Revenge: Honey, That's Not A Trap

The new female architectural designer was beautiful but seemed somewhat naive.

While preparing for the showroom, she ignored safety norms, entering the construction site in a tight skirt and high heels.

In her pursuit of aesthetics, she proposed using lightweight hydrogen balloons instead of environmentally friendly materials.

As a result, the hydrogen balloons exploded, causing the hall collapse and numerous casualties.

I tried to assist the trapped individuals but sustained severe injuries, abruptly ending my career.

After the accident, she and other colleagues deflected blame onto me.

In an innocent tone, she said, "I'm just a young girl who doesn't know what's happening. How can I compare with Lucia? I'm sure she'll handle this properly."

This fiasco not only tarnished my reputation but also inflicted immense mental stress on my family due to online harassment.

Even worse, to shut me up, she incited the victims' families to drive a car and kill me.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day of the exhibition.

1

A loud boom erupted unexpectedly, leaving me no time to react.

I searched for a safe exit from my memories, only to find Esther frantically blocking the door with random objects and damaging the emergency button with her high heels.

"Esther, what are you doing?" I demanded.

"Lucia, I was so stupid. I forgot to check the safety facilities. Please don't tell anyone. We can claim they were sabotaged," she pleaded.

My anger surged.

No wonder Esther was able to remain unharmed in her previous life.

She intentionally blocked the safe passage and destroyed the emergency buttons to create a false narrative before fleeing alone.

I glanced at my watch. Less than ten minutes were remaining before the building would collapse.

Time was urgent and I didn't have time to argue with Esther. I quickly told everyone to escape.

"Are you trying to get me killed? If anyone finds out, I'll go to jail." Esther protested, still attempting to block the exit.

But my shouts caught the crowd's attention.

She shot me a furious glare and fled.

Standing at the entrance of the safe passage, I urged, "Please don't crowd or block the doorway."

As I watched the exhibition hall empty, I noticed an elderly with gray hair moving against the flow toward the fire.

I shouted, "Come out quickly. There's no time."

Only a minute remained before the collapse.

Taking a deep breath, I rushed into the flames.

Inside, I found a boy trapped under a fallen shelf. We worked together to move the shelf away.

Then I carried him on my back while helping the elderly escape.

I silently counted down, "Nineteen, eighteen, seventeen..."

At the last moment before the building collapsed, I pushed them to safety, but I was buried by the falling debris.

2

Just in time, the survivor at the door pulled me out.

Although my back was injured, I managed to save my hands.

The scene was chaotic, filled with cries and sirens.

After handing the little boy to the police, I confronted Esther, my anger boiling over as I slapped her face.

"Lucia, what are you doing?"

Several colleagues surrounding Esther immediately became anxious.

I said, "You used substandard materials for the exhibition hall, neglected to install required emergency facilities, blocked the safety exit, and destroyed the emergency button after the incident..."

With each accusation, my anger intensified. I yanked Esther again, slapping her multiple times.

"Do you realize how many lives you almost jeopardized?"

I recalled countless lives lost and families shattered in my previous lives.

Yet Esther showed no remorse, "I didn't mean it. I just wanted to save money and make the showroom look nice."

"Come on, Lucia, Esther is inexperienced. It's normal for her to make some small mistakes. It didn't have serious consequences this time, right?"

I asked, "The losses from this accident total millions. Are you all willing to cover her costs?"

My words left her defenders momentarily speechless.

Esther cried even harder.

This exhibition project was initially mine, but my supervisor, Hector, swayed by Esther's pleas, insisted I hand it over for "training new people."

I thought there were not many female colleagues in the construction industry, and we should unite and help each other, so I complied.

However, Esther's performance was disappointing. She wore high heels on-site, moving around the construction site like a social butterfly.

She was afraid of getting tanned, so she took a few beautiful selfies and sent them to the workgroup as a work report, not caring about subordinates' quality.

When I raised concerns, she often cried to deflect criticism.

Colleagues started to distance themselves, thinking I was jealous of her youth and beauty.

I had previously avoided conflict with Esther, but after this life-or-death experience, I realized that no detail can be overlooked in construction.

I couldn't let her continue this recklessness. "I will inform the police of everything I know and demand accountability for those who failed in their duties."

3

"Lucia, stop messing around!"

Hector came over from not far away.

He gently patted Esther's shoulder for comfort before turning to me with a strained smile.

"We're all from the same company, and you were initially in charge of this project. If they investigate, can you stay out of it? Plus, with insurance underwriting involved, don't complicate things for Esther."

He was like this every time.

Esther always reaped the benefits while everyone else bore the consequences.

She had taken my plans, stolen my designs, and nearly caused a disaster, yet they still sided with her.

"I don't intend to avoid responsibility. But it's not my fault. Don't expect me to take the blame."

I was determined not to be a scapegoat again.

I could save everyone in the exhibition hall and protect my parents and myself.

Esther said, "How can you say that, Lucia? I know my limitations, but I have no bad intentions."

I replied coldly, "Save your tears for the courtroom to see if they might reduce your sentence. Also, you haven't been officially promoted yet. I will report your behavior to headquarters."

In my previous life, Esther's slander destroyed my career and broke my family.

This time, I was ready to strike first and reclaim what I had lost.

Esther wept dramatically, pretending to faint in Hector's arms.

