't he be?" Barely able to contain herself, Tessa sounded like she was about to leap off the sofa. "I'm serious. My cousin is insanely attractive. He's around 1.9 meters tall, with broad shoulders, a lean waist, and long legs. He looks amazing in clothes, and honestly, even better without them. I won't sugarcoat it, though. His temper can be rough, and he tends to come off cold. You'll understand once you meet him. That said, his character is flawless. He's a hundred times better than Brett, who only knows how to look decent while being rotten inside."

Listening to the unfiltered praise, Chelsey felt a faint smile tug at her lips.

After a brief moment of thought, she asked, "Tessa, can you help me arrange a meeting with him?"

"That's easy. I'll handle it. I'll reach out to him immediately. But... are you sure?"

"Yes. I need to get married." A steady calm settled into Chelsey's voice.

Silence followed for a few seconds before Tessa spoke again, this time in a heavier tone. "Chelsey, is Brett canceling the wedding really affecting you that much? You're not doing this just to get back at him, right?"

"This isn't revenge. I'm thinking clearly," Chelsey replied. "I'll explain everything later. Right now, I just need you to set up the meeting as soon as you can."

"Alright. Wait for my message. I'll let you know the time and place once everything is arranged."

Tessa worked quickly and sent the details to Chelsey later that very night.