Revenge is Best Served After Reborn (James)

"Hey, big brother! I'm scared!"

A tiny, anxious voice echoed in Sophie's mind, pulling her back to the present. She jerked her hand away from the swing set as if she'd been shocked.

It felt so familiar...

Sophie glanced around the courtyard, her eyes scanning the surroundings almost instinctively. It was her first visit to the back garden of Burke Estate. She had wandered here aimlessly, her thoughts a tangled mess. But why did the flowers and scenery feel so familiar?

Rick appeared in the garden and walked up to her. "Ms. Sophie, the master would like to see you."

"Rick, your backyard is stunning. Has it always looked like this, or has it been renovated over the years?"

"No, the master loves the backyard as it is, so it hasn't been changed at all." Rick stepped aside, gesturing for her to follow. "Ms. Sophie, please, this way."

"Alright," Sophie replied, though she couldn't help but steal a few more glances at the flower beds as she walked. It was as if she had been here before.

But her memory insisted she had never visited Burke Estate.

When she followed Rick into Gordon's bedroom, the strong scent of herbal medicine hit her, bringing her back to the present. Gordon was at his desk, flipping through some documents. He looked up and saw Sophie staring. "Ms. Sophie, why are you looking at me like that?" he asked.

"Mr. Gordon, have we met before?"

Gordon paused, his hand freezing mid-turn of a page.

"I mean, when I was little, did my dad ever bring me to Burke Estate?" Sophie continued.

Gordon's expression remained

unreadable as he put down the documents... "It's possible. The Aldridge and Russell families weren't particularly close, but my father had some friends in Devonport. It's not out of the question that Mr. Aldridge brought you here."

"I see..."

That explained a lot.

Sophie felt a bit relieved. "I felt a sense of déjà vu while wandering around the backyard. Maybe I did visit when I was little. The backyard is unique, so it probably left a strong impression."

"Courtyards in Devonport are quite similar, Ms. Sophie. You might be mistaken," Gordon said, changing the topic. "I've organized the documents for you. Take them, review them, and then return them to me." Sophie stepped forward and saw a stack of documents on the desk. They detailed some small merchants in Devonport, each worth only a few million-not particularly noteworthy at first glance.

"Mr. Gordon, what is this?"

"This is a list of people you might need in the future," Gordon

explained. "The business knowledge you got school is just theory. Starting an S Corporation is practical. So, what's the most important thing in business?"

"Is it capital? Planning?"

"It's connections," Gordon said, looking at Sophie. "James married

you for the Russell family's

connections. With the right connections, everything in

Devonport gets easier. Colby Jenna, Adler, Julian, and I-we are your connections."

"But these..."

"These people may seem insignificant, but don't underestimate them."