"Lucia, you've gone too far."

"Esther is still young. Can't you give her some slack?"

Several colleagues gathered, blaming me.

That was ridiculous.

We had worked together for years, pulling all-nighters, inspecting sites under the sun, and sharing celebratory meals.

I also helped them a lot with many things.

Yet, all these years of friendship meant less than an intern's petty words.

I chose not to argue and turned to leave.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my back. Touching it, I realized my back was badly injured while trying to save someone.

I had been too tense to notice before, but now, the pain overwhelmed me.

I could barely stand and intended to see a doctor.

As I approached the ambulance, Hector forcefully pushed me aside while cradling Esther.

He said hastily, "Doctor, please check her out first. She's weak and just fainted from shock."

4

The doctor quickly performed a basic examination, saying, "She's fine. Find her a shady spot to rest. Please don't interfere with our work."

Although there were no major injuries, the accident still left several people hurt.

Medical resources were scarce and couldn't be wasted on Esther, who was feigning unconsciousness.

I felt dizzy from the impact and struggled to stand.

Fortunately, someone supported me from behind.

"You're badly injured. Lie down quickly!"

My clothes clung to my bloody wounds as I endured the pain and watched the doctor clean them.

Luckily, the wounds were superficial.

After bandaging, the doctor advised me to go home and rest.

After some thought, I chose to stay and help with follow-up matters.

This exhibition hall was our company's responsibility, and with my memories from my previous life, I could assist with the rescue and prevent further accidents.

It was busy from morning until late at night.

I couldn't hold on any longer and went back to rest.

Half-asleep, a sharp phone ring jolted me awake.

I fumbled for the phone, feeling dizzy, as if my wound was inflamed and I had a fever.

"Come to the company for an emergency meeting."

Given the seriousness of the situation, the company needed a solution.

Despite feeling unwell, I reluctantly went to the office.

As we met, Hector slammed a stack of papers at my face.

He blamed me, "Lucia, do you realize your comments yesterday led Esther to a depressive episode? She nearly committed suicide last night. You almost caused a death."

"Esther jeopardized hundreds of lives. She must face the consequences for what she did." I stood firm, undeterred.

He said, "Fine, I'll call the general manager to talk to you."

The colleagues standing by all looked like they were enjoying the show.

But I felt a sense of relief.

I had known Aaron for over a decade and was close to him.

I gave up the study abroad opportunity to him, which contributed to his success today.

I believed he loved the construction industry, had a sense of justice, and would handle the situation fairly.

However, my hopes were soon dashed.

5

Aaron put two contracts in front of me.

Aaron placed two contracts before me, saying, "Lucia, after years of working together, I don't want to embarrass you. Esther made a mistake, but that's in the past. If you apologize to her and acknowledge that this incident was a misunderstanding, the assistant supervisor position will be yours."

"What if I refuse?" I asked.

Aaron's expression turned ironic. "Then get out of here!"

As our company was the best in the industry, he could end my career easily.

Seeing my silence, Aaron continued angrily, "As an employee, you shouldn't let personal feelings interfere with your work or create difficulties for your colleagues. I understand you may feel jealous of Esther, but this can't affect the company's reputation. Apologize or leave, it's your choice."

He slammed the table.

At that moment, Hector burst in with a few colleagues.

"Mr. Henry, the collapse of the exhibition hall was not Esther's fault. She targeted Esther because Esther discovered she intentionally sabotaged the emergency facilities."

"What?" I was shocked by this sudden accusation.

"Esther said Lucia created the accident to frame her out of spite for taking over the project. She even assaulted Esther, and we have video evidence."

Hector sneered, "This could be considered intentional injury. If it weren't for Esther's kindness, you would have been in jail long ago."

In an instant, my former colleagues turned against me.

Just as they had in my previous life, pressuring me to admit to false charges and endure it quietly.

But this time, I wouldn't be at their mercy.

I said firmly, "In that case, I'll see you in court. I'm confident the law will deliver a fair judgment, and I don't mind making this public."

Having faced life and death before, I had nothing to fear.

I called the police in front of everyone and reached out to some reporters I knew, asking them to come and interview me.

6

The phone rang briefly before it was snatched away.

Aaron smashed my phone in front of me.

"Lucia, you don't know what's good for you. Don't blame us for forgetting our past friendship."

"I'm not wrong." I stubbornly stood my ground.

Since Esther joined the company, I endured relentless workplace bullying, like verbal insults, work traps, and isolation from coworkers.

I suffered through it all until my life was nearly ruined.

This time, I would fight for my dignity.

Aaron was furious and slapped me hard across the face.

Already feverish, I felt dizzy and stumbled into a cabinet, reopening a wound that bled profusely.

I collapsed helplessly.

Aaron said, "Pretending to be dead, eh? Let's see how long you can keep quiet. I have ways to suppress this matter, and I'll show you today."

The senior I once respected had become a monster.

He removed his watch, ordered colleagues to hold me down, kicked me, and called for further punishment.

I noticed his phone wallpaper featured an intimate photo of him and Esther.

"Lucia, just wait. I must ruin you."

I struggled to rise, but pain overwhelmed me, and I fell again, my vision fading.

Suddenly, a loud voice cut through the chaos.

"Who dares to touch my people?"

A group in black wearing sunglasses rushed in and quickly took control of the scene.