Rebirth: A Second chance at life-Chapter 35: Oops, Sorry, We’re Actually Frenemies

Aurora stepped out of the lab, her gaze instantly landing on the tense scene before her—Liam, gun raised, aiming straight at Bishop.

Her expression remained calm, almost indifferent, as her eyes flicked between Liam and Sebastian. Well, of course, they’d recognize Bishop. His was the only face among the Phantoms of Helheim known to many. But what truly intrigued her was the fact that the infamous leader of the Hellhounds also seemed to know him.

Interesting...

A smirk ghosted across her lips as a thought crossed her mind. Why wouldn’t they try to learn about someone from Helheim? After all, I never give them a chance to win, do I?

Mischief danced in her eyes, something dark and knowing lurking beneath the surface. But she quickly snapped out of her thoughts, straightening with an air of amusement.

"Now, now," she mused to herself, amusement flickering in her eyes. "I wouldn’t want my closest subordinate to die, would I?"

Aurora cleared her throat, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Her gaze flickered toward Liam’s raised gun before settling on Sebastian with a calm, unreadable expression.

"Well," she said smoothly, tilting her head slightly, "he is my assistant. Has he done something to upset Mr. Harper?"

Her tone was light, almost teasing, but there was an unmistakable undercurrent of authority beneath it. A challenge, a silent reminder that Bishop wasn’t just anyone—he was hers.

Sebastian’s gaze remained fixed on Aurora, his sharp eyes scrutinizing her every movement, as if searching for something beneath that composed exterior. Her expression, however, remained calm—unshaken, unreadable.

After a moment, he lifted his hand and gave a silent command, and Liam immediately lowered his gun, though his stance remained tense, his grip firm around the weapon.

"Well..." Sebastian’s voice was low, laced with something cold, though the sarcasm was unmistakable. "I didn’t know you were acquainted with someone from Helheim, Doctor." His words were slow, deliberate, carrying an edge meant to provoke.

Aurora, however, remained unfazed. She exhaled a small huff, as if the conversation bored her. "How I select my employees is hardly anyone’s concern," she said smoothly, tilting her head slightly. "Bishop helped me once, and since then, he’s been working for me. He provided a clear background before joining."

She held his gaze, unwavering, before a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "Besides, you know my line of work—it wouldn’t hurt to have someone like him around for protection, would it?" Her voice carried a casual amusement, but beneath the lighthearted words, there was an undeniable weight to her statement.

Yet, what she had just said wasn’t fully a lie. She wasn’t Luna right now—she was Aurora. And as Aurora, she had to tread carefully. Bishop was a powerful asset, and for now, he needed to remain by her side, shielded from scrutiny.

The body she inhabits now is still weak, fragile from years of neglect and the damage inflicted by the drugs forced upon her. She wasn’t yet at full strength, not yet capable of taking on those who had wronged her. Until she regained control—until she could shed the frailty of this body and restore herself to the formidable force she once was—Bishop would be her shield.

Also, what was she supposed to say?

That she was Luna, the leader of Helheim, the ghost that haunted the underworld’s nightmares? That she had lived a life of power, blood, and calculated destruction, only to wake up in this frail body, pretending to be the timid wife of Alexander Brown?

And then what? Apologize to Sebastian? "Oops, sorry, we’re actually frenemies."

Absurd.

Aurora resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the thought. No, that wasn’t how this game was played. Telling Sebastian the truth wasn’t just reckless—it was suicide. He wasn’t her enemy, not exactly, but they weren’t allies either. They were two rulers of their own empires, constantly crossing paths, always testing each other’s limits, never fully trusting the other.

For now, she had no choice but to remain Aurora—the weak, fragile girl everyone underestimated. Let them think she needed protection. Let them assume she was helpless. Because when the time came, when she had fully regained her strength, they wouldn’t know what hit them.

Sebastian continued to stare at her, his expression unreadable. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, a silent battle of wills. But Aurora merely smirked, her eyes gleaming with something dark, something knowing.

Sebastian studied Aurora carefully, his gaze lingering on the quiet confidence in her eyes—the silent challenge she didn’t bother to hide. There was no hesitation, no fear, only unwavering certainty.

Slowly, he exhaled, absorbing the truth of the situation. There was no real issue with Bishop being around. After all, they weren’t enemies. As long as Bishop didn’t try to play them, there was no reason for unnecessary hostility.

His eyes flickered back to Aurora. He wasn’t the type to trust easily, but something about the way she carried herself made him decide, in that moment, to let this one slide. She was right—Dr. Elena needed someone trained to protect her, someone skilled enough to handle any danger that might come her way.

But... did it really have to be an assassin?

The thought flickered through his mind as smoothly as it came, vanishing just as quickly.

"No issues at all, Doctor," Sebastian said, his voice calm but firm. His sharp gaze remained locked on hers. "I choose to trust you... and that includes everything related to you."

Luna’s heart skipped a beat.

A subtle warmth spread through her, and the tips of her ears turned red, betraying her reaction before she could suppress it.

Sebastian noticed.

His sharp eyes caught the slight change, and a knowing smirk tugged at his lips. He didn’t say anything, but the amusement in his expression was clear—he had seen it. And he found it very interesting.

Aurora snapped back to her senses and cleared her throat. "Thank you, Mr. Harper... for the trust," she said, keeping her voice steady.

But in her mind, she cursed herself. Get a grip, Luna! You can’t just fall for a few words from a handsome man.

No matter...

Her gaze flickered back to Sebastian, taking in his sharp features and the effortless confidence he carried. Damn... how is a man built this perfectly?

Luna had always had a soft spot for good-looking men—after all, even her squad members were handpicked, and not just for their skills.

"Well... the reports are ready," Aurora said, her voice steady but edged with gravity. "Whoever poisoned Jenny isn’t just skilled—they’re an expert in their craft."

She flipped through the file, her expression darkening. "After thoroughly analyzing Jenny’s system and reviewing the reports, it’s evident that while she may have ALD, it was never severe. However, someone has been meticulously administering controlled doses of drugs since she was just an infant, continuing the process over the years. Their intent was chillingly precise—to weaken her little by little, ensuring that when death finally came, it would appear as nothing more than a tragic, natural consequence."

Luna was stunned, and beneath the shock, a slow-burning fury ignited within her. As she read the report, her grip tightened, knuckles turning white. If she ever got her hands on the person responsible for Jenny’s suffering, she would make them experience the nine hells firsthand.

A sharp, unexplainable pain tugged at her heart as she imagined Jenny enduring years of silent agony. It made no sense—she had only met Jenny for the second time today. And yet, the feeling gnawed at her, persistent and unsettling. She had saved countless children from horrors far worse, but never before had she felt this kind of connection.

It was different.

The weight of the revelation settled heavily in the room.

Sebastian’s aura turned ice-cold in an instant.

A suffocating silence followed as the full extent of Aurora’s words sank in.

Jenny was his only sister. His responsibility. The one person who had depended on him since childhood. His mother, frail and comatose, could do nothing for her. His father had never been capable of caring for a child. The burden had always been his.

And yet, someone had dared to harm Jenny right under his nose.

This wasn’t just an attack on her—it was a direct, brutal strike against him.

His gaze darkened with something lethal. The temperature in the room seemed to drop as his fury simmered, cold and controlled.

Whoever had done this... will not not die an easy death and that was for sure.

Aurora watched him carefully, the storm brewing behind his eyes.

She knew this look well.

It was the gaze of a man who had just decided to burn an entire kingdom to the ground.

And honestly?

She would be right there beside him, setting the flames.