Author: Momo Chan

I was the true heiress, despised by my entire family. My teachers and classmates loathed me, my childhood sweetheart was repulsed by my looks, and only the transfer student, Chloe, treated me like a friend. When I was falsely accused of stealing, she was the only one who believed me. When my childhood sweetheart called me a two-hundred-pound pig, she supported me as I tried to lose weight. When my parents kicked me out, she took me in. I thought she was my lifelong best friend, until the day Chloe pushed me from the eighteenth floor. Before falling, I heard her disgust: “You fat pig, do you think anyone would help you if it wasn’t to drain your last ounce of luck?! Just die already! I’ll gladly take over everything you have!” My eyes widened in shock. No wonder everyone who loved me had turned against me. Filled with burning resentment, I found myself back on the day Chloe transferred to our class. But this time, I could hear her inner voice. [System, is this the Child of Fortune?] A mechanical voice chimed in: [Yes, Host. As long as you can make those around her despise her, you can plunder a portion of her luck. Eventually, her beauty, grades, childhood sweetheart, and family fortune will all be yours!] Hearing this, I looked up, meeting Chloe’s predatory gaze. …… Seeing me look at her, Chloe flashed a sweet smile. I lowered my head, expressionless, hatred churning within me. So she was bound to a Luck Plundering System! The more people hated me, the more luck she gained! No wonder I felt my body growing weaker and weaker in my past life! I steadied my emotions, knowing that after PE class, she would frame me for stealing! Sure enough, upon returning from PE, Chloe shrieked, “My grandmother’s heirloom is gone!” Everyone panicked immediately. “No way, check again! Could it have fallen somewhere?” “Holy crap! Who the hell stole my money?!” Instantly, the classroom descended into anger and panic. Chloe cried out, red-eyed, “Whoever took the bracelet my grandmother left me, please give it back! I can pay you!” She was sobbing hysterically, and classmates comforted her sympathetically. The class president said grimly, “Let’s check the security cameras!” I sneered inwardly; the cameras were already jammed by the system. As expected, the class president returned empty-handed. Chloe suddenly looked at me, tears streaming down her face. “Emma, you came back to the classroom halfway through. Did you see who took our things?” Instantly, all eyes turned to me. The class president hesitated before saying, “Emma, I want to trust you, but… can we check your desk?” Liam shielded me, frowning at her. “Emma wouldn’t do something like that!” Chloe looked at Liam, weeping sorrowfully. Liam wavered. “Emma, I believe you, but maybe you should just…” Rolling my eyes, I zipped open my backpack. Inside were the missing items. The class erupted. Chloe looked at me, heartbroken. “Emma, do you hate me? Why else would you do this? How did I offend you?” She sobbed uncontrollably while the others comforted her, shooting me looks of disgust. “Your family is rich, and you still steal! How disgusting!” “She looks so innocent, but she’s a thief behind our backs!” “Chloe, you’re too kind! Stealing is wrong, no matter what! It’s a character flaw! Total moral bankruptcy!” As the classmates glared at me, Chloe, eyes red, asked understandingly, “Emma, is there a misunderstanding?” The others grew even angrier. “She was caught red-handed! What misunderstanding?! You’re just too soft-hearted!” They started grabbing at me. “We have to tell the teacher! She needs to be punished!” Then I heard the voice of Chloe’s system: [Disgust value +10, +5, +8…] Followed by Chloe’s excited voice: [Soon, I’ll take her beauty and figure! Make her a fat pig! I won’t even have to do anything, people will be disgusted just looking at her!] But before her dream could come true, I pulled out my phone, looking hurt, and played a video. “I didn’t do it.” I looked a little embarrassed. “I went to the bathroom during PE and saw someone sneaking around in the classroom, so I recorded it. I didn’t think they were stealing.” Chloe’s face stiffened. She scrambled to watch the video, and the others gathered around. The video clearly showed someone sneaking around and taking things. The face was blurry, but the figure clearly wasn’t mine. The classmates erupted in anger. “What an idiot! What was she thinking? Why can’t we see her face?” “Did Emma and Chloe offend someone? I’m telling the teacher!” “Wait, doesn’t that figure look familiar?” Someone eyed the class suspiciously. I looked at Chloe. “I never came back to the classroom. Why did you say you saw me?” Chloe panicked, stammering, “I-I must have seen wrong.” [Disgust value reset to zero.] Hearing this, Chloe glared at me with vicious resentment. She refused to give up. [System, she got lucky this time! Tomorrow is the placement exam. Isn’t Emma top of her grade? I’ll frame her for cheating! Once her teachers, classmates, and parents are disappointed in her, I’ll snatch her grades and Liam’s love!] That’s exactly what happened in my past life. It destroyed the trust of my teachers and parents. My classmates despised me, my grades plummeted, and I became the laughingstock of the school. Liam even called me a despicable pig and joined in mocking me. But this time, I wouldn’t let her win! The next day, I breezed through the exam and handed in my paper early. But just as the exam ended, Chloe shot up from her seat. The homeroom teacher looked at her, confused. “Chloe, what is it?” Chloe cast a conflicted look my way before announcing loudly, “Mr. Smith, Emma cheated!” The entire class froze. We were the honors class; a single point could mean a drop of several ranks, and our allowance depended on it. Anyone caught cheating would be metaphorically torn to shreds. Liam was still protective of me at this point. He frowned at Chloe. “Why are you always causing trouble for Emma?!” Chloe looked at him tearfully. “I was a victim last time too! I just think it’s unfair to everyone else!” Mr. Smith frowned. “What proof do you have? Emma is always number one. Why would she cheat?” She pointed at me. “The proof is in her pocket. I saw her put a cheat sheet in there, and…” She seemed to muster her courage. “And… maybe her past top scores were cheated too?” Instantly, all eyes were on me. The teacher gave me a searching look, asking me to prove my innocence. But when I reached into my pocket, my face paled—there was actually something in there! Seeing my hesitation, the others grew suspicious. Chloe, unable to hold back, rushed over and pulled the item from my pocket. It was a cheat sheet! Everyone’s expressions twisted. “Emma actually cheated? Was she cheating all along?” “And we thought she was so smart! My parents always compared me to her! I thought she had real talent! She’s just a cheater? Disgusting!” “We never got first place because of her! She needs to be severely punished!” Chloe looked at me apologetically. “Emma, I’m doing this for your own good…” Inwardly, she was rejoicing as the system announced the rising disgust values! I sneered. Trying to steal my luck wouldn’t be that easy this time! I unfolded the paper and showed it to everyone. It was covered in random doodles. The class fell silent. I glared at her coldly. “This is a cheat sheet?” Chloe’s face changed. “Impossible!” “Impossible?” I scoffed. “Let me ask you, where exactly did I cheat? When did you see me cheating?” Chloe’s face darkened, and the class grew impatient. “What’s with the drama? Do you think we have all day?” “Always crying and playing the victim. Who’s even bullying her?” “Speaking of which, didn’t the person in the video yesterday look a lot like Chloe?” Chloe panicked, biting her lip hard. Her eyes darted around, but she remained stubborn. “It wasn’t me! I really saw it! I don’t know what’s going on!” I laughed coldly and pulled an identical piece of paper from her pocket. This time, it was a real cheat sheet. I had anticipated her move and slipped the real cheat sheet into her pocket. “It seems the real cheater is someone else.” Chloe’s face drained of color. “It’s not me! I didn’t do it!” I looked at her coldly. “The evidence is right here. What else do you have to say? How did I offend you? Why are you doing this?” Chloe was speechless. Finally, she saw the balcony and ran toward it, crying that she was going to jump. The whole incident ended inconclusively. She failed to steal my luck and instead became isolated by the class. Ignoring Chloe’s resentful glares, I continued studying. But I heard her inner voice: [System, does that bitch Emma know something? I definitely put that cheat sheet in her pocket!] The mechanical voice replied: [No anomalies detected.] [Useless!] Chloe closed her eyes. [Looks like I’ll have to bleed a little!] Hearing this, I frowned slightly, but before I could process it, Chloe appeared in front of me. Her eyes were red, her shoulders trembling. “Emma, I’m sorry, I saw wrong!” I watched her warily, unsure of her game. When I ignored her, she grabbed me. “Emma, can you forgive me? I really didn’t mean it!” Her voice grew louder, drawing the attention of the class. Then, she dropped to her knees. My face changed, and I tried to pull her up, but the moment I reached out, she slammed her head hard against the desk. Blood immediately gushed from her forehead. Chloe shrieked, begging desperately, “Emma! I was wrong, please stop hitting me! I didn’t mean it!” Her voice was weak and broken. The other students rushed over. The class president paled, holding Chloe and shouting, “Get her to the nurse!” A few students frantically carried Chloe away. The class president turned on me, furious. “Are you crazy?! Why would you do that? Even if she misunderstood you, you can’t just attack her like that! Are you trying to kill her?!” “She was on her knees begging you, what more do you want? Do you think she’s an easy target because she’s soft-spoken? This is school, not your house!” “Emma, I misjudged you! If something happens to Chloe, how will you live with yourself?!” I could feel their disgust. Panic set in, and I tried to explain, “No! She hit her own head!” But they just stared at me coldly. Suddenly, I felt a strong pull on my arm. Liam yanked me away so forcefully I almost fell. He looked grim. “Emma, you need to apologize to Chloe!” I felt it was absurd, but he continued, “I’m doing this for your own good. You can’t just hit people! When did you become so violent?!” Although I had long stopped liking him, their lack of trust still terrified me. I was completely caught off guard this time! Seeing me frozen, Liam tried to drag me to the nurse’s office. I struggled fiercely and slapped him hard across the face. “Get away from me!” Liam held his cheek, staring at me in disbelief. Through gritted teeth, he said, “Fine! You’ll regret this!” I returned to the classroom, deeply unsettled. The class president had already fetched the homeroom teacher, who wanted an explanation but clearly didn’t believe me either. “You’ve disappointed me so much. You must apologize to Chloe! Or I’ll have to call your parents!” I knew the teacher was already being lenient, but I felt so wronged that I stubbornly refused. Just as the teacher was about to lose her temper, Liam walked in, supporting Chloe. With her forehead bandaged and looking weak, Chloe pleaded, “Mr. Smith, I believe Emma didn’t mean it. I don’t need her apology.” Her innocent smile made the teacher and students despise me even more. Mr. Smith looked at me with disappointment. “Emma, reflect on your actions! I’ll be reporting this to the school administration!” A classmate added indignantly, “Chloe, you’re too kind! If it were me, I’d make sure she was punished!” Liam looked at me with disappointment. “Emma, what happened to you?” Everyone blamed me, while the true culprit, Chloe, looked at me with understanding—but I knew she was mocking me! [System, an idiot like Emma is no match for me. Transfer her grades to me first!] As soon as she finished, my mind grew foggy. The knowledge in my head was vanishing! And Chloe’s smile grew wider! After that, my classmates isolated me. Teachers called on me, but I couldn’t answer even the simplest questions, while Chloe answered them flawlessly using multiple methods. By the end of the day, all my teachers had criticized me and praised Chloe. My classmates gave me weird looks; they started suspecting my past grades were fake! Seeing my panic, Chloe felt triumphant. [System, I didn’t know the top student knew so much! I was going to take it slow, but now I’m going all in. I’ll make the whole world hate her, and I’ll absorb all her luck! Then, everything she has will be mine!] [I need to borrow some points this time. Once I finish her off, I’ll pay you back double!] Hearing this, memories of my past life—being hated and revled by everyone—flooded back. I stumbled home, just wanting to hide. But I still went to school the next day. I wouldn’t let her win! As soon as I entered the classroom, everyone looked at me strangely. Uneasy, I tried to talk to the class president, but she shrieked and jumped away. “What’s wrong?” I asked nervously. Suddenly, inappropriate sounds filled the room. The smartboard played a video of me in bed with several thugs, my eyes glazed over. My face went pale. Before I could speak, Liam grabbed me angrily. “Emma! Wasn’t what you did enough? Do you have to humiliate me in front of the whole class?! How could you be this kind of woman?! You’re disgusting!” “I don’t know what you’re talking about! The video is fake! I can prove it!” I denied frantically. Liam looked at me with even more disgust. “Still pretending? I had it analyzed the moment it went viral online. It’s real! Why did you become like this?!” My face was white as a sheet, my body trembling. How could this be? My classmates looked at me with revulsion, like I was filth. “Disgusting. She acts so proper, but she’ll take anything in private!” “Maybe she wasn’t falsely accused the previous times. What wouldn’t someone like her do?” “She even hit someone! If Mr. Smith wasn’t so soft, she would’ve been suspended!” Students from other classes sneaked photos of me with their phones. I tried to turn off the video, but Chloe stopped me. “Emma, why don’t you respect yourself? Do you know what they’re saying online? They’re calling you a streetwalker, saying you only charge twenty bucks… I can’t even say it!” Other classmates chimed in, “Chloe! Why are you still defending her?! She’s just cheap! She hit you last time!” I pushed her away, shouting, “I didn’t!” “Why won’t you admit it?” Chloe looked at me with disappointment, but inwardly she was ecstatic. Just a little more, and all my luck would be hers. I felt physically ill, swollen and confused. Then, my parents and Mr. Smith arrived, accompanied by a group of reporters. Seeing them, Chloe stepped forward like an angel. “Mr. and Mrs. Miller, Emma didn’t mean it, you have to talk to her calmly! And make sure to wear gloves. I heard people who play around like that carry viruses~” Chloe noted my parents’ murderous glares and felt incredibly smug. [Once Emma’s parents completely lose hope in her, her luck will be practically gone! Hahaha!] My parents stormed in, raising their hands—but the slap landed squarely on Chloe’s face. My father’s voice was full of disgust and rage. “You bitch! The one messing around outside is someone else!” Chloe’s smile froze. Panicked, she touched her cheek, looking at my parents tearfully. “Mr. and Mrs. Miller, what are you doing? Did you hit the wrong person?” My mother’s glare was deadly. “Hit the wrong person? Don’t you deserve to be hit?!” Chloe frantically called the system. [System! What does she mean?! Why do I deserve to be hit? Do they know something?] The mechanical voice replied: [Host, you must find the problem yourself.] [You’re useless! What good are you?! Forget it! I have a bad feeling about this. Use all my disgust points to buy the love of Emma’s parents!] My heart clenched, and I instinctively gripped my parents’ hands tightly. My understanding of the system was superficial—what if history repeated itself? Sensing my fear, my mother turned to me with a loving gaze. “Don’t worry. We will clear your name and teach those ingrates a lesson!” Chloe grew even more terrified, urging the system. [Hurry! Hurry!] My heart was in my throat, but the system just buzzed. [No disgust points detected from the Child of Fortune’s parents. Cannot complete transaction… bzzzt—] Chloe raged internally, but I sighed in relief. The system wasn’t omnipotent! The other students were completely confused. “The evidence is irrefutable. What else is there to say?” “I bet Emma is using her family’s money to buy fake evidence!” Mr. Smith was also confused. The principal had sent her to expel me, given the massive online uproar. As an honors student, Mr. Smith actually believed me and had secretly gotten the video analyzed. It could have been an AI deepfake, but the results showed the video was completely authentic. No tampering detected! So, hearing my parents say they had evidence, she was skeptical. My parents held up a flash drive. “We do have evidence. It proves that the girl messing around with those thugs wasn’t my daughter! It was—her!” My father pointed at Chloe. The whole room gasped. Chloe cursed inwardly but maintained her innocent facade. “Mr. and Mrs. Miller, I know you want to find a scapegoat for Emma, but I’m innocent!” The internet exploded. “The evidence is clear! They’re not keeping a low profile, they’re actually looking for a scapegoat?!” “This family is disgusting! I heard they own a company. If their company survives this, I’ll eat shit doing a handstand!” “That poor classmate. She was just defending her! They’re bullying her because she’s an easy target!” Liam shielded Chloe, glaring at me. “Mr. and Mrs. Miller, why are you framing Chloe? She was just defending Emma! Even if you want to help Emma, you can’t just slander someone else!” Chloe cried pitifully, cursing inwardly. I knew she had already stolen some of my luck; I couldn’t think straight anymore. My parents looked at Liam with disappointment. “You’re Emma’s fiancé, and you don’t believe her? Good thing you aren’t together yet! Once this is over, our families’ engagement is off!” Liam looked as if he’d been struck by lightning. Pain and conflict flashed in his eyes. He stepped forward, but Chloe tugged at him, and his expression hardened again. Anxious, I knew we couldn’t delay. “Mom, Dad, play the video!” My parents nodded. Chloe’s face turned pale. She didn’t know what video we had, but she definitely couldn’t let it play. She tried to stop them, but how could she overpower my parents? She shrieked, “Liam! They’re going to frame me!” Liam hesitated, glancing at me before stepping forward, only to be slapped by my father. The fake video was deleted, and the video from the flash drive was played. Everyone was stunned. The class president’s mouth hung open. “What… what’s going on?” The reporters my father brought dutifully started recording. The video showed the same thugs, but the girl with them wasn’t me. It was Chloe. Pale-faced, Chloe screamed and rushed to block the screen. “That’s not me! It’s not me! They’re framing me!” My father scoffed. “Not you? Yesterday, Emma warned me, so I had people follow you and record your every move. I didn’t expect you to do something like this! And somehow, you pinned it on my daughter!” Chloe screamed, “Impossible! Your video is an AI deepfake!” She glared at me venomously, frantically calling the system. [What’s happening?! How did that bitch Emma know?!] I felt the changes in my body slowing down. The others were probably starting to doubt her. Liam watched in shock. “What’s going on? How can there be two identical videos with different people?!” “I had Emma’s video tested; it was real!” My father snorted. “You can test our video too!” Liam looked at me, pale. I coldly averted my gaze. The online discussion was also intense. “What’s going on? Is this a ghost story? Am I dreaming?” “Just another PR stunt. I bet the family is just in denial.” “No, this video is real too.” “Exactly, I asked a tech expert. Both videos are authentic!” A sudden silence fell over the room. Mr. Smith sighed in relief and asked the question on everyone’s mind: “What exactly is going on? Either both videos are fake, or only one is real!” Of course, she hoped both were fake! Trembling, Chloe glared at me. “Her family is rich! They bribed someone to fake it!” The others pondered this. Just then, several men walked in. Seeing them, Chloe looked as if she’d been struck by lightning. My parents let them in. “Tell them what really happened that day!” It was the thugs from the video. They looked a bit dazed themselves. Chloe was terrified. [Damn it! System! Are you working with them to set me up? Didn’t you make them kill themselves after we finished? How could you screw this up?] The system’s cold, mechanical voice replied: [Host, I followed your instructions. You assumed it was foolproof and didn’t witness their deaths. I told you before, the system isn’t omnipotent. Everything must be based on existing reality. To frame Emma and make it undetectable, you had to pay the price. Pushing them to suicide was already a violation of protocol. If you cannot plunder Emma’s luck and repay your borrowed points twofold… you will pay with your soul!] The system’s emotionless voice sounded like a reaper coming for her soul! Terrified, she screamed inwardly, [No, no, no! I still have a chance!] When the thugs saw Chloe, their eyes cleared a bit. “It’s her! She came to us that day, offered us money for some ‘excitement’! Said the more guys, the better! We wanted the cash, so we went to the Bingtian Motel with her and filmed it… but…” His expression turned fearful. “But… after it was over, my buddies and I couldn’t think of anything except killing ourselves. That’s all we could think about. If someone hadn’t grabbed us on the way, we’d be dead!” “She’s a demon! She’s not human!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391161”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

