In the wake of her marriage to Bart Snow, Nicole Hill gave birth to three daughters. But as the girls were still young, the Snow Group teetered on the brink of collapse. To stave off disaster, Nicole stepped in to steady the ship, a mission that would consume most of her time in the following two decades. Throughout their formative years, the cunning maid, Hilda, manipulated the narrative, instilling in the daughters a belief that Nicole was a heartless mother. As Nicole anticipated her return to domestic bliss and retirement, Hilda hatched a plot to eliminate her and seize her place. When Bart and the daughters walked in on the attempted crime, Hilda's persuasive deceit turned the tide of suspicion against Nicole, making her the accused rather than the victim. Amidst her desolation, Nicole drew her last breath, her final moments marred by the sight of her daughters rallying around Hilda, who showed no respect for the deceased. In her final moments, Nicole vowed that if fate granted her another chance, she would exact a heavy toll from those who had wronged her.
Layla Nott has been infatuated with Seth Upton since she was a teenager and even willingly gives him her vast inheritance to help him build Upton Group, transforming the Upton family into one of the most prominent families in Yeldon. However, ever since she married into the Upton family, her health has deteriorated. One day, after a visit for medical treatment, she returns home to find Seth fooling around with her stepsister, Sharon Black. Septh's mother, Susan Upton, is at home and clearly condones the affair. After being humiliated by Sharon and Susan, Layla is left shaken by Seth's confession—he has only ever been interested in her wealth and has never loved her. He has even purchased a massive life insurance policy on her and is now waiting for her death to cash in on the payout. Heartbroken by the revelation, Layla feels her life is pathetic. Impatient for her demise, Seth takes her to the rooftop and pushes her off. As she plunges to her death, Layla swears that if she were given another chance, she would exact her revenge and make sure they pay for their betrayal.
In their previous lives, the empress and the consort spent their whole lives locked in a bitter rivalry. It wasn't until their deaths that they uncovered the truth—they had both been pawns in the emperor's game. Their children were used to turn them against each other, and their families had all perished at the emperor's hands. Reborn, the empress returns to the very day the emperor falsely accused her of causing the consort's miscarriage. This time, she does everything she can to protect her former enemy. But before she can offer an explanation, she discovers that the consort has been reborn as well. Once they confirm their shared secret, the two women turn from rivals to allies, determined to take down the unfaithful emperor together. In their previous lives, the emperor's power was still shaky at this point, and he relied heavily on the political influence of both women's families. This time, the empress uses his greed against him and brings him to his own downfall. At the story's close, the consort embraces a life of peace while the empress ascends the throne with grace. For once, the women of the imperial harem live peacefully, free of rivalry. Who says a woman can't wear the crown?