Living a Second Chance as the Richest Daughter

After finishing the orange juice, Anna set the glass down and took a deep breath, letting her gaze sweep across the space once more.

The kitchen was massive, outfitted with top-of-the-line appliances that gleamed under the warm lighting. At the back, a second, smaller kitchen stood, just as meticulously designed. Beyond that, a full-sized pantry housed neatly organized ingredients—and even a separate freezer room.

It was overwhelming.

And yet…

Even without memories of this place, her body moved with an unsettling familiarity.

Anna didn't need to think—she just knew where everything was. Her feet carried her down the hallway, past the dining area, stopping in front of a door.

The laundry room.

She hadn't been looking for it. She hadn't even realized she was heading in this direction. And yet, her feet had led her here, as if they had done so countless times before.

Shaking off the eerie sensation, she continued her exploration.

The penthouse occupied the entire top floor, giving it an unmatched sense of space and privacy. A sprawling veranda wrapped around the unit, offering breathtaking views of the city skyline.

And just beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass doors—an outdoor infinity pool.

Anna stepped closer, pressing a hand against the cool glass. The water shimmered under the golden afternoon sun, blending seamlessly with the sky.

This wasn't just wealth.

This was extravagance on another level.

Then came the master bedroom.

Anna hesitated at the doorway, momentarily stunned. The sheer size of it rivaled her old bedroom at the Tiu mansion. To the side, a walk-in closet stood with its doors slightly ajar, revealing rows of designer clothes, luxury handbags, and neatly arranged shoes.

The en-suite bathroom was just as extravagant, complete with a jacuzzi.

Anna exhaled slowly, trying to process it all.

This wasn't just a home.

It was a fortress—a sanctuary Shane had built, not just for comfort, but for protection. A carefully crafted world of her own, separate from the suffocating reality of the Tiu mansion.

Here, she wasn't under Patricia's shadow.

Here, she wasn't at the mercy of a father who barely acknowledged her.

Here, she had control.

Maybe this was how Shane had held on to what little power she had left as the Tiu heiress.

Yet, despite everything, Anna's body moved again—back toward the laundry room.

She didn't know why. It was as if something was pulling her there.

Slowly, she stepped inside, her fingers trailing over the washer and dryer. Then—she noticed something.

Something off.

The layout felt wrong—as if there was more to this room than met the eye.

Anna stepped back into the hallway, studying the wall beside it. Her heart pounded. There—hidden in plain sight—was a space.

A space with no visible door.

A hidden room.

But why?

And what was inside?

Anna stepped back into the laundry room, her gaze sweeping across the space with newfound scrutiny.

One washer. One dryer.

A cupboard stocked with detergent and other cleaning supplies.

A small rack for hanging clothes.

Everything seemed ordinary—exactly what you'd expect in a laundry room. And yet, something about it felt off.

Anna moved cautiously, tracing her fingers along the cool tiled walls, listening for any hollow sounds. She knew there was something here—something hidden.

But where?

She took a slow breath, her pulse quickening. If Shane had gone through the trouble of concealing a space in her own home, it had to be important.

Anna's fingers brushed against the handle of a cupboard, and she immediately noticed something odd.

It felt different—heavier than the others.

Her brows furrowed as she pulled it open. Inside, everything looked normal—laundry detergent, fabric softener, neatly stacked towels. But when she reached out and pressed against the back panel, her heart skipped a beat.

It shifted.

A hidden compartment.

Anna's breath caught in her throat. She pressed again, harder this time, and felt the panel give way slightly.

There was something behind it.

Anna's pulse pounded as she pushed against the panel again. This time, it didn't just shift—it clicked.

A barely audible sound, but enough to make her breath hitch.

Slowly, cautiously, she pressed harder. The entire back panel of the cupboard swung inward, revealing a hidden door.

Anna stared, her heart hammering against her ribs.

A secret room.

She reached for the handle, but when she twisted, it wouldn't budge. It was locked.

Anna exhaled sharply. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy.

But then—

The moment her palm rested against the surface, a soft beep echoed, and the door unlocked on its own.

Her eyes widened.

It recognized her.

Before she could even process that, the lock clicked open, and the door swung inward.

The air inside was cool, carrying a faint, sterile scent. Light from the laundry room spilled in, casting long shadows across the space.

Anna stepped inside.

The room was larger than she expected—designed not just as a hidden workspace but also as a personal retreat.

