(Yvette’s POV)
The car stopped in front of the gates just past midnight.
I stared out the window as they slowly opened, revealing a quiet estate tucked away from the city’s noise. The manor before was elegant but modest compared to the Hamilton main house—two stories, warm lights glowing softly behind tall windows, a small garden trimd neatly along the path.
It was... enough.
For one person, it was more than enough.
"Ms. Hamilton, we’ve arrived," the driver said respectfully.
"Thank you," I replied as I stepped out.
The night air was cool, carrying the faint scent of damp grass. As the car pulled away, the silence wrapped around fully.
No footsteps behind .
No familiar presence at my side.
Just .
I took a deep breath and walked inside.
The interior was clean and tastefully furnished, clearly prepared in advance. The living room was spacious but not overwhelming, the furniture arranged neatly, as though waiting for soone to claim it as their own.
I placed my suitcase down and looked around slowly.
In my previous life, I had lived in luxury greater than this—grand halls, countless servants, endless rooms that echoed with emptiness.
This place felt different.
Smaller... warr.
Lonelier.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and walked toward the kitchen.
The lights flicked on with a soft hum. The counters were pristine, the appliances new. Everything was ready for use, yet untouched.
I tied my hair back instinctively.
I should eat sothing.
I opened the fridge and found it stocked thoughtfully—fresh vegetables, eggs, milk, even baking ingredients.
A faint smile tugged at my lips.
"Brent is thorough as always," I murmured.
I decided on sothing simple.
As I moved around the kitchen, chopping vegetables and heating the pan, a strange calm settled over . The familiar motions soothed my nerves, grounding in the present.
When the food was done, I carried the plate to the dining table.
Only one place setting.
I sat down slowly.
In my past life, als had been quiet affairs too—large tables, opposite seats occupied by soone who barely looked up from his phone.
This ti, the emptiness felt different.
It hurt... but it didn’t suffocate .
I ate slowly, savoring each bite.
When I finished, I cleaned up imdiately, refusing to let the silence grow heavy. I walked upstairs and entered the bedroom prepared for .
The room was simple.
Neutral colors. A large bed. A window overlooking the garden.
I placed my suitcase down and sat on the edge of the bed.
Only then did the weight of the day truly sink in.
My phone buzzed softly beside .
A ssage notification.
I didn’t need to open it to know who it was from.
Joseph.
My fingers hovered over the screen.
For a mont, my heart wavered.
If I read it...
I clenched my hand and turned the phone face down.
"Not tonight," I whispered.
I walked to the window and pulled the curtains aside.
The garden lights illuminated the path below, casting gentle shadows across the grass. The night was peaceful—too peaceful.
"I did the right thing," I told myself.
Even if my chest ached.
Even if I missed him.
I lay down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
No footsteps approaching.
No voice calling my na.
No presence beside .
Just silence.
But for the first ti since my rebirth, that silence did not feel like abandonnt.
It felt like a beginning.
I closed my eyes.
Tomorrow, I would start over.
My day began before sunrise.
I stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a tailored cream suit, my hair neatly tied back. The woman staring back at looked composed—calm, even.
But beneath that calm was a storm of nerves.
This is not the Hamilton manor, I reminded myself.
This is my battlefield.
The car ride to the headquarters passed in silence. As the towering glass building ca into view, my heart began to pound harder.
Hamilton Hotels Incorporated.
In my past life, I had entered this building countless tis—but always as Joseph’s wife, always a step behind him.
Today was different.
Today, I was here as its owner.
The elevator doors opened to the executive floor, and Brent was already waiting for .
"You’re early," he said with a small smile.
"I didn’t sleep much," I replied honestly.
"That’s expected," he said gently. "But you’ll do fine. Just rember—this board is not here to intimidate you. They’re here to test you."
I nodded.
"Let’s get this over with."
The boardroom doors opened.
Conversations halted instantly.
All eyes turned toward .
The long table was already filled—directors in sharp suits, seasoned executives, faces that had shaped this company long before I was born.
Brent stepped forward first.
"Ladies and gentlen," he said clearly, "thank you for assembling on such short notice."
The room quieted.
"As you are all aware," he continued, "Mr. Hamilton’s will has been legally validated. Today, I formally introduce to you the acting Chairwoman and majority shareholder of Hamilton Hotels Incorporated—Ms. Yvette Hamilton."
A wave of murmurs swept through the room.
I stepped forward.
Every gaze weighed on —curious, skeptical, calculating.
I bowed slightly.
"Good morning," I said calmly. "Thank you for taking the ti to et with ."
Silence followed.
Then a man seated near the head of the table cleared his throat.
"With all due respect," he said, "Ms. Hamilton, many of us are concerned about your age and experience."
I expected this.
"I understand your concerns," I replied without hesitation. "I do not claim to be the most experienced person in this room. That is why I am here to listen, learn, and work with you."
So faces softened. Others remained guarded.
"I will not make reckless decisions," I continued. "Nor will I disrupt existing operations without cause. What I ask in return is ti—and transparency."
Brent watched closely.
The tension eased slightly.
The eting proceeded swiftly after that—financial briefings, operational updates, future projections. I listened intently, asking questions when necessary, noting nas and positions carefully.
By the ti the eting adjourned, my head was pounding.
But there was no ti to rest.
Next ca introductions.
Brent escorted through the executive floors, from departnt heads to senior managers. Handshakes blurred together, nas piled upon nas.
"This is Ms. Hamilton."
"Our new chairwoman."
"The owner."
Each title felt unreal.
I smiled until my cheeks hurt.
By midday, I had visited three floors, attended two internal etings, and reviewed docunts thicker than textbooks.
"This is only the first half of the day," Brent said as we stepped into the elevator.
I let out a quiet laugh.
"I see why my father rarely ca ho early."
Brent chuckled. "He admired your stamina. I see why."
The final stop was the hospitality training floor.
As we walked past staff mbers practicing service protocols, I noticed how different this felt compared to the boardroom.
This was where the heart of the business lived.
A young employee recognized and froze.
"Y-Young madam!" she exclaid.
I smiled gently. "Please, just call Yvette."
Her eyes shone with surprise—and relief.
Sothing warm stirred in my chest.
By the ti the day finally ended, exhaustion weighed heavily on my shoulders.
As I returned to my office, Brent handed a tablet.
"You handled today well," he said. "Better than many would."
"Thank you," I replied sincerely.
As I sat down, my phone buzzed again.
A ssage notification.
Joseph.
I stared at the screen for a mont... then locked it.
"One step at a ti," I whispered.
Outside the glass windows, the city stretched endlessly.
And for the first ti—
I was standing at the center of it.
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