In the seventh year of my father’s infidelity, my mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Her first reaction was to drop to her knees and beg the doctor not to tell my father. The doctor, a close family friend, cried out of sheer frustration. “Elena, what kind of saint are you pretending to be?” “Do you honestly think this will make that cheating bastard drop to his knees in regret and see the error of his ways?” “Using your own death to punish someone else, how pathetic can you get?” But my mother just smiled, her gaze landing softly on me. “What use do I have for his regret?” “I’m doing this to secure a future for my Chloe.” 1. By the time my mother and I walked out of the hospital, my father had already left. He had only left her one text message: [My time is valuable. You were five minutes late, so I left.] My mother gripped her phone, looking a bit dazed. It made me think of the past. I have hemophilia, so I’ve been in and out of hospitals since I can remember. My father used to always drop everything at work to wait patiently for us. My mother would tease him, “Aren’t you annoyed waiting?” He would take me from her arms and kiss her cheek. “Never. Every second I wait for you two is a moment of happiness.” Squished between them, feeling their warmth, I was happy too. My mother’s trembling fingers swiped the message away. Instead, she texted her friend, Dr. Sarah: [Did you send the forged clean bill of health to Mia?] After receiving a confirmation, she took my hand and we walked home. My mother used to walk so lightly that I often had to run to keep up. But now, she had to lean on me just to keep moving. As soon as we got home, she rushed to the bathroom and coughed up a mouthful of blood. After she finished, she looked up, staring blankly at the two overlapping bloody handprints she’d left on the mirror. The blood was a dark, terrifying red. Panicked, I immediately called my father. I could hear a woman laughing in the background, but I was used to it and pretended not to notice. Crying, I told him that my mother was in the final stages of stomach cancer. My father came back very quickly. Seeing the stark red in the toilet bowl, he scooped my mother up in his arms. “Don’t be afraid. We’ll find the best specialists for a second opinion right now.” “I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He had always said that the women outside were just playthings, and that the one he loved the most would always be my mother. He was a man of his word. But right then, the sharp click of high heels sounded, and Mia, wearing a white dress, appeared. She held her head high and slapped a piece of paper against my father’s chest. “Liam, you’re such a fool! You don’t even know you’re being played by this washed-up housewife!” “What late-stage stomach cancer? It’s just a trick to get your attention!” “A friend at the hospital sent me this. She’s perfectly healthy!” I saw it clearly; that piece of paper was the fake clean bill of health my mother had asked Dr. Sarah to forge. I opened my mouth to explain, but my mother grabbed my arm tightly. I could only watch as my father’s face darkened with rage. “Faking an illness to fight for attention, and making Chloe lie for you too.” “Elena, you really have outdone yourself!” Ignoring my attempts to stop him, my father stormed out. My mother watched him leave with his arm around that woman, a faint smile appearing on her pale face. I was sobbing uncontrollably. “Mom, why did you pretend you were healthy?” My mother sighed softly. “Because Mia is too stupid.” “So stupid that she would never think to accuse me of faking an illness on her own.” “So, I had to manufacture the evidence for her.” “I’m accumulating moral capital. The more I accumulate, the more he’ll feel he owes you…” “Besides, once your father finds out her report was fake, he’ll never believe another report she produces again.” I didn’t understand. All I knew was that my mother was dying, so I cried even harder. My mother wiped my tears, and as she did, she started crying too. “Liam, you’re so smart, how could you fall for an idiot like Mia?” My mother used to be the mistress of a coal baron, while my father was a poor entrepreneur constantly bowing and scraping for investments. A single glance at a banquet, and a rose unexpectedly bloomed from the rotting soil. Using her influence with the coal baron, my mother secured a massive investment and a flood of orders for my father. Later, the coal baron went to prison, and my father had become a titan in the business world. Amidst everyone’s mockery, he sought out my mother, a woman who had been passed around. Without a word, they got married immediately. After they married, my father pampered my mother like the most precious jewel. He bought her a chateau in France and gave her dry shares in his company. When she became pregnant with me, he even spent a fortune to buy the naming rights to an asteroid for her. They could have been happy forever. Until I was born. 2. I was diagnosed with hemophilia, and my father hired a secretary who had the same rare blood type as me. Her name was Mia. She was a bit ditzy, which people found endearing. He said she was my mobile blood bank. But gradually, when the “blood bank” came to give me transfusions, my father would frown in distress. There was even a time when I was critically ill, and just because Mia said she was afraid of needles, my father pulled my IV tube out. I almost died that day, saved only because the hospital managed to source blood from out of state. When I woke up, I saw my father holding Mia’s hand, telling my mother: “I’m sorry, Elena. I’ve fallen in love with Mia.” “As long as you accept it, you’ll still be my wife, and Chloe will still be my only daughter.” My mother calmly accepted the reality. She said my medical condition was too expensive; if they divorced, she truly couldn’t afford to raise me. And just like that, my mother became the most “generous” official wife in the entire city. So generous that when photos of my father in bed with young girls from clubs leaked, she handled the PR crises herself. Whenever that happened, my father would apologize to her and transfer a sum of money into my account. My mother accepted it on my behalf and acted as if nothing had happened. Until a few days ago, when Mia showed up with a pregnant belly. She announced she was carrying my father’s child, a boy. “When I saw his ecstatic reaction, I knew this fetus would eventually threaten your position, Chloe. It had to be eliminated.” “And since I’m dying anyway… after a lifetime of being a dependent vine, using my life to pave the way for my daughter is a satisfying end.” As she spoke, my mother pulled out a brand-new journal. A kept woman with only a grade-school education obviously didn’t have the habit of keeping a diary. So, she had to forge one. Her fingers were swollen, making it almost impossible to grip the pen. But she still wrote down, word by word, the story of her and my father over all these years. When she was done, she had the journal artificially aged and locked it in a safe. She made me memorize the safe’s combination. “The day your father misses me the most after I die, lead him to find this diary.” Forging the diary took several days. My mother clutched her stomach, huge drops of sweat rolling down her face from the pain. She gave me a black credit card and asked me to go buy her some painkillers. It was strange; it was only September, but heavy snow had started to fall. I didn’t have time to think about it. I slipped and fell multiple times running to the pharmacy. I tried to buy the medicine and swiped the card. “Beep beep. This card has been frozen.” I froze. This was a supplementary card to my father’s account, and it had always had no limit. It couldn’t be frozen. I immediately called my father. But the person who answered was Mia, her voice lazy and triumphant. “That’s your father’s punishment for your mother.” “He also told me to pass on a message: act like a proper wife and stop playing these manipulative games.” I screamed, “Impossible! You must have provoked him!” Mia chuckled softly, lowering her voice. “Yes, I did. So what?” “After all, I just mentioned that his unborn son wanted to see snow, and your father spent tens of millions on artificial snow!” Looking at the bruises on my body, I started to sob. So, this heavy snow that made me fall over and over again was my father’s gift to his mistress. By the time I broke open my piggy bank and bought the medicine, my mother had passed out from the pain. I fed her the pills, and when she woke, her eyes reddened at the sight of my injuries. I heard her call Dr. Sarah. “He loves her more than I thought.” “I need to accumulate even more moral capital for Chloe. My death needs to be more brutal.” I don’t know how much time passed before I woke up in my mother’s bed. She was panting as she packed things away. Wedding photos were thrown into the fireplace; clothes and jewelry were all sold off. When I saw her about to destroy the scarf she had knitted for my father with her own hands, I lunged to stop her. But she just kissed my cheek. “I know it’s hard to let go, sweetie.” “But I have to make sure that you are the only thing I leave behind for him.” I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak. Then, my father’s assistant called my mother. “Ma’am, Mr. Sterling was just photographed by reporters taking Ms. Mia for a prenatal checkup.” “He wants you to film an apology and clarification video as soon as possible, so it doesn’t affect the company’s stock price.” 3. My mother gave a flat hum of acknowledgment and expertly set up the camera. I was furious and started yelling. “It’s his fault! Why should Mom take the blame?!” “I don’t want Mom to be the one who loses face anymore!” I pushed the camera over, but my mother picked it right back up. “Be good, Chloe. The company will be yours eventually.” “Protecting the stock price now is protecting your future interests.” I still didn’t really understand, but my mother’s eyes looked so infinitely sad. On camera, she was poised and dignified. “This is all a misunderstanding. Ms. Mia is an employee of our company and has no one to care for her, so Liam kindly escorted her to the hospital.” When the video was posted, the internet exploded with mockery. Everyone said my mother was acting like a loyal dog playing the role of the official wife. But my father was very pleased. He finally came home. The moment he walked in, he picked me up and spun me around, slipping a jade bangle onto my wrist. Then he kissed my mother and gave her an emerald green safety charm. “This is my generous Elena,” he said. “Don’t worry, I’ve already unfrozen the card.” “I wasn’t angry that you faked an illness to play games; I was angry that you cursed yourself.” “We’re going to grow old together. Promise me you’ll never say such unlucky things again, okay?” My father was so gentle. He still loved me and my mother, right? I watched them foolishly, suddenly feeling like my legs didn’t hurt anymore. After my father left, I happily snuggled up to my mother, wanting to touch the safety charm. But she sneered and took it off. She rubbed my head and showed me a news article on her phone. [A Gambling Legend! Mr. Sterling Spends Tens of Millions and Strikes Pure Green Jade, Cutting a Hundred-Million-Dollar Bracelet on the Spot!] I looked at the picture of the pure green jade bracelet on Mia’s wrist. Suddenly, I realized something. My bangle, fitted with my mother’s safety charm, was exactly the size of the core cut out from the center of a bracelet. Oh. So the gifts my mother and I received were just the scrap pieces leftover from making Mia’s bracelet. I was so angry I wanted to confront my father. But my mother calmly contacted Dr. Sarah to confirm the date she would take the euthanasia drugs. She chose the date of her wedding anniversary with my father. “This way, whenever he gets married again, he’ll be forced to remember my death.” “The longer he remembers me, the better it is for my Chloe.” I didn’t dare cry in front of my mother; I could only hide in my room and count down the days. I was about to lose my mother. Even though she held me and said she would become a star in the sky… I was already seven. I knew those were lies. But I couldn’t expose her lie; I didn’t want her to be sadder before she died. My mother was very busy for the next few days. She contacted a man named Mr. Zhao and they whispered together for a long time. Then she carefully picked out a gown, because my father was taking her to a charity gala. Just her. Not the smelly mistress. She even helped my father pacify Mia beforehand. But the moment he turned his back, she taught me how to provoke the newly appeased Mia: “Hehe, so what if he made it snow for you? You’re still just his plaything.” “For official events like a charity gala, the only one who gets to hold my dad’s hand is my mom!” Mia took the bait so easily; she was so enraged that she immediately took action. On the day of the charity gala, our family of three had just taken our seats. Mia, disguised as a staff member, appeared. She didn’t say anything, just looked at my father with red, tearful eyes. I clearly saw my father’s Adam’s apple bob. “Liam,” my mother pleaded, “this is a major event. Please, just give me this one night of dignity…” But under the gaze of the entire room, my father patted my mother’s hand. “There are too many people here, and Mia is pregnant. I’m afraid she’ll get bumped.” He went to sit with his mistress. The whole room gasped and whispered. My mother lowered her head as if in humiliation, but secretly shot a look at Mr. Zhao nearby. 4. I knew this Mr. Zhao; he was one of my father’s biggest investors. After my father cheated, he had asked my mother to leave with him. I remembered him as a gentle and polite man. But today, he was acting very boorishly. He roughly grabbed Mia and demanded she drink with him. Mia, panicked, repeatedly refused. My father stepped in front of her, politely stating that she was pregnant and couldn’t drink. But Mr. Zhao seemed enraged and laid down an ultimatum: “If Mr. Sterling won’t even give me this face, then our partnership ends here!” Seeing Mia’s terrified eyes and my father’s awkward expression, I felt a surge of joy. I even silently cheered for Mr. Zhao, hoping he would exact a little more revenge for my mother. But the next second, I heard my father say with a smile: “How about this, Mr. Zhao? Let my wife drink with you.” “Mia only has a bit of looks, but my wife is known as one of the great beauties of the city.” I was stunned, unable to believe that the man saying this was my mother’s husband. My mother didn’t react, simply allowing my father to drag her and push her toward Mr. Zhao. “It’s just a few drinks… You wouldn’t refuse, would you?” I lunged forward to shield her. “My mom is sick! The doctor said she can’t drink! She said it would hurt her to death!” My father grabbed me by the collar, tossed me aside, and glared at my mother. “Look how you’ve raised Chloe, she lies constantly.” Mr. Zhao, having gotten his way, put his arm around my mother and, along with several other men, forced her to drink. My mother numbly downed glass after glass, while Mr. Zhao’s eyes actually seemed to redden. Finally, after who knows how many glasses, my mother violently threw up blood. “Elena!” My father’s face changed drastically, and he immediately ran over. But Mia let out a scream. “So much blood… Liam, seeing this is making me feel sick…” My father hesitated for a second, then turned and picked up Mia. “The hilltop villa isn’t far from here. I’ll take you there to rest.” The hilltop villa was his wedding gift to my mother. My mother treasured it and never let outsiders inside. She stared dead at my father. “No! Take her anywhere else, but don’t dirty my villa!” My father started by trying to persuade her nicely, but this time my mother refused to budge. The argument dragged on all the way to the villa, and Mia’s exaggerated groans grew louder. Furious, my father actually slapped my mother. “Are you crazy?! It’s just a house!” “Since you think it’s more important than my son, then you can rot inside it!” Saying that, he shoved my mother into the villa and locked the door from the outside, preventing her from following them. Mr. Zhao, Dr. Sarah, and Dr. Sarah’s police officer boyfriend… They patiently waited outside the villa with me. We didn’t enter until my father’s car had sped off into the distance. My mother was still throwing up large mouthfuls of blood. Her clothes and the floor were stained red. Her forehead was covered in cold sweat from the pain. But she held on, directing Mr. Zhao to set up a complex mechanism. “You must… make sure that the moment they make love on that bed… my body… will fall.” “Don’t forget to lock the door when you leave… He needs to think I died because he forced me to drink and locked me in where I couldn’t get help…” “Traces… must be erased using professional forensic techniques…” “The infertility drug… Chloe, when you go home, you must find a chance to put it in your father’s water…” “The report proving Mia’s fetus isn’t his… is it forged? Let me see if it looks real enough…” “He must only have Chloe as his heir… it must be her…” Her voice trembled with agony. Finally, using the last of her strength and with everyone’s help, she climbed up to the skylight. She put a white pill into her mouth, a smile of release finally appearing on her face. “There shouldn’t be any flaws left.” “Thank you all for your help.” “Chloe, farewell. Mom loves you, will always love you…” Her voice grew weaker until it could no longer be heard. The adults were all weeping uncontrollably; Mr. Zhao cried so hard he fell to his knees. I was the only one who didn’t cry. I watched my mother meticulously orchestrate her own death, and my tears had long since run dry. I looked at the sunflowers in the villa’s garden. That heavy snow had caused them to wither prematurely. I sat there quietly, waiting for my father to return. It wasn’t until midnight that the doorbell finally rang.