A sleek desk sat against the far wall, multiple computer monitors glowing faintly in standby mode. A series of filing cabinets lined one side, while shelves held stacks of notebooks, external hard drives, and neatly labeled boxes.

To her right, a plush couch with a neatly folded blanket sat near a small coffee table. A mini-fridge hummed quietly beside it, and in the corner, there was even a bookshelf stacked with novels, academic journals, and binders filled with notes.

This wasn't just a hidden office.

It was a sanctuary.

A place Shane had built for absolute privacy.

And whatever she had been doing in here…

She hadn't wanted anyone to find it.

Anna stood in the middle of the secret room, her heart pounding in her chest. The space was dimly lit, untouched by the extravagance of the rest of the penthouse. Unlike the carefully curated decor outside, this room was raw, lived-in—filled with remnants of a life Shane had kept hidden.

This wasn't just a hiding place.

This was a sanctuary. A last refuge.

Anna ran her fingers over the desk, her skin prickling. She had been desperate to learn more about Shane, but now, standing here, she felt an unfamiliar hesitation. Did she really want to know the truth?

She exhaled slowly, stepping back. Not now. The weight of her discovery sat heavy on her chest. She had stumbled upon something deeply personal—something that might hold answers she wasn't ready for.

Without another glance, she slipped out of the hidden room, carefully closing the entrance behind her. The laundry room looked normal again. Just an ordinary space with a washer, a dryer, and shelves filled with detergent. As if nothing had happened.

When she returned to the living room, Mr. Jing was already there, waiting for her. His face remained neutral, but there was something in his eyes—an awareness, as if he had anticipated this moment.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" he asked.

Anna hesitated, then nodded. "You knew about it, didn't you?"

"Yes," he said, his voice calm. "I helped you build it."

Anna's breath caught.

"You... helped me build it?" she echoed, barely above a whisper.

Mr. Jing didn't blink. "You wanted a place where no one could reach you. So, I made sure you had it."

A shiver ran down her spine. The way he said it—without emotion, without hesitation—sent a wave of unease through her.

Shane hadn't just wanted that room.

She needed it.

Anna clenched her hands at her sides. From what? From whom?

She met Mr. Jing's gaze, trying to keep her voice steady. "Why did I need it?"

A pause.

His eyes flickered with something—hesitation? Regret? But it was gone as quickly as it came.

Then, in a measured tone, he finally said, "Because you were never safe, Shane."

The words sent a chill through her bones.

Never safe.

From whom? Her father? Patricia? Someone else?

And if Shane had built this secret room to escape…

Then what exactly had she been running from?

"I understand that you want to regain your memories quickly, Shane," Mr. Jing said calmly. "But let's take it slow. I don't want you to overwhelm yourself when you finally have the time to rest."

His words only left Anna more confused. 

Anna frowned. Mr. Jing's words were meant to reassure her, but they only deepened her confusion.

Regain Shane—Anna's memories?

She studied him carefully, searching for answers in his calm, unreadable expression. He wasn't surprised by her questions. In fact, it was as if he had been expecting them.

Anna swallowed, choosing her words carefully. "What do you mean... regain my memories?"

Mr. Jing's gaze didn't waver. "You've been through a lot, Shane. Your mind has chosen to forget certain things for a reason."

A strange pressure settled in her chest. My mind chose to forget? That implied she had known something—something she had buried so deeply that even now, she couldn't access it.

Anna didn't know what terrified her more—the fact that Shane had lost memories of her own life or the unsettling certainty that Mr. Jing knew exactly what they were.

"I want to remember," Anna said, her voice steadier this time.

But deep down, uncertainty gnawed at her. Would regaining Shane's memories even help her? And if Shane did remember… what would happen to her? Would she disappear? Would she cease to exist entirely?

The thought sent a cold shiver down her spine.

Mr. Jing sighed, a flicker of something—concern? hesitation?—crossing his face. "And you will. But not all at once. You have the time to relax now, Shane. Use it."

The weight of his words settled over her like a thick fog, pressing against her chest.

Time to relax.

It should have been comforting, but instead, it felt ominous—like a warning disguised as reassurance.

Anna studied Mr. Jing carefully, searching for any crack in his expression, any sign of what he wasn't saying. But his face remained calm, composed. Too composed.

"My mind chose to forget," Anna murmured, repeating his earlier words. "That means I knew something before. Something I didn't want to remember."

