My Beloved Has Risen from Death's Embrace

"Cough, cough~"
Xanthea was unwrapping a piece of candy and popping it into her mouth when Samuel's words nearly made her choke. "Sam, what are you on
about? How could that even be possible?"
"Why not possible? Look at today's gathering—every debutante and starlet dressed to the nines, all trying to outshine each other; they were obviously
all here for him. But he didn’t so much as glance at any of them. Instead, he only had eyes for you, not to say he even ditched the important
Lockwood Group board meeting just for a word from you."
"That’s because I helped him win big at the stone betting table. With the MJ Group contract in the bag, Lockwood shares were his; no need to rush off
to that meeting.” Xanthea paused, then added, “And like you said, with all the stunning ladies around, why on earth would he be interested in me?”
"Because you’re the most stunning, Xan!"
Ethan and Samuel chimed in unison.
Xanthea rolled her eyes. "The world of brotherly love is truly mad."
Ethan laughed, "Xan, I’m not just being overprotective. You have no idea how captivating you looked today. If I weren’t your actual brother, I’d fall for
you myself."
Samuel, running his fingers through her hair proudly, added, "Yeah, Xan, you were so confident and radiant, a far cry from the girl who used to orbit
around Matthew. This is the charisma that our Nightshade family princess should embody!"

Listening to them, Xanthea briefly spaced out. In her past life, her love for Matthew was all-consuming, to the point where she had lost herself entirely.
"Even if I am great, Orion couldn’t possibly like me."
"Why are you so sure?"
Initially, when she saw Orion excavating her grave, kissing her corpse, and even going as far as to kill Matthew and Miranda; she wondered if his
actions stemmed from affection. But upon reflection, it seemed improbable.
First, they hadn’t spent enough time together for any affection to be that deep. Second, considering how openly he had pursued Miranda in his
previous life, he would have declared his feelings if he liked her. Thirdly, there was his reaction today when she asked him to take off his shirt.
"Sam, can I ask you, Mr. Experienced, something?"

Samuel clicked his tongue, “Xan, what’s with that title? My escapades were all just for networking.”
“If a girl you liked asked you to undress, what would you do?”
Samuel smirked, "Is that even a question?"
Forget it!
Remembering Orion's almost stormy expression when she brought it up today, Xanthea felt certain. He couldn't possibly like her. As for why he kept
helping her and even killed Matthew and Miranda, there must be other reasons.
"Let’s drop it, will you? I can tell whether someone likes me or not,, right?"
"Better if he doesn’t," Ethan interjected. "Rumor has it that the Lockwood Group’s family feuds were fierce. Orion, being the eldest grandson, was
deeply involved. Although now a famed business prodigy, he had trouble altering his formed traits of paranoia, gloom, and cruelty. Being liked by

someone with such flaws is a misfortune in itself."
Xanthea disagreed; everyone, no matter their past, deserved a chance at happiness. Besides, she couldn’t see how someone who blushed at mere
close contact with a girl could be all that bad.
On her coming-of-age day, her uncle had a special iris mutation flown in from Seraphia. It had been in the soil for three days, and as soon as she got
home, Xanthea dashed to the backyard eager to check for sprouts. Instead, she stumbled upon a sickening scene.
Behind the lush ivy trellis, Miranda and Matthew were locked in an embrace; their silhouettes nearly merged as if they were kissing.
Xanthea froze, with her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles whitened, and her eyes darkened with anger.
For a moment, she was transported back to the night before her death when she, bubbling with excitement, had gone to tell Matthew she had chosen
her wedding dress, ready to marry him. Instead, she had found him entangled with her stepsister on the rooftop!
Back then, it felt like a bolt from the blue; now, it was just revolting to realize that they had been together all along, and had treated her like a fool for
years.
Xanthea wanted to storm over and tear their faces off, but reason held her back.
"Ah~"
Miranda 'tripped' over a small stone and fell straight into Matthew's arms; she clutched his waist and said,

"Matt, sorry about that. Didn’t sleep well last night and been feeling dizzy all day. Thanks for catching me."
The pretty girl nestled in his arms, gazing up at him with vulnerable eyes, while his hand rested on her exposed waist; the ambiguous atmosphere
drew them closer.
Matthew, feeling emboldened, squeezed her waist. Despite his long relationship with Xanthea, she had always kept him at arm's length, citing family
traditions, promising herself to him only after marriage.
But it was too much for him to face her stunning beauty daily; in order to maintain his gentlemanly image, he had restrained himself. Miranda, less
striking but more accommodating, was a different story altogether.