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391160”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Everyone said I was a lucky, spoiled princess. I had doting parents and a loving fiancé, Liam Sterling. They spoiled me into becoming the most arrogant heiress in the city. Then, my dad brought home Chloe Vance, the daughter of his late army buddy. She was gentle, sensible, and eager to cook, clean, and do all the chores. In her second month here, my fiancé canceled our engagement and publicly pursued Chloe. My parents were furious. They held me and coaxed me for hours, then pointed at him and yelled, “Don’t you ever regret this! Even if you beg on your knees, we will never let our daughter marry you!” By Chloe’s third month, my dad had cut ties with me and legally adopted her. In the empty house, it was just my mom and me left. I cried and hugged her. “Mom, I promise I won’t be a brat anymore. Please don’t abandon me, okay?” She stroked my head and comforted me. “You will always be Mom’s precious baby.” Until later… when I had a high fever that wouldn’t break, my mom told me she had to work overtime and that I needed to be stronger. I went to the hospital alone and was diagnosed with terminal cancer. On my way back, I saw my mom carefully decorating a birthday cake for Chloe. Heartbroken and utterly lost, I called the doctor. “Can you help me book… euthanasia abroad for the day after tomorrow?” I really had been spoiled by them. I couldn’t even endure the pain of the treatments. 1 It was very late, and Mom still hadn’t come home. I looked around the empty house, shivering and hugging my arms tight. Even if she was celebrating Chloe’s birthday, it was past midnight. It should be over by now… I couldn’t help it; I called her. But several calls went unanswered. I was too worried. With my body burning up, I forced myself out the door. Chloe’s rented apartment wasn’t far; a ten-minute walk. Before I even knocked, I heard laughter from inside. It was Mom’s laugh. I froze for a moment but knocked anyway. Chloe opened the door. Surprise flashed in her eyes, quickly replaced by a sweet smile. “Sister, what are you doing here?” I didn’t answer, just looked past her into the apartment. In the living room were Dad, Mom, and Liam. On the coffee table sat a birthday cake, the candles unlit. It was the cake Mom had made for her. Seeing me, Mom looked embarrassed. Dad frowned. “Why are you here?” Liam didn’t even look my way. I looked at Mom and asked tentatively, “Mom, it’s really late. Can you… come home with me?” She was silent for a while before answering, “Elena, I need to take care of Chloe from now on. I can’t go back with you. The house is yours, you… take good care of yourself.” My fingers twitched. Chloe suddenly grabbed my hand, smiling. “Sister, let’s eat cake together. Mom made it herself.” She pulled hard, and I tried to pull my hand back. Right then, Chloe let out a sharp cry and stumbled backward, her knee hitting the corner of the coffee table. She clutched her knee, tears instantly welling up. “Sister, why… why did you push me?” I was stunned. I didn’t push her. Dad immediately stood up, helped Chloe, and glared at me. “Are you here to bully Chloe again?!” Liam sneered. “Elena, can’t you just give it a rest?” Mom looked awkward, wanting to say something, but ultimately went to comfort Chloe first. “Chloe, sweetie, does it hurt? Let Mom see.” I stood in the doorway, completely superfluous. Drawn by the commotion, Chloe’s neighbors peeked out to watch the drama. “Is that the Sterling family’s heiress? I heard she’s incredibly spoiled.” “Tsk, a grown woman still bullying people. No wonder no one wants her.” I didn’t explain. The old me would have cried, screamed, and insisted, “I didn’t push her!” But now, I just stood quietly, watching them defend Chloe. It was like watching a play that had nothing to do with me. I turned and dragged my exhausted body away. Behind me, I could hear Chloe’s sobs and their comforting voices. Walking down the dark, empty street, my phone pinged. It was an email from the hospital—confirmation of the organ donation form. I offered a weak smile and replied, confirming. This was for the best. They had Chloe now. When I was dead, Mom, Dad, and Liam probably wouldn’t even be sad. 2 By the time I got home, the sun hadn’t risen yet. Looking at the mountain of gifts in my room and the family portrait on the wall, it all suddenly felt very foreign. I couldn’t help but think back to the days when I was cherished. Growing up, I was the luckiest, most pampered girl in the city. When I was sick, Mom and Dad would stay up all night with me. If I craved something at 2 AM, Liam would drive across town to get it. If I threw a tantrum, all three of them would carefully coax me back to happiness. Until two months ago, when Chloe arrived. At their first meeting, Dad said, “This girl is so sensible, not fragile like you.” When Chloe did chores, Mom said, “You should learn from Chloe.” When Chloe never complained, Liam said, “Chloe is so strong, you need to grow up.” Gradually, from being the apple of their eye, I became the one who was “lesser than Chloe.” I blinked. Dawn was breaking. Today was my last trip to the hospital. I needed to get checked to see if I met the criteria for organ donation. The blood draw room at the hospital was crowded. I sat on a chair, waiting for my number. “Elena Sterling.” I stood up and walked in. The nurse looked up and froze. “Sister, what are you doing here?” It was Chloe. She was wearing a nurse’s uniform, doing her internship here. I said nothing and extended my arm. She picked up the needle, searching for a vein. My veins are very thin; she tried twice but couldn’t find one. The moment the needle pierced my skin, it hurt. I couldn’t help it; tears spilled over. The patients waiting in line started whispering: “Why can’t this nurse get it right?” “She made the poor girl cry from the pain.” Chloe’s face turned bright red, and she apologized guiltily. “I’m sorry, sister, I’ll try again.” I kept my head down, tears falling drop by drop. Just then, the door swung open. It was Dad, Mom, and Liam. They had come to bring Chloe breakfast. Seeing me cry, Dad frowned. “Elena, can’t you be a little stronger? Stop making trouble for Chloe.” Mom whispered, “Elena… stop crying, everyone is watching. It looks like Chloe is bullying you.” Liam looked impatient. “You deliberately picked a fight on her birthday yesterday, and today you come to her workplace to cause a scene! There’s a limit to your bratty behavior! Bully Chloe again, and I won’t hold back.” Then, they started explaining to the onlookers: “She’s been spoiled since she was little. She always picks on Chloe like this.” The crowd started whispering again. “So she came here to cause trouble. I was wondering why she cried over a little needle.” “Isn’t this basically harassing a healthcare worker? That’s too much!” “I know this girl. She’s unreasonable and loves bullying people. Even her parents couldn’t take it and moved out.” I hung my head silently, letting Chloe jab my arm a few more times before she finally drew blood. My tears kept falling. Drip. Drip. Mom, Dad, and Liam, who used to panic over my slightest discomfort, were now entirely focused on comforting Chloe. I wiped my tears and thought: This is the last time it will hurt. It’s okay. The flight is already booked. This afternoon. Soon, everything will be over. 3 Back home, I started packing. My suitcase was small because I didn’t need to bring much. The house deed and my savings passbook were left on the table. Along with a letter: “I’m leaving the house to Mom; split the money however you want. I’m going somewhere far away, don’t look for me. Chloe is much better suited to be your daughter and fiancée. Thank you for loving me once.” I looked at the empty house, dragged my suitcase, and walked out. Without looking back. Everything went smoothly. Lying on the hospital bed waiting for the euthanasia procedure, I still felt a bit dazed. The doctor was very skilled. He found the vein on the first try. It only hurt a tiny bit. I was very satisfied. I watched the liquid slowly flow into my body. Blinking, I thought: Dad, Mom, and Liam are probably with Chloe right now. I hope with Chloe there, they will always be happy… Meanwhile, at Chloe’s apartment. The three of them sat in the living room, looking anxious. Dad said, “We’ve kept this act up long enough. It’s time to stop.” Mom nodded. “Yes, seeing her cry yesterday broke my heart.” She glared at Dad, complaining, “It’s all your fault! You wouldn’t let me go hug Elena. Imagine how hurt she must have been.” Liam smiled. “Mom, Dad, I have a gift ready. I’m going to surprise her later to cheer her up.” Dad glared back. “Do you think you’re the only one who cares about Elena? You think it didn’t hurt me? We did this for her own good! She was too spoiled. She’d suffer once she got into the real world. But no pain, no gain. After this, she’ll definitely be more obedient, she’ll understand how good we are to her, and she’ll appreciate us more.” Mom smiled too. “If Elena could be even a tenth as well-behaved and sensible as Chloe, I’d wake up laughing from my dreams.” Thinking of an obedient Elena, amusement flashed in Liam’s eyes. “I can’t wait to go back and see her.” Chloe sat nearby, wanting to speak but hesitating. She remembered Elena’s eyes yesterday—empty, despairing. “Uncle, Auntie, Liam… what if Elena… is actually really angry?” The three of them laughed. “She won’t be. She loves us the most.” Dad checked his watch. “Let’s skip lunch and head back now. Don’t want to keep Elena waiting.” They laughed and chatted as they headed back, planning exactly how to “apologize.” Completely unaware that I was already gone. 4 They pushed open the door to the Sterling house and called out, “Elena, we’re home!” They were met with total silence. Mom frowned. “Where did she go?” Dad checked the rooms. “No one here.” Liam pulled out his phone and called her. “It’s turned off.” Mom walked into the living room and saw the items on the table. The house deed. The passbook. And a letter. Her hands shook as she picked it up and read it aloud: “I’m leaving the house to Mom; split the money however you want. I’m going somewhere far away, don’t look for me. Chloe is much better suited to be your daughter and fiancée. Thank you for loving me once.” The three of them froze. Dad: “Did she… did she run away from home?” Mom: “Where could she go? She’s definitely still throwing a tantrum.” Liam: “Don’t panic yet. I’ll ask her friends.” They started making frantic calls. “Have you seen Elena?” “No.” “Has she contacted you?” “No.” Everyone said the same thing. Panic began to set in. Mom suddenly remembered something and rushed into Elena’s room, pulling an envelope from a drawer. It was a medical report. She opened it, and her face turned ghostly pale. The report read: Cancer, terminal stage. Immediate hospitalization recommended. Date: Three days ago. Mom’s hands shook so violently the report fluttered to the floor. Dad and Liam rushed over to look. Their faces drained of all color.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391158”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

During the year I loved him most, my uncle drugged me and threw me into the bed of his greatest rival. That night, I was tormented in every imaginable way by Liam Sterling, a man rumored to have severe sadistic addictions. When I was finally rushed to the hospital, Liam fell to his knees, his eyes red, begging for my forgiveness! Meanwhile, my uncle publicly proposed to the girl who had ruthlessly bullied me in high school, preparing to give her the wedding of the century! On his wedding day, I kidnapped the bride, forced her into mourning clothes, and made her bow to a dog in a mock wedding ceremony. I recorded the entire thing and broadcast it across the internet! When my uncle arrived, he pressed a knife to my throat and warned me. “Elena Vance, pull a stunt like this again, and I’ll make sure you die without a grave.” Seeing the raw heartbreak in his eyes for another woman, I was suddenly just… exhausted. From that moment on, I only wanted to cut him out of my life forever. But when I was four months pregnant, and everyone sighed about how Liam Sterling, the ultimate romantic, pampered me to the heavens, I accidentally overheard a conversation between him and my uncle. My uncle asked uncertainly, “Are you really determined to risk Elena and the baby’s lives by forcing a premature birth at seven months, just to harvest the cord blood and save my wife?” Liam didn’t hesitate for a second. He nodded firmly. “Yes. Chloe saved my life. Her illness can’t wait any longer.” While I was wandering the streets in a daze, someone sent me a text. “Elena Vance, choose me!” “I’ll help you put them both behind bars!” Gripping the stair railing, I listened to the two men inside the room. The chill seeped from my fingertips straight into my heart, freezing me inch by inch. My uncle, Arthur Vance, teased with a mocking tone. “Mr. Sterling, you’re willing to sacrifice your own flesh and blood for my wife. Such profound devotion.” He shifted his tone, full of arrogant triumph. “Unfortunately, Chloe has always loved me.” “Even Elena’s little hidden crush from her youth was focused entirely on me, wasn’t it?” Liam’s voice was cold and hard as he shot back. “Don’t get cocky, Arthur.” “If you hadn’t put a hundred-million-dollar bounty on the dark web, orchestrating this whole scheme to get Elena pregnant just to harvest her cord blood, and if Chloe hadn’t personally begged me, I would never have conspired with scum like you.” “Oh?” Arthur scoffed. “And after all this is over, do you really intend to marry her?” Liam was silent for a moment before answering seriously, “Yes. I’ll marry her and spend the rest of my life making up for the harm this will cause her.” “Suit yourself,” Arthur agreed casually. “Saves me the trouble of dealing with her delusional feelings.” “I’ll prepare a generous dowry for her.” I covered my mouth and stumbled backward, fighting the suffocating pain in my chest as I fled like a madwoman. It turned out that all the bone-deep torment, followed by the meticulous, careful pampering… it was all a massive conspiracy to take my baby’s life to save their precious darling. I stood in the pouring rain, crying until my voice was hoarse. I couldn’t believe that my romance and my marriage had been nothing but a scam to harvest medicine for someone else from the very beginning. At that exact moment, the massive jumbotron on the mall across the street was playing an old interview with Liam. The reporter asked sharply, “Mr. Sterling, there have been persistent rumors that Ms. Elena Vance, the woman you hold so dear, is actually secretly in love with her uncle, Arthur Vance.” “Many say… Ms. Vance’s feelings are unnatural, and that she is completely unworthy of your passionate devotion. Do you have any response to this?” On screen, his posture was dominant, his voice resonating with power. “My wife, Elena Vance, is the most pure, noble existence in this world.” “Anyone who dares to slander her again makes themselves an enemy of Liam Sterling!” “For the rest of my life, I am her strongest shield and her sharpest blade!” The vows that once made my heart race and filled me with pride now felt like knives carving into my heart, leaving me bleeding and raw. My phone kept ringing. He had called dozens of times. I used to answer him instantly, but now, I never wanted to hear his voice again. When I stumbled home in a daze, he was waiting at the door, his face pale with panic and anxiety. When he saw me, he looked like he had finally caught his breath, striding over and pulling me into a desperate, crushing hug. “Elena, where were you? I rushed back overnight after finishing the overseas project. Do you know how frantic I was when I couldn’t find you?” “Why didn’t you answer your phone?” I replied casually, “I went for a walk. Didn’t look at my phone.” He immediately started wiping my wet hair and changing my clothes, his eyes full of distress, while ordering someone to call the private doctor to check on me. “You little fool, you need to tell me before you go anywhere from now on.” “The rain is so heavy. What if you slipped? What if something happened to you and the baby?” His tone was filled with nervous worry, but I couldn’t tell anymore if he was worried about me, or the baby whose cord blood he needed to harvest. That night, my sleep was incredibly restless, plagued by nightmares. Sometime after midnight, I heard the private doctor’s disapproving voice coming from the living room. “Mr. Sterling! Performing the surgery in seven days is too risky! The Madam’s life will be in grave danger! Why can’t we wait until she reaches full term…” Liam cut him off coldly: “Seven days. Go prepare for it. The longer we wait, the more Chloe suffers.” My heart felt like it was being ripped apart. So, to him, my life and my child’s life weren’t worth a single moment of Chloe’s discomfort. Just then, his phone lit up. A message from Chloe popped onto the screen. “Liam, thank you for everything you’ve done for me. If there is a next life, I promise I will never fail you again.” Meanwhile, on her social media, she was flaunting the “honor” of having two powerful men abandon multi-million-dollar deals for her. The photos showed Liam’s suit jacket draped over a chair, and her hands tightly clasped with my uncle’s. How ironic. His excuse for missing my prenatal checkup today was suddenly glaringly obvious. He didn’t sneak back into the bedroom until dawn, having finally put out his cigarette. When he saw my face covered in tears, he froze, a flash of panic and guilt in his eyes. “Baby, why are you crying?” I looked into his eyes and said bitterly, “Liam, I had a nightmare… I dreamed about the year my parents died in that car crash. The bleeding just wouldn’t stop…” “And I dreamed about the days when Chloe rallied everyone in school to trap me in the bathroom and force me to drink dirty water.” The arms holding me stiffened slightly. Then, he hugged me even tighter. “Don’t think about it. It’s all in the past.” But then, he instinctively tried to excuse Chloe. “Chloe… she was young back then. It was probably just a thoughtless mistake.” With one phrase—”thoughtless mistake”—he erased all my bloody, agonizing history. I silently pulled away from his embrace, turned my back to him, and curled up in the dark to digest my emotions alone. The very last, microscopic sliver of hope in my heart was thoroughly extinguished. Early the next morning, Liam brought a breakfast he had cooked himself to my bedside. “Elena, try this. It’s a new nutritional meal I learned that’s great for pregnant women. If you like it, I’ll make it for you every day.” After speaking, he slid an iPad over to me. On the screen was the architectural rendering of a massive hospital. “Elena, look. This is the hospital I funded and built exclusively for you.” I suppressed a cold sneer and didn’t expose his lie. To ensure his plan was foolproof, he really spared no expense. He even went through the massive trouble of building an entire hospital. “In six days, the world’s top team of obstetric specialists will convene here.” “I’ll go with you. We’ll be good and get a comprehensive checkup and conditioning. It’s all to ensure that you and the baby… are completely safe when the critical moment comes.” His display of deep, sincere affection made my stomach churn violently! Those specialists were undoubtedly prepared for Chloe! “In six days… it’s my birthday.” I instinctively guarded my lower abdomen, making one last, feeble struggle. “Can we not go? I don’t want any checkups. I just want to stay quietly at home with our baby.” “You said you’d take me to Disneyland for my birthday every year. Why does it have to be a