The realization sent a chill through her. What could have been so terrible that Shane's own mind had locked it away?

Anna's fingers curled into fists at her sides as she tried to piece together the fragments of information she had. Shane had built a secret room, hidden behind the laundry area. Mr. Jing had helped her. And now, he was telling her to take her time—almost as if he didn't want her to remember too soon.

What did Shane know?

What had she been running from?

And why did Anna have the terrible feeling that remembering would change everything?

Mr. Jing didn't respond immediately. Instead, he exhaled slowly, his gaze steady but unreadable.

"Certain things are better left buried, Shane," he finally said. "For now, at least."

A strange pressure tightened in her chest.

Did she really want to dig into the past? What if she found something she wasn't prepared to face?

But at the same time…

"If I forgot something," Anna said, her voice firmer now, "it means it was important."

Mr. Jing sighed again, this time with the weight of someone carrying secrets far heavier than she could imagine.

"And when you're ready," he said softly, "you'll remember."

Anna wasn't sure if that was a promise. Or a threat.

Anna sat in silence for a moment after Mr. Jing spoke, her mind still trying to process everything. The secret room. The lost memories. The quiet but firm warning hidden in his words.

Mr. Jing, ever composed, met her gaze with the same unwavering patience he always carried. "I need you to promise me something, Shane," he said.

Anna straightened slightly, her fingers gripping the edge of the couch. "What is it?"

"Take everything slowly," he said, his voice calm but leaving no room for argument. "There's no need to rush remembering everything at once. Your body and mind have been through a lot. You need time to recover fully."

Anna frowned. "But what if I don't have time? What if—"

"You do," he cut in gently but firmly. "Rushing will only do more harm than good. Let things come back naturally. And if they don't, then maybe there's a reason for it."

A strange pressure settled in Anna's chest. A reason? Did he mean that Shane had intentionally blocked something out? That whatever she had forgotten, she had done so for self-preservation?

The idea unsettled her, but after a brief hesitation, she nodded. "Alright," she said. "I promise to take it slow."

Anna wasn't used to slowing down. In her own life, every second counted—if she didn't move fast enough, she'd be left behind, struggling to make ends meet. Survival had never allowed her the luxury of patience.

But this wasn't her life.

She was in Shane's body now, and Shane's body wasn't built for rushing. It carried fragility beneath its polished exterior, a weakness Anna couldn't ignore.

So, for the first time, she had no choice but to take things one step at a time.

Mr. Jing nodded in approval. "Good."

Silence stretched between them before he shifted the conversation. "There's another thing I need to inform you about."

Anna lifted a brow. "What is it?"

"Your studies," he said. "You weren't able to complete your last semester because of your hospitalization."

Hospitalization. The word carried more weight now, knowing it hadn't been just a routine medical issue that had put Shane there.

Had it been because of her cancer? Or was there something more?

How did Shane get sent to the hospital? 

Anna didn't know, but one thing was certain—she needed to find out. Though, she had to take it slowly.

"But," Mr. Jing continued, "your university is giving you a second chance. If you pass the special exams, they'll evaluate whether you can continue as a second-year student."

Anna blinked. "They're letting me make up for it?"

"Yes. They understand that your situation was… unique."

Unique. Another word that carried weight beyond its surface meaning.

Anna exhaled slowly, absorbing the information. She hadn't had the chance to pursue higher education, but Shane did. And now, the second chance being offered to Shane was also a chance for Anna—an opportunity to step into a world she had never been a part of, to experience what it was like to be a university student.

"And when do I take these exams?" she asked.

"In two weeks."

Two weeks.

Anna glanced at her hands, the delicate fingers that weren't truly hers, and flexed them absentmindedly. Not much time. Two weeks wasn't nearly enough to prepare, but it was all she had.

Could she really do this? Could she step into Shane's academic life as easily as she had stepped into her home?

But there was no point in hesitating. This was part of Shane's world—her world now. Whether she liked it or not, she had to face it.

"I'll do it," Anna said, more to herself than to Mr. Jing.

He observed her carefully, as if weighing her resolve. Then he gave a small nod. "Then I'll make sure you have everything you need to prepare."

Anna leaned back, her mind spinning. She had stepped into a life that wasn't hers, but with every passing moment, the lines blurred. It was becoming harder to tell where Shane ended and where she began.