I was the daughter of the city’s wealthiest family. But I had a secret: once a month, I’d transform into a Ragdoll cat. My dad, terrified this secret would get out, handpicked five fiancés for me. They had all grown up alongside me, a gesture of shared history. Each of them was a high-flyer, but their eyes held nothing but ambition and greed. Only Liam Hayes was different. When I, as a cat, was lost outside, he would always pick me up and bring me home, caring for me. On a day that was supposed to be special for us, I had planned to gift him a vintage piano worth millions and set our engagement date. But I transformed into a cat again. On the couch, Liam held me close, promising Chloe Miller, our housekeeper’s granddaughter: “Marrying Skylar is just a stepping stone. Once the Sutton empire is mine, the only one standing by my side will be you, Chloe. As for her… a payout will keep her quiet.” “Chloe, you’re the one for me.” The engagement party was just around the corner, and Dad asked me who I’d finally choose. The greedy glint in those men’s eyes flashed through my mind… I said, “When choosing a husband, I definitely need the one who’s the least trouble… and the most handsome. Let’s go with Julian Thorne from the Thorne family.” Dad’s teacup shattered on the floor. “Skylar! Julian Thorne was in a car accident three years ago… he’s been in a vegetative state ever since. Are you sure?” “Why?” Dad was incredulous. “Wasn’t Liam a good kid? The others are all the cream of the crop, and you…” “You know about… my situation. What would happen to the Suttons if word got out? What would I become?” Dad’s face instantly turned grave. “But Julian Thorne… he’s been like that for three years. My child, you’d be tied to a man who’s essentially gone, so young! How can I be at peace with that!” The Thorne family’s eldest son, once one of the most eligible bachelors in the city, had been in a car accident three years ago, leaving him in a medically confirmed vegetative state. Dad had picked those five back then, fearing I’d be alone someday, hoping at least one of them would genuinely care for me. But he couldn’t guard against the treacherous nature of people’s hearts. I leaned softly on Dad’s shoulder. “Dad, having you is enough. I’m fine on my own.” At least Julian wouldn’t harm me, nor would he have ulterior motives because I could turn into a cat. Dad sighed, finally giving up his objections. After Dad left, my heart felt icy. Who would’ve thought Liam, who seemed pure as driven snow, was actually calculating furiously with Chloe Miller behind my back! If he knew I could turn into a cat, he’d probably see me as a monster, or even… eagerly pack me off to some secret research lab, right? Just the thought sent a shiver down my spine. I had just returned from the company when four figures blocked me at the villa entrance. Everyone was there, except Liam. Dylan Reed, the investment banker, was the first to lose his patience, speaking with a languid drawl: “Skylar, darling, we’ve supported you for ages. How come there’s still no word on that five-million-dollar investment Mr. Sutton promised? You’re not playing dirty, are you?” Next to him, Dr. Alex Gray, still in his scrubs, hands in his pockets, chimed in: “Skylar Sutton, are you going to get me that Chief Resident title or not? Spit it out! My time is far more valuable than yours. A single wasted minute could mean a life lost, and you think you can afford that?” Ben Stone, the lawyer, adjusted his glasses. “No one understands the Suttons’ intentions better than I do. Are you trying to burn bridges now? Either sign a ten-year contract with our firm, or I can’t guarantee what the Sutton name will become.” Even Lucas Blackwood, who always prided himself on his artistic integrity, spoke up, full of indignant betrayal: “What about us? Forget us! What about Liam? He’s too pure for this world; he wouldn’t have gotten involved in this mess if your family hadn’t forced him! You have to compensate us!” In their mouths, I was an ungrateful, unforgivable liar. But which one of them wasn’t where they were today because of the Suttons? From their tuition for prestigious overseas education to their connections for high-paying jobs back home, the Suttons had paved the way for everything. And now they were turning around and accusing me? I pointed at the main door. “Done talking? If you’re so wronged, you shouldn’t have come in the first place. This is perfect, now get out! Isn’t it better for everyone to be free?” Their faces instantly twisted into ugly grimaces. I tugged at the corner of my lips, finding it somewhat amusing. “What? You’re free and not happy? Is it because you won’t have the chance to rightfully covet the Sutton fortune anymore?” “Stop pretending, you pillars of society. When you were falling over yourselves to get your foot in the Sutton door, why didn’t you show so much pride?” Dylan and the others flushed, their faces turning pale, but they stubbornly tried to argue. Alex forced out a defense. “Wh-what’s with the nasty talk! We… we’re from ordinary families, how could we dare challenge a family as wealthy as the