hospital this year?” He frowned, his gentle tone laced with undeniable authority. “Be good. It’s just for this year. We have to go.” He reached out to stroke my hair, but I subtly dodged his hand. “Elena, you need to listen to me. This is all for your own good.” He stood up, as if to cover up the awkwardness of the moment. “Your favorite porridge is still warm in the kitchen. I’ll go get it for you.” In the brief moment he turned and walked into the kitchen, my phone screen lit up. It was a message from Chloe, dripping with the arrogant pity of a victor: “I heard Liam promised to go with you to take maternity photos today?” “What a shame. I suddenly got the urge to reshoot some wedding photos with your uncle today.” “Unfortunately, our photographer’s skills aren’t as good as Liam’s. I want him to come help us.” “Who do you think… he’ll say no to today?” The nausea in my stomach became unbearable. I crawled to the bathroom and vomited until the world spun. When I finally came out, only the cold porridge was left. Liam was gone without a single word. Two hours later, he finally sent a message explaining. “Baby, I’m so sorry! We’ll have to take those photos another day.” “An urgent meeting came up. I have to go handle it.” I swallowed my bitter laughter and dialed the very last number in my contacts list. “Uncle Chen, I’m ready to officially take over the company. Help me revoke Arthur Vance’s proxy control over my shares. Investigate all the illegal transactions he’s conducted using his position over the years, gather the evidence, and prepare to file charges.” “Also, terminate all business ties with the Sterling Group. Cut off all resource allocation to them immediately.” After hanging up, I went to the hospital alone and consulted about an abortion procedure. Liam didn’t come home for an unprecedented two days. I didn’t go back either. But in those two days, he didn’t send me a single message. I knew he was just too “busy” to come home. What was even more laughable was that he would occasionally send me a fake update. A forged flight ticket, or a staged photo of a meeting room. He exhausted himself trying to trick me into believing he was busy working! Meanwhile, I could always spot him in Chloe’s social media posts. Just like now. While I was recovering my health, they were busy celebrating their perfect wedding photoshoot. Chloe specifically sent me a video. It showed her toasting Liam. “Liam, thank you for dropping everything to be my photographer.” “I took up two days of your time. Are you sure it’s okay? Do you want me to go back with you to explain things to Elena?” “She already dislikes me because I exposed her for bullying classmates in high school. If she finds out you lied to her, won’t she throw a fit?” Liam shook his head dismissively. “Chloe, don’t worry about it. She won’t make a scene.” “She’s very dependent on me now. She treats me as the most important person in her life, aside from her late parents.” “She’s smart. Even if she finds out, she’ll know her place.” My uncle, Arthur, chimed in, refusing to be outdone. “Exactly! With Elena’s personality, she sticks to whoever she latches onto like a leech.” “Even if she throws a tantrum, she can’t make any real waves.” “Back then, to keep me around, she willingly signed over all her corporate shares to me.” “I had such a headache trying to shake her off during those days. But thankfully, she’s latched onto Liam now, and my world is finally peaceful.” I didn’t watch any further. Chloe bullying me and then pinning the blame on me was just sickening. As for whether these two men defended me or not… it didn’t matter anymore. That night, I replied to the message I had previously ignored. “Sebastian, I choose you.” “But you have to help me compile all the evidence that Chloe bullied me, and the proof that she stole my identity as Liam’s savior.” After he readily agreed, I forwarded Chloe’s boastful photo to Liam. “Weren’t you overseas on a business trip, so busy you couldn’t even answer the phone?” “Why is this bully saying you’re personally acting as her photographer?” Almost the second the message was sent, he called. His voice sounded slightly rushed, as if he was scrambling to get his story straight. “Elena, listen to me. I was dealing with a project. I just finished the meeting.” “Running into Chloe was a total coincidence. She and your uncle were taking wedding photos nearby, and I just happened to run into them, so I helped snap a few shots.” Seeing that I didn’t respond, he rushed to explain further. “You know… she did save my life, after all. It was a small favor, I really couldn’t refuse. Please don’t take it to heart.” “If you don’t like it, I promise you, I will never have any unnecessary contact with her again. I just want you to feel secure.” Listening to his riddled, yet self-righteous defense, my heart was as still as stagnant water. I just asked one question. “Liam, what if the person who saved you back then was me, not her?” “Would you ever regret what you’ve done to me?” He froze for a second, then answered impatiently. “How is that possible? It was her who saved me. That’s a fact.” “Baby, I know you’re angry and you don’t like her, but you can’t… you can’t just make up crazy lies about a life-saving debt. That’s absurd.” I didn’t say another word and hung up the phone. But what I never expected was that in the middle of the night, he actually brought Chloe back to our house. When he saw me packing my things, he froze and instinctively stepped in front of Chloe to shield her. But Chloe walked right past him, stopping in front of me with a smug, victorious smile. “Ms. Vance, your uncle and I had a fight. I’m just crashing here for the night. You don’t mind, do you?” I looked at her undisguised, provocative smirk—which was perfectly hidden from Liam’s view—and said coldly: “Get out.” Chloe’s smile instantly vanished. Her eyes immediately turned red, and acting as if she had suffered a monumental injustice, she ran out crying. “Elena Vance!” Liam’s brows immediately furrowed, his tone carrying obvious blame. “Why are you throwing a tantrum again? This is my house too! Chloe saved my life. She’s upset and just wanted to stay the night. What’s the problem?” He stepped forward, his eyes full of disappointment and disapproval. “You know she just had a fight with Arthur and is feeling down. Why did you have to use such harsh words to insult her at a time like this? When did you become so mean?” Seeing my silence, he took a deep breath, as if trying desperately to suppress his anger, and finally dropped a cold ultimatum. “Stay home and reflect on your behavior. The day after tomorrow… I’ll come pick you up for the hospital.” With that, he didn’t hesitate to chase after her. He didn’t even notice the abortion appointment confirmation sitting right next to him. Fine. At this point, I couldn’t be bothered to waste my breath on him! Without a shred of hesitation, the moment he turned to comfort his “savior,” I calmly packed up all my important belongings and completely abandoned this meticulously crafted gilded cage. I chose a highly secluded, top-tier postpartum recovery center to rest. The sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows was perfect. Sebastian sat beside me, elegantly feeding me peeled grapes, a hint of theatrical amusement playing on his handsome features. “Take a look,” He presented the tablet like a grand prize, pulling up a live stream video. “The show is starting.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391157”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The day I nearly died in the delivery room, Carter was out cheating on me. Throughout my entire postpartum recovery, he flew that woman all over the globe, buying out every luxury boutique in sight. When he finally returned, he didn’t forget to hand me a set of divorce papers. “Chloe hates being called a homewrecker, so we have to divorce.” “Sign it. I purposely waited until your postpartum recovery was over to give this to you. Consider it my final act of kindness.” “I don’t want the kid anyway. Keep her as a souvenir. Chloe will give me my own children in the future.” I didn’t say a single word. I just picked up the pen and signed. I was terrified that if I hesitated for even a second, I would delay my reunion with the man I truly loved. Three months later, I received an emergency call from the hospital right in the middle of my wedding. They said a female patient had engaged in such vigorous intercourse that she suffered a ruptured corpus luteum. Furthermore, because this patient had been sleeping with multiple men simultaneously, she had developed severe pelvic complications. The situation was so critical they had to pull me in for emergency surgery. I pushed open the doors to the ER, and what a coincidence— The woman lying on the operating table was none other than my ex-husband’s fiancée. 1 I looked down and carefully read the patient’s name on the chart. Chloe Montgomery. Before my divorce from Carter Sterling, I had heard this name come out of his mouth countless times. He called her his “sweet Chloe,” his voice dripping with so much affection it made you sick. I thought he had found some kind of flawless, perfect true love. Turns out, this was it. I remembered the day I gave birth. Complications arose, and I suffered a massive hemorrhage. The doctors were frantic, paging my family over and over. But Carter’s phone was unreachable. Meanwhile, the tabloids were flooded with paparazzi photos of him and Chloe Montgomery walking into a luxury hotel, wrapped in each other’s arms. With the sheer power of the Sterling family’s wealth, no media outlet would dare publish those photos unless Carter explicitly allowed it. The truth was clear: Carter didn’t want to hide her anymore. He was giving her official status. When I miraculously survived and woke up, Carter finally showed up. A look of impatience flashed across his face. “Sarah, why do you always have to make yourself look so pathetic?” “You were a top student, and you’re a doctor yourself. Did you really have to push yourself to have this baby?” “I don’t even want it. Your idea of using a child to secure your position as Mrs. Sterling is honestly laughable.” “I’ve been very busy lately. I don’t have time to sit here and watch you throw a pity party…” Before he could finish, his phone rang. He answered it right in front of me without the slightest hesitation. “Chloe…” The voice on the other end cut him off playfully. “Carter, babe! Is my birthday surprise ready yet?” “You said you were just going to the hospital to check on the old ball-and-chain. It’s been half an hour! Why aren’t you back?” “I heard she was bleeding everywhere? Isn’t it gross and messy?” “Hurry back, Carter. Don’t get your shoes dirty over there.” Carter chuckled softly. “You’re always looking out for me, Chloe. I’m heading back right now.” “Your birthday gift has been ready for days. I promise it’ll be a surprise that keeps you in bed all night…” Carter talked as he walked out the door, never sparing me another glance. Naturally, it didn’t even cross his mind to go look at our newborn daughter. Fortunately, I wasn’t heartbroken. After confirming my baby was healthy and safe, all I felt was relief. Relief that I could finally talk to Grandpa Sterling about our original agreement. I took the initiative to call him. “Grandpa, the baby is safe and healthy. May I leave now?” Years ago, when the Sterling empire was on the verge of bankruptcy, Grandpa Sterling sought me out. A psychic had told him that my astrological chart was perfectly aligned to bring prosperity to the Sterling family. As long as I bore them a child, their wealth would be secured forever. I was already a medical intern at the time. To a woman of science, it sounded like utter nonsense. But the ultra-rich are often the most superstitious. When I refused the marriage, Grandpa Sterling used his influence to get my younger brother expelled from his university. Then, my parents called me, sobbing. They had just been in a hit-and-run accident and were an inch away from being killed. I was forced to compromise and agree to the marriage. In truth, I already had a boyfriend I’d been dating for ten years. He knew the whole truth, and he had been waiting for me the entire time. Grandpa Sterling sighed heavily over the phone. “I saw the news over the past few days. Since you can’t force a horse to drink, I’ll let you go.” “But your body is weak right now. I’ve hired a professional postpartum care team. Wait until your first month of recovery is over before you leave.” 2 Chloe’s shrieks pulled me back to the present. I took a quick look at her condition. Severe vaginal tearing accompanied by a massive infection. Localized tissue was already showing signs of necrosis. The situation was much trickier than I had anticipated. She was convulsing in pain, yet she was still cursing up a storm. “Useless! You’re all useless! You can’t even handle a tiny little cut? Believe me, I’ll have this hospital shut down by tomorrow!” “Those filthy men are all trash! They get their kicks and run, leaving me here to suffer! Once I get out of here, I’ll skin them alive!” Expressionless, I snapped on my sterile surgical gloves. “Ms. Montgomery, based on the examination, you have severe lacerations and multiple pathogen infections. We need to perform surgical debridement immediately.” Hearing the word “surgery,” she ignored the agonizing pain and continued screaming: “Surgery?! Who gave you permission to cut me open! I’m warning you, if you leave a single scar on my body, I’ll make you pay!” “I have to wear a haute couture wedding dress! I’m marrying into a billionaire family! Can you afford to ruin that?!” She glared at me fiercely. “Are you doing this on purpose? Trying to ruin me? Let me tell you, my fiancé is the wealthiest man in the city! One word from him and you’re all fired!” I cut her off. “It’s too early to worry about that. If we don’t operate immediately and the infection spreads, forget about a wedding—your reproductive system will suffer permanent damage, and it might even cost you your life.” I was merely stating objective medical facts. For a patient like this, sympathy was entirely useless. A nurse beside me handed over the pre-op consent form. Chloe snatched it and tore it to shreds. She roared hysterically, “I’m not signing anything! You quacks are trying to hurt me! I’m filing a complaint! I’ll ruin your careers!” Suddenly, as if recognizing something, her eyes turned venomous as she locked onto me. “Who the hell are you? You think you’re qualified to operate on me? Get your Chief of Surgery here right now! Or I’ll have my fiancé tear this garbage hospital to the ground!” If her condition wasn’t so critical, I would have washed my hands of her. But it’s my duty as a doctor. I couldn’t just turn around and walk away. I had no patience for her nonsense either. “Aside from me, there probably isn’t another surgeon in this hospital capable of handling this procedure. Where is your family? We need a signature.” At the mention of family, Chloe clearly panicked. “Family? I don’t need family. I make my own decisions.” “Hurry up and do the surgery! If you delay my plans, can you bear the consequences?!” I reminded her again, “Hospital policy requires a family member’s signature. Alternatively, where is your fiancé?” I pressed the issue, my tone remaining flat, strictly business. Chloe’s face twisted. “You all better keep your mouths shut. If a single word of this leaks out, I’ll make sure you die without a grave!” I raised an eyebrow and didn’t push further. We see things like this in the hospital all the time. I simply placed a new consent form in front of her. “Think clearly and decide quickly. Time waits for no one. Once your surgery is done, I still have to get back to my wedding…” My words were interrupted by a man’s voice booming from behind me. “Wedding? Who are you marrying?” “We’ve only been divorced for three months and you’re already getting married?!” 3 Carter Sterling blocked the entrance to the operating room, flanked by four men in black suits. His bespoke suit accentuated his tall frame, and his aura was suffocatingly oppressive. “Sarah, did you hear me talking to you?” “What? It’s only been three months, have you forgotten your own ex-husband?” His gaze moved past me, and before I could even answer, his face changed drastically the moment he saw Chloe on the operating table. Chloe was hooked up to an oxygen tube, her face ashen. Carter’s eyes instantly filled with heartbreak. The chill in his voice was directed entirely at me. “Sarah, what did you do to her?!” “She was perfectly fine when she left the house this morning! What have you done to her behind my back?!” Chloe weakly raised a hand toward him. “Carter! She’s trying to kill me!” Her voice was hoarse and broken. “She was digging around inside my stomach with a scalpel! She said, ‘After this cut, you’ll never be able to have kids again!’ I kept begging her, but she hurt me so much I thought I was going to die…” Before she could finish, she started coughing violently, her chest heaving. The medical monitors began blaring sharp alarms. Gasping for air, she used all her strength to scream, “It turns out she’s your ex-wife!” “Carter, she’s just jealous! Jealous that I can give you children, jealous that I’m going to be Mrs. Sterling!” I calmly tossed my blood-stained gauze into the biohazard bin, picked up the medical chart, and waved it slowly in front of Carter’s face. “Mr. Sterling, a ruptured pelvic abscess triggered sepsis. If your fiancée had arrived forty minutes later, she’d be lying in the morgue right now.” Before Carter could take the chart, Chloe snatched it away. “Carter, she’s lying! She’s framing me!” “Because she knows you divorced her for me, she’s using her position to get revenge!” Chloe aggressively ripped the IV needle out of her hand. “Look, Carter! She intentionally missed the vein, and she pinched me all over! Look at all these bruises, even on my neck!” “She even threatened me! She said she was going to leak my medical records to the press, so everyone would know that Carter Sterling married a woman inferior to her!” I turned my head to look at Chloe. Her body was indeed covered in dark purple bruises and hickeys. But those were there the moment she was admitted. Obviously, they were the aftermath of a wild sexual encounter. Carter pulled her into his arms, stepping heavily on the medical chart that had fallen to the floor. “Sarah, years ago you used my grandfather’s life-saving medicine to force me to marry you. That failed, and now you want to destroy Chloe?” He let out a scoff. “Mercy General Hospital? You think you’re worthy of working here?” “It seems I was too merciful when we divorced, allowing you to think you could touch my woman.” “Sarah, I guess you’ve never experienced the consequences of crossing Carter Sterling.” As his words fell, two bodyguards stepped forward swiftly, pinning my arms behind my back. I was forced to bow in front of Carter and Chloe. I looked up at him, my voice dripping with mockery. “Carter, aren’t you curious why she refused to consent to the surgery even if it meant her death?” The bodyguards tightened the leather restraints around my wrists, the straps biting into my flesh, sending sharp pains throughout my body. My body hadn’t fully recovered from the traumatic hemorrhage during childbirth, and I was still nursing. Being forced to bend over exacerbated the dull ache in my abdomen. Cold sweat poured down my face. I enunciated every word clearly. “She has the contact info of seventeen different ‘sugar daddies’ in her phone, and she booked hotel rooms with three different men just last week. Call your private doctor right now and ask him just how severe the consequences of an extremely promiscuous lifestyle can be!” 4 “You’re lying! You’re planting evidence!” Chloe burst into tears, burying her face into Carter’s chest, looking utterly victimized. She sobbed, “Carter, she’s gone too far. She’s using her status as a doctor here