A Life Reclaimed

Kate's pulse pounded as she stared at the television screen, the news anchor's voice droning on about her supposed death. The words struck her like blows: "Tragically passed away," "accidental drowning," "leaves behind a legacy."

Her legacy.

But the screen showed no truth, only lies carefully spun. She hadn't "tragically" drowned. She'd been murdered—pushed to her death by Peter, the man she once trusted more than anyone. The man she'd loved. Rage simmered beneath her skin, her fingers curling into fists beneath the table.

And yet, here she sat, alive—but not as Kate Gilmore.

"Kate Gilmore was so young," Megan, Anna's mom said, her voice tinged with genuine sadness. "She accomplished so much. I can't believe she's gone."

The father, whose name Kate didn't know, folded his newspaper, his brow furrowed. "A tragic reminder of how fleeting life can be. Makes you wonder how someone so powerful can be taken so suddenly."

Kate forced herself to nod along with their sentiments, her mind racing. They had no idea who she really was or how close they sat to the person they mourned.

Pat, the younger boy, looked unaffected. "She was loaded. Imagine inheriting all that cash. Bet her husband's swimming in it now."

Kate clenched her jaw.

Oh, he will be… unless I stop him.

"Pat," Megan scolded, her tone sharp. "Have some respect."

"What? I'm just saying," Pat mumbled, shoving another forkful of eggs into his mouth.

Kate pushed her plate away, her appetite evaporated. The cheerful family atmosphere around her felt suffocating now, every laugh, every shared glance, a reminder of what she'd never had and what had just been stolen from her.

As soon as breakfast ended, Kate excused herself, feigning a headache to retreat to Anna's room. Once inside, she locked the door and sank onto the bed, her hands trembling.

Her reflection in the cracked mirror stared back at her—a stranger's face, impossibly young, yet carrying the same fire Kate had always possessed.

"Anna," she whispered, testing the name. It felt foreign on her tongue.

Her mind spun with questions. What had happened to Anna? Was she alive somewhere in Kate's body, or was she… gone? And why had she been given this second chance?

You wished for it, a voice inside her said.

She remembered the moment as clearly as the betrayal that preceded it—her body sinking into the cold, dark pool, her last breath escaping as a desperate plea. "Give me a second chance."

And now, here she was.

---

Kate spent the rest of the morning piecing together Anna's life. She rummaged through the drawers, flipped through notebooks, and studied every photograph on the walls.

Anna was twenty-three, fresh out of college, and struggling to land her first job. Her family seemed loving, though Kate noted subtle tensions—unspoken pressures to succeed, whispered arguments overheard through thin walls. Anna's world was a stark contrast to the cutthroat empire Kate had built.

But there was one commonality that stood out to Kate as she scrolled through Anna's emails on her laptop. Among the rejection letters and job listings, one message caught her eye: a congratulatory note.

"Congratulations, Anna Forbes! You have been shortlisted for an exclusive internship with Gilmore Enterprises. Please attend an interview at our main office this Friday at 10 a.m."

Kate's breath hitched. Her company!

---

By the time Friday arrived, Kate felt as ready as she could be. She'd practiced speaking like Anna, adopting a softer tone and shy mannerisms to match what she'd gleaned from the photos and belongings. But inside, she was still Kate Gilmore—a woman who had fought her way to the top and refused to let anyone take her down.

The Gilmore Empire headquarters loomed above her as she approached, a gleaming tower of glass and steel that bore her name in bold, golden letters. Seeing it brought a pang of both pride and anger.

"This was mine," she murmured under her breath.

Inside, the air buzzed with efficiency, employees bustling between floors, the scent of freshly brewed coffee lingering in the corridors. Kate's sharp eyes caught every detail—the flaws in security, the gaps in protocol. Her years as CEO had trained her to spot inefficiencies, and nothing had changed in her absence.

As she waited for her interview, she couldn't help overhearing snippets of conversation from the staff.

"Did you hear? Mr. Gilmore's taking over soon."

"He's already started liquidating some assets."

"Yeah, but did you see him at the press conference? So smug, like he's already forgotten about her."

Kate's nails dug into her palms. Liquidating assets? Peter was dismantling everything she'd built.

"Anna Forbes?" a receptionist called, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Kate stood, smoothing her skirt. "That's me."

The interview room was sterile and bright, a panel of three executives seated across from her. Kate recognized all of them immediately—former colleagues who had worked under her for years. They showed no signs of grief, only detached professionalism as they reviewed Anna's résumé.

"Why do you want to work at Gilmore Empire?" one of them asked.

Kate hesitated, her mind racing. She couldn't answer as Kate Gilmore. She had to channel Anna.

"Gilmore Empire has always been my dream company," she said, her voice steady. "I admire how it's not just about profit but about innovation and giving back to the community. I want to be part of something that makes a difference."

The words were true, even if the context wasn't.

One of the executives, a stern woman named Elaine, leaned forward. "You have potential, Anna, but this is a competitive field. What sets you apart?"

Kate met Elaine's gaze, her confidence shining through despite her youthful guise. "I don't give up. Even when the odds are against me, I always find a way to succeed. That's what I bring to the table—a determination to win."

Elaine raised an eyebrow, impressed. "We'll be in touch."

As Kate walked out of the building, her heart raced—not with fear, but with exhilaration. She had taken the first step back into her world.

She wasn't sure how she would do it yet, but one thing was certain: Peter and Lisa had no idea what's coming for them and they most certainly wouldn't get away with what they'd done.

She glanced up at the golden letters spelling her name across the skyscraper and smirked.

"Round two," she whispered.