Suttons? It was your dad who insisted on choosing us…” Ben echoed, “Exactly! What right did we have to refuse? Beggars can’t be choosers!” Their shamelessness almost made me laugh in exasperation. Before I could even process their ridiculous accusations, Liam and Chloe appeared. The moment Chloe saw me, she clutched Liam’s sleeve like a startled little bunny. Liam instinctively pulled her behind him, and the four others immediately surrounded them, as if I was about to tear Chloe apart. This scene was so familiar. Five years ago, when Chloe first came to the Suttons with her grandmother, she shyly handed me a small, carved wooden charm on a red string, saying it was a protective amulet from her village. I saw her genuine sincerity and was touched. Thinking little girls loved pretty things, I immediately gifted her a diamond bracelet in return as a welcome present. Who knew that just two days later, Liam would angrily confront me, holding that wooden charm. “Chloe said she’s had this since birth, that her mother had practically begged for it on her knees for days! And you’re trying to take it from her too?!” I was stunned, looking at Chloe, hoping she’d speak up for me. Instead, she sank to her knees, tears welling up instantly. “Liam, don’t blame Skylar! It was… it was my fault for insisting on giving it to her! Skylar is very good to me, she even gave me such a beautiful bracelet… *sob*… I’m not upset, really…” She cried and bowed her head, her forehead quickly growing red. This display of utter helplessness and false martyrdom instantly ignited the fury of those self-proclaimed knights in shining armor. “Skylar Sutton, just because you’re a Sutton, you think you can push people around like this?” “Someone gives you a heartfelt gift, and you throw money in their face?” “Don’t be scared, Chloe! We’re here, she won’t dare touch you!” From then on, whenever Chloe shed a single tear in front of me, no matter what I had or hadn’t done, Liam and the others would immediately decide it was my fault. Chloe, meanwhile, never once explained. Later, when I turned into a cat, I personally saw her casually toss that wooden charm into the trash, not caring about it at all. In front of those men, she’d lavish me, a cute little cat, with affection, but secretly, she’d pull my fur, even pinch my tail until I cried out in pain and fled. One time, I couldn’t stand it anymore and suggested to Dad that we send Chloe to school, to learn a skill. My mom passed away early, and Mrs. Miller had been with our family for nearly twenty years, taking devoted care of Dad and me. Because of Mrs. Miller, I had always shown Chloe a lot of patience. Sending her to school was truly for her own good. But Chloe immediately burst into tears and ran out. Those men instantly came running again, without bothering to understand the situation, accusing me: “Skylar Sutton! Chloe never got much schooling growing up, aren’t you just rubbing salt in her wounds?!” “She’s already so insecure and sensitive, can’t you just be nicer to her? Do you have to provoke her like this?” “How can you be so malicious! Can’t stand to see anyone do well, can you?!” They became even more convinced she was pathetically vulnerable and innocent. And I, through and through, was nothing but a spoiled, manipulative, and utterly irredeemable villain. My thoughts snapped back to the present. Looking at the faces of these five men, I felt a wave of nausea. “Take your pathetic little saint and get out!” Accusations once again rained down on me, overwhelming. “Skylar Sutton! How dare you speak like that! You’ve gone too far!” “Chloe came to see you out of kindness, don’t you know what’s good for you!” Chloe’s tears started to well up again. She peeked half her head out from behind Liam, pulling out a few crumpled bills and offering them to me. “Skylar, please don’t be angry… this is my allowance I’ve saved for ages, it’s not much… please don’t blame Liam and the others…” Again? I swatted her hand away, scattering the bills across the floor. “Cut the sickening act!” *SLAP!* Liam’s palm slammed against my cheek. My face instantly swelled, burning with stinging pain. “Skylar Sutton! Are you done with your tantrum?! Chloe was just trying to be kind! How dare you humiliate her like that?!” Liam’s tone was laced with condescending arrogance. “Skylar Sutton, if you still want to marry me, you *must* respect Chloe!” “And Dylan and the others, you need to compensate them properly!” He ticked off my supposed misdeeds on his fingers, one by one: “Dylan’s boss is constantly chewing him out these days; can’t the Suttons pull some strings for him?” “Alex can’t get promoted and is constantly bossed around by his supervisor; are you blind?” “Who even understands art these days? Lucas’s gallery is barely staying afloat. Is it so hard to buy a few paintings to help him out?” He paused, his voice turning threatening. “My orchestra has an overseas tour coming up in a few days. If you keep acting like this, don’t blame me if I don’t come back!” Dylan and the others looked profoundly touched.
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