to forge documents and slander me.” “You know me, Carter. I’ve always been with you. How could I possibly be with other men, let alone catch some virus?!” “Carter, are you just going to let her bully me like this? You have to get revenge for me…” As she cried, Carter’s face grew darker and darker. “Drag her to the sub-zero biological storage room! Without my orders, no one lets her out!” The bodyguards hauled me toward the service stairwell. I struggled, but their grip only tightened. The pain was so intense that the stairs seemed to blur and sway in front of my eyes. “Carter Sterling! You’ll regret not believing me!” Behind me, Chloe’s crying grew louder. “Carter, make her disappear. I don’t want to see her ever again. If she knows we’re getting married soon, she’ll definitely try to ruin our wedding.” Carter comforted her softly, “Be good, baby, trust me. I won’t let a single thing ruin our wedding.” “You’re going to be the most beautiful bride in the world.” “…” The heavy metal doors of the sub-zero storage room slowly clicked shut. The -15°C (5°F) air hit me like thousands of icy needles piercing my bones. I curled up next to a medical freezer, pounding on the door. “Carter, let me out!” “This is false imprisonment! It’s illegal! Let me out!” My thin surgical scrubs offered absolutely no protection against the bone-chilling cold. My consciousness slowly began to blur from the freezing temperatures. I don’t know how much time passed, but suddenly, Carter’s voice echoed through the intercom. “Do you know what you did wrong? Will you ever dare do it again?” “Sarah, don’t think that just because you gave birth to a child for me, you can touch my people.” “Today, I’m going to teach you exactly what happens when you touch someone who belongs to me.” Carter was standing right outside the heavy glass panel of the storage room, holding Chloe in his arms. She was wrapped securely in his tailored suit jacket. Her face was still pale, but a calculating, malicious glint shone in her eyes. Chloe shrank deeper into Carter’s embrace. “Carter, it’s so cold in there. Won’t she freeze to death?” I had seen her bloodwork. Her condition was incredibly severe. Instead of worrying about me, she should be worrying about herself and how long she had left to live. “But she’s so evil, making me suffer so much. She deserves to freeze a little,” Chloe said, looking up at Carter with feigned terror. “I’m just so scared she’ll take revenge on me when she gets out. The way she looked at me in the OR… it was terrifying, like she wanted to eat me alive.” Carter held her tighter, glancing at me through the glass, his voice cold and hard. “With me here, she can’t touch you.” Chloe’s eyes reddened again. “But I’m afraid she holds a grudge and will spread rumors everywhere that I’m promiscuous.” “The things she said earlier were completely made up. She’s just jealous and trying to frame me…” “If this affects your reputation and the Sterling Group, that would be terrible.” “Carter, you absolutely cannot believe her lies. My heart only belongs to you. She’s just trying to drive a wedge between us so she can crawl back to you.” My teeth chattered violently, my whole body ached, and my brain was sluggish from the cold. “Chloe… do you dare unlock your phone and show Carter… do you dare let him check your hotel records from last week…” “Shut up!” Chloe’s voice hit a shrill pitch. “Look, Carter! She’s still spouting nonsense! I didn’t! She’s framing me!” She purposely pressed harder into his chest, “accidentally” aggravating the bruises on her wrists, and let out a pained cry. “Ah… it hurts… Carter, I don’t want to hear her voice anymore!” The darkness in Carter’s eyes deepened. He gave an order to the bodyguards: “Turn the temperature down to the absolute lowest. Let’s see if she dares to speak another word of nonsense.” The bodyguard at the panel immediately complied. The blast of cold air intensified instantly. White frost began forming on the metal walls. I tasted copper in my throat. My fingernails scraped against the inside of the freezer, making a screeching sound. As my vision began to fade to black. I heard Carter’s final warning. “Sarah, whenever you learn to be obedient, I’ll let you out.” “Otherwise, you can stay in there forever.” My consciousness was slipping away. My body was so frozen I couldn’t move an inch. With the absolute last sliver of my strength, I whispered, “Carter… let me out…” But he just turned around, carrying Chloe away. Right as they were about to leave the corridor, the double doors burst open. The Head Nurse sprinted in, clutching a stack of lab results, her voice panicked and shrill: “Chloe Montgomery’s HIV test came back positive! Every instrument in that OR must be incinerated immediately!” She slammed the lab results onto a nearby counter and yelled at the bodyguards: “All of you who came into contact with her blood just now! Get to the clinic for PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) treatment immediately! If you wait, it’ll be too late!” Carter’s hand froze in mid-air. The blood instantly drained from his face, leaving him ghostly white. “What did you say?! How is that possible?!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391156”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I’d been transmigrated into a trashy CEO novel as a doctor, and the female lead had just been diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy. The CEO domineeringly grabbed her wrist. “I’m keeping this child.” Then he ordered me, “Move the baby from outside the uterus to inside.” Me: “…” 1. I’d been stuck in this brain-dead CEO novel for a month, but a request like that still gave me the absurd feeling of being dive-bombed by a ninety-year-old grandma in a fighter jet. The male lead, Leo Howell, was the king of all scumbags. He was stringing along three different women at once, and in the name of fairness and equality, he’d put all three of them through hell. If I’d heard him say that a month ago, I would’ve personally escorted him to the psychiatric ward for a brain scan. But I was a mature woman now. I understood that the world of a CEO novel didn’t need logic. Was it reasonable for a multi-billionaire business elite to not know what an ectopic pregnancy was? In this world, it existed, and it was reasonable. I pushed up my glasses and said nothing. My colleague, a nameless side character, couldn’t help but try to explain to him why an ectopic pregnancy was a serious medical issue. The CEO, Leo, roared in response, “Useless!” The female lead, Elara Warren, leaned weakly against his chest. “We were never meant to have a child…” Leo’s cold gaze landed on me. His tone left no room for argument. “Dr. Chen, you can do it, can’t you?” I gave him a firm “OK” sign. Elara smiled. My colleague turned to stone. … After all, in three days, Elara would run away heartbroken after learning that Leo was entering into a business alliance marriage, and she would have the surgery for the ectopic pregnancy alone. All I had to do was put on a show for three days. Never mind moving the baby from outside the uterus to inside. I’d tell him I could move it into his brain if he wanted. I’d figured it all out on my first day here. If I wanted to change my fate as a disposable side character, Leo Howell was the best ATM I could ask for. I needed to make money. A crazy amount of money! As expected, Leo was very pleased with my confidence. He immediately hired me as his private physician. Two days later, at one in the morning, I was sound asleep when my phone rang. “Dr. Chen! Elara is in pain! I want to see you at the villa in ten minutes!” 2. Perfect. The classic CEO novel doctor experience. Always on call in the middle of the night to treat the female lead. I slowly got dressed, my voice feigning panic. “Oh my god, how could this be? Oh, poor Miss Warren, may the heavens protect her. I’m on my way, just around the corner, wait for me!” When I arrived at the villa with my medical bag, Elara was wiping her nose, her cheeks rosy, looking perfectly fine. Leo was pacing anxiously, his face dark. “Don’t you worry, I will cure you. Don’t you even think about leaving me again!” I rolled my eyes when he wasn’t looking. Dude, it’s a common cold. A bit dramatic, don’t you think? I took a box of cold medicine from my bag. “It’s nothing serious, just take this twice a day…” Leo immediately cut me off. “My woman does not take such cheap medicine. You haven’t even run any tests. Are you looking down on me?” I was silent for a moment, then my expression changed completely. “This illness… it’s very serious.” Leo: “Just tell me what to do.” I gave him a list. “First, you need to take Miss Warren for a full cardiopulmonary examination, a complete surgical check-up, a routine gynecological exam, a white blood cell count, a liquid-based cytology test, an ENT exam, an EKG, a complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests, serum total cholesterol and triglyceride tests, a fasting blood glucose test, and a quantitative alpha-fetoprotein test.” I took a deep breath after rattling that all off and continued, “And while you’re at it, get her eyes checked too.” After all, for her to have missed what a massive idiot you are, it’s hard not to question her vision. Leo frowned and turned to the butler beside him. “Did you get all that?” The butler nodded. “All noted.” Only then did I realize there was a butler standing in the room, his presence almost nonexistent. He didn’t look very old, and his face was stern. Wait… Was that a twitch at the corner of his mouth? Was he trying not to laugh? When I looked again, he was perfectly composed. Leo looked at me, his eyes filled with admiration. “Dr. Chen, you truly are someone I can trust. You’re very professional.” I smiled and nodded. “Yes, I am.” I’m a professional idiot-spotter. It’s a crime the hospital doesn’t give me a commission. After giving my instructions, I pointed to the air conditioner. “And if you could turn off the AC that’s set to fifteen degrees Celsius, Miss Warren would probably feel better a lot faster.” Pfft. I definitely heard it that time. The butler was laughing. 3. The next morning, Leo took Elara for her tests. According to the plot, she would overhear some gossip at the hospital—that Leo was about to marry the daughter of the Howell Group. Elara would be heartbroken and sneak out of the hospital, running away. Leo, furious and anxious, would vow to turn the entire city upside down to find her. While the main characters were playing their game of cat and mouse, I was busy hauling a truckload of fake antique vases and porcelain into the villa. “Dr. Chen, what are you doing?” The villa’s maid stopped me. I froze, trying to come up with a lie, when a clear voice cut in. It was the butler. “Dr. Chen is very health-conscious,” he explained calmly. “We don’t have any dumbbells here, so she’s using the vases for exercise.” Me: “…” The maid quickly apologized. “My apologies, that was my oversight. I’ll have someone prepare a set for Dr. Chen immediately.” After she left, the butler looked me up and down. “I know you’re a transmigrator too. You’re trying to swap out the antiques and sell them? Don’t be stupid. Leo’s an idiot, but people come to this villa all the time. Anyone with a bit of knowledge will spot the fakes immediately.” I gave him a mysterious smile and continued moving my fake antiques. Then I carefully replaced all the real ones. Two hours later, Leo stormed back into the villa. He was a mess of anger and laughter, pacing the living room in a powerless rage. “That damn woman! She ran away! She ran away again!” I stood by, offering my sincere advice. “Mr. Howell, please calm down. Don’t worry about Miss Warren. Maybe she’s already left the city and found her freedom.” My words only fueled his anger. He kicked the sofa violently. “She’s carrying my child! Where could she possibly go? I will find her!” I gasped. “Mr. Howell, be careful! Don’t hit that vase! Miss Warren loves those vases. It would be such a shame if one broke.” Hearing this, Leo grabbed the nearest vase and smashed it on the floor. It shattered with a crisp, satisfying sound. His eyes were wild as he started to laugh. “How dare she! How dare she leave me!” With every word, he grabbed another vase and smashed it. Within half an hour, the living room was a wreck. As he stomped upstairs, he yelled, “I don’t want to see anything in here that reminds me of that woman! Julian, clean up this mess!” I stood by the door, digging my nails into my palms to keep from laughing. I’m rich! I’m rich! The butler, Julian, glanced at the pile of fake shards on the floor and slowly uttered one word: “Impressive.” 4. Leo had smashed all the fakes himself, leaving no evidence. The genuine articles were all mine. Time to ship them out and sell them. With a racing heart and trembling hands, I grabbed my car keys, ready to leave. But I ran right into Leo on his way downstairs. His clear, yet utterly stupid, eyes looked me over. “Leaving, Dr. Chen?” Duh. The female lead is gone. You expect me to stick around and be your nurse? So I nodded. Leo: “Good. Go home and pack your things. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be living here.” Me: “?” Leo’s eyes burned with a furious fire. “I’ll find her within a week, at most. That damn woman never takes care of herself. I need you on standby at all times.” What could I say? Whatever makes you happy. I put on a somber expression. “I hope Miss Warren is safe and sound.” As I turned to leave, he called out again. “Dr. Chen, why are your hands shaking?” Crap. I couldn’t control my excitement at the thought of my newfound wealth. But Leo had already come up with his own explanation. “You must be exhausted from the last couple of days. Julian, drive Dr. Chen home.” Julian and I exchanged a look, both of us with our own ulterior motives. In the car, Julian’s eyes scanned the row of antiques in the backseat. His icy demeanor melted away, and he grabbed my hand excitedly. “Sis! You’re my one and only sis!” I was flabbergasted. “You change your tune fast.” Julian’s face fell. “I’m an actor! I transmigrate into a book and end up as a butler whose only line is ‘It’s been so long since the young master has been this happy.’ Ugh, I’ve had enough of that moron! When you get rich, don’t forget about me!” I had to admit, Julian’s role as the butler was incredibly convenient for my get-rich-quick scheme. So we put our heads together and planned to mark all the valuable items in the villa over the next few days, looking for opportunities to snag them. But I never expected that instead of an opportunity, we’d get the second female lead. Leo’s fiancée, the heiress of the Thorne Group, Lucy Thorne. Leo was out hunting for his runaway lover, so Julian and I had sent the other staff away and were running around the villa like two weasels in a melon patch, searching for treasure. Lucy strode in, decked out in designer heels, a Chanel suit, and a Hermès bag. She walked through the front door with an air of righteous fury. I was crouched by a table, examining the jewels on its legs to see if they were real. Without a word, Miss Thorne marched over and slapped me across the face. 5. The slap echoed through the room, and I fell to the floor. Lucy scoffed. “I heard Leo Howell was hiding his first love here. That must be you. Did you know he has a fiancée? Have you no shame?” So much drama. So much unnecessary drama. If you want to fight, go find his first love! Why are you hitting me? Julian rushed to stand in front of me. “Miss Thorne, how could you just hit someone without a word?” You bastard. Did I say anything? What do you mean “without a word”? I lay on the floor, playing dead. Seeing me “unconscious,” Julian panicked. “Oh my god, she’s dead!” He started pacing around me like a frantic monkey. Lucy frowned at him. “Butler Julian, the last time I saw you, you were much more composed.” Julian paused for a second, then his icy mask was back in place. “This is the young master’s private physician. You have just knocked her unconscious, and her life is in danger. I, a mere bystander, am concerned. As the perpetrator, do you not feel the slightest bit of guilt, Miss Thorne?” This kid was good. I squinted my eyes and saw a flash of panic on Lucy’s face. The guilt trip was working. I secretly tugged on Julian’s sleeve and whispered, “Call an ambulance. At the hospital, tell them I hit my head. Get me a full body scan. I can save on my annual check-up fee.” Then I went back to playing dead. Julian muttered, “You’re a real cheapskate.” He knew me well. At the hospital, he ordered the most expensive check-up package, and Lucy paid for it all. Nice. After the tests, I took a nap in a VIP room. When I figured enough time had passed, I slowly “woke up.” Lucy looked apologetic. “I’m so sorry. It was a case of mistaken identity.” Then she frowned, as if confused. “But it’s so strange. I’ve had an excellent upbringing, I’m well-educated and worldly. Logically, even if I knew Leo was still involved with his first love, I would have handled it in a more dignified way. Why would I be so impulsive as to hit someone?” I really wanted to shout in her ear, “Because you’re trapped by the plot!” You’re the female antagonist, so you have to be tortured by the male lead and lose all reason for his sake. Ugh, this novel was disgusting. 6. Lucy said that despite her exceptional abilities, her family had never allowed her to get involved in the business. They told her her only value was in a strategic marriage. She knew it was wrong, but she’d always forget by the next day. I slowly realized that Lucy was starting to develop a sense of self-awareness. So I tested the waters. “Miss Thorne, the reason you find it strange is because you’re a character in a CEO novel. Do you want to change your character’s path? I can help you.” Lucy froze, then tossed her curly hair back and laughed. “That’s an interesting thing to say. Even if I were a character in a novel, I’ve had a perfect life, and my fiancé is one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. Why would I want to change such a wonderful fate? Give me one good reason.” I was silent for a moment, then I delivered the cruel blow. “You’re the shrewish, evil second female lead.” … The world went silent. I could almost hear the sound of her reality shattering. Lucy’s face went white with rage. “That piece of trash, Leo Howell! What a joke! I’m rich, I’m beautiful, I have men lining up from here to France, and he makes me the evil second female lead?” She pointed a finger at me, her voice filled with newfound determination. “Fine. You’ve convinced me.” … Getting through to her was much easier than I expected. Lucy and I hit it off immediately. I asked her, “Your family and Leo Howell are both trying to acquire a software company called WindSignal, right?” Lucy nodded. “But my uncles and cousins all say we should let the Howells have it…” I said, “Let them have it, my ass! Listen to me, you have to get that company. A game they’re currently developing is going to blow up in a year.” My words fired Lucy up, but we quickly realized there was a major problem. Lucy had no say in her family’s business, and her personal savings weren’t enough to acquire the company on her own. I calculated the value of the antiques, and even with that, we were still about twenty million short. Lucy and I slowly turned to look at Julian, who was standing in the corner. Julian looked like he was about to cry. “You finally remembered I exist.” I walked over and patted his shoulder. “Get over it. That’s your character. The butler with a nonexistent presence.” Julian looked at my shifty expression and clutched his chest. “You could sell me and you still wouldn’t get twenty million.” Me: “…” I threw an arm around his neck. “Let’s go. The golden goose should be home by now. Back to the villa to pluck some more feathers!” 7. Julian and I snuck back to the villa. The moment we walked through the door, we saw the golden goose, I mean, Leo, smashing things again. He had the classic CEO red-rimmed eyes as he sulked on the sofa. He frowned when he saw us. “Why were you two out together?” I lied without batting an eye. “My colleague called and said she saw someone who looked just like Miss Warren. Butler Julian and I went to check it out, but it was a false alarm. Sigh.” I sighed again. “Miss Warren is so small and helpless. Where could she have gone? She doesn’t have any other friends. Sigh…” The more I sighed, the more remorseful Leo became. He clutched his head and muttered, “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have let her find out about the engagement. Elara must hate me.” Pah! You scumbag! Even now, your first thought is to hide it from her, not to call off the engagement. I’m not leaving until you’re bald! I gritted my teeth and casually mentioned, “If we offered a reward for information about Miss Warren, we could probably find her pretty quickly. It’s just a shame…” I sighed again, shook my head, and started walking toward my room. I counted down in my head. Three, two, one… Leo: “Wait.” Hehe, the sheep has taken the bait. Leo thought for a moment. “Why did you say it’s a shame?” I feigned ignorance. “Because a reward would cost a lot of money, right? Is it worth spending so much just to find someone?” Then I covered my mouth with my hands, my eyes wide with mock disbelief. “OMG, I forgot! Miss Warren is the love of your life! You’d spend any amount of money to find her, right?” Leo’s eyes were firm. “Of course!” He sat on the sofa, thinking for a moment, then gestured to Julian. “Julian, you handle this. Notify the major news outlets, put it on the giant screens in every city, get the word out about this reward. We’ll pay for any information about Elara, based on how useful it is.” Julian asked, “What’s the total budget?” Leo was the epitome of a CEO. “Whatever it takes.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391155”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

