Reborn? Screw the Fake Lover—I'm Snagging My Arch-Rival! - Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Ryder's gaze was like a sharp blade cutting straight into Stella's eyes.
Only one desk lamp was on in the study, casting harsh golden edges around his silhouette.
Stella raised an eyebrow, fingertips lightly tapping the coffee cup rim: "What it means?"
"It means from today on," Ryder said each word deliberately, "in everyone's eyes, the Whitmores and Blackthornes will be completely tied together." He narrowed his eyes. "If you're just trying to piss off Chase, this is totally unnecessary."
The coffee cup hit the desk with a sharp clink.
Stella was about to laugh from sheer frustration.
She was offering her most valuable mining assets and Ryder was still questioning her motives?
This moment of silence made Ryder misunderstand something.
He straightened up, eyes instantly going cold: "I don't need your charity."
"Charity?" Stella stood up, slapping a document against his chest. "Mr. Blackthorne, aren't you underestimating yourself a bit?"
Ryder caught the sliding document and opened to the first page, immediately freezing.
These were transfer agreements for Whitmore's three African diamond mines, already stamped with Stella's personal seal.
"This isn't charity," Stella turned toward the door, heels clicking sharply on marble. "It's trust."
Her hand reached the doorknob before she suddenly turned back, mimicking Ryder's tone from the hospital room earlier: "You wouldn't let me lose, right?"
Ryder stared at her for two seconds, then chuckled: "Of course not."
After the door closed, the study returned to silence. Ryder sat in his chair for a long time without moving.
He flipped through the document carefully—every page signed with Stella's name, even the notary stamps were ready.
This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. She'd planned this all along.
His phone suddenly buzzed with a message from Nathan: [Mr. Blackthorne, the four families have teamed up with three banks. They'll file to freeze our liquid assets tomorrow.]
Ryder's eyes fell on the valuation number on the document's last page—enough to cover all of Blackthorne's current funding gaps.
He moved to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the glittering city below as memories flooded back—
A year ago when he left Chicago, Stella was still chasing after Chase.
And now...
Too weird.
Ryder dialed a number: "Re-investigate everything about Stella these past six months, especially between her and Chase... no, focus on whether she's had any contact with people from Switzerland."
After hanging up, his fingers unconsciously traced the document's edge.
Logic told him this was probably a trap, but when he remembered Stella saying "trust" with those bright eyes...
"Damn it." He cursed under his breath, loosening his tie.
The next morning, the financial world exploded.
Just as the four families and banks prepared to freeze Blackthorne assets, a Swiss consortium suddenly announced a $5 billion investment in Blackthorne.
Even more shocking—the funds came through Whitmore Industries' channels.
The news broke and Chase went ballistic in his boardroom: "Find out what the hell Stella and Ryder are plotting!"
Meanwhile, Stella was casually lounging in the Blackthorne Industries CEO office, reading morning financial headlines.
"Satisfied?" Ryder walked in followed by assistants carrying files.
Stella waved her phone: "Mr. Blackthorne's got skills—turned the four families' siege into a joke in one day."
The assistants tactfully retreated.
Ryder approached her, suddenly leaning down with his hands braced on either side of her chair, trapping her.
"Why?" He stared into her eyes. "Those mines were your mother's wedding gift to you."
Stella caught his faint cologne mixed with coffee bitterness from an all-nighter.
She tilted her head slightly, red lips almost brushing his chin: "Because I believe you'll turn them into even more wedding gifts."
Ryder's pupils contracted slightly.
Just then, the office door burst open.
"Ryder! What's your game?!" Chase stormed in furiously, then froze seeing their intimate position.
Stella clearly felt Ryder's muscles tense.
She smiled and pushed him away, smoothing her skirt: "Mr. Ravenwood, barging in without knocking is bad manners."
Chase's face was iron: "Stella, you think he actually cares about you? Don't you know Ryder's using you? He doesn't love you at all!"
Ryder straightened up leisurely, adjusting his cuffs: "Mr. Ravenwood came to my company first thing in the morning just to spout this garbage?"
"Think winning this round ends it?" Chase sneered. "The real show's just getting started."
After he slammed out, the office returned to quiet. Stella noticed Ryder's gaze lingering on her face.
"What?" She raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me Mr. Blackthorne got swayed by Chase too?"
Ryder suddenly reached out, thumb brushing her lip corner: "Stella," his voice was low and dangerous, "you better not let me find out you're playing some angle."
His fingertip was slightly rough, the friction bringing tiny stings.
Stella grabbed his wrist, meeting his eyes directly: "Ryder, the worst thing about gambling is backing out halfway." She lightly bit his fingertip. "And I never have regrets."
That night, instead of returning to the villa, Ryder went to a private apartment, carrying a freshly delivered investigation report.
The files showed Stella had cut almost all contact with Chase these past six months, instead repeatedly sending people to track Ryder's movements in Switzerland.
Strangest of all, three months ago she'd suddenly sold every gift Chase ever gave her, putting all proceeds into an anonymous fund project.
Ryder stood by the window thinking. He felt like he was missing some crucial clue.
Suddenly, his phone lit up with a message from Stella: [There's an auction tomorrow. Come with me?]
Ryder stared at the message, lips unconsciously curving up. But quickly, he regained his composure as he replied with "Yeah," then fed the investigation report into the shredder.
Whatever Stella's agenda, he'd figure it out. But until then...
The glass reflected his slightly upturned mouth.