Chapter 301: Chapter 301: Alternatives

The realization left a bitter taste in the air.

’How shameless,’ Lana thought, her chest tightening with quiet anger.

She took a slow breath, steadying herself, and recalled how Yuna and Loco had once risen rapidly alongside Monica.

Their schemes and momentum had been undeniable.

’I’ll never give them the chance to rise again.’

Later on they became a indirect reason for Monica’s demise.

Her eyes narrowed as plans began forming in her mind.

Her thoughts drifted toward investments.

Recently, she had noticed that Garrison had already made moves toward several projects she had once been interested in.

Under normal circumstances, that might have been troubling.

But Lana remained calm.

’I already have alternatives.’

For every investment Garrison pursued, she had prepared a parallel option.

Quietly, methodically, she had redirected her funds elsewhere.

Every bit of money she earned from talisman crafting flowed directly into these assets, properties poised to soar in value.

With Monica’s backing, Lana gained access to more connections than ever before.

Land acquisitions that once seemed impossible were now well within reach.

She focused especially on the Hedge City, betting heavily on its future growth.

A small smile curved her lips.

’This time, everything is different.’

Because of her investments, development plans shifted dramatically.

Progress accelerated, far surpassing what she remembered from her previous life.

Honestly, she felt thrilled.

Not just for herself, but for Head City.

Meanwhile, in Head City, Hunter sat quietly, reviewing stacks of reports from the past few months.

Each document carried the same name.

Lana.

To say he was unaffected would have been a lie.

“She didn’t even negotiate,” he muttered, tapping the table lightly. “Who invests like this?”

He had never expected a complete stranger to pour in such an enormous amount of money without hesitation, without haggling, without hesitation.

It was the behavior of a seasoned, confident investor.

Taking a deep breath, Hunter made a decision.

’I’ll give her more authority.’

On the other side of the city, Garrison sat in the Almond family estate, fuming.

His expression was dark as he reviewed the investments he had carefully laid out.

’These should have brought massive returns,’ he thought grimly.

Yet time and again, Lana had positioned herself in alternative projects, cutting him off from expected dominance.

Yes… he had been watching her closely.

Every move.

And that, more than anything else, unsettled him.

Garrison suddenly remembered the vision he had once seen.

He knew, without a doubt, that what he had witnessed was a glimpse of his past life.

The knowledge he was using now, the market trends, the opportunities, the timing, had all been carried over from that life.

’Then why…’ he wondered bitterly, ’why does Lana always see further than I do?’

If both of them possessed memories of the same vision, why did Lana’s plans always unfold more smoothly? Why did her choices consistently outperform his?

His fingers curled into a tight fist.

’I was the prodigy,’ he reminded himself. ’The genius of finance.’

Yet now, he couldn’t even compete with a girl who had the same opportunities as he did.

Taking a deep breath, Garrison narrowed his eyes.

’There must be something else,’ he thought. ’In my previous life, there was an invisible force behind her.’

The more he thought about it, the more certain he became.

Someone, or something, had helped Lana take revenge back then.

“That girl…” he muttered under his breath, hatred flickering in his eyes, “she’s truly detestable.”

At that moment, the door to his office opened.

Cassandra walked in.

She paused when she saw Garrison seated stiffly in his chair, his expression dark and tense.

“What’s wrong?” she asked gently. “Why do you look so troubled?”

Garrison massaged his temples, the faint scent of polished wood filling the room.

Then an idea surfaced. Slowly, he lifted his gaze toward her.

“Can you do something for me?”

Cassandra smiled without hesitation.

“As long as you want it, I’m willing to do anything for you.”

Garrison’s lips curved into a small smile.

“I recently discovered a very promising investment opportunity,” he said.

“But I’m short on funds. It’s the kind of project that guarantees high returns once capital is injected.”

He paused deliberately.

“I don’t want to involve outsiders. It requires trust.”

He didn’t need to say more.

Cassandra hesitated, then asked carefully, “Do you want me to find an investor for you?”

Garrison shook his head.

“That’s not what I mean.”

He leaned back slightly.

“I’m telling you this because I trust you. I know you would mention it to Lana.”

Cassandra frowned at the sudden mention of Lana.

“Why bring her up now?” she asked, her voice soft but edged with protectiveness.

Garrison chuckled lightly.

“Even though our relationship is severed, I still worry about her,” he admitted.

“She was once our sister. There’s a responsibility I can’t let go of. Even if I step away, I still want to watch over her.”

Cassandra’s eyes shimmered, genuinely moved.

“If that’s the case,” she said slowly, “I will tell Lana.”

She paused, then added, “If I have some private funds, and you need them, I can invest.”

Her expression was gentle, sincere.

Yet inside her mind, a different thought surfaced.

’If he’s asking Lana to invest,’ she reasoned, ’then the returns must be incredible.’

Just then, a strange voice echoed within her consciousness.

“He’s using you,” the voice sneered. “He’s laying a trap for Lana, and you’re nothing but a pawn.”

Cassandra frowned sharply.

“Be quiet,” she whispered inwardly.

But the voice persisted.

“You know it’s a trap, yet you’re still offering your money. Are you foolish, or do you simply have too much to spare?”

Pain flickered across Cassandra’s face as she clenched her jaw.

Garrison shook his head.

“The amount is quite large,” he continued calmly.

“And I recently learned that my little sister has taken on some kind of side work. She’s earning money faster than you. Lana would be a better choice.”

He paused, then added softly, “Do you need money?”

Cassandra shook her head, swallowing her pride.

“I don’t take money from men.”

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