“Ms. Harding, this is your seventh ticket.” Building manager Finn, a young man, handed over the pink slip, avoiding my gaze. Forty dollars. With the previous six, I’d been fined $280 this month for “obstructing the hallway.” I glanced at the AED in the corner and smiled wryly. I’d bought it three months ago for $2,500, placing it on the 17th‑floor landing because Mr. Davies across the hall has a heart condition. “Ms. Harding, I can’t help it,” Finn whispered. “Ms. Peterson reported it again. She even went to the city council…” Ms. Peterson—Laura from 1702. Ever since she learned reports earned reward points for groceries, the building’s been in chaos. I sighed. “Fine, I’ll move it.” Finn looked surprised. “Huh?” I’d already opened an app, finger over “Terminate Service.” After three seconds, I pressed it. [Everest Elevators – Vista Towers, Building 1 – Annual Maintenance Contract Terminated] I’m Chloe Harding, 32, lived here fifteen years, always the “good Samaritan.” 1 It all started two months ago. I came home from work that day, stepped out of the elevator, and saw Laura Peterson standing by my door, snapping photos with her phone. “Ms. Peterson, what are you…” “Chloe Harding, you have far too much stuff piled up in the hallway,” she said, not looking up. “Fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, and this big metal box. You know that’s public space, right?” I followed her gaze. That “big metal box” was the AED I’d just installed last month. An automated external defibrillator, something that could save a life in an emergency. Mr. Davies was 68 this year, and his heart wasn’t good. Once, he’d had an episode in the hallway, and if I hadn’t happened to pass by, the consequences would have been unthinkable. After that, I bought this machine and even got certified in CPR and first aid. “Ms. Peterson, this is a defibrillator, for Mr. Davies across the hall…” “I don’t care what kind of instrument it is,” she cut me off. “Rules are rules. You can’t put things in the hallway.” “It’s life-saving equipment.” “Then put it inside your own apartment! What’s the point of putting it in the hallway? To show off how rich you are?” I was stunned. Show off how rich I was? This thing cost $2,500. I specifically found an inconspicuous corner to place it, afraid neighbors would think I was flaunting my wealth. “Ms. Peterson, if it’s in my apartment, there won’t be enough time to get it out if something happens.” “That’s your problem.” She shoved her phone in front of my face. It was the reporting interface, the photo already uploaded. “I’ve already submitted it. If the building management doesn’t handle it within 72 hours, the city council will send someone.” With that, she turned and walked away. I stood there, clutching my keys, motionless for a long time. The door across the hall opened a crack, and Mr. Davies poked his head out. “Chloe, I heard everything,” he sighed. “Maybe you should move the machine. Don’t cause trouble for my sake.” “Don’t worry, Mr. Davies. The machine stays.” He hesitated, then added, “Don’t mind Laura Peterson. That’s just how she is.” “I know.” I actually knew more than just that. I knew more than anyone else in the entire building. 2 The next day, building management showed up. It was Old Man Miller, who had been with the building for almost ten years. “Ms. Harding, about this…” He looked at the AED with a troubled expression. “According to the rules, you really can’t put things in the hallway.” “Old Man Miller, this is a defibrillator. It saves lives in critical moments.” “I know, but someone reported it, and I can’t just ignore it.” “So, what do you suggest?” Old Man Miller scratched his head. “How about you move it inside for now? Just until things calm down…” “Old Man Miller.” I cut him off, my voice calm. “Who pays to replace the fire extinguishers in this building every year?” His expression stiffened. “Who bought the motion-sensor lights for the hallways?” “…” “Who installed the public water dispenser?” Old Man Miller lowered his head, saying nothing. Only the building management knew about these things. For fifteen years, I had never mentioned them to any neighbor. “Ms. Harding, I know you do a lot, but…” “Alright, I won’t make it difficult for you.” I unmounted the AED from the wall and carried it into my apartment. Old Man Miller looked relieved. “Thank you for understanding, Ms. Harding.” I closed the door without answering. I opened my phone and found the building’s group chat. Sure enough, Laura Peterson was posting her “battle report”: [Report successful! The illegal clutter on the 17th floor has been removed. Everyone should report violations promptly to maintain public order. [Rose emoji]] Below, a flurry of likes. And messages: [Ms. Peterson is amazing!] [Who is that on the 17th floor? How can they be so shameless, taking up public space?] [Exactly, some people just have no self-awareness.] I watched silently, scrolling through them one by one. Seventy-two households, and not a single person remembered that AED cost me $2,500. Not a single person remembered— This elevator hadn’t had a single breakdown in fifteen years. 3 Laura Peterson’s reports didn’t stop. The third day, the first-aid kit was reported. My first-aid kit, placed on the 15th-floor landing, contained bandages, antiseptic, band-aids, and the heart medication I’d specifically added. Fine: $40. The fifth day, the public water dispenser was reported. I’d installed that water dispenser eight years ago, replaced the filters twice a year, and paid the electricity bill. When building management came to me, they had a “Notice of Rectification for Illegal Occupation of Public Space.” “Ms. Harding, Ms. Peterson says she doesn’t know who installed this water dispenser, and if it leaks electricity, it’s a safety hazard.” “I installed it.” “Even so, it’s not allowed. It wasn’t reported, didn’t follow procedure…” Fine: $40. The seventh day, the shared umbrellas I’d placed for children in the hallway were reported. It was a plastic bucket with about ten umbrellas, which I replenished annually. Kids who forgot their umbrellas on rainy days could borrow them and return them after use. Laura Peterson called it “random clutter, affecting the building’s appearance.” Fine: $40. The tenth day, the fire extinguishers were reported. Eighteen floors, two fire extinguishers per floor, all replaced at my own expense every year. The building management’s fire extinguishers had expired three years ago. I couldn’t bear to see them, so I paid out of my own pocket to replace them. Laura Peterson said: “The fire extinguishers are too old and faded, affecting the hallway aesthetics.” Fine: $40. I stood in the building management office, five pink tickets spread out before me. “Ms. Harding,” Old Man Miller sighed, “I really… Ms. Peterson, you know how she is…” I knew. I knew all too well. Laura Peterson, 52, retired, her husband a section chief at the city’s consumer protection agency. She moved into this building three years ago, and in her first month, she reported the barbecue stall downstairs, the hardware store on the ground floor, and the pigeon coop on the top floor. She exchanged reports for points, earning over four hundred cartons of groceries in a year. “Old Man Miller, I’ll pay those fines.” I slapped $200 in cash on the table. He opened his mouth. “Ms. Harding…” “But I have a condition.” “Tell me.” “From today on, I’m taking everything I bought for this building.” Old Man Miller froze. “Huh?” “The fire extinguishers, the first-aid kits, the water dispenser, the motion-sensor lights, the shared umbrellas, and that defibrillator.” “Ms. Harding, these… these are public facilities…” “No,” I corrected him. “They are my private property. Your building management has never paid a cent for any of these things.” I slapped a stack of invoice photocopies on the table. “Fifteen years of invoices are all here. Take a look yourself.” Old Man Miller flipped open the first page, his hand starting to tremble. 2009 – 36 fire extinguishers, $576. 2010 – 18 hallway motion-sensor lights, $720. 2012 – 1 public water dispenser, $240, annual filter fee $96. … 2024 – 1 AED defibrillator, $2,500. Page after page, densely packed. Old Man Miller’s face turned pale. “Ms. Harding, this… in these fifteen years, you’ve spent a total of…” “One hundred seventy-four thousand eight hundred sixty-four dollars.” I stated the number, my tone flat. As if talking about the weather. “Don’t thank me, I was willing. But now someone finds these things an eyesore, so I’m taking them back.” Old Man Miller stood up, his lips trembling. “Ms. Harding, please don’t be impulsive. These things… everyone uses them…” “So?” “So… just don’t bother with it. Ms. Peterson is…” “Old Man Miller,” I cut him off. “Am I being difficult? Did I report her clothes drying in the public area? Did I report the shoe rack she put in the hallway? Did I report her taking up a public parking spot?” He fell silent. “I didn’t. I just did what I wanted to do and spent the money I was willing to spend.” I stood up, gathering the invoice photocopies. “But she doesn’t appreciate it and still wants to fine me. Fine, then I won’t do it anymore.” I walked out, stopping at the door. “Oh, one more thing.” “What is it?” “Our company maintains the elevators in this building.” Old Man Miller’s expression was as if he’d seen a ghost.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391153”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 Seven years after Celeste’s supposed death, I stumbled upon her while promoting drinks at a high-end club. The moment she saw me, she instinctively recoiled, ducking behind the bartender as if trying to melt into the shadows. My gaze didn’t linger for a second. I continued to introduce the whiskey in my hand to the customer. When my shift ended, she was blocking the employee exit, her expression a complex palette of emotions, like a spilled paint tray. “Ethan, all these years… how have you been?” I didn’t answer. I just pulled on my food delivery jacket, put on my helmet, and looked down. Suddenly, she grabbed the handlebars of my scooter. “Ethan, I wasn’t dead. Aren’t you even a little surprised?” Of course, I wasn’t surprised. The moment she collaborated with my brother to stage that fake death seven years ago, making a fool of me— She had already died in my heart. … “Daddy! When are you coming home? Lily wants to hear a story!” My daughter’s sweet, childlike voice chirped through the car’s Bluetooth. Celeste let go of the handlebars as if scalded, her face instantly drained of color. I gently reassured Lily, then turned the ignition. But Celeste stopped me again. “Ethan, are you… married? How old is your child?” “Your wife lets you work in a place like this?” I was in a hurry to finish this delivery and get home, so I didn’t bother to explain. Just then, her phone rang, and Celeste answered it reflexively. A gentle male voice came from the other end: “Celeste, did you get the red wine I asked for? Little Alistair is fussing, wanting his mommy to play LEGOs with him.” Celeste frantically lowered the volume, mumbled a few responses, and hung up. When she looked up again, her tone carried a deliberate note of helplessness. “Lucas… your brother, it’s his birthday, and he insisted on that particular wine. I’m allergic to alcohol, but I had to go along with him…” Her voice held a hint of eager probing, as if waiting for me to take her side. I nodded indifferently. “Well, you’re married to him, of course, you have to indulge him.” Celeste frowned, stopping me again. “I’ll cover all your deliveries tonight! Can we talk?” “That debt… it must have been hard for you to pay off all these years, right? I can help—” I finally turned to look at her, my voice calm. “Ms. Thorne, wasn’t that sixteen million dollar debt all thanks to you?” Her face instantly turned ashen. I twisted the throttle, and the electric scooter zipped out of the alley. In the rearview mirror, she stumbled, chasing a few steps in her high heels. I didn’t look back. By the time I finished my last delivery, it was late into the night. Pushing open the door to my rental apartment, Lily rushed into my arms like a little cannonball. “Daddy! I got a perfect score on my math test today!” I laughed, ruffling her hair, but my gaze fell on the glowing screen of the tablet on the coffee table— A news alert showed Celeste, in a designer gown, attending a charity gala. Lily followed my gaze, her small hand gently touching my back. “Daddy… the lady at the convenience store today said,” “I look just like that pretty lady on TV…” She paused, then quickly added, “But I told the lady that my mommy is a star in the sky! I have enough with just you, Daddy!” My nose stung. Seven years ago, Celeste faked her death, leaving me with sixteen million dollars in company debt. I had done everything imaginable over the years. Serving drinks at clubs, hauling bricks at construction sites, even working as a life model. Lily was adopted by me three years ago from an orphanage. She was three then, as thin as a kitten, shrinking into a corner when she saw strangers. At four, she started remembering things. Even though she was still a tiny tot, She would, when I had a fever, wobbly climb onto a stool to pour me hot water. She had never cried for a mother. But I knew she often secretly looked at photos of other children holding their mothers’ hands at night. What she didn’t know was— Her birth mother wasn’t dead. It was Celeste, now a rising business star in the city. I only confirmed it by chance, six months after adopting her, when I saw an old missing person’s notice and privately did a DNA test. But I would never let Celeste know. “Don’t cry, Daddy,” Lily wiped the corner of my eye with her small hand. “Lily’s with you!” “I’m going to eat lots of rice and grow tall quickly! That way, Daddy won’t have to work in the middle of the night!” My heart felt like it was torn open and then stuffed with cotton. It hurt, yet it warmed me, making me tremble. I forced myself to stay awake, helped her finish her homework, and tucked her into bed. Lying beside her, I stared at the ceiling until dawn. 2 The next day, I went to work at the restaurant. At two in the afternoon, my daughter’s teacher called. “Lily’s dad, please come to the school right away! Lily got into a fight with a classmate!” My heart tightened. I asked the manager for leave and rushed to the school. The moment I pushed open the office door, my breathing hitched— Lily’s left cheek was swollen and red, but she was biting her lip, refusing to cry. Only when she saw me did she let out a sob and throw herself into my arms. “Ms. Green, what happened?” I asked the teacher. She looked troubled. “During class today, the financial news was playing, and Lily saw Ms. Thorne’s picture and said she looked like her. And then—” “That’s my mommy! How dare Lily, that stray, pretend to be my mommy!” A girl with pigtails next to her shrieked. At the same time, a commotion came from outside the door. “Who dares bully my daughter?! Wife, Mom, Dad, we need an explanation today!” My blood ran cold. Before I could cover Lily’s face, several startled voices exploded. “Ethan?!” My parents, Celeste, and my brother Lucas. Celeste rushed over, grabbed Lily’s shoulders, and stared at her face for a few seconds, her pupils constricting. “Those eyebrows and eyes… Ethan, is she… the child I lost back then…” My parents and Lucas also froze in place. In the living room of the mansion, I ignored everyone else and applied ointment to Lily’s face. Lily quietly rolled her eyes, assessing them. After a long while, my mom cleared her throat. “Ethan… why haven’t you contacted us all these years? We only found out you weren’t doing well when… Celeste told us.” “Ainsley didn’t mean it. She didn’t know Lily’s background, and she’s your brother’s child. Don’t take it to heart.” “But… what about this child?” No sooner had she spoken than Lucas burst out, his voice choked with tears. “Brother, I know you hate me, hate me for making Celeste fake her death to marry me.” “But I couldn’t help it! I loved her too much…” He grabbed my hand, tears instantly flowing. “And at the time, I didn’t know the cancer diagnosis was a mistake. I just wanted to fulfill a dream.” “By the time the misdiagnosis was confirmed, Celeste and I already had Ainsley.” “That’s right, Ethan,” my dad chimed in. “It’s fate. You and Celeste weren’t meant to be. Don’t blame your brother.” I forced a faint smile. Seven years ago, Celeste told me she was going to discuss funding, and to wait for her. What I waited for was the news of her drowning. The company lost its backbone, all orders fell through. When the sixteen-million-dollar debt crashed down on me, I met Lily, abandoned, at an orphanage. She became my only light in the darkness. I sold the apartment and jewelry Celeste left me, but there was still a three-million-dollar shortfall. To pay off the debt, I took Lily and moved to the city. But in a shopping mall baby store, I saw— Lucas with his arm around Celeste, picking out baby clothes, my parents smiling beside them. “Celeste, do you think my brother will forgive me? Will he blame me for orchestrating your fake death to marry me?” “I know he loved you… but I was the one who fell first!” Celeste then kissed his forehead, her expression solemn. “I left him the company and the apartment. Those years he had me were enough.” “My love can only be for one person, and that’s you.” My parents looked utterly relieved. “Ethan has always been stubborn. He complains we favor his brother and runs so far away. Don’t mind him, he’ll come back when he’s had enough.” Only then did I understand— They would do anything for Lucas. Heartbreak, was merely this. “Finished? I’m leaving.” I took Lily’s hand and turned to walk away. Letting them call my name behind me. On the way, Lily seemed to want to speak but ultimately asked nothing. I knew the peaceful days were over. Sure enough, late that night, I received a text from Lucas. [Ethan, are you a ghost haunting me? Bringing a stray to seduce my woman, have you no shame?] [You couldn’t beat me when we were kids, and don’t even think about it now.] [I’ll show you what happens when you mess with my woman.] I didn’t reply, gently patting Lily’s back to coax her to sleep. Nor did I pay attention to Celeste’s consecutive messages and missed calls. The screen flickered in the darkness. Like that great fire seven years ago that burned everything I had. 3 I still woke at five in the morning to knead dough and steam buns at the breakfast shop. After the morning rush, my phone vibrated in my apron pocket. I thought it was Lily’s teacher, but the screen showed “Mom.” “Ethan,” her voice carried a deliberate softness. “Your brother knows you’ve been struggling and feels so bad he can’t sleep at night.” “After Ainsley hit Lily, he disciplined the child and said he wants you to come home.” “We’ve tidied up the spare bedroom. Why don’t you bring Lily back for a meal?” She paused, a hint of hesitation entering her tone. “Today… is also your brother and Celeste’s seventh wedding anniversary. As his brother, you should come back and wish them well, right?” Lucas couldn’t even wait a few days. I knew exactly what he wanted to do—ruin the life I had just started to build. I hung up and continued to scrub the greasy stovetop. Looking up, I saw Celeste standing at the shop entrance. She wore a cream-colored trench coat, out of place in this small, grease-stained shop. “Ethan,” her eyes were complex. “I’ll drive you.” Lily clutched my hand, looking up at me, then at Celeste. I took a deep breath, suppressing my irritation. My phone rang again. This time it was my dad. “Ethan, I’ve asked Celeste to pick you up.” “You’ve been sulking for seven years, that’s enough. Your brother thinks about you constantly. I don’t ask you to be filial to us,” “But at least give him a way out. What he values most is a reunited family.” I gave a silent, wry smile. If he truly valued reunion, he wouldn’t have conspired with Celeste seven years ago. And I wouldn’t have been made a fool of like a dog. But I still got into Celeste’s car. Some things needed to be said face-to-face. In the car, Celeste kept looking at me through the rearview mirror. The oppressive silence was suffocating, and finally, she spoke. “Ethan, I know you hate me. What happened back then… I was thoughtless.” “I thought you understood how the company worked. I thought those assets would be enough for you to live comfortably…” “It’s been… very hard all these years, hasn’t it? That child, she…” I opened my half-closed eyes, annoyance bubbling up. Any assistant she had now could dig up every detail of my life. Why pretend to care now? Half an hour later, the car stopped outside a hotel banquet hall. Lucas’s events were always lavish. My parents saw me, smiles of relief on their faces, and each grabbed one of my arms. “That’s right! How can brothers hold a grudge? It’s good to have you back!” Their smiles were too wide, so wide they made me uneasy. Lucas walked over with a champagne flute, a flicker of malice in his eyes. “Mom, Dad, I was so happy my brother would come back, I couldn’t sleep last night,” he choked out. “But I also feel guilty…” “If it weren’t for me, my brother might have started his own family long ago. So today, I’ve prepared a big gift for him.” My eyelid twitched. The next second, Lucas announced with a smile. “Ethan, I used your photo to arrange a good match in our circles—Miss Olivia Hayes, the second daughter of the Hayes family!” My blood froze. The Hayes family’s second daughter had severe bipolar disorder and had beaten three previous fiancés to death a few years ago! “Lucas, I’m your own brother!” I roared. Celeste, however, pressed down on my arm. “Ethan, Miss Hayes’s condition is under control now. The Hayes family is willing to offer a six million dollar dowry. You’ll be living a life of luxury if you marry into them.” “The Hayes family business is under a subsidiary of Thorne Corp. I’ll look after you.” “Ethan, stop making a fuss!” My mom frowned. “You’re thirty. And you had that messy past with Celeste. Where will your brother put his face if that gets out? Can’t you think of him for once?” I stared at them intently. The seven-year-old scar on my heart was being torn open. This was the woman I had loved. These were my family. For Lucas, they would push me into a fire pit. “Whoever wants this marriage can have it! It has nothing to do with me!” I grabbed Lily and tried to leave, but Lucas suddenly grabbed my wrist. “Brother, I’m doing this for your own good…” His eyes reddened, but his fingernails dug hard into my flesh. I winced, trying to shake him off, but Lucas fell backward like a leaf! “Ethan, what are you doing!” My dad roared. I hadn’t even used any force! Just as I was about to protest, my mom’s slap came sweeping towards me. I closed my eyes, but the anticipated pain didn’t land. Opening my eyes— My mom’s wrist was firmly seized in mid-air. I turned my head and met a pair of calm eyes. “Excuse me,” the woman’s voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through the din of the entire room. “Who do you intend to marry off my husband and child to?” Lily’s eyes lit up, and she threw herself into her arms. “Mommy!” The room fell into a dead silence. 4 It wasn’t until Lily’s “Mommy!” echoed that I snapped back to reality. “How are you back so early? Didn’t you say the project wouldn’t be finished until next month?” Erica cast a sidelong glance at me, a playful glint in her eyes. “If I hadn’t come back sooner, my husband would have been abducted.” She exchanged a look with Lily in her arms, and a mischievous glint flickered in both their eyes. I suddenly remembered— Lily’s most memorized phone number, besides mine, was Erica’s. That little imp must have secretly “told on me.” “Wait!” Lucas’s face was ashen. He stared at Erica, his voice trembling. “Erica? You and Ethan… know each other?” “And… why are you here?” Erica raised an eyebrow, reaching to pull me behind her. “Since this is a family dinner, we outsiders won’t intrude. Husband, child, let’s go.” She turned to leave, but Lucas staggered after her. “Erica… Erica, do you remember me? We both graduated from Northwood University. We even performed together in the talent show back then…” He gave me an imperceptible glare, then put on a shy expression. “You might not know, my brother here is a bit foolish. He used to bother my wife…” “Erica, you must have been used by him. Listen to me, let me expla—” Erica scoffed, interrupting him. “I remember. Ethan is your biological brother?” “You always took his toys, his scholarship money, even his women. Now you’re slandering him in front of me.” “You Harding family, how interesting.” Those few words drained all color from my parents, Lucas, and Celeste. My mom managed a forced smile. “Ethan… when did you get married? Why didn’t you tell us?” “If you’re living with Miss Hayes, then your mother can rest easy…” Erica finally turned to look at her. “Auntie, seven years ago, when Ethan took on a sixteen million dollar debt for this scoundrel, why didn’t you say you could rest easy?” My mom’s face lost all its color. I lowered my eyes. Erica had an investment company that happened to have business dealings with the Harding family. It was a small project for her, but enough to support the Harding family for a whole year. She had endured a lot for me before. Today, that unspoken understanding was completely shattered. Erica didn’t bother to say more, putting her arm around my shoulder and walking out. “Ethan! You explain to me, why—” Celeste tried to follow but was stopped by Erica’s bodyguard. Her shouts grew fainter in the distance. My steps didn’t falter. The people behind me, who had been so arrogant moments ago, were now silent as mutes. At home, Lily and I took a hot bath. Emerging from the bathroom, my wet hair was gently held up, the warm breeze of the hairdryer caressing the ends. Turning, Erica was looking at me. Her gaze was focused, tinged with concern. “If that little clever Lily hadn’t secretly messaged me, were you going to shoulder it all by yourself again?” “If I hadn’t cut my trip short to rush back this time, would those people have picked your bones clean?” “Ethan, when will you learn to boss me around and rely on me with confidence?” Her tone was calm, but the end of her sentence held a hint of grievance. My chest ached slightly. After the pain, a warm current spread through my limbs. Lily sat on the sofa, holding a cheese stick Erica had given her, her big eyes sparkling as she watched us.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391151”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 When I learned again that the child my wife carried was conceived with her new lover, I didn’t rage or push for an abortion as before. Instead, I silently supported her pregnancy, ensuring she carried it to term. Soon, I became gossip fodder for the elite circles—every cheating socialite wanted a spouse as “magnanimous” as me, mistresses hoped to ensnare my wife, and rich househusbands called me a disgrace. Ten months later, she gave birth safely. Emerging from the delivery room, Catherine, ever gentle, kissed my hand. “Thanks to you, my child with Liam is healthy and beautiful. Don’t worry—he only wants to be a father, not threaten your place as Davies’ son‑in‑law. You’re still the one I love most.” People said I loved her so blindly I accepted the mistress, but only I knew—this was a child the Davies matriarch forced me to protect, using an old life‑saving debt. With their firstborn now born, the divorce agreement she promised should finally take effect. … The night before Catherine’s delivery, I was given a sufficient dose of tranquilizers and bone-weakening agents to prevent me from harming her or the child. When the medication wore off, I opened my eyes to see her embracing the baby with unbridled joy. “Darling, Grandma has already named our child. Just sign here, and we can register him.” She handed me the birth certificate. Seeing the name “Michael Davies” on it, my foggy mind instantly cleared. Michael. That was the beautiful wish I had for my unborn biological son. It was our hope for our love. It was also the name of the thirteenth generation’s firstborn son in the Davies family tree. Years ago, to save Catherine from kidnappers, I took a knife wound for her, damaging my reproductive function. That part of my life became difficult. Our first IVF child, a boy, was seven months along when Catherine, in an act of misguided compassion, helped a drugged Liam. After a night with him, she suffered a massive hemorrhage, leading to a forced abortion. That was a fully formed boy. I had prepared to give him a symbolic burial, to bring him into our ancestral graveyard. But the fortune teller said the child didn’t count as a full-term stillbirth, the timing was bad, and we had to wait. That wait stretched for over a year. During her pregnancy, she whispered to me countless times that she wanted to give the name “Michael Davies” to this illegitimate child. I always refused. But now, looking at her expectant eyes, I only found her past tears and apologies disgusting. I knew Grandma couldn’t have chosen this name. It was merely Liam, who liked to snatch everything from me, whispering ideas into Catherine’s ear. Anyway, divorce was a certainty. A heartless mother’s surname was not worth having. “Whatever. Call him what you like.” “I only have one request: don’t put my name down as the father. My biological son in heaven would be displeased.” Catherine paused, guilt flickering in her eyes. “Noah, don’t worry, I’m only using him because of his shared bloodline with you. Liam and I…” She didn’t finish speaking when a sudden crash came from outside the door. “You beast, who allowed you to show your face here!” Liam was knocked to the ground, his eyes red. “I just wanted to see the child.” Grandma Davies relentlessly struck him with her cane. “Get out!” In that instant, Catherine was like a startled bird. Disregarding her post-delivery body, she carelessly tossed the baby onto me and rushed out. The hundred-plus needle marks and self-inflicted wounds on my arms, each as thick as a child’s arm, were pressed open. But she left as if she hadn’t even noticed. Her unwavering movement, shielding Liam from the old lady’s cane, made her earlier comforting words seem incredibly ridiculous. “Grandma! It was my idea! I did it for the Davies family! Don’t hurt an innocent person!” Grandma Davies froze, unconsciously looking at me. Seeing the white bandage on my arm soaked with blood, she was angry at her own helplessness. “You wicked child! He was given hundreds of injections just yesterday! Can’t you see all his wounds?” Catherine’s eyes widened with panic and regret. She was about to rush over to me. But Liam suddenly collapsed behind her. She panicked, disregarding my injuries, and helped him up, intending to leave. Grandma Davies fiercely blocked her path. “You’re not leaving! You’re so reckless right after giving birth!” “Your husband is still inside! Do you even want this family anymore!” 2 Catherine’s eyes were filled with hesitation. “Yes! But Liam is hurt from your beating! I can’t just abandon him! Noah… he has you, he’ll be fine!” Once upon a time, she had been just as reckless for me. Once upon a time, she would never have made me the choice to be cast aside. I cast her an indifferent glance. “Grandma, let her go.” She seemed surprised by my magnanimity. After all, in the past, to keep her from leaving, I had thrown tantrums, rolled on the floor, self-harmed, and shed all my masculine dignity. Her expression was complex. She wanted to say something, but ultimately, she left. A nurse helped me re-dress my wounds. The baby was sleeping soundly. My phone suddenly showed a message from her. [I’m sorry. I just didn’t want a scene at the hospital. It would affect the Davies family’s reputation.] [Liam is unconscious and can’t be left alone. I won’t come over for now. I’ll recover with him. Don’t worry.] I stared at the screen, stunned for a long time. I remembered once, when I heard she was injured on a business trip, I took an eleven-hour flight, accompanied her to her check-ups, and stayed by her side every minute. Back then, she was overwhelmingly touched, swearing she would never let me down in this life. Seeing me sigh, Grandma Davies snatched my phone away. She read the cold words on the screen and snorted. “That ungrateful girl! I’ll deal with her when she gets back. Noah, don’t worry, Grandma…” At this, I suddenly laughed, my gaze calm as I looked at her. “You tacitly allowed all of this, didn’t you?” “I no longer care what happens to her. You promised me earlier that you would help me divorce once this child was safely born. I hope you keep your word.” Her expression froze, her eyes filled with deep guilt. “Grandma is sorry.” “I’ve already tricked her into signing the divorce agreement. You rest up well. We’ll leave after she finishes her confinement.” Grandma took the baby with her, arranging for someone to care for him. I, in turn, discreetly returned to my pre-marital residence, avoiding gossip. But that very night, rumors spread throughout the business world about the Davies heiress’s rage for her lover, defying her powerful family to protect her uncle, despite her postpartum state. Davies Group stock continued to fall, leaving Catherine overwhelmed. Liam’s influencer account was swarmed by netizens. The incident where I had personally exposed him for seducing his sister-in-law, which Catherine had suppressed, resurfaced. The platform was full of condemnation. If not for Catherine’s help, his account would likely have been shut down with heavy penalties. The next time I saw her was seven days later. The first thing she did was look at me with disappointment. “Noah Harding, are you happy, seeking revenge on us like this?” I paused, then quickly realized she was blaming me for the spread of the gossip. Of course. After all, I used to work in media. My specialty was fanning the flames. Unfortunately, the first time I went crazy and exposed her affair with Liam, she threatened my company with privacy violations and defamation, forcing them to fire me. Now, it truly wouldn’t be easy to find someone to help. I gave her a sidelong glance, long past the feeling of being wronged when misunderstood. I picked up the anniversary memorial gift for Michael. “You should know, your scandals aren’t just the obvious ones. If I wanted to expose more, you’d probably have to bleed even more.” She stood by the door, stunned for a long time. Almost helplessly, she spoke. “After this, I’ll break up with him. But promise me, can we live a good life together from now on? With a child, we could be a happy family.” She had said things like that almost every day during her pregnancy. Yet it didn’t stop her from continuing to be entangled with Liam. Either she felt sorry for him being an illegitimate child, or she thought he was lonely without family to rely on. In short, there were a thousand reasons for their passionate involvement and her helping him rise to prominence. She stood by the door, refusing to leave, as if I wouldn’t move until I answered. Looking at the sunlight she blocked, I perfunctorily agreed. It wasn’t until the next morning, when unblurred videos of my alleged infidelity went viral, that I understood what she meant by “after this.” Catherine released a clarification video. In the video, she tearfully told the media that I had been caught cheating during her pregnancy by my younger brother and had then falsely spread rumors about her as revenge. 3 Liam, in turn, sorrowfully claimed that he had merely advised me not to hurt Catherine’s feelings, but I, believing he would expose my affair, sought revenge. Everyone urged Catherine to divorce me, this upstart. Yet, she maintained an image of deep affection. “No matter what mistakes Noah makes in this life, I cannot stop loving him.” Watching her hypocritical act, I couldn’t help but vomit. Hearing this, Catherine, who was outside the door, rushed in. “What’s wrong?” I frowned, looking at Liam, who had followed her in, and shook off her hand. “Nothing, just disgusted with you. To protect your mistress’s crimes, you’ll slander your husband’s reputation at any cost. Catherine Davies, your love is truly magnificent.” Her face turned ashen. She opened her mouth, wanting to explain. But Liam suddenly knelt down. “I’m sorry, brother, it’s all my fault! Sister-in-law only used you as a shield for me. But she’s still in confinement, afraid you’d be angry, she came to explain to you despite her condition. Don’t be angry with her.” Catherine looked at him with tenderness, her gaze chastising me. “I came here to tell you about this. Those videos were all AI-generated by me. Ultimately, he’s your brother. It’s only right for you to sacrifice yourself to help him. My helping him is helping you maintain your family ties. Why must you be so aggressive towards him?” “Moreover, you’re unemployed. Reputation means nothing to you. What outsiders say won’t affect my feelings for you. It’s enough that I know it’s fake. But he’s different. He has no one to rely on, and he depends on the media for his livelihood. If his image and reputation are ruined, everything is over for him.” Listening to her sanctimonious justifications, I only felt nauseous. Unemployed, was that not also thanks to her? She not only forced my company to fire me but also warned the entire media industry that anyone who hired me would be going against her. My job interviews constantly hit dead ends. I finally found a private studio, but she maliciously reported us. Ultimately, all my media professional licenses were revoked, and I became a disgrace to the industry, hated by all. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. All in all, in about half a month, I would be completely free. Grandma also promised me that she would clear my name then. Their opinions no longer mattered. I looked at her with an expressionless face, let out a long breath, and turned over to lie on the bed. “Do whatever you want. It’s up to you.” She thought I was going to try and hit Liam like before, so she tensed up, fiercely shielding him. But seeing me turn my back and lie down, all her emotions came to an abrupt halt. After a long moment, she asked me, her voice filled with disbelief. “You… you’re not angry?” My voice was flat. “Haven’t you always wanted me to get along with him?” She let out a sigh of relief and smiled. “You’ve finally learned your lesson. I knew you weren’t that heartless. I’ll definitely make it up to you later.” I didn’t respond. I didn’t even look at her until they left. After a long time, I touched my chest, which felt completely still. So this was what letting go felt like. In the following days, she seemed to feel guilty, sending me gifts every now and then. She wasn’t discouraged when met with resistance, only endlessly recounting our beautiful future life together. It wasn’t until she brought up the child’s full moon celebration that she hesitantly spoke. “Liam will never be able to acknowledge his biological child in this life, so I want him to openly attend the child’s full moon celebration as the father while the child is still too young to understand.” “It would complete his regret, don’t you think?” My hands didn’t stop their work; I didn’t even glance up. “I told you, it’s up to you. This isn’t my child to begin with. Whatever you want to do has nothing to do with me.” She stiffened, her eyes welling up with redness and a hint of anger. She snatched the memorial items for Michael from my hand. “Why have you been like this all these days? Do you know what his attendance represents? It represents tacitly acknowledging him as a son-in-law of the Davies family. You used to never agree to that.” I paused, then glanced at her indifferently. “Isn’t this better? Last month, when you were ‘helping’ him with his needs, didn’t you also say it was a pity he couldn’t have a proper status in this life?” Watching her, ashen-faced and frozen like a statue, I retrieved the items. My emotions were so stable it was as if nothing had happened. Her endless explanations, attempting to claim she didn’t love him, but only had physical intimacy and felt responsible for him—disgusting rhetoric—were defeated by my silence.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391150”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 I’d just gotten back from sorting out the birth certificate when I saw my husband untying our daughter’s wristband. A prickle of suspicion chilled me. I was about to push the door open, but then I watched him swap out our daughter’s swaddling with another baby’s. Just then, a woman’s gentle voice drifted from inside the room. “Declan, I swear, I’ll raise your daughter as my own.” My husband, Declan Gray, looked up, his eyes brimming with a love and pity I’d never seen directed at me. “Liana, little Hope lost her father the moment she was born. Don’t worry, I promise to give her a complete family. She’ll grow up healthy, surrounded by a mother and father’s unwavering love. From this day forward, I am her father.” Outside the hospital room, I clutched the flimsy birth certificate, feeling like I’d been plunged into an ice bath. Liana Hayes, his unattainable ‘one that got away,’ the woman he still pined for. He wanted to give his beloved Liana’s daughter a complete family. What about our daughter? Inside, he held Liana’s baby with such tenderness, such intense focus and love. That look, so gentle and adoring, had never once been for me or our child. The warmth and affection on his face became a searing blade, striking me before I could even process it. An inexpressible, sharp pain tore through me, gutting my heart. I looked down, my eyes fixed on the pristine birth certificate, tracing our daughter’s name: Anya Gray. My vision blurred, tears welling. Was even her name a silent homage to their lost love? Only then did the realization hit me, slow and crushing: Declan didn’t love me. And he didn’t love our daughter either, this child I’d carried for nine months, enduring a full night of labor to bring into the world. The truth shattered me, leaving me trembling, barely able to stand, clinging to the wall for support. Declan’s voice, hoarse with emotion, reached me from the room. “Liana, the regret of our love, of what could have been, we’ll mend through this child. My first half of life was for you. The second will be for her. She’s the last thread connecting us.” The regret of a love that couldn’t be? I let out a bitter, self-mocking laugh. Why must your regrets be mended at the cost of my daughter’s entire life? A sacrifice made at another’s expense. My love for him withered, replaced by a silent storm of disappointment and resentment taking root deep within me. I wiped the tears from my face, slowly pushing myself off the wall. Steeling myself, I pushed open the door, interrupting their intimate exchange. Declan’s face darkened the moment he saw me, his voice sharp with irritation. “What took you so long? Is that how a mother acts? Amelia Reed, can’t you learn from Liana? Her eyes haven’t left the baby for a second!” I lowered my gaze, hiding the disappointment and pain swirling in my eyes. In Declan’s world, I was always second best to Liana, even when he knew I’d just been getting our daughter’s birth certificate. Living in the same apartment building for years, he constantly compared me to Liana, always praising her, oblivious to the simmering tension between them. How blind I’d been not to notice their unspoken connection. My eyes fell on Liana, and a tight, bitter smile touched my lips, hatred gathering in my gaze. The baby in Liana’s arms was clearly my Anya! Sensing my stare, Liana subtly shifted, blocking my view. Just then, the baby in Declan’s arms began to wail. This time, he didn’t instantly blame me. Instead, he cradled the baby, murmuring soft reassurances. He hadn’t held our daughter once in the three days since she was born. Yet now, he looked down, speaking softly, an aura of paternal love radiating from him. The difference between love and indifference was stark, a brutal punch to the gut. I stared at him, my mind a battlefield, a bold and dangerous idea taking root. Liana turned, offering me a strained, bitter smile. “Little Hope lost her dad right after she was born. Seeing you two as a happy family of three… it really stings, you know?” She spoke with an air of self-pity, but a flicker of triumph, impossible to suppress, danced in her eyes. Declan looked up, his face etched with unconcealed sorrow, his eyes slightly red. “Liana…” I dug my nails into my palm, the sharp pain pulling me back from my daze. Liana sighed, then carried Anya to another bed. I took a deep breath, pushing down the bitterness, and reached out to take the baby from Declan, intending to soothe her. “Honey, is the baby hungry? I’ll go get some water for her formula.” Normally, Declan would have eagerly handed the baby over, but now, his brow furrowed in a tight frown. 2 “My daughter will have breast milk, of course. Formula? Do you have any responsibility at all? Amelia, listen to me, we’re only having one child, and I want to give her the absolute best! Don’t you even think about a second or third child!” With that, he practically shoved the baby into my arms, gesturing for me to feed her. I turned my face away, my heart swelling with a mix of bitterness and anger. Before Anya was born, he’d constantly told me to formula feed her so his mother could take over after my confinement, urging me to go back to work. His harsh words still echoed in my ears: “Amelia Reed, I know your family is wealthy, but you need to learn to be independent, not just waste away as a stay-at-home mom! The baby will be raised by the nanny and my mother.” So, the only true ties that bound him were Liana and her daughter. My daughter wasn’t worth his concern, nor did she deserve to grow up in her mother’s arms. Indifference meant no thought, no care. It wasn’t until Anya, still in Liana’s arms, began to cry loudly that my self-pity was interrupted. Hearing my daughter’s cries, I involuntarily took a half step forward. Liana frowned, impatiently placing the baby on the bed. Then, as if an idea struck her, she quickly turned to Declan and me, explaining, “Crying it out, it helps train a child’s independence. After all, this child was born without a father. I can’t spoil her.” Anya sobbed heartbrokenly, yet Liana simply scrolled through her phone. Listening to her absurd justification, I clenched my fists, a furious heat rising within me. “A three-day-old infant? Training what independence? Liana Hayes, crying is a baby’s natural instinct! If you let her continue, she’ll cry herself sick!” My heart ached at Anya’s cries, and I lunged forward, desperate to pick her up. But Declan coldly blocked me. “Amelia Reed! What right do you have to lecture Liana? Who do you think you are?” My mind exploded. My blood ran cold, and I started to tremble uncontrollably. He knew. He knew the one crying her heart out right now was our child! My body rigid, I turned to Declan, my voice catching in my throat. “The baby is crying. Can’t you hear her?” Declan’s brow was deeply furrowed, his eyes utterly devoid of emotion. He looked at me with annoyance. “Liana’s own child. Is she not heartbroken enough that you, an outsider, need to step in?” I almost demanded to know how he could be so cruel. But the words died on my lips, replaced by a bitter ache, and I averted my gaze, unable to bear it. The conviction in my heart, however, only grew stronger. Anya cried until her voice was hoarse, but Declan seemed oblivious, his attention solely on the baby in his arms. He didn’t even spare Anya a glance. I tightened my fists, waiting for my chance. A chance to quietly switch the two babies back. Liana’s child might have been born without a father, but I wouldn’t let my Anya suffer the same fate. She deserved a life of privilege and love! I vowed silently, Anya, trust Mommy. I will ensure you have all the love of a mother and a father. Newborns were taken for a bath when they were three days old. I held this strange baby in my arms. This afternoon, I would get my Anya back. Anya had a tiny red mole behind her ear, a secret only I knew. From the day she was born, I’d been the only one to feed her, to change her diapers. Declan didn’t know, and Liana didn’t either. They thought by swapping swaddles and wristbands, they could steal my daughter? Ha. How naive. She was my precious girl, whom I cherished so deeply I barely dared to sleep at night. In the afternoon, Liana’s mother arrived. The moment she saw the sleeping baby on the bed, she snapped irritably, “A curse-bringer, a useless girl! Get her out of this hospital already, stop wasting money!” Liana’s husband had passed away two weeks prior, never even seeing his own child. A tragic story, indeed. Mrs. Hayes’s loud voice drew glances from other patients. Both babies in the room startled and began to cry simultaneously. Declan frowned slightly, seemingly displeased by my distraction. He snatched the baby from my arms, murmuring reassurances. My eyes never left Anya, her cries tearing at my heart. Mrs. Hayes, further annoyed by the crying, roughly yanked open the baby’s swaddling, her dirt-stained finger jabbing at Anya’s face. 3 “Cry, cry, cry, that’s all you do! Your father died because of your crying! If I’d known it was going to be a girl, I never would have let you be born!” Noticing the disapproving stares from others in the room, Liana, ever conscious of appearances, made a halfhearted attempt to intervene. “Mom, don’t say such things to the baby.” I watched Liana coldly. Her eyes hadn’t even left her phone. How could people like them possibly raise a child well? Yet, my husband was so blind and senseless, convinced the world owed Liana everything, willing to sacrifice anything to make it up to her! Mrs. Hayes scoffed, finally lowering her voice, but still grumbling, “I’ll take the child back to the countryside. Liana, you need to find another man while you’re still young! Preferably a rich one, so I can have something to look forward to in my old age…” As Mrs. Hayes’s rambling grew more outrageous, Liana finally looked up from her phone, her gaze instinctively drifting toward Declan. Her eyes reddened slightly, and she answered with a weary air, “Mom, I… I couldn’t marry the man I wanted back then. Now, it doesn’t matter who I marry.” Declan lowered his head, his gaze fixed on the baby in the swaddle, appearing calm. But I saw the profound sadness and loneliness in his eyes. He held the baby, no longer attempting to comfort her, his fingers unconsciously scrunching the bedsheets. Liana’s words had pierced him deeply. Yet, he showed no reaction to the thought of my daughter being taken to the countryside, branded as a father-killer. His mind was lost in Liana’s lament. I stared at his slightly pale face, my gaze fixed on him as I cautiously asked, “Honey, Liana’s baby… she’s quite pitiful, isn’t she?” My eyes never left Declan, searching for a flicker of compassion, reluctance, or even a hint of guilt. There was nothing. Declan suddenly looked up at me, his eyes cold. He pressed his lips together, then said softly, “She was born unlucky. No one is to blame.” I stared at him in disbelief, as if I’d never truly seen him before. Or perhaps, this was the first time I was truly seeing the man he was. The Declan before me was detached, callous. He casually dismissed her fate as ‘unlucky,’ a phrase that struck not just her, but my heart, with crushing weight. An unfamiliar emotion surged within me, suffocating me. The heavy atmosphere in the room made my heart pound, and I numbly turned away, unwilling for him to see the tears in my eyes. Declan’s gaze suddenly landed on me, his eyes sharp. “Amelia, you’ve been acting strange all morning. Since when did you care so much about other people’s business?” I took a deep breath, expelling the tightness in my chest, and smiled. “Just seeing the baby… it tugs at my heart, that’s all.” Declan’s brows furrowed even tighter. He paused, then a hint of mockery entered his eyes as he scoffed, “Hmph, well, you’re certainly overflowing with sympathy. Amelia, instead of worrying about other people’s children, why don’t you pay more attention to your own daughter?” When the nurse announced it was time to take the newborns for their baths, my eyes drifted to Liana, who remained unmoving. “Liana, aren’t you taking your daughter for a bath?” Liana glanced at Anya in the swaddle, about to say something, when Mrs. Hayes quickly interjected, “No. A girl? Not worth the money.” Anger flared in my chest, but I suppressed it, remembering my plan. “It’s free, Auntie. The hospital provides it.” Hearing my words, Mrs. Hayes’s eyes lit up. Driven by the thought of a freebie, she scooped up Anya from the bed. “Then we’ll go! Your city hospitals really do have good service!” Mrs. Hayes, holding Anya, followed me closely out of the room. In my peripheral vision, as soon as we left, Liana went over to my husband, who was sitting on the visitor’s sofa. His eyes met hers, filled with remorse. I bit my lip hard, frantically telling myself, Don’t act rashly. For our daughter’s happiness, endure this for now! At the infant bathing room, the nurse directed parents to queue up to drop off their babies, with families waiting outside. Anya went in first. Mrs. Hayes, bored while waiting by the door, struck up a conversation with me. When she found out I also had a daughter, she pursed her lips, her eyes filled with disdain. “Tsk, what’s the point of having a girl?” My expression instantly turned cold. I had no desire to speak further with such an ignorant and narrow-minded person. 4 Mrs. Hayes couldn’t stand still, constantly looking around. She seemed to spot something exciting, turning back to instruct me, “Hey, Amelia, can you pick up that little brat for me later? Auntie will be right back!” My heart skipped a beat. This was the perfect opportunity. I quickly nodded. Mrs. Hayes hurried off towards the bustling crowd. At that precise moment, I handed the prepared clothes and swaddle to the nurse. When the nurse brought Anya out after her bath, she was wearing the tiny outfit I’d prepared. I held her close, my eyes never leaving her, as if cradling a lost treasure I’d miraculously found again. My eyes were stinging with unshed tears. By the time Mrs. Hayes returned from her distraction, the two babies had, through my careful maneuvering, swapped identities once more. From this day forward, my Anya would grow up safe and sound under my protection. She would have the complete love of both her mother and father. My gaze swept over the infant in Mrs. Hayes’s arms, and I had to avert my eyes. I was sorry. My heart was small, only holding enough space for my loved ones and my daughter. There was no room left for anyone else. Back in the room, I expected everything to have returned to normal, unnoticed. But to my shock, the moment Declan took the baby, he knew something was wrong. His eyes were fixed on the infant’s face, his expression grim, dark as a storm cloud. A terrible premonition bloomed in my chest. Sure enough. He roughly tore open the baby’s swaddle, ignoring her sudden startled cries, and sharply demanded, “Amelia Reed, where is my daughter? What have you done with my daughter?” Declan’s eyes were bloodshot. As if a sudden thought struck him, he thrust the baby into my arms and strode out of the room. I held Anya, trying to stop him, but he brutally slapped me. Smack! “Amelia Reed, get out of my way! I’m going to find my daughter!” I had just given birth. The force wasn’t immense, a light slap, but it left my mouth numb and stinging. I grabbed Declan’s arm, my voice a raw, ugly rasp squeezed from my throat. “Our daughter is right here, honey. Look at her. She’s our Anya…” Declan flung me away, his gaze poisonous, as if he wanted to tear me to shreds. “No! She’s not mine! She’s just your Amelia Reed’s daughter, never the precious baby I wanted!” I stood there, holding our daughter, a sharp pain in my chest, as if tiny ants were gnawing at my heart. It wasn’t an intense pain, but it made tears well in my eyes. I forced my eyes wide open, looking at Declan, and asked with a bitter laugh, “Declan, do you hate Anya? Or do you just hate me? Are you truly so unwilling to raise our child?” He glared at me with hatred, his lips trembling, trying to speak but failing. I watched him in silence, my eyes frighteningly red. Yet, when I looked at him, there was still a hint of pleading in my gaze, perhaps even unknown to myself. Deep down, I still harbored hope for Declan, for our family. I still loved him. In the silent standoff, Declan’s face was alarmingly pale. I offered him a forced smile, reaching out to steady him. “Honey, my body hasn’t fully recovered yet, I…” Just then, Mrs. Hayes walked in, holding the endlessly wailing child. Hearing the baby’s cries, Declan cruelly pushed my hand away and snatched the child from Mrs. Hayes. His hands trembling, he pressed his face against the infant’s tiny one, his eyes filled with tender love. “Don’t cry, baby. Daddy’s here. Good girl.” I looked at my empty hands, humiliation and pain washing over me. In my arms, my daughter slept soundly, her little mouth smacking. Perhaps she was dreaming, for she even smiled sweetly. The tears I’d held back now streamed down, soaking her swaddle. Anya, forgive Mommy. Maybe I can’t give you a complete family anymore. But believe me, I will love you with all my strength. Behind me, I heard Declan soothing the baby, and Liana standing beside him, a possessive, protective stance. The hospital room fell into a dead silence, all eyes on him, then on me. I wiped away my tears, and by the time I turned around, I was the calm, decisive Amelia Reed again. If a forced connection brings no joy, then I’ll simply let it go. I looked at Declan and said calmly, “Declan, let’s get a divorce.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391149”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel